Lower level not visible...

[tim.glass]

I'm attaching the file with this one.

Designing a house that has a basement. I'm trying to show the floor plan to the owner, so I have my sheets set up with the first floor plan on one sheet and the basement floor plan on another. I've created a viewport and frozen out all of the layers not associated with the basement. I've installed some doors in rooms in the basement, and checked in an iso view to make certain they're on the basement level. But when I look at the basement in the viewport, the doors only show as openings. The door and swing arc don't show at all.

Note: The basement exists in model space at -11'-4" B.F.F.

What am I doing wrong?

Thanks in advance,
Tim Glass

[H'Angus]

On your 1 floor plan you have set a cut plane of 3'6" which is fine, however you have also set the cut plane on the basement to 3'6" which is not fine. Change the basment plan cut plane to be minus (eg -7'10") and the doors will show.

On a different note, do you use the Project Navigator? If not I would seriously consider getting into it as you can easily set levels and views globally, basically eliminating any problems such as this.

[tim.glass]

Steve,

Thanks much for the help, but I couldn't get it to work. I select one of the interior basement walls, within the viewport (temporary model space), and then select edit object display. I select the plan and then modify the cut plane. I've tried -10'-4", -8', -9'-8"; to no avail. The wall then dissappears completely within the layout view.

I've tried the same approach from within model space, and get the same results. Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Tim

[H'Angus]

If you go to the layout tab you have named 'A 1.2 Basement Plan (Arch B)' and double click inside the viewport to activate it. You should see at the bottom Right next to where it says 'Medium Detail' (The display configurations) the cut plane associated with the layout. It currently says 3'6" so click on at change as per my previous post. I'm using ACA 2008 but it should be the same in 2007.

I have changed it and re-attached your drawing. Hope this helps.

(PS- I picked 7'10" as the cut plane as that is 3'6" above the basement floor)

[tim.glass]

Really very odd. I don't have an cut plan setting near the "medium detail" button. Couldn't get my file to change for the life of me, but when I open your file it shows correctly. Very odd. Yet another reason to upgrade, I suppose.

Thanks for all the help.

[H'Angus]

Really very odd. I don't have an cut plan setting near the "medium detail" button. Couldn't get my file to change for the life of me, but when I open your file it shows correctly. Very odd. Yet another reason to upgrade, I suppose.

Thanks for all the help.

Aaaah okay 2007 does play a little differently. I still recommend using the Project Navigator method of setting levels though.

Right in 2007 you have the display configs, which you currently have set as 'Medium Detail'. If you double click in the basement viewport to activate it, then go to the format drop down and select 'Display Manager' (second from top). Expand the configurations, right click on 'Medium Detail' and pick copy, then paste it and rename it to something like 'Basement Medium Detail'. Now select the new configuration and go to the cut plane tab on the right viewing pane and change the cut height to -7'-10" then apply and close.
Back in your drawing if you change the configue (at the bottom right) from 'Medium Detail' to 'Basement Medium Detail' then you should now get the desired display.

I hope the above makes sense (I have attached the drawing again with a new display config).

[H'Angus]

Hi Tim,

If you do want to learn how to set levels using the Project Navigator tool (which is how ADT/ACA is intended to be used) then I would recommend you have a look at ATP129. It takes you through the process of creating a whole house (including a basement) using ADT. Unfortunately the videos are no longer available but the handouts still do a good job of explaining the process.

[tim.glass]

Steve,

Thank you very much for the help, the file, and the link. I'll look into this project navigator.

Tim Glass