AutoCAD Architecture Visualization

[#1]

High all, I have a model create in ACA 2011 and am working at using the ACA camera to get my view.  I added the camera and started playing with the controls to get the view i wanted.  In doing so I saw an area that need some attention, so objects had either gotten placed wrong or accidently moved out of place.  When I went to zoom in on the location of concern the zoom function did not operate as expected.  when using the wheel to zoom normally the screen locationstays centered on your cursor but know its jumping all over the place with no control as to what shows up enlarged onthe screen.  Also once you get in clsoe enough to grap points the whole screen goes grey and the geometry is no longer visable.  I am not real sure how to explain it better tha that.  Has anyone else run into issues with there after nserting a camera, does anyone know how to fix it?  Thanks, Todd

[#2]

I would skip back to an isometric view without perspective set. This makes it easier to edit.

Use the old Viewports command to split your screen up into multiple viewports in model space so you have have varying views at once. Your camera view, plan view, elevation and iso.  then you can render one view and edit in another.  Be aware the exact render area will change a little with an adjusted viewport compared to full screen.

You can change your ZOOMFACTOR from 0 to 100.  I have shortcuts ZF2  ZF4 ZF6 ZF8

ZF20 is good for working in perspective as the scrolling only zooms a little.

ZF80 is good for quick zoom in typical drawing (plan)

The geo is no longer visible because your camera became too close or zoomed past.

[#3]

Thanks for the info, that's an interesting way to get around the issue.  I try to avoid splitting my screen as you suggest but will do it if I have to.  I tried several times at switching isometric views to get out of the camera view but the zoom function did not reset its self to original operation.  I also talked to our local Autodesk reseller about this issue.  They found there to be a bug and that I needed to type "perspective" at the command line and reset it to "0" after viewing a camera view.  That did the trick, after resetting "perspective" back to "0" zoom functioned normally and I could then make the modifications I wanted.  Its kind of a pain to have to do that every time you want to switch from the camera view but at least it works.  Here's to hoping this bug is fixed in the next release. Thanks.

[#4]

Having the split screen can be really helpful whilst you are editing, trying things out.  In rendering, it's quicker in a smaller viewport if you are rendering to viewport for quick feedback.

Be aware of the skystatus bug discussed here.  You may trigger it sometime.

http://www.archidigm.com/lounge/architectural_desktop/rendering/AutoCAD_Architecture_2011_Skystatus_...

It tells you the bug is related to the last view that was set if it had perspective on.

Also you may want to learn or use additional shortcuts to make workarounds faster to implement (then they don't feel like a workaround.  Here are some of my shortcuts for rendering and working with viewports.  These are pretty simple but make oft used steps a quick step.  

;;;Viewport commands

(defun C:VV1 () (command "-vports" "Si"))      ;;1 Tiled Viewport to screen

(defun C:VV2V () (command "-vports" "2" "V"))     ;;2 Tiled Viewports to screen vertically

(defun C:VV2H () (command "-vports" "2" "H"))     ;;2 Tiled Viewports to screen horizontally

(defun C:VV3R () (command "-vports" "3" "R"))     ;;3 Tiled Viewports to screen 2 to RHS

(defun C:VV3L () (command "-vports" "3" "L"))     ;;3 Tiled Viewports to screen 2 to LHS

(defun C:VV4 () (command "-vports" "4"))      ;;4 Tiled Viewports to screen

;;;ZoomFactor settings(defun C:ZF () (command "zoomfactor"))     ;;ZOOMfactor

(defun C:ZF2 () (command "zoomfactor" "20"))     ;;ZOOMfactor 10

(defun C:ZF4 () (command "zoomfactor" "40"))     ;;ZOOMfactor 30

(defun C:ZF6 () (command "zoomfactor" "60"))     ;;ZOOMfactor 60

(defun C:ZF8 () (command "zoomfactor" "85"))     ;;ZOOMfactor 85

;;; DIRECTION COMMANDS(defun C:01 () (command "-view" "swiso"));;view southwest isometric

(defun C:02 () (command "-view" "front"));;view front elevation

(defun C:03 () (command "-view" "seiso"));;view southwest isometric

(defun C:04 () (command "-view" "left")) ;;view left elevation

(defun C:05 () (command "-view" "top"))  ;;view plan 

(defun C:06 () (command "-view" "right"));;view right elevation

(defun C:07 () (command "-view" "nwiso"));;view northwest isometric

(defun C:08 () (command "-view" "back"));;view rear elevation

(defun C:09 () (command "-view" "neiso"));;view northeast isometric

(defun C1 () (command "Perspective" "1"))   ;;Change to perspective view

(defun C0 () (command "Perspective" "0"))   ;;Change to NON perspective view

(the silly smily face inserted by this DiscGroup should be a 'P'

A camera is similar to a saved view and will appear in the save view list.  When I add a camera I give it my own standard name such as Street1, street2 etc.  Then I can use a simple shortcut to change the view straight to the camera without stepping thru the process.  Here are those shortcuts.

;;; Saved View Commands

(defun C:V1 () (command "-view" "R" "Street1"));;VIEW 3D street elevation

(defun C:V2 () (command "-view" "R" "Street2"));;VIEW 3D street elevation 2

(defun C:V3 () (command "-view" "R" "Street3"));;VIEW 3D street elevation 3

(defun C:V4 () (command "-view" "R" "Street4"));;VIEW 3D street elevation 4

(defun C:VS () (command "-view" "R" "SHADOW"));;VIEW PLAN IN 3d ready to produce shadow diagram

These are all in a MyStuff.lsp file I load along with other shortcuts.  It's actually the simplist form of Autolisp programming language.

cheers