topic Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command in AutoCAD Forum

Issues with SUBTRACT command

wjb29479 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:09:01 GMT

I am currently working on adding walls to a 2d flooring plan. I used POLYSOLID to create the walls, and I am now adding windows. I created the first window out of a box, then ran SUBTRACT to create the hole in the wall. After I ran the command, it returned "no solids, surfaces or regions selected". I tried again, same result. I deleted the box, replaced it with a polysolid and got the same result again. I extruded the window solid to make sure I was selecting it, same result. I offset the lines I was using as a reference for height, and got the same result. I restarted the program, and the issue remained. I am not using meshes or blocks. Is there something different between a polysolid and a normal solid? Should I redraw the walls using the box command?

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

Patchy — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 16:15:18 GMT

Move the box a little further inside the wall, then subtract.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

wjb29479 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:31:44 GMT

The box goes all the way through the wall. I extended it a little bit because I thought maybe I was hitting the wrong object with the selection, but that didn't fix it.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

Patchy — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 17:36:43 GMT

Can you attach your .dwg?

It works fine for me.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

wjb29479 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:02:48 GMT

I tried opening a completely new drawing and just playing with the subtract command, it gave me the same issue. I think it might be my computer.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

Patchy — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:23:27 GMT

You cannot subtract object with the same thickness to make a hole, make the box thicker than the wall, no problem subtracting.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

pendean — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 18:26:37 GMT

@wjb29479 wrote:
I tried opening a completely new drawing and just playing with the subtract command, it gave me the same issue. I think it might be my computer.

Not sure what you tried, are you wanting to punch a hole the side of the window opening in that "wall"?

You seem to be afraid to make the subtracted object a lot deeper than the wall for some reason, not sure why.

Try to follow along, let me know if this is your final desired result or not:

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

wjb29479 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:20:11 GMT

Tried making it longer, stuck out on both sides of the wall by a foot or so, still returned the same error. I'm thinking it's probably a software issue so I'll try completely shutting down the program, making sure all autodesk programs shut down in case it leaves one in the background, and then if that doesn't work, possibly reinstalling. I tried just making a box with a cylinder through it in a new drawing and it gave me the error then too.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

wjb29479 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:22:59 GMT

That is what I am trying to do, yes. I tried your suggestion of making the box a lot longer on both sides, it still gives an error. Given that it appears to work for you all, it's not a problem with the file so it's either a problem with the program itself or it's something about my computer that's acting up.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

Patchy — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 20:32:51 GMT

Try GFXDX12 set to zero

restart autocad and see.

Re: Issues with SUBTRACT command

wjb29479 — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 21:31:59 GMT

Same result. I might try fully restarting the computer, or reinstalling the program.