Frequently Asked Questions:

Notes: 

Frequently Asked Questions:

 

I installed ConstructiVision and now AutoCAD will only let me open up one drawing at a time. Why is this and how do I fix it?

This problem is due to one setting in AutoCAD: "SDI Mode" (Single Document Interface). Since AutoCAD will attempt to reload LISP routines each time a drawing is opened, the active routine would be aborted. To avoid this, ConstructiVision sets the SDI Mode to 1 (one) when it launches. Under certain circumstances (due to a quirk in AutoLISP), it can't restore this setting to 0 (zero) when it exits. The setting is fairly easy to change manually. either by Command Line or the Options Menu. 

Command Line instructions: 

Type "SDI" (without the quotes) and press "Enter" 
Type "0" (without the quotes) and press "Enter"

Option Menu Instructions: 

From the AutoCAD Menu Bar, Select "Tools" 
Select "Options" 
Click on the "System" Tab 
Uncheck the box labeled "Single-Drawing compatibility mode" 
Click "OK" 

Do this immediately after launching AutoCAD (before you launch ConstructiVision), then close AutoCAD and re-open it. This will write your preference to the System Registry. In the future, each time you launch AutoCAD, this setting will be read and restored from the Registry. The first time you launch ConstructiVision during each AutoCAD session, all of your preferences will be recorded so ConstructiVision can restore them when it exits. Please note that changing this (or any other) setting after the initial use of ConstructiVision in any given AutoCAD session will have no effect. To permanently change any setting, simply set the value before you launch ConstructiVision.

This should be a permanent fix, you should only have to do it once. However, if you are using other applications to drive the AutoCAD engine, they might modify this setting and not restore it properly when they exit. If so, you might have to reset the SDI Mode again.

Note: When SDI is set to 1, only one drawing may be open at a time; when set to 0, multiple drawings may be opened in one session.

How do I edit panels created on one computer on another computer?

ConstructiVision was designed with this purpose in mind. Once your panels have been created on any computer, you can edit them on any other computer.  If you have a direct network connection, simply "Drag & Drop" your project directory from the source computer to the target computer.

The easiest, quickest, and most reliable way to transfer panels from one computer to another without a direct network connection is to use WinZip (TM) Version 7.0. You can download a fully functional evaluation copy at http://www.winzip.com/.

After installing WinZip, use Windows Explorer to locate your project directory [Drive:\...\Project Files\MyProjectName]. Right click the MyProjectName sub directory. Select "Add to MyProjectName.zip". Transfer the MyProjectName.zip file to your other computer in the [Drive:\...\Project Files\] directory via direct cable connection, zip drive, e-mail, or other high capacity method. (To use floppy disks, please refer to the WinZip Self Extractor Help File about Spanning Support.) After transferring the file, right click it and select "Extract to Folder [Drive:\...\Project Files\MyProjectName]. You may now delete the MyProjectName.zip files from each computer or save them as handy backups.

IMPORTANT! In addition to the panel drawings, several support files are required for each project you transfer. Be sure to include ALL files in each project sub directory.  The above methods insure that these conditions will be met. 

I'm trying the demo version of ConstructiVision, but it keeps asking me to register the program.  Do I have to register to keep using the demo?

No, to use the demo and have access to the sample drawing files, just click CANCEL when prompted for your authorization code.

The demo will ask you to register the first time you use it in each session you open. This is simply a reminder that you need to register the program.

I installed ConstructiVision, but I can't find the ConstructiVision menu and don't know how to start it.

ConstructiVision Standard can only be used with AutoCADŽ 2000 and above. If the ConstructiVision menu did not appear in your AutoCADŽ menu bar, the setup program could not determine which active user profile you are using. Complete details are outlined in the readme.txt file located in the ConstructiVision directory.  Briefly: First Launch AutoCAD.  Type the following on the AutoCAD Command Prompt: (load "csvmenu") -- be sure to include the parentheses and the quotation marks, then hit the Enter key.  The ConstructiVision drop-down menu will appear on the AutoCAD Menu Bar

When I chamfer the panel and include a top plate, the panel edge under the top plate is also chamfered. There shouldn't be a chamfer under the top plate. How can I stop this?

Chamfering solid edges is a difficult and involved procedure. It's also very slow and under certain conditions may cause the program to crash.  Since you can't see a narrow chamfer strip on a 30-foot wide panel anyway, select the "Text Only" function to print the appropriate chamfering instructions on the drawing, but not actually chamfer the edges.

I need to place a feature strip on the edge of the panel only, not on the outside face. How can I do this?

Make the length of the feature strip equal to the thickness of the reveal.

There isn't enough slab area to lay out all of the panels at once. This job will require two or more tilts to construct. How can I make multiple layouts?

Follow these steps:
(1)  Attach all of the panels to your site drawing.
(2)  Select "Layout Panels."
(3)  Use the SAVE AS command to copy the site drawing with different names, such as "Layout1", "Layout2", etc.
(4)  In each layout drawing, detach the panels that won't be included in the tilt with INSERT, EXTERNAL REFERENCE, and DETACH commands.
(5)  Arrange the panels in each of your layout drawings.
(6)  Do not use ConstructiVision's "Tilt up Panels" or "Layout Panels" commands on these drawings again.

How can I create a ledger with a V in it for a sloped roof line?

Use two ledgers, each sloped appropriately, and inset the adjoining ends to meet at the point of the V.

When I load my custom menu, the ConstructiVision menu goes away. What do I do?

On the command line, enter the following command exactly as shown and press ENTER: (load "csvmenu")

When I place a weld connection "UP" at 0'-0" distance from the panel edge and miter the side of the panel, it extends out from the panel. How do I calculate the correct distance from the edge?

Use ConstructiVision's "Snap to Edge" feature and it will do the calculation for you.

I have ten identical panels in my project. Do I have to create each one as a separate drawing, or can I just copy the panel number block outside of the ConstructiVision program and change the numbers as needed?

You need to create each panel as a separate drawing. Making changes directly to the panel number block will corrupt the database and make your drawing unusable. When you attach the original drawing and the nine "copies" to the site drawing, all ten panels will be missing from your building. Your materials list will also be inaccurate.

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