Chief Architect Help Database - Article Number: 106
Troubleshooting 3D Camera View Display Problems
The information in this article applies to:- Chief Architect X5
- Chief Architect X4
- Chief Architect X3
- Chief Architect X2
I am experiencing problems with generating 3D camera views in Chief Architect. Either an error message displays, the program crashes, or the view generates, but it doesn't look right.
How can I resolve these problems?
In a 3D intensive software program, such as a Chief Architect product, you may experience a variety of problems in your 3D camera views if you are not using the latest available driver for your system's video card.
Generally, these issues can be resolved by simply updating the driver for your computer's video card to the latest available version which is compatible with your operating system. This can often be done for free on most video card manufacturer's websites.
In this article, we will walk you through the basic steps for updating the video card driver for your computer.
Updating your video card's driver is a simple process, which you can accomplish by following the steps below.
To determine what video card your system is using
- On your Desktop (where all of your icons are located), find and right-click on the My Computer icon in XP, or Computer in Vista and newer.
- On the menu that displays, select the Properties option to display the System Properties dialog.
In Windows 8, 7 and Vista:
In Windows XP:
You can also locate the System information in the Windows Control Panel. - In Windows 8, 7 and Vista, select Device Manager.
In Windows XP, click on the Hardware tab, then click on the Device Manager button. - Click on the plus + sign next to Display adapters and you will see the name of your computer's video card, then right-click on the information that displays below the Display adapter and again choose Properties.
In Windows 8, 7 and Vista:
In Windows XP: - Select the Driver tab to locate the information on your computer's video card driver Provider, its Date, and the Driver Version. Make a note of this information.
In Windows 8, 7 and Vista:
In Windows XP:
Warning: Do not select the Update Driver button, instead, use the following instructions to locate and install the updated driver for this card.
Now that you know what video card is on your system, you are ready to locate and download the updated driver for your video card.
To download the latest driver for your video card
- Go directly to the website of your video card's manufacturer (the Driver Provider).
Check your warranty to ensure that downloading a driver from the video card manufacturer's website will not void your computer's warranty.
- Either search for your particular video card, or select the link to download drivers and locate your particular video card.
Some video card manufacturers even have the option to allow their site to auto-detect the video card on your system.
- Follow the instructions on the video card manufacturer's website in order to download the driver
Choose to SAVE the file onto an easy to remember location, such as the Desktop.
Now that you have the driver downloaded, you are ready to install the updated driver on to your system.
To install the updated video card driver
- Locate the existing driver in Device Manager.
If you have already closed out of that window, use the above instructions to locate it again.
- Right click on the driver and select Uninstall.
- Now, return to your Desktop and double-click on the icon for the updated video card driver that you downloaded, and follow the installation instructions until the installation completes.
Even if not prompted to do so, at this point it would be wisest to restart your computer to ensure that these changes have taken effect.
- After restarting the computer, relaunch your Chief Architect software, open the plan in which you want to create a 3D camera view, and it should display correctly.
- If the view does not display correctly, please check to verify that your video card does actually meet the minimum system requirements for running the software.
- For the current version of the software, these can be located on the website at: http://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/sysreq.html.
- Please note that an integrated chipset (such as those provided by Intel® or other manufacturers) which shares system memory, and has no dedicated video memory of its own, does not meet these minimum system requirements.
If your video card does meet the minimum system requirements for running Chief Architect, and updating the video card's driver also does not resolve the issue, you can try making the adjustments to the Render Options described below.
- First, exit out of any 3D camera views you have open.
- Next, from the menu, select Edit> Preferences
.
- Under Category, select Render.
- In General Options
- Remove the checkmark next to Optimizations On.
- Remove the checkmark next to Hardware Edge Smoothing.
- Add a checkmark next to Aggressive Cash Flushing.
- If you are primarily experiencing trouble with the Vector rendering technique, in views such as Cross Sections/Elevations, remove the checkmark next to OpenGL Vector View.
- Remove the checkmark next to Optimizations On.
- Click OK, and then attempt to generate a new 3D camera view.
If, after following these instructions, your 3D views still do not display correctly, and your video card does meet the minimum system requirements for running your software program, then please contact the Technical Services department directly either via telephone, or using the Online Support Center.
Make sure to provide information on your computer manufacturer, operating system, as well as the video card including its make, model, driver version and date.
Last updated on: Apr 03, 2013
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