Help Database

Chief Architect allows you to convert 2D CAD drawings into a variety of 3D objects, including a plan's terrain perimeter.  This allows you to create a terrain perimeter that both bounds the 3D terrain and defines the property on which the plan will be built.

To convert a polyline into a terrain perimeter

1. First, open an existing Chief Architect plan in which you would like to convert a polyline into a terrain perimeter, or open a new plan and draw a plot plan perimeter. 
   
   
   
   
   


2. Click on the plot plan polyline to select it, then click the Convert Polyline  edit button. 
   
   
   
   
   
   • If you do not see the Convert Polyline button near the end of the toolbar, try right-clicking on the polyline to display its contextual menu.  In the menu, click on Convert Polyline, which will be the second option from the bottom.
     
     
   • If no menu appears, your contextual menus are not enabled.
     
     See article 764, "How to enable contextual menus" in this database at http://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/displayfaq.php?faqNumber=764.
     
     


3. In the Convert Polyline dialog, click to select the radio button beside Terrain Perimeter, then click OK to close the dialog and proceed to the Terrain Specification dialog.
   
   
   

   Note: If Terrain Perimeter cannot be selected in the Convert Polyline dialog, there are two possible reasons.

   The first is that a Terrain Perimeter is already present, in which case you can simply delete it and then convert your imported polyline to replace it.

   The other possibility is that the imported polyline is not completely closed. You can confirm this on the General tab of its Polyline Specification dialog. An open polyline will read 'Not closed' under the Area heading, while a closed polyline will show a value.  Only a closed polyline can be converted into a Terrain Perimeter.




4. In the Terrain Specification dialog, make any needed changes to the specifications for your terrain, then click OK button to close the dialog and finish converting your polyline into the terrain perimeter.
   
   


5. Your terrain perimeter is now visible in both 2D and 3D views.
   
   To view the results in 3D, select 3D> Create Perspective View> Full Overview  from the menu.