[Solved] Unstable behaviour

[Retep]

Good Afternoon
I have posted on this before and the problem seemed to go away on it's own. However it has returned and would like to fix it before proceeding with my drawing.
I have the latest version of QCD - Version: 3.32.5.0 (3.32.5)
My computer is set up like this...

Processor 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i3-12100T (2.20 GHz)
Installed RAM 32.0 GB (31.8 GB usable)
System type 64-bit operating system, x64-based processor

I'm on windows 11
Edition Windows 11 Pro
Version 25H2
Installed on ‎12/‎30/‎2024
OS build 26200.7462


I am drawing a stage lighting diagram with several layers of Floorplan, rigging, lighting instruments etc.
I have also created a library of entities like lighting instruments, rigging standards etc.

As I add components to the drawing it becomes increasingly more unstable and i begin to lose entities, or they become distorted (dimensions change, they attach to different layers ...). The problem I have posted on before is the disappearance of lines from the floor plan. As far as I can tell they are still on the drawing but disappear with mouse movement. When I hover over the floor plan they appear, as soon as i move the mouse pointer away from the floorplan some of the lines disappear. They reappear as the mouse appointer is held over the drawing entity. the more I try to fix this the more unstable the whole drawing becomes.

I have included 3 screenshots - Number 1 shows the mouse over the image, Number 2 shows what happens when I move the mouse pointer away from the stage floorplan and finally in Number 3 the lines reappear with the mouse pointer over the stage floorplan.

Please help me solve this problem as I am very fond of QCAD, however I won't be able to use it if this problem keeps happening in such a random manner.
Kindest regards
Peter Kinskofer
Quadra Island, Canada

[Husky]

Hi,
Sounds like just a setting problem. Can you attach the dxf/dwg please - it is easier for us to figure out what is going on. Thanks.

How to Attach a File to a Post:
https://www.qcad.org/rsforum/viewtopic.php?f=47&t=3760

P. s. : A section of the shown screenshot area would be already sufficient.

[Retep]

Thank you for your response Husky
I have attached the problem drawing.

As a side note I have redrawn the image several times in the last week and eventually I end up with the same problems. Additionally there are a few other glitches that come up and I'm sure they are related.

1. I have created library items such as lamps and rigging bars as these items will be frequently used in newer stage layouts. When I import them into the newer drawings they seem to bring in older layers into my drawing possibly bringing with them the original problems. When I try to clean up my layer list and delete these older layers all of the library items go with the deletion. I can't seem to clean up the drawing.
2. On one recent iteration of the same drawing, inches were converted to feet in the blocks that I was using.
3. Finally, on some of the newer drawings i try to use the library items. I select the item, instruct QCAD to place the item into the drawing but then all i get in the drawing are the cross hairs with no library item showing.

I hope this helps and I really hope you can help me with this because as i stated I really like QCAD. Very effective and simple to use, well supported with tutorials etc and very fast once you know how to use it.

Many thanks in advance
Warm regards
Peter

[CVH]

Hi,

I can not replicate the disappearing when not near ... (3.32.4)
Even with setting my background of Model_Space to white like yours.
Can you with the file re-downloaded from the forum?

1) Not older layers.
Every entity lives on a certain layer.
If a layer associated with inserted content does not exist, then it will be created on the fly.
There are a few options on the Option Toolbar to place content in the current layer or to overwrite Block/Layers.
Change the options before you actually place a copy of the item.

2) QCAD will automatically convert between units on inserting content drawn in another unit than the target drawing.

3) It can be that the content is far from the insertion point ... Zoom out.
Ensure that the content of your Library items (Blocks) is near the Block origin or Drawing origin.
The Block Reference insertion point correlates with the Block origin what is typically the Drawing origin.
If not, it is good practice to set a proper Block Origin.
Also possible after importing a Library item ... Each time it is used.

Regards,
CVH

[Husky]

To 3.
Is the active layer status invisible?
If so toggle to visible and try again.

[Retep]

Yes the active layer is visible
P

[Husky]

As I add components to the drawing it becomes increasingly more unstable and i begin to lose entities, or they become distorted (dimensions change, they attach to different layers ...). The problem I have posted on before is the disappearance of lines from the floor plan. As far as I can tell they are still on the drawing but disappear with mouse movement. When I hover over the floor plan they appear, as soon as i move the mouse pointer away from the floorplan some of the lines disappear. They reappear as the mouse appointer is held over the drawing entity. the more I try to fix this the more unstable the whole drawing becomes.

I can't reproduce that behavior and I never heart about this behavior before.

Highlighting by mouse over = normal behavior and can be controlled within settings.

Changing / loosing entities or layer = nope - never happened in Qcad before. Except you used external drawings with 3D entities. Did you? Just to be sure flatten the drawing to 2D and test again.
Flatten drawing to 2D
Menu ... Misc ... Modify ... Flatten Drawing to 2D.

If nothing helps I recommend to reset Qcad.

Resetting the QCAD configuration:
https://qcad.org/en/tutorial-resetting- ... figuration

... or in a current Qcad version under:
Misc > Reset Configuration

I'm pretty sure that will solve the crazy behavior. Try it in this order and keep us posted. Thanks.

[CVH]

Hi,

Can't find anything wrong with the drawing.
Also with all layers unlocked, shown and thawed.
From the looks of it in the screen captures, I am missing the Meta-Grid (every 96') and some intermediate ruler labels (+/-192', +/-576', +/-960')
Or the Grid is set not to scale automatically at application level ... What won't explain 24'-0" < 96'-0" at the bottom right...

The visible 'Floorplan' block includes 8 lines, the 'Staircase SR' Block rotated 320 degrees and the 'Staircase SL' Block.
'Staircase SL' = 'Staircase SR' rotated 40 degrees and this last is drawn rudimentary straight up.
You can avoid the SR in SL Block.
All layers use continuous black lines 0.25mm (ISO) ... 3 construction lines use: Red, 1mm (ISO), Dash-Dot (2x)

Yes the active layer is visible

To show content, the (current) layer of the Block reference and all layers used by Block entities must be visible.


It is known that Resetting the QCAD Configuration may solve weird problems.

Downside: You loose any customization of QCAD.
Instead of deleting the qcad.ini file you can rename it to fall back on the former preferences.

If that doesn't help you could try to re-install from scratch.
This does not affects the configuration file.

Regards,
CVH

[Retep]

Good Day CVH and Husky
Here is the latest update on my issues.

1. Tried to reconfigure but could not find the QCAD3 file anywhere on my computer
2. Uninstalled and reinstalled QCAD -problem still present.
3. tried to reconfigure and with the new install and the QCAD3 file was there. Reconfigured.

As a result of these steps the program now seems to be working beautifully. (fingers crossed)
I am perplexed how files went missing and/or possibly others corrupted -it's a mystery to me.
In any case I am happy with the results so far. As I mentioned already several times I am very fond of QCAD. It is a very simple and effective 2D program. In fact I prefer 2D drawings over the 3D renderings of programs like sketch up, so very happy it's running the way it should.
Many thanks to both of you for your assistance in this.
I wish you both a very quiet and peaceful holiday season.
Regards
Peter

[CVH]

Indeed kinda weird that the qcad.ini configuration file did not exists.

On first run or on first run after updating ... after starting from scratch, QCAD tries to locate an existent configuration file.
This config is not stored in the application path for obvious reasons.

When not found, QCAD creates a default config file.
On updating, QCAD updates the config accordingly.
The config is also updated for newer Addons, tools, tool options or changes to these.
Persistent tool options are updated after usage.
And so on.

The fact that there wasn't one at all is therefore a big exception.

Regards,
CVH