Apex 6 and subtracting an area

[h2obio]

Hi all, for the life of me I can't figure out how to subtract an area. Apex 6 doesn't seem to have an auto subtract like 7 does and ACI was NO help.

Any apex experts out there?

Thanks!

 

[Mike Ault]

Hi all, for the life of me I can't figure out how to subtract an area. Apex 6 doesn't seem to have an auto subtract like 7 does and ACI was NO help.

Any apex experts out there?

Thanks!

Yes, you have to define a negative area in the "Area Definitions Library". Here's how I have mine set up. Just add an area with "negative calculations" and then apply it so it shows up in your list and your good to go. The option to "add an area" with the attributes that you want is on the bottom left-hand side of the dialog box.

 

[h2obio]

Thanks Mike, but I don't believe that my version of Apex has that particular option. I am able to bring up auto subtract, but when I highlight the area, the auto subtract disapprears. I do remember the window you presented on previous versions of Apex.

 

[h2obio]

Well, I used the method described online for Apex 7. It appeared to go smoothly, but didn't actually reduce the floor sq. footage. Further, it revised the the sq. footage on the grid to reflect the report that I cloned!!!..........ugh.

 

[Mike Ault]

Well, I used the method described online for Apex 7. It appeared to go smoothly, but didn't actually reduce the floor sq. footage. Further, it revised the the sq. footage on the grid to reflect the report that I cloned!!!..........ugh.

I re-registered my version of Apex 6 just to compare with the current 7.6 version that I'm using and the dialogue boxes are exactly the same. So that means they should work in the same fashion. For one thing, use Apex in standalone mode while you're experimenting with this. Integrated mode has too many hooks transferring information back and forth between the sketch program and appraisal software. Run it in standalone mode (with ACI not running at all), start with two simple squares, make one positive and then make one negative, and see if it works. Once you have it working properly in standalone mode, then you can go back to normal operations.

 

[h2obio]

I re-registered my version of Apex 6 just to compare with the current 7.6 version that I'm using and the dialogue boxes are exactly the same. So that means they should work in the same fashion. For one thing, use Apex in standalone mode while you're experimenting with this. Integrated mode has too many hooks transferring information back and forth between the sketch program and appraisal software. Run it in standalone mode (with ACI not running at all), start with two simple squares, make one positive and then make one negative, and see if it works. Once you have it working properly in standalone mode, then you can go back to normal operations.

That's really nice of you to go to so much trouble. I'll give that a try in a bit. Thanks!

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

I still use my ancient copy of Winsketch... it's more than 20 years old. Words great. I've used Apex but see no reason why to change and spend the money. Who remembers or uses Sketchup, Rapidsketch or DC Sketch?

 

[Artemis Fowl]

Not sure what method you refer to but I always defined a new area that was negative and did the math the old-fashioned way. Basically what Mike described.

 

[zutero771]

In Apex 6, there isn't an auto subtract tool like in 7, but you can manually subtract an area by using the "Subtract Solids" tool. It might take a bit more effort, but it should work.