Staircase causing confusion with nested group/component

jacm · 3 Apr 2010, 15:23

I have restarted a project of my house because I caused so many mistakes but I learned a lot from that. But as I saved a few group/component items so that it helped my new work greatly. One of the items was a heavily involved mixture containing nested group/component staircase. But there the "saving" hasn't helped only caused me more confusion. I before restarting I updated to 7.1 so I don't know if that has anything to do with it.
The problem I have descovered is that when I go to a section that I've 'edit group/component' to alter or change something, parts are "greened out" so they can't be worked on. But if attempt to work on them without 'editing them' obviously they disappear.
If the only way out is to get rid and start the staircase from scratch OK but this has a lot of work on its own and I haven't learnt from it.
I will try to sent a photo of it and see if it can be salvaged.

jacm · 3 Apr 2010, 15:29

I tried to send the one in 'skp' but it was too large. I don't think my picture won't be any good because it can't be worked on but you never know. I think I know the answer anyway.

John

Gaieus · 3 Apr 2010, 15:41

@jacm said:

...when I go to a section that I've 'edit group/component' to alter or change something, parts are "greened out" so they can't be worked on...

I guess those parts are not inside the group/component. Like in your image, whatever is displayed with blue edges, is inside a group/component, but that piece of geometry under the staircase is definitely outside of it.

@unknownuser said:

But if attempt to work on them without 'editing them' obviously they disappear...

You can set the visibility/invisibility (or fading) under Window > Model info > Components. Something may have been set there and I believe that's why some parts "disappear" when you edit groups/components.

And use the Outliner (Window menu), too, to see, understand and easily organise the hierarchy nested components/groups inside your model.

jacm · 3 Apr 2010, 16:38

Hi Gaieus,
I was disheartened with staircase because it is vertually identical and it a lot work on its own.
I see there is another new item to study, 'outliner', I will have to learn what that does.

The trouble is when The stairs are different groups/components thats How I lost myself because when building the start of the staircase it was a component as this was good as I built one stair all the rast followed suit. But then It had to turn in 90 degrees with a "mini landing of 2 stairs" then followed by 3 stairs. Then the banister rails there was the same hanse more groups, then rails, different angles, different lenghts,......and then.....on....and on.... so you can see how I got confused. Even if I do scrap it and start again it is going to be large and intircate. I thouht it was better than before as it is in the centre of the house thus giving me more room to work, then work outwards.

I'll try to understand about 'outliners' and take it from there. Thanks

John

brookefox · 3 Apr 2010, 17:35

Can you 'save as' the components in question with all layers on and hidden geometry revealed, so as to understand exactly what they consist of and experiment a little more easily with them. Explode them...

Don't redraw.....yet. The components don't look too large to post, I don't think, but I have little experience with that.