Renerabbitt

2 hours ago, Joe_Carrick said:

This would also need to be in the "Room Types" defaults so each room type could be different.

 

Mainly I'm interested simply to get the automatic placement in the room(s), but I might also want to vary other parameters such as layer or color.

 

I would think this could be fairly simple to program - just the source of the label to be used.

I think your suggestion should just be allow rich text in room labels which we've been hammering for years.
Because you could just write conditions for room type and accomplish the same thing and would be less work than going through every room type to produce a unique label. 
Also I will mention it again, I am perfectly happy to login to your machine and show you exactly how I have this done using a custom font and how simple it is once you have it setup.
Its a helper manual that remaps anything you want to another part of a font family. And I can do this for any font you want in a matter of minutes. So while we are holding your breath for RT in room labels you can have the perfect system without all of this manual work that you are doing with your labels.
If you are at the raining in idaho I'd be happy to set this up for you

you didnt need to use import, you can just double click the caproject file and it will open in X18 if you said yes to making x18 associated with caproject files.
Its pretty quick, right click your project in x17, hit export. Then find it where you exported and double click it to open in x18

16 hours ago, TCB_BdnMY said:

full tall wall framing plan and section of the front area along

I just handle this with details. I have a detail system that is largely automated. then callouts and big bubbles on a minimal cross section. my details stack up to look like cross sections
A lot less work then trying to get the model to behave

for what its worth

 

13 minutes ago, TCB_BdnMY said:

"thick wall" just be really odd framing?

yup, hence the quick and dirty, haha..talking to a GC that hasnt produced an accurate framing plan in decades..it takes too long. my details handle that, my framers handle that too, deferred truss submittals..engineers approach

one could also build a room instead, vaulted ceiling, doorway, just takes a smidge longer but will actually build the framing more accurately

 

quick n dirty method

1 hour ago, DaveRegis said:

A Chief user had made a standard shaker panel library that solved this issue

simple and inexpensive to generate. will even give you a generation tool so that you can build your own. renerabbitt@gmail.com

 

1 hour ago, RangerSVCS said:

I am wondering if there is a way or feature to lock an entire building from making edits.  Currently working on a project with two separate buildings with different foundations and elevations.  I am trying to adjust one of the buildings only in order to create a breezeway connecting the two.  When I adjust elevations or adjust the roof everything in the project adjusts.  Not sure if there is a feature that allows me to lock a building and editing another.  

consider drawing the second building in a second plan

16 hours ago, SHCanada2 said:

meaning? ...to be expected?

 

if not, do you know the cause and how to prevent it?

 

To be expected high dpi and resolution displays etc and all that. It's not hurting anything 

That's just bucket rendering 

POST 120
Added a new Free symbol package. single download for 275 free symbols only for X18. 
Enjoy
DOWNLOAD

 

 

 

Click in my signature to navigate to our new forum for more free symbols
 

1 hour ago, robdyck said:

but it is simpler than the 3d cladding.

47 minutes ago, HaneyDrafting said:

yes, I am in chief working. 

• Device tab
• Turn off Rotation Lock
• Turn off Dominant
• Leave Horizon Lock on
• Ignore Roll being disabled, because that appears intentional

1 minute ago, HaneyDrafting said:

It stays connected now, but there is no Spin, tilt, or roll feedback. Someone said that the roll function is not available on Chief regardless of OS. 

screenshot your 3d connexion settings with chief as your active window, is spin and tilt toggled on?
Also is Chief being seen as the program in focus?

4 hours ago, KilianDrafting said:

I was actually thinking about this as an option on my commute home.

Thanks for the video too - it clarifies things for me a lot!

this setup is described in more detail here if it helps you:
https://renerabbitt.github.io/ppx18-manual/?chapter=spec-plan-project-information

Are you on X18? use the new cladding features and add any type of board and batten that pleases you

 

On 7/2/2026 at 12:36 PM, clearvuedesign said:

Hey everyone, does anyone know how to access or get information from a file outside of Chief Architect and have it fill text in Chief Architect? Anything along those lines, like Chief reading something that's not in Chief and then writing text for it? 

You have PPX17, there are upgrade codes for PPX18 in your accounts tab. PPX18 has an automatic CSV reader that is already setup for you in a CAD detail. 
See this chapter:
https://renerabbitt.github.io/ppx18-manual/?chapter=jobtread-buildertrend-spreadsheet-linking

9 minutes ago, KilianDrafting said:

I guess that is the solution for client information for now. I try to do as little work in the layout as possible since it is very slow when zooming in/out and has limited functionality. The majority of the information is in the plan file and the layout is basically a glorified print preview. I have a habit of going through the defaults and inputting my specific project information first. I usually don't even open a layout until I am almost done with the preliminary. Thanks for the help, always appreciated!

zooming shouldnt be slow. you may want to send views as plot plan instead of live view and set your layout to update on demand instead of always updating views. 
You can always just send a CAD detail to your template layout page from your plan where your project information is stored. Create a CAD detail, create your info such as client/designer information in that CAD detail, and send that CAD detail to layout. Leave your plan gutted and this will become your template project. 
See video for example:

 

3dConnexion driver registers as a HID device with MacOS so the setting "ignore built-in trackpad when mouse or wireless trackpad is present" toggled off for the trackpad is your first option.
Regarding the device falling asleep, when the 3dmouse goes idle, an event timer through MacOS likely puts the device to sleep through power management. You might be able to force a wake state 
hit command+spacebar and type Terminal then press your return key and type in caffeinate -iu -t 28800
this will tell the OS not to timeout for 8 hours
If you want to cancel this go to that terminal window and press ctrl+c
Dont close the terminal window, leave it open, then test your 3dmouse
regarding mac options, youre limited to 4 radial menus, no workaround for that

1 hour ago, KilianDrafting said:

I apologize @Renerabbitt - I am not following. I have my plan and layout templates saved with generic information but I want specific client information that is saved in a new plan file to match in a layout file linked to that job. 

 

This takes a bit of specialized scripting and approach but I would still ask the question why do you need this why aren't you just inputting your project information in the layout only?

 

On 4/9/2026 at 1:49 PM, johnny said:

2D editing can drive precise and efficient 3D results.

I'm just now seeing this. Fyi I think I mentioned in another thread to show me a function and I could give you an

function. What you show in vector works is what chief called an advanced spline. It's nearly the same function

14 hours ago, BrianBeck said:

Personally I have been in a habit for a long time of always selecting objects in Chief using right-click, this saves a significant amount of keystrokes in the long run,

I do this as well but am definitely having double click issues...I will switch to another mouse to test. I don't plan on turning off logi options like joe since I use hotkeys. 

6 hours ago, KilianDrafting said:

Is there a way to populate the Project Information created in a plan file to automatically fill in the Layout Project Information? I want my Client & Project fields from my plan to all match in my layout. I feel like there should be a way with macros inserted into my Layout Template project fields. (ie. %referenced_plan_name.project.city%)

If you are using a template project(pre-populated layout from plan, then this requires a pretty custom setup. why do you need this in your plan file?
If instead you are using the New Project work flow, then in preferences this will help you:


Personally I use a separate plan for all spec and title block info which pre-populates a bunch of different layout templates for me