DHerb2014

Considering UpCodes, and wanted to find out from this group if they have specific details in CAD or if they're standard PDF's? Reason I'm asking is that it would be very helpful to be able to change the font type/size for the UpCodes details if needed. I've reached out to UpCodes for demo, and haven't heard back yet.

Lastly, this is a huge time saver by just clicking and selecting. No more hunting or scrolling down the Library Line Types to get what you need.

Steve - many, many thanks for this advice. It worked! These were my steps: 1. Create individual line types (cold water / hot water / Vacuum etc. ) 2. After creating the different lines on the Plan file, delete all of them to get back to blank template 3. Double-check the Line Type drop down menu to make sure they're all there 4. Save the new blank Plan file template and go into Preferences and point your New Plan File to this new template Thanks again Steve!!

Here's a screen shot of what I'm trying to load into the Line Type default

I've got a question regarding loading the entire Line Style library into a default plan file for Chief X15. Trying to load the entire "Basic Line Styles, HVAC, Plat, and Plumbing Line Styles into the drop down list of options to select. Currently have to select the Library tool, then scroll down to Line Styles, select the line needed, and go back to drawing. Completely baffled on how to load the full set of Line Styles into the plan file? The User Library for Line Styles has been downloaded and populated. Please see attachment for my current drop down selection.

Thanks Rene, as always. Attaching the Close Polyline button and finished roof for reference.

Good morning. I've been trying for the past 15-minutes to close a polyline for a fairly complicated roof. Tried removing "sections" and then piecing them together, tracing the perimeter and corners, making sure the "Connect CAD Segments" button is selected, and it will not close. Please see attached image of plan view looking down onto the roofline.

Thanks again Michael for your help.

Correct. I didn't measure the existing house, and just took a couple of photos. Had to rely on scaling with Bluebeam. This was done more to show the homeowner what her "curb appeal" could look like for an AirBnB like she wants to start. She loves it!

Michael, thanks again for your invaluable help on this one. Just finished the render and wanted to post it. Here are the before and after shots.

Thanks for the replies, but it needs to match the photo, with a 5'-6" flat soffit (ceiling). The siding continues horizontally above the cutaway. What's really tricky are the eaves that match each other with this overhang.

I'm working on a remodel of a straightforward project. Simple gable roof with an intersecting gable. I've watched several videos trying to learn how to extend the roof over a wood deck, and didn't find anything. That said, please see attached PDF photo of the existing house showing dimensions , 3D Chief renders, and the plan file. I've tried spanning the entire roof and then bringing the wall back, but the siding doesn't continue like the photo shows. Also tried an invisible wall with ceiling above, and that didn't work either. Wanted to reach out to the experts in this group to see how to solve this one. I'm baffled. XYZ FLOOR PLAN X16.plan XYZ RESIDENCE.pdf

Yes, X16 is on the same PC computer as X15. Many thanks for the links and response! One other aspect I totally forgot about is backing up the entire library and importing it into my MacBook Pro. I'll research the links and see if this can be done quickly on both platforms.

I've upgraded to X16 and want to know how to export all Bonus, Manufacturer, and User catalogs from X15? I spent over two hours downloading Bonus and Manufacturer catalogs in X15, and am hoping that there's a way to avoid the unproductive time to do this all again? Many thanks for comments.

Thanks DBC. Is there a way to make this a default setting or do we have to manually select it each time we use it? Wish CA would open these settings up for us. AFCI has too small of a font size and uses City Blueprint. A double negative.

I've been trying to find out (unsuccessfully) how to change font type and size for electrical symbols, particularly the AFCI outlet. By default, AFCI has a very small font height and is City Blueprint. I'd like to change it to a 3" high, Arial Narrow font for example. Please see attached for example.

Rene, What do you mean by not keeping your data files in the Cloud? Do you mean the actual X15 program itself? Not clear on data files vs. project files? We keep the project files in Dropbox and work off of them in Dropbox as "live" files that are saved directly into Dropbox and not kept in our PC's. Only one person at a time can access the project file itself.

Many thanks for chiming in Rene. Yes, I would like to know what I'm doing incorrectly with Chief and Dropbox. I don't want this to be a recurring theme. Are there links or recommendations for making this a standard protocol? As far as the Mac, I don't do photo-realistic renders, and if I need to get close, I use Twinmotion. I'm using Logic X for recording music and like the Unix based platform vs. the clunky Windows code. No platform is perfect, but the Mac to me is where I'm heading at some point in the future. AutoCAD will run under Parallels or Bootcamp when needed.

SOLVED! I tried everything with Chief, then decided to try Restoring Windows to an earlier version. Thank goodness I had a restore point from two weeks ago. I restored back to this, and reinstalled a fresh copy of X15, copied over my Templates and User Libraries, and it's living/working perfect again under Dropbox. Can't wait until the Mac Studio comes out with the M4 Ultra chip, as I'm ready to dump Windows completely. Been using it since its MS DOS days (1989).

Hoping someone has encountered this before. I was having numerous error messages when opening X15 and saving files. I called Tech Support and they didn't provide a solution, other than telling me to NOT use cloud services such as Dropbox for "live" files. It had been working perfectly until two weeks ago, when the error messages started populating. I uninstalled X15, after making copies of Library files, etc. I noticed that after uninstalling, X15 data folders/files were still on the Windows 10 tree. I deleted them manually as well, thinking a fresh install would place them back in order. I downloaded a fresh copy of X15 from SSA and reinstalled. Now I'm getting four error messages when opening the program (please see four attached). When opening X15 now, not only do I get the four error messages, I don't have any toolbars. I get seven error messages when closing the program, but want to solve the startup issues first. It's too late to call Tech Support and am hoping someone has a solution.

My User Data is on the PC. My collaborator (out of state) and I use the Dropbox file as a shared file. He does not work in/on it while I'm using it. For example, he will place a folder such as CD Floor Plan Model in Dropbox under his username. I have his password and keep it accessible to load or work on his files that he keeps in the specific folders. This afternoon I tried to "Make Cad Block" from the icon. No problem. When I tried to save the block to my Library, it gave the error message that I posted earlier. Also getting strange error messages such as "Could not create backup file "C:/Users/MyName/Dropbox/.../X15 Plans/Project. An attempt will be made to save. You should determine why the backup could not be made and correct the problem. Possibilities include a full disk, a path name that is longer than 260 characters or disk corruption." Never had that come up in the 20+ years of using CA.

I'm working on the project through Dropbox. It lives and updates in Dropbox. Collaborating with a colleague in another state on this project.

I'm having challenges with trying to block and save block to My Library symbols for X15 on PC. Keep getting error messages. Please see attachments. Have never encountered this before, very strange.

Thank you guys. Really appreciate it. I'll review the videos and learn how to properly use Saved Plan Views, etc. I'm used to AutoCAD and how their system operates, and need to learn more about Chief. As always, the Chief User's Group is the best around!

Thanks Charles. Why would the Electrical Layer globally override the other settings? You should be able to switch from Electrical Layer Set back to Working Plan Set, and have the changes reflect on the Layout sheet. Why do you need to re-link if it's just changing the setting from a drop down menu? That's a glitch to me. A user should be able to click "Undo" several times to get back to original plan view, and not have to re-link anything. Can't even do that...