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Thanks Larry. I'll give them a call.

Thank you all for your replies..... Thanks David. In X8 and prior, when a wall is framed, the framing material will list in the Wall's Component dbx (fir stud, fir plate). Those aren't acceptable descriptions for me. However, I could edit the framing description at that point, prior to being sent to the Materials List. The customized description would always remain, even when a Materials List was deleted. Starting with X9, framing is no longer included in the Wall's Component dbx. It is sent directly to the Materials List without the benefit of being edited first. Now, you can only change the description in the Materials List, so you'll need to re-enter the description each time a new Materials List is generated. I would prefer everything that is included in the Materials List, including program generated items, have their own Components dbx, so the customized Descriptions will remain when a Materials List is deleted.

Thanks Mick. Unfortunately I'll have to wait until next year's sale, if I'm unable to get an answer. When I upgraded from X8 to X9, they removed an area in the program to go in a different direction, which made it partly unusable for me, so I returned it. I believe you're only allowed to do that once. I can't take a chance that I misinterpreted what I read/heard in the X12 video because I may be stuck with something I can't use. I have the trial of X10 and X11. Neither have taken care of my situation, but from the X12 video, it seems promising. In the video, it states all items in the Materials List will have a components dbx. The PDF says all objects will have a components dbx, that are in the Materials List. I don't know the difference between an item and an object, or whether it can be used in the manner I need. Hey, I do appreciate your response. I should've started my research earlier, but just now saw X12's new features. Thanks!

The above quote is from Chief Architect, a new X12 feature, but I don't know what all it includes. Maybe a Beta Tester could help out? Are the framing parts, such as studs, joists, and rafters considered objects? Same with polyline solids, are they considered objects? I know they are all reported to the materials list, but will they have a Components dbx, to where you have control over their description and possibly adding a count of nails per stud, joist, etc., prior to being sent to the Materials List? In the past, these items did not have a components dbx and is the reason I haven't upgraded since X8. If every item that's now reported to the Materials List has a Components dbx, then I'll upgrade. Thanks very much.

I see. It was done on purpose, so my situation no longer matters. Being the Materials List is not used by many people, the last sentence above tells me everything I need to know. Thanks once again and sorry for the trouble. You've answered my original question.

Thanks Mick. The only lost functionality is the one mentioned, from my first post. The other comments were as to how I think it should work. I don't think a plan is necessary. Below are the instructions to replicate: 1.) Open a new plan and draw a wall, any length. 2.) Select the wall and frame it using "Build Framing for Selected Object(s)". 3.) While the wall is still selected, open it's "Components" dbx. 4.) Follow the procedures above for X9 and X10. In X10, the Framing will not be listed in the "Components" dbx, whereas X9 does list the Framing. My previous comments, about missing subcategories, etc, when added to the Library, have always functioned this way every since walls were allowed to be added to the Library, so it's not a lost functionality. However, in my opinion, it's a bug, being it doesn't work correctly and is useless (again my opinion) adding it to the Library, if it isn't going to retain the information, that was entered into the "Components" dbx. As far as I know, everything else (objects) that has a "Components" dbx, will retain this information and also be allowed to edit directly in the Library. Between you and me, I doubt they want to hear about this, since it doesn't deal with lost functionality. Sorry I mentioned it. Please don't spend any more time on this. You've already done way more than expected and I do absolutely appreciate all you've done.

I see how that can be confusing. I meant to say that Walls do not retain their Count (in the Components dbx), coming from the Library, because they will eventually vary in length. Whereas, a symbol will retain it's count, because it is a single item, with a count of 1. The more you add individual symbols, the count increases, but a wall is stretched, instead of adding. I can see now I'm probably clear as mud. Sorry for the confusion. This is actually done correctly in the program, so I shouldn't have mentioned this at all.

I appreciate you doing this Mick. I'm going to attach two pictures, that will hopefully explain what the comment is about. I used X9, only because it has framing in the Components dbx, whereas X10 doesn't. One picture will show how I customized the Units of Measure, Descriptions, and Subcategories, then added to the Library. The other picture will show how it appears, after selecting it in the Library and placing in Plan View. All of the customization has been lost. I might also mention, that since Chief has a limit of 10 layers per wall, there are not enough layers to add misc. items such as brick ties, nails for drywall-studs-plates, drywall tape and any other items that may be necessary to finish an exterior wall. This particular wall that I'm demonstrating has already reached the 10 limit layer. I know about added accessories, but I think wall layers is the better way to go.

Thanks for the update Mick. Framing is the only Category I noticed missing. As far as comments on Walls, I prefer to makes changes directly in the Components dbx, which is sent to the Materials List. Customizing Descriptions, Subcategories, Units, etc., described the way I want, in the Components dbx, is sent to the Materials List. Now that Framing has been removed, if you delete a Materials List with customized framing descriptions, entered directly in the Materials List, you will need to re-enter all the information when creating a new Materials List. Having framing in the Components dbx, will eliminate the need to re-enter. My second comment would be: When you add Wall Types to the Library, they should retain all the information you send (i.e, Subcategories), from the Components dbx, except the Count. I have no idea why it doesn't, as most items with Component dbx's do, but they do retain their count, in which they should, as they are per each. Walls are by the Lft.

Eric and Mick. Thanks for taking the time to verify.

Could anyone confirm this please? Thanks 1.) Copy "Bare Bulb" and paste into your User Library. It's located in Chief Architect Core Catalogs/Architectural/Lighting/Ceiling Mounted/Flush Mount/Bare Bulb. 2.) While in the User Library, right click on Bare Bulb and open it's "Component" dbx. After it opens, then close the dbx by selecting "OK", no changes necessary. Make sure to select "OK". 3.) Are there any changes? Mine looks like the picture below. If you place in plan, then open it's Object Specification dbx, it will say no 3D present. I think I know how to correct it, but I don't think it should work this way. Then again, it may only be happening to me.

I hear you Chris. Their way, or the highway. I completely understand. They can't program per each individual. Thanks for the information Mick. I will try that.

Thank you Michael. I won't tell a soul..

Thanks Michael. I bet you're correct. I've always used this program, in ways it wasn't meant to be, but it normally worked good......until they take it away. Learned my lesson. Even though I think this method (use in different ways from the norm) has been somewhat encouraged, beware, you may lose valuable information. This isn't the first time I've lost something, but it will be the last.

Thanks Mick. In the previous version, adding a Subcategory would give you another choice, in the column list of a schedule. As an example, if you use the Framing Schedule and add a subcategory to the Category "Framing", that subcategory would show up as another choice in the Framing Schedule column. I didn't use this feature, in the way intended, but rather as another sorting method, once the Materials List was exported to a spreadsheet. That's why I liked the drop down box and would not need to manually type in the subcategory each time, so I'm thinking there must be another way to accomplish this. I also noticed one of the tool icons didn't migrate to the Materials List properly, but probably because they added another tool icon to takes its place. "Display Options" performed different tasks in the previous version, depending on which view it was in. If in Plan View, "Display Options" would show you the "Layer Display Options", however, when in the Materials List view, "Display Options" would give you the "Materials List Options Display". Now the Materials List has it's own tool icon, "Materials List Options Display", which has been separated from the Plan View.