glennw

Thanks for the kind words guys, that is everyone except Michael who just wants to punch me out!

Brian, Try this nifty command, I think it is exactly what you are looking for. In plan view, 3D...Remove 3D. It will delete any unsaved cameras and close (but not delete) any saved cameras.

If that were the case, you should get a warning.

As Michael says, post the plan. Also, VERY bad practice to have a stair starting at the door. The door would have to be higher than normal to get headroom. Also dangerous and awkward without a landing.

The terrain modifiers are just that - you really don't have a lot of control - I don't think I have ever used them. The terrain features are the ones to use if you want control.

Perry, I just reread this post of yours. Can you really make a blank segment AND add dimension text to the blank segment. Ahh, I reread your post again. I think you are saying that you can make a blank segment and then add the dimension text by using the text tool - not the Dimension Line Specification dbx?

Perry (or anyone else), When you specify a Blank Segment, does the dimension line still display, or do you loose the dimension text AND the dimension line? In the attached pic, I loose the dimension text AND the dimension line - I'm not sure that we are meant to loose the dim line? And another thing while we are at it. In the help file, the Dimension Line Specification dbx is a small box with no wasted space. Compare it to my dbx, which has a lot of wasted space. I can't resize any smaller to get rid of the wasted space. Why is it so?

You are using the wrong tool. You need to be using a Terrain Feature for which you can specify a height.

Perry, I am pretty sure that if you open a plan or layout from an older version and save it in a newer version, Chief will automatically save an archived copy in the older version format.

Michael, i's particularly good for times when you need to enter something like a surveyors information that comes to you in a different format than your defaults.... Or in a case like this!! It doesn't affect the plan at all as it only applies to the dbx's.

Yes, you can do that. Open the wall dbx. Down in the bottom left hand corner, click Number Style. In the Angle Style section, check Pitch, OK. Back in the Wall Specification dbx you can enter the wall angle as rise/run.

Keep in mind that archive files are only created each time you save a plan - archives are not created if you don't save. I use Previous save.

I won't do it for you, but I can give you a tip on how to do it. Make sure your stair is correct. Toggle on View..."Arc Centres and Ends". In the wall dbx, make sure General...Curved Wall...Lock, is checked (it already should be). Snap the wall centre onto the stair centre and then drag the wall to suit.

Matty, You can place a Sun Arrow in your template plan with the time and date. I have complained about this in the past as I would normally use winter solstice rather than the current date.

Mike, Open the Roof Plane Specification dbx...Options panel...Roof Layers...uncheck "Has Ceiling".

You have been able to do that from many versions ago.

Larry, I don't know, but have you tried unchecking "Export Filled Areas"?

It's not a setting problem. If the Terrain hole extends over the perimeter of the Terrain, it will break the perimeter and the terrain edges around the Terrain Hole will have a skirt. If the Terrain Hole is completely inside the Terrain perimeter, you won't see a skirt. I'll bet with your first image the Terrain Hole is contained by the Terrain perimeter. Likewise, I bet with your second image the Terrain Hole crosses the Terrain perimeter.

Have you checked Cross Hairs...Synchronize With Cursor?

File...Print...Drawing Sheet Setup...Drawing Margins...Right and Bottom should be zero.

Thanks for the clarification Michael.

Are you trying to block 2 text items together or make a block from 1 text item? I think you may be trying to make a block from a single text item. If so, select the text item, shift select it again, on the Edit toolbar there will be a Make Cad Block icon. Click that and now it is a block that you can add to the library.

Did you look in the help file or manual? It is all revealed there.

The other solution if you have a lot of items and don't want to go get them from the library is to create a new toolbar configuration with the commands, tools and library items that you need for a particular task. Just as we have as OOB configurations like Space Planning configuration, Kitchen and Bathroom Design configuration, Default configuration, Terrain configuration, MEP configuration, etc, you can also create your own toolbar configurations so that you can switch the configuration with one click and have a specialised set of commands, tools, library items, etc. One more click when you are finished and you can switch back to your default toolbar configuration. This is a neat way to work because it doesn't load up your screen with hundreds of icons that are only used occasionally or for a specific purpose. I have seen some users with so many toolbars and icons on the screen that there is hardly any room to draw. Think of a toolbar configuration like a library of more than just library items, but also including commands and tools that you would associate with those items.

It would be possible to calculate the amount of mortar. You could add another wall layer that forms part of CMU layer (but so that it all looks like one layer in plan). Give that layer material a volume type (not brick) and work out the thickness to report the correct final volume. You could even use multiple wall layers (sand, lime, cement, water) with other different Material Types to report bags, etc. Not perfect, but could be made to work.