IvanCyr

Hi Rene, I responded last week but lost it after I got the unending microsoft blue swirl of death...sorry for the delay. To reply, I don't need the BIM. The request is for more options to define the stirrups adequately for material list computations. I recognize there could be some vocabulary differences in local, but needed values are "Concrete Cover", Stirrup type(s) which by default would include the number of "Hooks" required. Different posts would likely require specific stirrup types, ie cylindrical vs rectangular. I'll try to upload an example image in next post...since last time trying to upload the image, I lost my text. See next...

Hey Rene, I'm using this macro in the framing member defaults...just that engineering will have different beam sizes and rebar requirements. Engineering determines size and spacing of rebar. Stirrups can be wrapped differently for 4/6/8/10 longitudinal bars/plus circular and "off-shape" posts...LOTS of options...need accurate measurements for minimizing waste and improving efficiency for workers on site. Spacings differ on span & load..therefore beam size does not necessarily dictate stirrup number within a beam. Chief does offer the total length of stirrups required but it is a number which the formula is "hidden" and is not necessarily accurate due to assumptions within the software which we, as users, cannot change. A stirrup length for a particular wrap pattern can be easily double what Chief produces.

Renee, Thank you for your reply. Indeed the %object_properties% are fully exposed for my use. Effectively in CA, the stirrups are not adequately defined for effective use. I am interested in output in the Materials List and I do have a good macro option...I was interested to know if any "deep dive" into the software gave me either better understanding or options for easier calculations. Sadly, it does not seem to be the case. Effectively, I take both my concrete post/beams and use the Stirrup Count and Stirrup Oversize for values I use in my macro to make "smart" calculations. I add "Accessories" to the beam in its component. Delete the Chief Stirrup value. The stirrup options are just math and I created macros to calculate each stirrup type I am using... I calculate the number needed based on a spacing value I "steal" from "stirrup_count". I am interested to know the stirrup rebar size, single stirrup length, how many I need to cut, and the total length of specific size rebar for the stirrups. The longitudinal rebar is currently adequately defined in Chief...stirrups need considerable help; but really needs only one more output in the Materials List and two other variables to define 95% options available in this construction type. My 2 cents. :-) Very much love the fact that we can code inside the software to make outputs to our needs.

For concrete beams in Chief, if its fabricated from concrete, Chief has specifications for "longitudinal" rebar with overlap and manually include # of bars/rods as "Rebar Count". This is fairly basic. However, regarding stirrups, there are a couple factors which are problematic for me and wonder if anyone has found an EASY answer. I want to have Chief calculate the # of stirrups given a fixed spacing (which I can not find here only "Stirrup Count" which means I have to take the beam and divide the length by spacing, truncate the value and add one (usually). This must be done manually for every concrete beam of various length. Is there a known method to make this automatic?? Second, I would like to have Chief calculate the total length of stirrup rebar...which seems to be found within the beam's object properties and listed within Ruby Code as "total_stirrup_length". What is not known here, although it would not be too hard to reverse engineer it, is to establish what Chief uses as the Concrete Cover (the amount of concrete outside of the "longitudinally" placed rebar). Is there a way to access the width and height of the concrete cover values of a beam? For the record, I have created macros to calculate this automatically using a known value for the concrete cover but now I have to set the Chief stirrup count to zero so I can do what I desire automatically...just seems to be something simple that Chief could do for us. One work around which I am looking at is setting the stirrup_count as the spacing value and just using that in my macro. Perhaps I'm missing something obvious...or not so obvious. Any takers for comments? Thanks in advance. Ivan

Hey Michael.... Crickets...that's what happened! LOL I desire a solution or the easiest workaround....looks like I'm awarded a workaround. Good enough for now :-) Any ideas?? Cheers,

Hey Tea Time, As I was pondering this yesterday, I was thinking that if I could define the room just a 1/2" bigger using the concentric tool, I could use a room molding PL, but your suggestion is better; use the Standard Room Area then "magic wand" it to a Mat PL. Thanks for your input. Much appreciated. Cheers,

In Chief "Help" it states, "A Materials List calculated from a room is created for only the contents of that room: wall materials are not included." Anyone know of a way to get it to assume the wall drywall layer without using the Mat List PL tool? Thx in advance.

Thanks Renee, I do a fair bit of work with Zapier...it works well. I've moved lots from there to Hubspot + Trello with Soundboard now...smoother workflow with less edits with updates. What in Chief might "ping" Zapier to get it to action?? Have you worked through that yet? Thx.

Hi Rene, Curious if you have found any further solutions?? I am investigating the possibility reading price data from a cloud source exterior to Chief? I look forward to your reply. Cheers,

This definitely gets my attention for a solution. What I would like to do, given a fairly accurate Mat List out of Chief, is to assign pricing to the suppliers. Effectively, I have a builder who uses certain suppliers. Say they have 10 wood floor types with unique pricing. I want to create a unique library folder with 10 flooring types. In the library, I want to insert code into the component pricing (macro??) that points to an external source in the cloud where the supplier updates HIS price. When generating a Mat List, I want Chief to "go" to the cloud and read that pricing for that unique floor and insert that suppliers price for the day. Anyone know a method with code to instruct Chief to look outside itself for specific pricing data??

Thank you for the reply. I'll send you an email tomorrow with more specifics. Ivan Thx Rene. I need a bit more sophistication but I love this idea you for going there. I'm sure it will come in hand in the future! I'll chat up Alaskan on this one. Thanks for the reply regardless.

To some of the more capable gurus within the Chief community in material lists and ruby coding, I have a complex .obj file imported into Chief. I have been able to import the entire model into Chief successfully with each component within the model given a specific material. I can "see" the materials in the %objectproperties% macro. First, I want to do the following: 1. Provide a numerical integer value to the individual symbol components in Chief of any given material (do this manually). For example, for an imported chair, I would like 4 legs identified (manually set) to which a specific material has been given. The seat cushion would be one item. The frame another item. The 6 vertical support rods of a 4th material defined within %objectproperties%. Effectively, I want to be able to create a hash of: item 1; material A; count a\ item 2; material B; count b\ item 3; material C; count c\ item 4; material D; count d\ Second, create some way to cumulatively add ALL imported .obj chairs (variable x) around a dining room table (repackage all chairs as an architectural block ideally or some other method) and provide a total count of each item. As a note, chairs may NOT be identical. Ideally want the attributes available in %objectproperties%. If not, then a second option would be to have components listed in the Mat List. I look forward to replies, Ivan

Likely more complicated...but maybe I'm overthinking this. I'm trying to ascertain in the Layout a mechanism to decipher when the %referenced_view_floor_number% is the "Attic" floor, that I can literally write "Attic" in areas in the layout at will. I can return the floor number ,but when I'm dealing with a 2 story home with a foundation, Floor 0 is the foundation, and Floor 3 is the Attic. I'm trying get either a counter to "see" the Attic (as it stands now I can ONLY glean an integer) or the other idea is that we duplicate/add/delete layout pages manually to the number of floors in the building and my template is designed to automatically sequence as much as I can automatically...and if I can get a comparator to the manual "label" which generally gives me pages, I can then create a script to test for "Foundation" at floor level 0 using %referenced_view_floor_number% and then compare %layout.label%'s # value (the value of #). I have the foundation figured out; easy since it is literally Floor 0; simple.....just don't know how I can "find" if the %referenced_view_floor_number% is actually the Attic. I'm thinking I can compare it to the manually set up pages whether I add or delete...the template is set up for a foundation with 2 floors. I can't see a way to glean the # value. Perhaps is as simple as the leaving the # symbol in the Label section and finding other text set up in a macro to fill in the titles using other scripts/macros??? Got some testing to do....

So I've been thinking....the smoke has cleared a bit... Is there a way to "find" a global variable where Chief assigns "Attic" to %referenced_view_floor_number% because clearly, in Chief, above your highest floor, the floor above is deemed "A" for Attic? Second, on the layout, I've set up a template feature where I use the # for page sequencing using the Label selection on the Layout Page Specification, and to be able to automatically create duplicate pages for Titles for Floor 1, Floor 2 etc. Is there a way to "capture" that # value as it starts with 1 then sequentially moves up one as an integer. On any particular page, can I "read" within Ruby code on any given layout page what that # is currently showcasing? This would be helpful but I can't seem to glean that info from anywhere. Thanks. Waiting to be WXOF....(an aviation term to be weather of zero visibility in FOG)