EmmaCox

Okay thanks for the input guys, I ended up just having to put a dimension detail on the drawings.. I just made my own dimensions out of CAD lines so that it would work. The reason why I was having to do this in the first place is because our framers were getting confused when they had to take away 1" from our dimensions for the framing length.. We dimension to the 1" rigid on the main floor plan and then to the concrete on the foundation plan so that when you go from floor to floor those dimensions are the same. 

So I'm trying to dimensions to two layers on the wall for the exterior dimension string. I want to dimension to both the stud and the 1" rigid insulation that is on the exterior of the stud. The only way that I am able to figure out how to do that is to manually put a line or something on the stud so that the dimension string will snap to that specific line (picture 2) but I don't like the thought of "what if" that whole wall ever got moved and then the line that I had drew didn't get moved with it.

It will let me do the very exterior line which is the siding, then the rigid (which is what I set it to on the wall type), then the interior stud (which I set it in the wall type as well) and also the drywall..

Can anyone help?

Oh sorry Eric. And Michael thanks for the tip!! This will be very helpful!! 

Okay, thanks for the feedback guys! And Eric, mine looks like this with check boxes.

Thank you, I'm loving X9 a lot! And okay perfect! That worked for the room specification issue, but the transform/replicate still doesn't want to default to the last command used for some reason.

I have 2 questions!

1. When I was using the transform/replicate command in Chief X3, it would remember the last command that I used it for.

For example:

I select an object and open the transform/replicate command and move & copy the object over 2ft.  

Next, I select a different object and open the transform/replicate command to move & copy the object over 3ft.. but the transform/replicate remembered that I had just copied and moved something so it already had the copy and move boxes checked off so I didn't have to check them off again.

Now, on X9 every time I go to use the transform/replicate command and open it, it defaults to just having the move box checked off all the time. So if I had just copied an object and want to do it again with a different object I have to go and check off the copy box again..

I know its not a big deal to just have to check off the copy box every time I want to copy something but it is more convenient to have the last command defaulted when copying things frequently..

Does anyone know how I can set this on X9, so that it defaults to the last command??  

2. When I would open a room specification in Chief X3, it would default to last tab I had open on the previous room specification I had open. 

For example:

I open a room specification in the kitchen to edit the ceiling height in the structures tab.

Next, I open the room specification in the bedroom to edit the ceiling height and it automatically has it open on the structures tab already.. 

Now, on X9 every time I open the room specification it has it defaulted to open on the general tab.  I know its not a big deal to have to just click on the structures tab again when I want to edit the heights, but usually I have to go through every room to edit the structure heights to make sure they are all the same... One extra step to click on the structures tab but it is more convenient if it is already open on that tab..

Can anyone help?

Yes sorry I removed the layout file! Sorry for the confusion!

Oh wow, my margins were like -14000 or something... I changed them all to 0. Not sure how that changed. Thanks!!

Okay thanks Eric

I've tried sending it to every paper size and there all just blank sheets on the preview.

What do you mean by "update the layout file"?

I've tried selecting every printer name and they are all showing up as blank sheets on the preview

Still showing as blank sheets.

We recently just upgraded our chief from X3 to X9 in my office (which is awesome!!). Today I am trying to Print to PDF from layout and it is showing the pages as blank white sheets. I'm not sure why it's not working, can anyone help me out? I have attached a screenshot of what the dialogue box says, but once I click okay the PDF is blank sheets.

I emailed CA and apparently its an additional $100 plus shipping for each hardware lock

Yes, we are going to keep the two hardware locks and just upgrade the two programs.  I love the hardware locks as well as it allows me to use the program at work and at home! 

1 hour ago, lbuttery said:

yes, CA still has hardware locks

but they cost extra

 

Lew

Okay thank you!! 

2 hours ago, jbaehmer said:

CA does have an additional license discount they do.  They would need to get you the pricing on it or you can find it on their website.  I don't believe they have hardware locks for CA anymore.

 

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/premier/

Thank you 

We have two separate computers with two separate Chief Architect X3 Licenses in our office. We are looking to upgrade to X8, but now there is no option to go from X3 or prior, you can only upgrade from X4 being the lowest version.. So my question is since we would now have to buy a new X8 License would we have to buy 2 separate X8 Licenses or is there some kind of a deal now were you can buy one license and use it on two computers at the same time? Would it only come with one hardware lock?

Okay thanks for the feed back guys!! Appreciate it!

After reading a few forums I know there is a way to do the watermark text but most people are using Chief X8 which has different options than Chief X3 (which is what I am using). I want to be able to put a watermark onto a floor plan and some coloured renders that are all in the layout file on separate sheets. 

In the other forums an option was to put the text in very light grey onto page 0 and then print the pages in grey scale.. but I want to be able to see the colour.  Even when I tried using grey scale and "print to PDF", the text showed up as black letters over the floorplan and not translucent letters.  Another option was to put the text onto page 0 and then put it at the back of the group using "drawing order".. The only option on X3 is "Bring to Front of Group".  Another option was to use Photoshop, but I want to keep the floor plan in Chief so that it is more clear when I "print to PDF".  Lastly, there is an option to use Chief 3D text found in the library and then somehow flatten then text.. but for some reason none of the letters can be imported from the library onto my Chief. 

Can anyone help me out?! 

Finally got it to work!! I tried it on my colleagues computer because he has a newer computer with Microsoft X10.  So he had to set up the printer "Microsoft Print to PDF" and the transparent images worked!!  Thank you so much for your help 

I don't have the option "Microsoft print to PDF", I am going to try and download Adobe and see what happens, thanks!

Both of the images are PNG's and unfortunately I don't have the "Save as PDF" option. I think I would have to buy or have a trial of Adobe for that option to be in the printer settings, so for now I just have the free PDF Factory Program, but maybe that's the problem because for Chopsaw the transparent background worked fine..

I am trying to experiment and make a sheet layout on chief - on this sheet I have 2 images that have transparent backgrounds, a leaf and a wolf. Everything looks good until I try to print, or make a PDF of the sheet layout.  When I try to do this, the 2 pictures show up with either black or white backgrounds where its suppose to be transparent.  

I have attached a screenshot of what the sheet layout looks like on chief which is what I want the layout to look like. I have also attached the PDF.

Please let me know if anyone knows how to solve this problem.  I may have to resort to using photoshop for this project but chief is way easier to use for numerous reasons and also due to the fact that I can just send the floor plans to the layout and it isn't blurry.