country

The surveys here are always in metric. Almost all our residential construction is in feet and inches. Canadian, eh!

In Vectorworks you just put in the numbers (ie: 6m) and it converts to feet and inches. Both can be shown in dual dimensions. If this didn't work I would have to drag out the conversion calculator. If Chief doesn't do a direct conversion it will be the calculator.

Is the wall reversed? I have done that a couple times when revising a plan and the Exterior wall doesn't know which way to go because it is in a "room".

Copy, reflect about and then copy and paste the rest.

This is something I should think of for my ICF and SIP houses. I am still struggling with the concepts of anno sets combined with layer sets and all the various styles that people seem to use. Establishing something that will work for me isn't what I would call easy

Thanks. I'll start using macros for them too. I was wondering how they were different from the room name and that explains it.

Excellent suggestion. I was having a terrible time with a multi-height deck ceiling and getting the supports correct, this solved the issue. THANK YOU.

I notice in your drawing that the pantry doesn't have a dimension. I prefer not having room dimensions in powder rooms and other small spaces. Is that possible or do I have to turn off the label and add text?

As soon as a client mentions changing ceiling heights I discuss the stairs with them. Quite often they are a limiting factor and require adding square footage to achieve the change. The entire footprint can be affected.

I am always thankful I am no longer drawing on pieces of paper......this situation is always an add-on cost to my plans.

Your stairs are going to change. They need a longer run so you will have to do some interior work too.

I haven't tried this yet but I will have the same question. I usually put a full roof view GL drawing on my plans and haven't given it any thought yet.

Many times the outbuild is an afterthought. If I have the main drawing complete all it generally needs is an updated site plan with the second plan and I could even do that with a simple CAD poly. At this stage in my learning curve it seems much simpler to seperate the 2 drawings.

If I could just soak all of this wisdom up and draw from there it would be wonderful but alas, doesn't seem to be filtering in fast enough.

Okay, that makes sense. If I have to do an additional building on a site, I will do it in a seperate plan and then import as a symbol if I need to show it with the main building.

So much to learn and so little time......

I do a lot of homes with walk out basements. As you said the front portion is a poured concrete or ICF wall. Would the footing for that wall and the back frost wall then be on the foundation level (0)?

I agree that the text overlay is the best option at this time. The OP was asking about suppressing dims. and I was saying it would be my preferred method too. Nothing more than a thought, of which, I seem to have many

Suppress the dimension and add the text is just that much simpler and faster than adding a text box and positioning it properly. Every little thing adds up and one of the reasons I am using Chief is to gain speed.

Matt, simple answer, Chief cannot do this.

In my other program I use a suppressed value for items such as framing for fireplace units. You put in "to suit unit" instead of the dimension because many of my clients have not selected units or even styles at the CD stage. I do locate the overall width and centreline for the exterior wall framing but not interior. If, at a later date, they have a unit, I will put the proper dimension back in so they have a correct, as built plan.

I do use it for other situations but this is one in most plan. (I am working on a job now that will have to adjust window well heights depending on final site grades). I know I could put in a line, select arrows and add text but I would prefer the dimension option that Matt asks for.

Alan, you have saved me a lot of aggravation to start the day tomorrow. Thanks for the "words".

Thanks David. I thought I looked through every setting but must have missed it. I will have another look in the morning.

I would like to have trim on my windows but is there some way of taking off the lower board (apron) if you are putting in a stone sill or placing it over a water table board?

I do not send any drawings out of my office except for PDF's or images. My clients are not designers, that is what they pay me for. If they want to design they can buy a program and redraw. No exceptions.

I am going to start doing videos with "Snagit" and they can replay if they want different views.

Yes, I definitely agree. The data base I am using has some basic predefined folders and then you can add your own just as in the user library. They are then alphabetical in each folder but much easier to find. I will also send in a suggestion as I know how well this works.

Perry/Joe: How do you sort that large a number of macro notes so you can quickly find them? Is it easier than putting them in a user "note" library?

This sounds very similar to the callout database I am currently working with but I thought the library was the easiest method until I saw Perry's video.

Richard

You should be able to link your 24" monitor with the laptop and use both screens. The NVIDIA card can be easily set up for that. Will make jobs much easier and save your eyesight.

I was putting a stone material region at a wall corner with corner trim. When I deleted the corner trim after placing the region the corner worked. It still will not come in front of a foundation wall corner but at least looks approx. right.

Look under openings.