Anna_Gorres

Hello All, I want to do an enlarged plan of the kitchen. I do not see a camera view for this. Do I have to do this manually? I feel like this would get quite 'muddy'. Your help is always appreciated! Anna

Yep, and they are our company's framers, so this is they way they will want all new construction drawings.

Michael, Yes, that is what I am referring to - thank you for your help! I guess manually adjusting the exterior walls won't take much time. Thanks! Anna

David & David, Thank you for your responses. I have already done both and it does not seem to actually dimension to the center of the framing for the exterior walls. Interior walls, yes. I'm sure it's something simple....but I've already spent a few hours on it today and hoping someone else knows what I'm doing wrong off the top of their head! Thanks much! Anna

Hello All, I cannot seem to find how I dimension to the center of the framing, which is what our framing guys have requested. I would assume CA would have provided this option. Your help is always appreciated! Anna

Hello All, I have searched the Chief Architect Libraries, and cannot seem to find a door with sidelights. The problem is in the schedules. Can someone point me in the right direction, or do I have to create it as a custom library item? Thank you!

Hello everyone, I have a few severe dips in my terrain. I imported a DWG and then manually set the elevation data. I believe it was a You Tube video. I believe what I need to do is to trim my elevation lines that exceed the terrain perimeter. I know I saw a video on this prior, but can't seem to find it now. Neither the break line tool nor the Control+3 allow me to break and crop the elevation lines. Secondly, I am an interior designer, not an architect, and am not at all familiar with elevation data/survey data/etc. I will be using these features quite a bit with my current employer. Any recommendation on how to self train?

And again, I am unable to upload the file for you all. I tried uploading in my initial post, as well as in a reply. No luck. Anna

Hello, Plan is attached. This is a simple plan for a permit. I entered the top of landing height in it's specifications box to be 11'-6". When I measure the elevation, it is way off (South Elevation). This inaccuracy is what makes me worried about using Chief. What is causing this? Thank you! Anna

A newer graduate (2nd career, so not a young graduate), we used Revit for all class projects, and it is what I used for the first year after graduation. I am currently using CA Premier X8, per my new employer/contract. We work on anything from new builds to remodels. So where I dimension to (framing layer vs wall face vs window opening vs center of window) constantly changes. Not only are the floor plan dimensions inefficient, they don't always seem to work. What am I missing? What do you do (create multiple dimension types)? Sometimes the dimension won't grab onto anything. I'm left using a point to point, which is inefficient if you are trying to move this around to match specific dimensions. I always seem to have to pull the marker to where I want that dimension to pull from. Inefficient and leaves too much room for human error. Dimensions in elevations and cross sections are a joke. Again, inefficient and leaves too much room for human error. I miss the ability to lock items in Revit. If I needed something to say in a specific spot, I could lock it and if by doing other things in Revit, things that would normally automatically change or move that item, I would get a message. I've watched various videos on You Tube, CA Training Videos, and ChiefTutor. Is there something you've done that was helpful? A book, a seminar, etc? Thanks in advance for your help!

Hello, I am new to CA (from Revit), we use Premier X8, I'm in my 5th month. One of the greatest headaches, at this point, is not being able to manage design options. For example, if I have a front elevation or a fireplace with cabinetry design, and want to show two or three options of how that could looks, I am currently saving it as a new file. This becomes inefficient and leaves room for human error. Suggestions? Thanks, much!

I am new to Chief Architect (formerly used Revit), we use Premier X8. We recently had a survey done, and I was unable to import the surveyor's file into CA within a workable manner. I posted to this forum and received some help. What I was told is that Civil 3D, the software the surveyors used, is not compatible with Chief. The issue was: Civil 3D information was grouped in blocks, and CA was unable to read the blocks. A video said to ask the surveyor to explode the blocks. Our surveyor said all of the information was in the blocks, so exploding would delete the information. They sent over a text file, which I have not had time to research how to import properly. What I'm wondering: If Civil 3D is the most common survey software, why is this not more compatible with CA? What civil software is CA compatible with? Do I need to specifically request something from our surveyor at the start of a project, for future reference? Are they any good training videos for importing a text survey file to get accurate elevation information into CA? (I haven't started looking yet) Any help/guidance is much appreciated! Anna

Almost forgot - Chief Tutor is amazing - and actually inexpensive. Anna

I am also a Revit user now using CA,using X8. It's only been 4.5 months. I am a 2015 graduate (switch of careers, so not a young new graduate) and we learned Revit in college. In the short time I've been using CA, I was able to model a large church - which was mostly the exterior (but with a complex landscape for a beginner), the entry, welcome/lobby area and the sanctuary. This was for presentation purposes only, so exactly accurate dimensions were not necessary, but proportion was. I have also modeled and completed a small CD set for a front porch, a few small bathrooms, and am currently working on a new house build, and have a few kitchens to draw up as well. Michael (above) hit it on the nose. There are many great things about CA, more stylistic things, that make it simple and quick. You can set defaults if there is a standard door/window/backsplace/cabinet style you like to use. If you work withing multiple styles, you can setup a template for each (setting up corresponding defaults for each). Changing a door or window style is as easy as opening the object and making a few selections. So, what I have found is the 3D and visual aspects of CA far outdo Revit. They also have a great library online, and it's easy to change the size and materials of FF&E. My greatest frustration is the dimensioning of elevations and cross sections. I hope CA is able to fix this in later versions. I also miss the ability to 'lock' items. When I place something in a critical location, I want to be able to ensure that it does not move, at least not without giving me a warning. If this is a capability, I am unaware of it. I guess it depends on what you need/want more of - easy and quick 3D modeling and renderings, or ability to do complex sections and elevations (in my 4.5 months of using CA) Good luck! Anna

Shane - thank you! I knew it was easy, just too busy (and frustrated) to slow down and take a look. This forum is a life saver! Anna

File is attached - thank you! Khavanin Home_Prelim_only master_V2_FINAL_after Farah_v2_smaller island_10.13.16.plan

The plan won't upload - I've tried multiple things with no luck. Anna

Hello all! Attached is the plan. The pair of windows in the 2nd Level South (plan S.) bedroom are not showing in 3D. I'm sure it's something simple. I am presenting preliminary exterior ideas tomorrow, and would appreciate any help! FYI: The F.P. is messed up. I am new to the company, this project started prior to me joining, and the client was not properly interviewed and the scope of the project has been changing. We will be taking bits and pieces of multiple plans to fit into a final plan. So please, don't pay too much attention to the space planning! Thanks much! Anna

By the way - thank you for the fix!! I"m happy (and embarrassed) that it was so easy.

Alan, It is also an aging in place design, FYI. Anna

Alan, Trust me, I completely agree. I would love to hear your suggestions, if you have time. We didn't fully understand the scope of the project when we got started, so this has been a....whirlwind of sorts.

Alan, This will be a new home for a client. We are tearing down the existing home, but keeping the garage. We are using some of the garage for a Mudroom/Pantry. Why do you ask? A lot of things have changed with this project/floor plan,so this poor file has been through a lot. Thank you so much for your help! Anna

Hello all, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me why my 'living room' is all of a sudden missing on the main level. I no longer have a ceiling, a floor, nor can select the room. This file has been reworked and reworked numerous times, so I'm assuming something got messed up. Please see attached file. Any help is appreciated! Anna Khavanin Home_Prelim_only master_V2_FINAL.plan

Robert, I will give a shot and let you know how it goes. You are very gracious! Much thanks! Anna

Robert, The DWG is attached as a zip. Thank you! Anna