Ed_Orum

Ah, another work around. My workaround book is getting so full, the solutions should be made part of the program. Thanks!

Chris, I don't want soffits. The roof decking should be visible from below. Chief must be programmed to look for soffits even when they don't exist?

I used Softplan a couple of years ago. I thought the biggest plus was the support...free, unlimited phone support plus the techs would download your file, fix what was wrong, and send it back with an explanation if they could not walk you through it on the phone. But, the CAD part of the software was very primitive. Comparing the CAD aspects of Softplan v Chief, Chief was hands down the winner. My next look into will be Revit Lt. Or maybe just retire.

It probably is for me. There has to be a better software program than Chief, and I have been using it and probably making the same errors since 1998.

Here is a different plan, but with the same issue. Mohican.zip

Here is a screenshot showing an elevation view of the gable end of this building. The siding does not cover the rafters or extend to the roof. The rafters align with the exterior of the framed wall. I must have a setting set incorrectly somewhere, but I don't know which one it would be. My next question is whether Layer Sets can be exported from one plan to another. Thanks, Lane

Thanks Doug!

Thanks so much!

Good morning, I have attached a plan file; I cannot get the attic walls or the basement floor to generate. I placed a 3d polyline in the basement to show a slab, but I cannot do anything like that to show the attic walls. Curiously enough, the Attic Walls generate above the two decks. Thanks in advance, Lane Cozy Cabin Plan File.zip

Thanks!

Good morning fellow Chief users, does Chief have a method of reporting error messages, like a support email? I got this this morning: Thanks in advance, Lane

Since this happens to multiple users, I think we can rule out user error or user machine error. I was able to shut the program down, then copied my old toolbar folder and pasted it into the X17 Folder. Chief should address this as I think it is a program error.

This error message popped up: Cannot load side panels My library browser was gone. I shut down the program and computer, then restarted both. After re-starting, my library browser was back, but my customized toolbar was gone. I could open the other toolbars, but not the one I always use. How do I get my tool bar back? Thanks in advance, Lane

It's difficult for me to figure out why X17 is better. I wish the stair tool would work better. I mean really, stairs are a part of every job, and the Chief stair tool seems to be what was left over from the "Stair Tool Programming Language" sale, so Chief decided a stair tool that does not work is better than none at all. The Rough Openings tool (I posted earlier today) really needs work. Once again Chief assumes everyone thinks like a programmer instead of a framer. Why Chief has a minimum is beyond me, and why the user cannot over ride the minimum is way beyond me. Finally! The sill plate is not part of the foundation, but, using the Residential template, the siding still does not cover the sill plate in 3D. It really seems Chief is more geared to someone who spends all of their time drawing houses, and then more geared to the bells and whistles of 3D (which, I have to say is really great) instead of the meat and potatoes of framing. I cannot understand the Project Management tool, but that is probably just me, and I cannot get the plans to upload to Dropbox using the Project Management Tool, which is probably just me. But that is where I keep them so I can access them from my laptop when I am on a project site. For now I'm sticking with X16 for the paid for drawings and will dabble in X17 in the down time just to see if I can make it work for me. I see some others on this forum seem to have mastered X17 so I will be reading the Forum to see if I can pick up any tips. Lane

I did that and it works for the RO, but in 3D, there is no jamb. But the "door width includes jamb" worked in both RO and 3D Thanks for the feed back. Lane