Ed_Orum

Chief is a great 2D program, but trying to figure out it's 3D limitations is nothing but a waste of time.  So often in Chief I find myself drafting the 2D, then generating the 3D exteriors which I then convert to CAD where I can fix them without Chief insisting I don't know what I actually want.
Even in 2D, wall intersections, especially in foundations where a new one connects to an old one becomes an issue.  So what I do there is have no fill for the walls, then in 2D create a polyline, assign a fill pattern to distinguish the new from the old and adjust the polyline to show the correct wall intersections.  This precludes an automatic wall schedule for the foundation walls (since it will not automatically generate the polyline fill patterns), but that is and easy work around.
I also use another program, which is much, much, much better at getting the model correct.  The other program allows for everything to be independently controlled..wall heights, widths, offsets, top, bottom...all can be easily set to reflect the actual construction.  Especially helpful in remodeling and additions.  The other program also addresses one of my pet peeves about Chief, which is the foundation sill plate is part of the foundation.  In the real world framers put down the sill plate and it really has no business being part of the foundation.  It is like Chief was programmed by someone who read a book on construction but has no real construction experience as opposed to the other program which seems to have a much keener insight into actual construction practices.
Having said that, for all more or less new construction simple plans I prefer Chief, as long as everything is one or two levels, no split levels, no split roofs, and no stepped foundations.  Garage slabs can also be sloped (as can foundation walls, footings, whatever) in the other program.  Earlier I asked if a slab could be sloped in Chief 15, but alas, no such luck.
For remodeling and additions, unless it is simple and straightforward, it's the other program.

The 0'0" elevation is the existing kitchen, to the right is the existing entry, and to the right of that the existing garage elevation.  To the left of the 0'-0" the floor rises 16".
So it took a couple of hours to manipulate and now almost everything is correct.  I have some minor adjustments to the existing entrance way and the garage, but I will eventually get it.   The whole issue is that Chief is always "correcting" what I want.
When I started this plan, I was going to do it in a program other than Chief, (I use them both and each has its pros and cons) and I should have gone with my gut.  Everything in the other program is independently adjustable, so you can set elevations for everything, including individual wall heights just as I would if I were in the field framing.  Don't get me wrong, Chief is great for something that is straightforward, ranches, colonials, whatever where there are no steps in floors, roofs, or foundations and I use it a lot for those homes.  This is my first drawing in Chief 15, and I wanted to see if 15 would do any better than previous versions with the "meat and potatoes" of the structure as opposed to the rendering, interiors, etc., where I think Chief has it all over the other program.  But for getting an accurate model going forward, it's back to the other program for anything that is not more or less a straightforward design.
I will probably end up doing what I do so often in Chief, send everything 2D to the layout, then capture the Elevation Views as CAD files, make the necessary Elevation View adjustments in the CAD view and be done with it.  Annotations are way more efficient in Chief, which is one of the primary reasons I like it.
Thanks for you input and help.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Lane

Yes, I clicked on the layout boxes and pulled out the borders.  They overlap, but since they do not show it works.

Using X15

Ranch House.

1st Floor Defaults: From Defaults, Default Settings, Floors And Rooms, 1st Floor:
     Absolute Elevations:
     Ceiling: 97-1/8"
     Floor: 0 (Greyed Out)
     Floor Below:  -103 1/2
   Relative Elevations:
     Rough Ceiling: 97 1/8"
     Finished Ceiling: 95 7/8"
     SWT To Ceiling: 97 1/8" (Greyed Out)

     Ceiling Below:  93 1/2"
     Stem Wall:  97 1/2"
0 Floor Defaults: From Defaults, Default Settings, Floors And Rooms, Floor 0 Defaults:

     Absolute Elevations:
     Floor Above: 0" (Greyed Out)
     Ceiling -10" (Greyed Out)
     Floor: -103 1/2"
     Relative Heights:
     Rough Ceiling: 93 1/2"
     Finished Ceiling: 92 3/4"

     SWT To Ceiling: 93 1/2"

     Ceiling Below: Blank
     Stem Wall 97 1/2"

     SWT= Stem Wall Top (Greyed Out)
     Ceiling:
     Roof Over This Room, (Checked)
     Flat Ceiling Over This Room, (Checked)
     Ceiling Finish: 0
     Floor Under This Room (Checked)
     Room Supplies Floor for the Room Above (Unchecked)

From the dialoge box for the room:

First Floor Absolute Elevations:
     Floor Elevation 0

     Ceiling Elevation 97-1/8"

     Floor Below -103 1/2"
First Floor Relative Elevations:

    Ceiling Elevations 97-1/8"

    Finished Ceiling 95-3/4"

    SWT To Ceiling 97-1/8 (this box is greyed out, cannot be changed)
    Ceiling Below:  No Change (why is this not a dimension?)
    Stem Wall:  No Change (again, why no dimension here?)

As far as I can tell, it all looks correct.

But....

In the Room Specification Dialog Box, it forces a stem wall height of 113 1/2".  If I change it to the default setting of 97 1/2", it changes the floor below (basement floor) to be 77 1/2".
How do I control these settings so everything lines up with the default settings.
Zip file of the plan is attached

Thanks in advance.
Lane

10-20-2023 Appolonia New Conditions Plan.zip

I use a rectangular polyline to outline the notes and diagrams I send to layout.

When they arrive in the layout, some of the polyline outlines are invisible.  If I click on the layout box border and extend it a little past the polyline, the polyline will display.  This does not happen with all of the polylines, but a few on each layout sheet.
Is there a setting to offset the layout box border from the item being sent to the layout?
Thanks,

Lane

Thanks to both of you, problem solved!

When I add an arrow to a text line using the diamond "add an arrow" below the text, the arrow does two things.
     1, it attaches itself to the bottom of the text line.  I would like it to attach itself to the center of the text line.

     2. The arrow extends at an angle, I would like it to extend straight away from the text line.

How do I get the arrow to behave?
Using X15.

Thanks,

Lane

Thanks, that is what I did, but for some reason X15 will not recognize the new file path.  Tech support next.

Just upgraded to X15.

I want to change the path for the user library, toolbars and hotkeys.

In the Preferences dialog, under "show all file paths" I can see where they files are presently located, but how do I change a specific file path to point to the new location I want to use?
Thanks in advance,

Lane

38 minutes ago, Chrisb222 said:

 

I would zoom out to a blank area of the source plan, then go to CAD > CAD Block Management, select all, then hit Insert, and click to place them all. Select all those CAD blocks, copy, then paste them into the target plan.

 

There may be better ways...

I hope there is.  I was thinking it would be nice to be able to import them into the CAD Details in my new plan.

Thanks!

How can I import the CAD blocks from one plan to another plan?
Thanks,

Lane

Thanks, I forgot a page needs to have information on it.
Lane

Today's problem is with the Layout Page Table.
My layout has 22 sheets.
The Layout Page Table will only reflect up to page # 18.

Pages 19-22 inclusive are all set with the same paramaters as all ofthe other sheets, i.e. "include in layout table", "default page template" etc.
I have the minimum # of rows set to 22.

I tried deleting it and then re-generating it, but it will not list any more than 18 pages.

Any ideas what I am doing wrong?
Thanks in advance,
Lane

On 10/26/2023 at 11:37 AM, RobDesLLC said:

 

I set the floor elevation to the lowest point and let it stay flat. I address the slope in notes and annotations. In my opinion, most of the time the juice isn't worth the squeeze for sloping slabs.

The problem is a couple of local building inspectors who want the plans to show the slope in section views.  I did a section view, then had to change it to a cad view, then had to slope the garage floor in cad.  Not so bad except if something changes, and the section in cad must be re-drawn.
The other issue is with the garage door heights.  Since the floor is 2" lower at the door, the automatic story pole dimensions are inaccurate.  Again, back to CAD or over riding the dimension.

2D is not a problem, but showing it in 3D is. So I put a disclaimer on all of my 3dViews that they are an "artist rendering" and may not fully represent the actual structure.  Too bad, but thats the lay of the land.

Thats the problem, things don't move slightly, they are not in the order of how my toolbar is set up.

Hahahahahahaha....no matter who writes it, it is pretty much worthless, which translated means I have written my share of worthless things.  However, it does show the intent on my part not to willingy reproduce any copyrighted material .

When I lock my tool bar, it changes the tool bar layout.
Is there something that needs to be done before using the "Lock Toolbars" button?
Thanks,

Lane

All of my contracts carry a clause that the firm or person who supplied me with the drawings, design, or any other information like that did not copy them from any other source, and that if there is any claim for copyright violations the person who hired me indemnifies and holds me harmless against any claims, and further is responsible for any awards, damages, etc which may be awarded.
Who know if it would hold up in court, I never have used it to defend myself. 
Having said that, I never accept a plan that is obiously someone elses work without first contacting that person or firm to see if they are okay with it, and if they want a fee for use of their work.  If they are ok, its good to go.  If they want a fee, the client has to pay for it.  If the client complains they can go elsewhere.

Thanks everyone.
I was hoping X15 would be able to do this.  I am still working with 13 because I don't see enough "substance" to justify upgrading.  Lots of nice fluff in X15, but not enough on the meat and potates end of the program.
If the programmers at Chief are listening, wouldn't this be a great addition to an Architctural CAD program?  There is not a garage floor in any residential building that does not have a slope (by code) so couldn't you add a feature where you set the elevation of the slab on one end, and the elevation of the slab on the other end, click the Apply button and ta da, the magic of a program that reflects real world conditions.
Work arounds are great, but this really seems like a very basic function, as basic as a flat slab itself.
Just my humble opinion.
 

This house has a 10' wide, 4" thick concrete slab for the porch floor.  The outside edgeof the slab will be thickened to 12" Deep x 6" Wide.
The slab needs to have a slope of 1/4" per foot, so over the 10' distance the outer edge of the slab needs to be 2-1/2" lower than the edge against the building.

So, my question is how does Chief apply a slope to a slab?

Thanks in advance.

Lane

I did not know about the double click.  Thanks so much!

I have a wall in a building that is at 37 degrees.
I drew a rectangular box (20' x 3") and need to rotate to box to the 37 degrees.

But when I click on the box, the best I can do is rotate the selected line.  I want to rotate the entire box, all at the same time.
I drew a selection box around the rectangle, as opposed to clicking on it, and there is no option to rotate the box.
So, I have to be missing something, as rotating a rectangle is one of the most basic 2D drawing operations that exist.

Thanks in advance.

Lane

Thanks,
I took the following steps :
Raised Ceiling Height.

Changed 2nd floor Height

Changed 1st Floor Height.
I thought Chief would automatically raise everything if I raised the 1st floor ceiling height, but each one had to be done manually. Then it worked.

I finally got it.

Step 1, raise the roof.

Step 2, change 2nd floor joist sizes.

Step 3, change 2nd floor ceiling height.

Step 4, change 1st floor ceiling height

Step 5, change all window and door height above floor relative to new floor heights.

Thanks!