Ed_Orum

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

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

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!

Thanks, I was afraid it was very simple and straightforward, and I was about to lose all faith in Chief if it was as simple as changing a joist size and then everything above it re-sized and re-positioned automatically. But, Chief does do a great job of renderings, so even if it takes hours to get the model right it has that going for it. Sadly accuracy in the model should take priority over a rendering, but that does not seem to be a big strength in Chief. I am sitting here with a friend of mine who asked me to walk him through doing drawings in Chief. If he laughs any harder they will probably hear him in Coeur D'Alene. He draws in a competetiors program and told me to come over to his office and he can show me how to do it in about 4 clicks. So I will end up doing what I have learned how to do very well in Chief--fake the elevation views, override the story pole dimensions, and change the section views to CAD views so I can make the adjustments.

This building is a "slab on grade", or at least that is what we call it here in the North East. The first floor is a slab, the slab sits on top of the stem walls. The stem walls have a footing. So far, so good. The ceiling height of the first floor is 120" I drew the plan with the 2nd floor joists at 9-1/4" with a 3/4" Plywood Sub Floor. So, from top of the slab to the top of the first floor wall plate is 120", and from top of the slab to the top of the 2nd Floor Sub Floor is 130". The second floor ceiling height is 108". So, from the top of the slab to the top of the second floor wall plate is 238" (19'-10") So far, so good. But I need to change the 2nd floor floor joists to be 11-7/8" with a 3/4" Plywood Sub-Floor. So, thinking it would be simple I went in and changed the ceiling joists on the 1st floor to 11"-7/8 with a 3/4" Plywood Sub-Floor. And that was the beginning of another version of "Chief Frustration" or "Why I Should Have Stuck With Vaudeville". The 2nd floor ceiling height will not stay at 9' with the new floor joist height, nor will the first floor ceiling height. No matter what I try, something always reverts back to the original 1st Fl. ceiling joist/2nd Fl Floor Joist size of 9-1/4". So what is the proper procedure for changing a 2nd floor, floor joist AKA 1st floor ceiling joist to a different size? There must be a sequence that has to be followed. I cannot attach the plan because it exeeds the maximum allowable size. Thanks in advance, Lane

I tried something similar, I am attaching the plan because I have another question. Lane

Still on 13. Thanks, I will work on it some more, and if I can't get it I will post the plan. Lane

Yes, printing to a PDF first seems to be the only way to do it. I was trying to change it from landscape to portrait mode in Chief. Thanks everyone.

I drew a dwelling which is a slab on grade. Next, I drew railings around the building for a deck. I used the "straight deck railing" tool. The deck surface is also concrete. When I tried to change the deck surface height to be 5" below the top of the first floor, there is no room definition for the deck, and the deck seems to have inherited all its properties from the main building. How do I get the deck and building to be treated as separate entities? Thanks, Lane

So are you saying I need to rotate the layout and the plan files independently? I was hoping that once I sent the plan to the layout, then I could simply have the layout print in portrait mode, like I can do if I print it first as a PDF. Yes, the plan is fully annotated. Maybe just anothe reason not to upgrade to X15, I wish Chief would focus a little more on practical, everyday things like this as opposed to creating a picture perfect, sun shadow, etc. rendering. (sorry, I had to get that off my chest) Lane

Yes, but the issue with that is line weights...they do not print true from a PDF. At least not for me.