Evolution

1 hour ago, solver said:

Safe rooms are generally not on exterior walls.

 

 

Have you considered using 2 walls instead of one? Leave the exterior wall as is and create a new wall to define the safe room. I think there is a furred option that may or may not apply.

1 hour ago, Dermot said:

First, if you have not done this already, you need to get and install the latest update.  You should be using version 21.3.11.  If you are still using an older version, then you do not have all of the fixes that we have put into the program to prevent these kinds of problems.

 

 

I have been putting off uploading the update because  few had posted they started having computer crashes and other issue after installing the latest update......but I’ll bite the bullet and do it tomorrow.  Last attempt at updating video card driver said I the latest VC driver.

I hadn’t  gotten the SEH error message until I added the special wall I modeled for the safe room. Maybe it is associated with the video card on my machine, since the others that opened the plan file didn’t get the error message?

The owner of this one, has decided he needs a safe room so I turned his master closet into a MC/Safe room.  I modeled the walls to have the brick veneer exterior, air gap, insul, sheathing, 2X4 Studs, 8"CMU 2X2 furring and drywall interior layer for the exterior walls, the interior drywall, studs, 8"CMU 2X2 furring and drywall the way it would be built in the  real world.  It appears CA X11 wasn't happy with me doing it this way, as now each time I do anything at all inside the plan I get an error message, time between plan changes has increased considerably, as will as the changes not taking place until I tab out and back in.   I' sure how X11 wanted me to model the wall?  Is there a "correct way" and I didn't do it that way?  Plan file attached if you can look at it. I haven't added the second floor yet, as I still have some plan changes on 1 to make, and he's changed some walls to 2X6. The last time I attempted to do a 3D perspective I got the error message and decided to shut things down and start back tomorrow.  Maybe the soft ware will not be mad at me tomorrow!

YARBRO_RESIDENCE_ADDITION.plan

15 hours ago, solver said:

More info / download the plan file ...

 

 

Eric, you really go over-board to help us! I appreciate it TOO! I try to help others but of course I can't even fix the simple stuff some times.  My next thread is coming up. (EDIT UPDATE) Eric...……..WOW, you make it seem so simple! The videos are great.  Watched them this morning.  I'll have to give it a try today may not be the best day too though. I'll let you know how it comes out. 

12 minutes ago, solver said:

All Layers On layer set, select all, unlock.

Eric, I know you won't believe I did the All layers on, and I must be going blind, I didn't see that I'll try harder next time, or just quit posting my questions 

I used Hover to import the symbol of the existing home into my plan. Now that I am working on the new addition, the 3D symbol was getting in the way, so I assigned it to a "terrain feature" layer to be able to turn it on and off as I worked.  Building department said I had add a means to connect the addition to the main house, so the home owner would not be limited to the max sq ft available, so I added that to the floor plan.

I now am attempting to turn the terrain features layer back on so I can see how the new connector will work, but even though the layer shows that it is turned on, it doesn't display in my floor plan. I am no longer able to select and open it either. It is obviously showing on the plot plan, but not the floor plan.  In each case the Terrain Features layer is on. 

Would you mind taking a look and see if you can figure out what I did / didn't do correctly? I did an all on layer etc., and still cannot select the 3D model.

I'm really sorry to keep bothering you folks with such trivial stuff

YARBRO_RESIDENCE_ADDITION.plan

5 hours ago, Alaskan_Son said:

Chief will only put the arch on the built-in door styles (slab, glass slab, panel, etc.).  If you want to use a custom door or one from the library then you'll need to make the changes yourself or pick a more suitable door. 

I was afraid of that. Thanks Michael

5 hours ago, Dermot said:

The program can't convert the library symbol you are using for your door style into an arched shape.  If you choose a parametric door style, such as "Panel", it will look much better.

 

Thanks, Dermot

I know this is simple for most of you, but doesn't seem to be working for me.  I set my default for the exterior doors to be "elliptical arched", after several attempts cannot get the doors to have elliptical heads although the frames themselves are. So I know I will look "stupid" for asking help for such a simple task. I tried these topic searches but didn't yield a lot of help.

I actually do my best to solve my own issues (learning tips and tricks from others)……..and you'd think something this simple...….;the only thing I can come up with is creating a custom door symbol (surely not?)  (EDIT the forum won't let me upload the plan file?). I even drag it into the file upload window but nothing happens. No error message nothing> the plan file is only 18,876 kb so not sure why I can't upload to the forum? 

6 hours ago, solver said:

Works in plan too.

 

Ok

12 hours ago, solver said:

 

That's all I did. Select it, Open Object. 

Eric, that worked! I was trying to open it in plan view but when I opened it in the 3D perspective I got the DBX to open. Consider it solved!

Thank you for help!

2 hours ago, solver said:

2 hours ago, solver said:

When I select the model ( after importing it) I don’t get that DBX. I assume you opened the object DBX, Eric?

My new project, is an addition to and existing home.  Will be connected by an enclosed breezeway at the garage of the existing home.  The slab of the new will be same height as slab of exiting home.  They want the fascia's of the two to more-or-less align in elevation. I imported a 3D model (I used the Hover app to model it to save me time) and it appears reasonably accurate. It is necessary for code submission as well as for the HOA review (we already have HOA tentative approval).  I'll have several challenges but this one is first on the list.  When I imported the 3D model into my plan, I could not find or see where there was a setting to set the height of the model (the approx. top of slab) from the existing terrain. Perhaps there isn't a way?  Any ideas on how I can achieve that? The addition will be a story and half and I haven't attempted to model that part of it yet. One thing at a time for now.

Thanks in advance for the assistance. 

YARBRO RESIDENCE ADDITION.plan

Nicole, use a tall cabinet, resized to the width and depth you need, no toe kick,  select crown mold for the top, set the openings to have one fixed panel (door) set sides and back to same as front. 

2 hours ago, solver said:

How about painting and existing material?

 

Not sure why it didn't work the first time I tried painting the mat'l. I attempted that before I posted the new thread

2 hours ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Bob,

 

You need to crop the pic so that you don't have any white space?  It also helps if you only have a square pic.  That way the scaling doesn't need to be different for each direction.

I did crop the pic I used for the texture, Joe. I also thought it was pretty square. Either I'm not setting up the dbx for the new material correctly or something isn't working correctly. I've done new materials of Photos to use as TV screens and worked fine but for some reason it isn't now? Thanks for the helps guys!

Study Molding Poly lines, and Poly Line Solids for sure.  Check the Knowledge base, Training Videos and The User Manual (you can download a PDF of the manual)

According to the threads I've read, and the Knowledge base for creating a new custom library material, wood for the ceiling finish, I thought I had all the settings correct; but when I attempt to apply  it via the ceiling structure dbx, it does not cover the entire ceiling.  I've tried changing the size of the capture i'm using for the texture. I checked and unchecked stretch to fit.  Changing from global mapping to unchecking global mapping bur still can get it right.  When I use the library file for reclaimed cypress that texture works fine.  I open its dbx and checked the setting for that texture, and used the same setting for the new material I had made.  I've attached a sample plan I was experimenting with, along with some screen captures. The interior decorator wants to use 3/4X 6 ship lap and have it painted gray. I found the web site, and capture a large Screen capture of the material the wanted to use.

Appreciate your help. 

TEST PLAN.plan

14 hours ago, solver said:

What is a brick sweep?

Eric, you KNOW I'm not the technical guy here, but in Revit, there is a tool called a "wall sweep" that allows you to add special features to walls, or other type of decorative horizontal or vertical projection to a wall in 3D or elevation view. Revit has a tutorial for on the use of the sweep tool, but the OP may be talking about something else?

Jack, are you saying in "camera view" electrical is not showing? Check your layers in camera to be sure the Electrical layer didn't get turned off.  It would probably be a good idea to post the plan to get quick help.

It would be helpful if you would complete your forum signature (what vs of software you're using, computer hardware info also helps others if you're having software / computer issues as well)

See this link: https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/18908-signature-here-at-chief-talk

1 hour ago, solver said:

 

There are about 47,000 ways I might place an interior wall between two exterior walls. Could you be a bit more specific?

1 hour ago, solver said:

 

There are about 47,000 ways I might place an interior wall between two exterior walls. Could you be a bit more specific?

Eric, the example I included, is the exterior wall of the garage, which is not directly attached to the house. There is a enclosed (hall) connector from the house to the garage, so the connector walls attach to the garage walls, and there is an interior wall (with a fire rated door ) closing off the garage from the connector. Until I set the wall to align with the interior surface the drywall of the intersecting walls would not align with the wall of the connector. I've got it taken care of now.

1 hour ago, Renerabbitt said:

Opened it up and all is as it should be, framing was lined up

Yes, but I had to change the wall layers from aligning with the main (exterior) layer to align with the interior surface, for the framing to line up. It would be nice if you could set the Default general wall and the defaults for Exterior / Interior walls separately, but that may not be a big deal.

On to my next project. Addition to an existing home.  I set my wall types thinking if I set resize around the main layer, would make my finished drywall layer of my exterior walls and interior walls align. Placing an interior wall between two exterior walls drywall is not aligning. Can't drag it into place even holding down cntl key, it keeps reverting back to an offset in the drywall. Searched the forum using key word wall alignment, and wall framing issue neither brought up a viable solution. Went back to general wall defaults set resize to the interior surface now the drywall layer of the two different walls that abut each other line up.  Not sure if it now causes an offset in the exterior. I guess there is no way to set the wall dbx for the different walls individually (at least I haven't discovered it). https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00798/aligning-different-thickness-walls.html

wall defaults.pdf

YARBRO RESIDENCE ADDITION.plan

59 minutes ago, SNestor said:

 

Bob...this is just a quick idea...but, I created the cloud ceiling using invisible walls to make small rooms and then set the ceiling in each room to be a shelf ceiling.  The black ceiling is just a thin layer added to the room ceiling layer...and the black on the walls above was created by using "pony walls".  You could also use a very thin molding to add the black paint to the walls above the cloud ceiling.  Just an idea.  

 

Someone smarter than me will have to clarify...but, if you use a ceiling plane under a room ceiling...I believe the lower "cloud" ceiling plane will delete/replace the room ceiling in that area...so, not sure using a ceiling plane will work.  Maybe the plane can be manipulated in the structure panel to work...I haven't got time to try this right now. 

 

Plan attached so you can see what i did.  Good luck.  Bob's Cloud Drop Ceiling.plan

 

  

Thanks Steve! Don't know how long it took you do this, but it is more like what I'm after. I've completed my construction dwgs and sending them over to Code.  If I get any comments back about details for the Ceiling cloud I'll stop everything else and work on it.  Don't take any more time out of your busy schedule (unless you just want the challenge ). Again my real issue is when I change the ceiling height in this one room, for some reason it changed all the CH's in other rooms.  I went back and checked my previous default ceiling height and that hadn't changed from the 10' so I can't figure out why they keep changing.  I'm not changing the  DCH, I was attempting to change it in the one room's dbx.

7 minutes ago, NRST8TRKR said:

Just had to add dropped ceiling to a couple rooms in a basement apartment that the client wanted 12" between grid and floor system above. made my ceiling with the ceiling tile and added 12" air gap over and it works . I wood think would work in your case also. It is a room by room done in structure DBX for each room, Hope this is what you are after.

 

Have a great day,Ken

Thanks Ken, that is exactly what I've done. That isn't the issue at all.  When I change the one room to have the lower, ceiling cloud, it forces the lower height in all my rooms, and when I pull details for construction / code review drawings the grid is all screwed up.   So I just reset to default and for now I'll just handle it with notes (as I've already done) in the reflected ceiling plan. I don't have time now to go back and keep working on figuring out a fix, but I'm pretty sure as you say, I'll set my default for the hard ceiling at 10' then go into in room DBX and set the lowered ceiling heights individually, that should fix it.

11 minutes ago, Kbird1 said:

 

Thankfully Eric let me know what a Ceiling Cloud is   

 

and after reading the thread, I agree with him on making it in CA, why not use a Polyline Solid or even a Soffit set at 8'6" to the bottom ? and you are done...

 

changing the 9' Ceiling color to Flat Black shouldn't be an issue is it ?

 

M.

Mick, If I can make the PS look like lay in ceiling with 2X2 grid? I can probably model a 2X2 light from a solid as well, for my Lighting plan? If code comments on the ceiling plan I'm submitting then I'll have to back up and punt. For the time being I'll just move.

I think all the helpers are missing the real issue, changing the ceiling height for the one room with the ceiling cloud, changes the ceiling height in all rooms. So: I think the answer is going back be sure I have the default set for 10' and not do the lower ceiling in the default but do that individually for each room.

2 hours ago, solver said:

Why are you changing ceiling heights at all? The ceiling cloud is like a light fixture -- it just hangs from the ceiling.

 

Is there a floor above?

Eric, Why? I have to include details for Code review. Because this ceiling is below a Fire Rated Ceiling, and because we are in a Seismic zone.

2 minutes ago, solver said:

Then why not model it like it is? It's just something hanging from the ceiling, not part of the ceiling.

Eric, that is exactly what I did.  In the full camera of that room it looks just like it should. But, for some reason all the ceiling (set to 9') have now all dropped down to the 8'-6" ceiling height of this room, which is NOT what I want.  Remember early on, I set the default for all rooms to 10'. I added the lay-in acoustical ceiling and grid at 9'as you and Steve helped with.

The only issue I had then was getting the lighting to line up with the grid. All I did to add the ceiling cloud was to adjust the existing dropped ceiling height to the 8'-6", I pulled all sides in to equal tiles leaving out the borders and in plan it looks fine. But the other rooms ceiling have now dropped to 8'-6" from the 9'. That also cause the grid to go all crazy. If I adjust the grid and ceiling in the offending rooms back to the 9' then the ceiling cloud goes back to 9' (screwing up the grid in that room). I've basically solved the issue by adding notes in my reflected ceiling plan to show the lower height, and exposed border areas. Its not that important I guess, I was trying to figure out why it was happening? I'll move on.