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Here is a link to a trial version of CAX15 if you haven’t already downloaded it. Give it a try I know many others import objects created in SU. Fine detail 3D framing modeling can probably be done with polyline solids in CA. But those suggestions above sound cool about Medeek BIM. I might also investigate. You will get lots of help from this forum too. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/ Edit: The level of wall framing control in CA is demonstrated in this video below. You can edit framing in elevation too, see the framing play list for more info. But to get down to the connection level of 3D detail, will require work arounds and may also require other apps. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/501/framing-wall-corners-and-intersections.html

Hi @NeilofOZ, Try this texture from PHG Bricks, it is a jpeg file. For CA use a Texture Ratio of, x = 1200mm, y = 1092mm. I tested it in X15 trial and no problems in the full camera. I will post a picture of my results too. https://www.abcbuildingproducts.com.au/product/pgh-bricks-granite-belt-inglewood/

Looks like that it is a direct consequence of using the PBR in X15 ? I’m sure someone here can explain more about how to edit that texture so it appears correctly in a camera view. If you have access to X14 or prior does the applied texture behave in the same manner ?

Hi, I am surprised that @johnny, hasn’t mentioned Vectorworks Architect as a very good program to design those modern houses in ? Edit: Slanted walls in CA present no major problems for experienced users here. As mentioned, there can be many work arounds and with the use of roof planes you can achieve slanted walls. You could post a plan here of a model you want to do with CA and some of the Chief Masters will help you get through it. You can start with a trial version of Home Designer Pro becuase the outlay is considerably less than CA for starters. If it suits your needs you can always upgrade to CA. Because you would like to design and build with time constraints in mind CA would be a good fit. Other CAD programs are not as user friendly and can take many more hours to learn and become productive in.

Hi @raltd9245, looks like that there are only a few Architects using CA ? In residential buildings, a curtain wall is quite rare. We can mull window components side by side but I haven’t tried mulling them vertically yet. Somebody here might a have a work around for it. I might see if I can test it in CA to see if it will work ? We also call them shop front windows in our region. I am not an Architect but an Architectural Technologist because I only do low rise residential buildings and light commercial. Have a look at this thread as it might help you in the process. https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/13909-glass-wall-with-grid-like-molding/

Hi @NeilofOZ, just looking above at the pattern settings and texture ratio need to be set separately. With the texture you need to have a look and count the bricks in the x direction first. 4 and 1/2 bricks for example, allowing a 10mm mortar joint. 310 x 4.5 = 1395 set for the x direction. If there are 5 courses high for example, 182 x 5 = 910 set for the y direction. I just did it the other day and it worked fine. Did you download a texture swatch from the brick company ? If so create a new material using that swatch. Then count the bricks on the swatch and calculate as above. See this video on how to create a custom material. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/38/creating-custom-materials-and-colors.html See how you go.

I used a demo of ArcSite on my iPad, it was quite good but it will cost after the demo period is over. Has to be easy to use. I have used redstick site cad pro data on my old Samsung device and it was excellent.

Hi all, here is a free floor plan app that I just downloaded and there are many videos on how to use it as well. It is in imperial measurements too. Here is an example. Looks ok to me for a free app to do what you want above. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgC67dzgsOU

Thanks, I will look in that location. I am aware of the X15 create your own patterns.

Hi @antoine, time will tell but we were given fair warning about the changes coming. Many are still on the old SSA system and that’s cool for CA to do that for those loyal customers. After all many of them were paying SSA year after year. I believe it would be good to offer upgrades to the old system SSA and upgrade fees to customers but they would have to keep paying SSA every year after that or you must go onto a subscription. A year’s notice would have been better than just a few months. It’ no good crying over spilt milk as the saying goes but we must all move on. Just pay as you go from now on and the USA is mainly yearly subscriptions including Revit, AutoCAD, SoftPlan & Vectorworks. Archicad is still perpetual licensing and excellent software for Architects. Chief Architect is great for Architects and Project Home Builders because of its building quantity and estimating system including automatic framing. I am happy to pay a subscription if I ever have the need to use the upgraded version in the future.

Hi @joey_martin, that is exactly what I am doing.

Thank you @glennw yes that will do, is that in the custom patterns location ?

Hi @DBCooper, was looking at the fill pattern list to apply it to my external brick wall and it is no longer there. I also looked through the custom fill list and couldn’t find it. I settled for the single line angle hatch fill pattern but in the past I used the Metal fill pattern as that method is what we use in our region to depict brick walls. I might take a screen shot to post here.

Hi, I was working in CAX10 and I wanted to apply the metal double line angle hatch pattern to a wall but couldn’t find it. Was it removed sometime in the past or is it still hiding somewhere ?

Hi @TDzine, Home designer Professional by Chief Architect is an option to look at. I don’t think that is subscription based at least last time I looked anyway. You could probably just keep using X13 till enough new features are in HDP ? https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/home-designer-pro/ I hope the decision to go subscription only for CA full doesn’t lead to a mass exodus to other CAD products. Subscription based is a pretty level playing field there in the USA at the moment.

It’s not always perfect in CA on my machine but works extremely well in my other CAD app.

Hi @ValleyGuy, yes definitely a game changer and I have installed CAX10 & X15 trial on my Mac too. I have a cordless space mouse with my left hand and a cordless Cadmouse on my right and a number key pad at my left and a small keyboard on the right (Key pad and key board in the middle). If we are restricted to 4 on the radial commands, you can create different instances or groups of 4 commands if you want to. Smoother navigation in 3D is great when it is all set up correctly. I couldn’t go back to just using a mouse to navigate. Those tools are especially designed for CAD professionals.

We probably know that this depends on how the pdf was created. Vector (lines) or Raster (Pixels). Please see this excellent AutoCAD video for an explanation on converting vector pdf files to dwg. It helped me understand better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9uZoMGA3Ow

True ! but he might also be using a simple garage as an example of one of the problems he is having with using CA. We all know that is not a valid reason alone to jump ship. We all have a right to make choices about that CAD tools we will use for our work. So that’s up to him because I am sure he will get frustrated when he sees how much extra time it will take to do a simple job in R rather than CA.

Hi Terry M Stephens, It’s cool to use another CAD app if that is certainly beneficial to your workflow going forward in your private business. Many of us also use other CAD apps too. I was just highlighting that an auto reversing a wall problem is not really a big enough reason to give up on CA and call it “Nonsense”. As you may well know, the program defaults to that action under certain conditions. The system inside CA is designed to be very user friendly, fast and to get to the final result quickly. With more sophisticated CAD/BIM apps, we will have to put more time and effort into learning how to use them correctly in order to be efficient. Changing apps may solve some problems but will indefinitely create others for us. All cool !

Thank you Joe.

Hi Glenn, what’s OP stand for ?

Hi all, it’s a bit late but I would do it this way. Depending if I am lowering the floor ceiling height or expanding it ? I would group select the roof planes and set them to the new height level. Then edit the floor defaults (not individual room defaults) first. Then see what happens in 3D and make any needed adjustments to the model. Of course after reviewing this excellent video from a little while back to see how CA works with floor ceiling height defaults. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/5434/setting-second-floor-defaults.html

Sometimes the very newest Mac OS can have its glitches and that’s why I am still using Ventura at present. My machine came out with Monterey installed. I am very pleased with my change to Mac, I should have done it years ago. I really like how CA works on MAC.

That’s funny, in Australia they used to call the English Australians Skippy. BTW I am not the one jumping up and down over a simple thing like “auto wall flipping”. I am merely stating that if the program is being used correctly it should not be flipping the walls for you hopefully ? It certainly would be great if you could post your template as has been suggested above so that they can rectify it for you. It’s all cool if you want to use “R”. Just be warned that there are lot of things that it cannot do that CA can do, like auto timber framing for one. I have only used a demo version of “R” in the past and it seems like a good program for structural steel engineering on commercial projects. Every CAD program has its own particular limitations and strengths. We employ the CAD products that works best for our own unique business model. True I have had issues with CA too but I accepted its limitations after trying to resolve my issue with help here and from the training videos. All good !