mthd97

Hi, I was following the instructions on the CA help website about opening older files Via CAX8 and saving them as X8 files. I was able to open a legacy V9.5 layout file but after saving it as an X8 layout file, it wouldn’t display the layout any longer. I still have my old layout file to view but it looks like I cannot edit it to save it in X8. I also have the old plan file that does save in X8 and can be worked on in X10. I just need to create a new layouts for it and take it from there by the looks ? Anybody else had a similar issue with much older legacy files ?

As you may know the process is usually done by sending a 3D structural model to another app that does the calculations after importing the 3D file from the CAD app. I have asked for a 3D file export system from CA to other apps in the past and they are not available at this stage. As you know most engineers do the work on the 3D model and then provide the calculations. You can send 2D DWG files from CA to another app but that’s about it for now. Lots of us use timber span tables and other apps to do the calculations for us. There are some here using CA and Ruby script but I am not sure if anyone is actually using it for engineering calculations.

Thanks, that did the trick. As simple as that lol !

Thanks, I was able to see the signatures for a little while on my mobile device but recently they disappeared. I will try with another device to see if they show up. Edit: I can see them with Windows Surface Pro.

Hi, I have my settings to see others signatures alongside their content but they are not showing on my device. I have an apple iPad mini 6 why will they not show ?

It certainly would be nice if we had a custom wall profile to create log homes in CA ? I like Glenn’s method. I found this topic very interesting and had a quick search online and found out that SoftPlan has an interface for log wall homes. If I was building or designing lots of these homes I would give SP a trial despite just for that purpose. Please see this video. https://youtu.be/cMJRzoWQsGM?si=6cXpz_9lWOZIFELX PS. I don’t use SP but CA because I don’t do log homes. Edit: If I wasn’t concerned about having the log wall corners extending out. I would use Tim Shrocks method for Chief Architect but have the texture going horizontal not vertical as his excellent demonstration shows. https://youtu.be/f1iLmqWi2Es?si=SGeG-pTAm6BNdJf2

Hi Mark, I think you are doing ok while you learn how to model accurately in CA. As Eric already pointed out, you need to have all your walls connected correctly along with your roof planes. The room definitions will only work when walls are connected properly and you may have to use some invisible walls to create room definitions. With Chief you have to think in cubes that define rooms and how they stack up on each other. And then also with the help of S Nestor you should be able to produce a more accurate Chief house model from now on. Even the more complex designs like yours. The more you work with CA the more you learn the tricks of the 3D CAD house model trade. All good fun learning.

Hi Mark, it’s totally fine to use AutoCAD with Chief Architect as many others here do as well. If you have conceptual drawings in AutoCAD for this project it might be good to share them so someone here could model your project correctly ?

I am always saving my work in advance so that if you have already started your framing work you can save that plan file separately for future reference just incase you need to go back to it. I will step out of the way and let one of the Chief Master help you to get your model displaying correctly. Enjoy the process !

Hi Mark, you could just turn off your framing layers from displaying in the 3D window for now to unclutter the 3D display ? If you have exposed rafters you can keep them on with the use of layers that you do want to display in the 3D window. Floor Trusses do not need to be turned on at this stage and they can be manually edited later on as well.

Hi KnotSquare Design, you certainly have clearly explained and demonstrated what is not working correctly for you with that fine description inc. pictures and video. Nice design work and we can certainly see what you are trying to achieve here. To avoid going stir crazy I would first hold off from building any framing until you get the model looking correct. I am still back at X10 and I am sure one or a few of the Chief Masters here will help you to undo your modeling display issues one by one. I would start troubleshooting by looking at your room definitions first and taking it from there. Lets see who can unravel these mysteries for you ?

The methodology you have attempted here is good and correct and it will help you to learn how to use the software more efficiently too. Rene has gone straight to the advanced manual roof building techniques in order to supply your raised gable over your problem area. A good way to learn manual roof building. A combination of both methods can also work. I would just push your external dining room wall temporarily out to where you want your full gable wall to build. Then I would go into the dialogue box of that wall and mark it to build as full gable. Next set the room height of that dining room so that the gable will build at the correct height. In this instance you would raise the ceiling height accordingly. Then auto build and see if it has produced correctly if not undo and edit that room till the gable builds the way you want it to. If you need to make any manual edits then simply do so. Then move your dining wall back into place. Have Fun ! Edit: Oh don’t forget to set the dining room height back to where it was originally.

Being loyal to a particular CAD software is not the issue here. It is how can we give feedback to help make Chief work even better for us all. In the end we all have a right to use other CAD software to help us in our Architectural design & drafting work as we choose. If home designer pro is not enough we have CAX15 to upgrade to. Yes we can become a Chief Master and know all the work arounds and get lots of help from here and including the training videos. After doing that and we still have problems we can always make suggestions too. I have been around since CA99 or CAV6 and it has improved greatly since then. Awesomely fast CAD software for residential homes.

Thank you all for the information above as I may need to use an old plan that was created in an old version.

Interesting discussions above, CAD tool time talk. From my limited perspective if you live in the US and you know to use CA, then you should stick to it and especially if you are still on the old SSA system. All you can really do is put in a realistic request for what you want CA to be able to do for you in the future and leave it with them. You are never too old to learn something new or get up to speed with the latest CAX15. CA is really a program for home builders and architectural drafts persons mainly. Not many architects will just use one CAD application these days. Every Architect in the US who designs low rise residential project homes needs a copy of CA in their tool box. Despite its limitations no other CAD program is as fast as CA is with these types of projects. My greatest wish is for CA is to be able to explode the 3D model, make your 3D edits and reconnect it, without it auto rebuilding to the default state. If they can recode it to do that then it can make great progress.

Clarification for us all. My other CAD application has most likely created extra lines that extend from the dimension line to the location of an element that is being referenced. I have figured out that I need to consolidate all my lines in my other CAD application before exporting it as a DWG to import into CA. Thank you all for your help.

That’s a good way of doing it TT. I can protect my dimension layer by making a copy of it because the overlapping lines and dimensions are on the same layer. That way if I accidentally delete something I need I can get it back afterwards. Thanks.

Good tip Jim, I am not using ACAD but I do have many lines overlapping and they are the dimensions line markers. If I select all those lines and delete them the dimensions will disappear and the same will happen if I turn that layer off. I will have a look at how I can limit those dimensions line markers to single lines in the other CAD application first before exporting a DWG. Thanks.

That was my first go to method. Thanks.

Hi there, I am a bit rusty with CA. I wondering do we have another method of multi selecting 2D cad lines without the use of the click drag marquee tool ? Or even a KB shortcut command ? After a DWG import from another CAD application, I get lots of extra lines that I want to delete but they overlap with other lines that I want to keep. I am probably forced to turn certain layers off and on instead and work from there. Also wondering if “find and select” will also work with 2D elements like CAD lines ?

Neat trick to get the under slung effect Glenn.

Hi DT, are you trying to put trusses in between a roof plane & a ceiling plane ? If so then you probably need to draw both types to do that in a skilion roof type scenario ? Hope you get it sorted. have fun.

Yes a parametric model exchange is what I was referring to. I hope It’s not a “never say never” scenario ? I was asking in the hope that someone on the engineering team would say “yay or nay” ? I know it has been brought up before on other requests like an “IFC” format possibility. I think CA is excellent enough to graduate from college football to the big league as a robust residential 3D/CAD/BIM system in the future. When you start playing ball with the big boys you have to run faster to keep up with them. The future would look very bright if CA chooses to go down that path. Just Imagine, Model imported from other 3D/CAD/BIM into Chief Architect to do the cabinets or bathrooms by an Interior Designer and shared right back. Or a residential plan is imported into Chief Architect to model the framing in 3D and shared back. As well as sharing models for finer level renderings. The list goes on and on. Just my hopes for Chief Architect because it’s not a very difficult software to use and learn.

Hi, I am wondering if Chief Architect is planning to allow 3D model export and import in the future ? If so what file format would be viable for it ? As you know other CAD/BIM products allow this type of 3D model sharing. I think that would a great step for CA to take. Many benefits would open up to CA in 3D collaboration with other CAD products. Many other CAD/BIM solutions also let their users know what they are working on for the future. Will we have something similar at CA ?

Apart from all the comments above. One of the most important considerations is sealing the roof from leaks and the actual drainage on plan view. I personally would recommend consulting an engineer in all these types of applications. In the US regulations are quite different from what we do here in Australia. I like to be extra cautious with flat roofs.