mthd97

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.

Awesome ! But I will need it to be compatible to CAX10. I will have to go to Dowell Windows and see if they have it available for my version?

Thank you for the tip Kbird1.

Cheers mattyt12, you must have read my mind ? Dowell Windows would have been my first go to for an imported library into CA. I will have to figure out how to import into CA now.

Not really, I am happy with just a general aluminum frame profile for Chief Architect for now. I just use the timber frame windows in CA with a thinner profile to mimic the aluminum frame. I do the same for aluminum sliding doors as well. I was just checking to see if there were any in the manufacturers catalog at present. It would sure be nice if there were some to use but I can improvise until then.

That would certainly help the cause of Chief Architect where aluminum windows are being used in other parts of the world. Is there any particular file format that a manufacturer could supply them in ?

Hi there, much of our window frames in Australia are aluminum. I am wondering if in the add on catalogs there are any aluminum window manufactures in the US that we can access in CA ?

Lots of ways to do this in CA. Also rafters will follow your roof planes when you build framing. You can change the size of a rafter to suit your ceiling beam size. You can also turn the framing layer off or on and if you like exposed ceiling beams, then you can put them on a separate layer to keep them on in your 3D view.

Hi, I am wondering if there is an aluminium frame window catalog in Chief Architect from a USA manufacturer that could be used to represent our windows in Australia ? Going back a very long time, someone did have a window library for Australia as an add on purchase. Around V10 I think ?

Yes when it’s all standard there usually is no issue just that we would like to know what the manufactures standard heel height is. My recent case was with a job that has a parapet joining two duplexes side by side and two box gutters either side of the parapet. I needed my box gutters to be set down in order to get enough depth for them. I needed to increase the width of the top chord from 4 inches to 5 approximately. So special cases like this and also having a truss up-stand height as shown in the diagrams above by other users do come up. Sometimes the truss needs to be cantilevered so other special cases also come up and even if we don’t have the webbing specifically correct the truss designer will get that correct with his program for us. So good cross sections and details are a must for good communication with the truss builders.

It was clear to me that in X15 we need to specify the truss heel height. Just make sure our truss manufacturer reads our cross section or in this case provide a detail of the heel height. As long as we have it set to a default value in our template, I don’t see it as a problem. Having designed Trusses in the late 80’s with Bostich Software the truss design program will also have a default value for the heel height when it prints out the cutting list. It’s always good to coordinate with your truss supplier to see what their program default heel height value is set at. When you have special case Trusses, just provide specific details and drawings so they build them correctly for you.

Are you wanting to rotate your cross section camera on the horizontal plane of the floor plan ? Yes it can. Or are you asking if you can rotate the cross section view after it has been created in the vertical plane ? Yes via view to CAD then rotate.

Nice demonstration on how to make flush mounted down lights on the rake. Thanks Eric.

Cool ! Tips n Tricks Rabs.

Probably not ! No ridge capping. No flashings even though we don’t do them automatically just yet. Chief will usually add more detail. Anyway nice little farm house 3D render presentation.

The last truss should be a truss with angled webbing and plates but I see this type of end roofing quite a bit. As long as the engineer can prove that it can carry the loads with vertical supports and hopefully nailing plates then it should work in theory ?