jorgearaya

I signed in with my other profile by mistake.

Thank you for the responses, I am just "testing" and I will be for a while to find the "best practices". I was asked why I don't use the CAD Detail section more. Larry, That is the point, if details are deleted, may that be by user or computer, there is no way to get them back. And the reason why AutoCAD is a good thing to have for detailing, and yes, .plan file is the way to best save them Johnny, As mentioned, every plan has details and saved in the CAD Detail section (Except we only use one sheet for all details and come from AutoCAD LT). The sheet contains the details formatted to fit the respective detail layout sheets. The view is already sitting active in Layout, so, the instant we drop the details they show up on the layout sheets, no need to be sending and adjusting to fit.

Informational. Sometime ago I ran into an issue where I had layers with objects in them (+) but, nowhere to be found in the plans (plan, layout, cad details, cameras, blocks). While the issue baffled me, I did not give up and whenever possible I would go back to the plan file to try to solve the mystery of the ghost layers. I will not describe all of the methods I tried to find the solution, but, I will just tell you the findings. Because we work in a team environment, we can not afford to have one individual work on a job independently, so I have developed working systems to be able to have multiple users working on a project in Chief Architect and with other platforms at the same time. (The final work of the team is incorporated into Chief Architect and the plans are printed "mostly from Chief, with the exception of Site, CAD Details, Mechanical and Fire Sprinkler plans and structural plans) most of those get done by its respective contractor, we just slip the pages on our sets. Having said that, we use two licenses of Chief and we work on the same plan file simultaneously, in case you were wondering (Settings on both are mirrored) We also use AutoCAD LT for CAD Details, there are files being sent and received by Chief and vice versa. Lastly but not the least, we throw in ArchiCAD files to the mix when the workload is heavy and need a helping hand, files are also sent and received by Chief. In the "Translation process" Chief brings in layers and setting from the other platforms that sometimes wreck havoc within it. I had 6 layers that I renamed "not found" for a while. (most of them were bundled inside of cad blocks created by Chief during the imports) but, there was one that I like to emphasize. This layer was just nowhere to be found and I stumbled on it by mere accident. It was a "ghost cad block" un-selectable by the typical selection modes CTRL+A, markee select, etc. All layers turned on by "select all" then display toggled back and forth All layers turned off using the same method Turning layers individually CTRL+A, markee selections, zoom extents, etc. (nada) All CAD details "purged" "in use" inserted into plan, exploded and reviewed for layers. (nada) While having all layers turned off and clicking on the workspace by mere accident (an object was selected) in the middle of empty space, invisible, not selectable by any other means. Deleted the object, went back to the layers, and the (+) was gone. CTRL-Z to bring the ghost back, selected it, exploded the block and selected all the lines, put them in CAD Default, to be able to see it. During the importing of ArchiCAD linework, Chief creates blocks and hides them so you can not find them ever, they are layered, unlocked and "visible" in settings but, invisible in plan. If you have had this issue, please comment below... If you think you know how to find them, I may still have a .plan file with the problem here and there... I could give it away as a gift.

Looking for anyone willing to shed light on this issue CAD Details in Chief Architect if used as presented can lead to loss of work and the details themselves. We don't use this feature at all, however, I have seen others use it and would like some input from those who are actively using it. The current set up is: Open a new plan, go to project browser, Cad Details, right click and create a new CAD Detail. The new window comes up and you have a new worksheet to do your details. Save your plan. If by some reason one or more of these CAD Details are deleted from the project browser, there is no current way to "recover" the deleted CAD Detail AutoCAD users work directly in CAD Detail mode, so the plan file is the CAD Detail, if the file is deleted, there is a back up of it and you can always go to the Recycle Bin and retrieve it from there. Currently we create all details in AutoCAD LT and then use .plan files to store CAD Details that we will use in chief "for the obvious reason" If we need a Detail, we open the plan file, and either "save as" or just copy what is needed from it and it is pasted over to the current working plan needing the detail (CAD Detail section). If that detail gets deleted, no panic, we just go back to the .plan file hosting all the details and we copy/paste a new one. We also print the CAD Details directly from AutoCAD LT and insert the sheets in the plans. If you wonder why not just import directly from AutoCAD, well, if you've been using both programs long enough you know there are several differences in the "translation process" pen weights, text fonts, layer and layer colors to work when sending and receiving .dwg files. (setting up both sides for that purpose makes life easier). We think it is a huge risk relying in the current CAD Detail configuration of Chief Architect, if one were to lose "months of work" it is a very serious thing. Thank you.

Seems like everyone struggles with this. (So it seems for ArchiCAD users too). (Using layers does not work in either program for this purpose) 1. Draw the existing house and label your demo walls (or use wall types, hatch, etc.) (tag doors and windows and any other items e, or d). 2. Draw the proposed house (separate plan file, but same folder) and label your walls as usual, existing, proposed (use wall types for your new walls) 3. Send Existing plan to Layout sheet (Existing and demo) 4. Send Proposed plan to Layout sheet (Proposed plan) P.S. All tagging is done in the plan file and not in Layout, only the actual legends in text format reside in Layout, this way if you have to make changes to the model you have control over the tags. I prefer tags (or key note system) for my work, that way I don't type the notes over and over, I just "tag" the reference to the legend, a, b, c, d, etc. Some people like "annotations" instead of tags, that is perfectly fine too, just annotate in your plans, elevation, section views instead of Layouts. Good luck!

Go to the gypsum board manufacturer and find the specifications for their wall assemblies (Evaluation reports) and fire rating Look up the USG Fire-Resistant assemblies book usg.com or usgdesignstudio.com Go to the cement plaster manufacturer (stucco) and find the evaluation report for their product, it will include the fire wall assemblies. (icc evaluation reports) The CBC also carries those tables just in a chapter ahead Provide the AHJ those references, because those manufacturers have to have their products tested (UL).

Great comments as usual, I realized after posting the question all of the variables involved in it, however, if you read the post I was specific when I stated that for production work was not the way to go. I completely understand that some jurisdictions don't require the sort of engineering we have to do here in California, but, even so a truss is a truss regardless of where one lives and the UBC, IRC plus other safety regulations will apply when taking on the design of any habitable structure. Mind that I am not referring to what we call here "stick framing" which in a sense is a truss but hand framed (which still requires good designing) Great! It is good to see some of you using the truss tool. The liability is so high that most truss design software is limited to distributors and manufacturers and even if we were to obtain it, no one would dare to fabricate them. BC Framer allows the design of roof systems but, not necessarily trusses. Thank you!

What is the advantage of trying to design roof trusses in Chief? Typically roof trusses are designed by specific software packages that take into consideration the necessary load values for your area. The webbing chords are designed to resist the loads presented at each individual location Girder trusses to hold long spans Drag loads at certain locations Coordinating with your structural engineer to develop a good system and diaphragm Then that design also serves the manufacturing of such members. Unless you are a registered design professional that can sign responsibility over a truss design, and have the time to do so, and be economically feasible, I would take it on, otherwise I see no reason for production work. I don't know of any manufacturer that would take on any one's truss design and actually build trusses, even if you're an engineer! Thank you.

It's probably late, but, for the future, for those under PG&E look up the Greenbook under "prohibited locations" it specifies where not to put an electrical panel.

Hello all, I just sent this note out to support for review. Version 20. Exporting to .dwg with default "units" as "in" for inches is sending plans to decimal inches and not architectural inches. That was not the case in version 19 Version 19. After upgrading to version 20 exporting to .dwg with default "units" as "in" for inches is sending plans to decimal inches and not architectural inches. I am having to open exported files in AutoCAD and changing the dimension style to architectural for each exported file before sharing with my consultants.

Update: Thanks to those who have sent me a PM. We are located in the California Central Valley (Fresno) Designs have to be appropriate for the area (look up the area's home builders) Not looking for fancy designs or "detailed" down to the towel. Looking for Layout options where the Draftsperson can go to the Master Plan and Copy the desired configuration to drop into the working plan. I will provide the specifications for plumbing fixtures and casework.

Hello all, Looking for someone who can create a library of Bathroom and Kitchen layouts in Chief. We are a "Custom Home" Builder and have pre defined cabinetry, bathroom fixtures to go with the houses. Please PM me so we can exchange contact info. I am available 8am to 5pm Pacific Time. M, T, T F and 11am to 4pm on W due to meetings. Gracias.

To me this has been a great post to follow, watching all the attempts to make it work, how some have come up with ways to work around it, how some are now experimenting, what we did so many years ago, the best we could do was to keep making suggestions on the subject, knowing we would encounter some users that see the suggestions in a negative way. its been a good year for Chief, considering they get all of our fair and valid effort, to better the software at no cost. Importing formatted tables and comma separated values works great to a point, once the tables are in, there's no way to delete rows or columns, to re-organize them, to insert in between, and so on. I must praise Chief here, many other big boys out there can't i.e. ArchiCAD. (However it excels in .pdf) Chief knows the limitations, they also know that .pdf files don't update as they should, that saving them in plan does, but loses quality (virtually unreadable). The text in Chief is great for small tagging only, and it is widely used for that. When it comes to legends, key notes, general notes, etc then the current text does not work in a production setup.

Unfortunately to get good results and fit text around is best to import .pdf The downside is the way Chief "Caches" the external files, I hope to see this improved sooner than later...

Not sure what you're looking for here, I read the post and I'm still confused... Look up your yellow pages for a local structural engineer that can look at your project (paper plans) and produce a proper structural analysis and documents. Then review the provided analysis for proper design, upgrade or downgrade as needed (typically downgrade). Re run the analysis, produce docs, get stamps.

This is an old one but, very good source of information. http://sweets.construction.com

Use rich text and tabs Then again nothing close to using a text editor for best control and formatting.

I took a few minutes to revisit this and just like I have thought, and requested in suggestions before, the selective tool does not fully work yet. Select the 110v from the electrical toolset, shift drag a marquee, see what you get!! It would be nice to just Ctrl+A after selecting the desired tool to multiple select all items at once.

It would be nice if Chief would show the billing for people that are buying the Software via RTO in the My Account section. Also for those who purchased during the 15 payments to clearly show that as it got bumped to 16 payments and it is unclear if they just rolled over people who signed up before that went into effect. It is true on can look at the CC statement for payments, having actual billing from Chief so people can print when needed would be great. More of an accounting thing but, needed though. Thanks.

I saw that comment coming That is why I added "if not then you must provide the rest of the requirements to allow escape" Look it up.

Assuming you read the code sections in both the CBC and CRC pertaining to means of egress, the required fire escape exit is probably what is most confusing, some R groups and types of construction are exempt from the requirements when you have fire sprinklers. Typically for SFD there's only one required egress exit, with unobstructed path of travel and length limits, these limits and the limits in stair travel are two different things so, one has to figure out what works. The emergency escape is still required in sleeping areas, and it needs to meet the typical dimensions, if not then you must provide the rest of the requirements to allow escape. (In reality these are there not necessarily for a person to "jump" out of a window and escape, that would only work for able bodies, a person that is not able to negotiate the jump or escape can not benefit from that, so, the requirement is really more for the "rescuer's use")

I suggested the definition first, because of the exception in it, from there, you find the group, the group then takes you to amount of occupants, from there one can have a place to look for the rule in the code, however, before looking at what the code says, the next step is to find the applicable zoning code for that group and area where the building is located at, and delve into the exceptions and fire escape requirements for that jurisdiction and type of construction. What has applied to my projects in the past may not necessarily be what applies to his condition.

You need to make sure it is in fact a carriage unit first, look up the "definition" first.

http://stonecad.com/

All kinds of "Workarounds" here, however, add your support for this suggestion, very much needed, as you can tell by the way everyone is trying to get to the same place.