jorgearaya

I use the door header layer when working on con docs, lateral plans, I turn off the door, but, leave the "lines" header layer on, this way I show the "dashed" in a heavy line representing the headers, add the proper "text macro" to show what it is by default, or I add a callout to specify what the calcs require. Framers expect to see the "line" besides, it is common practice to show it. The second part of these lines is that they do not change with the default settings, you can have a thinner header, but, the lines will just be the same width of the wall, not reading the dbx settings. I keep throwing the stuff out here, I should be writing to Chief directly about all these "bugs" (which I keep documenting in my Google Docs). Still I think windows should have them too. Nonetheless, the "inconsistency" within Chief... get it? I developed systems in Chief to keep the plans "Consistent" from one to the next, so all of my jobs look the same all around, people working out of my plans know where things are and what they represent. They recognize my plans by just looking at the cover sheet. Whenever I run into the inconsistencies in Chief, then, my system "logs" a fault and I have to find a "workaround" for it to fill the gap left. The reason for my suggestions... (and this one is another one).

Did I miss it? The door dhx has it, but not the window... just checking

Hello all, I am still looking for an "in house" draftsperson, if you know anyone with some Chief experience in my area please send me their info. Unfortunately not looking for "online" help at this time. This is a full time drafting position in an office setup. Chief experience is desired but, not required, as we use several tools (drafting platforms) to get the job done.

I just realized that the "Solid Wall Railing" specified as 36" height, does not meet code! CRCR312.1.2 Exception 2 says: Where the top of the guard serves as a handrail on the open sides of stairs, ... shall be not less than 34 inches and not more than 38 inches as measured vertically from a line connecting the leading edges of the treads. I took a section of my stairs and oh my!! the rail specified at 36 inches is only 29 inches to the top of the handrail. Does this have to do with selecting "Follow Stairs"? And it is measuring from the bottom of the stringer up at a right angle from it.

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/downloads.html

We should come up with a system, since many users like the HK's, someone should set up a Google Docs or Office Live doc, share it with all of us and we can pitch it on how to make one set of HK's for all. If anyone here is familiar with Xactimate, they also have the same principle for categories and items, since there are a zillion of them, nonetheless the way it's set up, it's easy to remember the codes, many estimators I know can fly through an estimate using mostly "remembered" codes.

Michael, Give it a try and see what you get

Curt, I did get the same result, Chief needs to address this (bug) issue, fix the way wall railings interact with the landing, which I think is causing the problem. The wall recognizes the stairs and does what it needs to do, but, not the landing. The landing here knows it needs a railing and generates a broken up one, the "default" in its settings, not the solid wall railing, independent from the "walls". We keep supporting the software, there are some things that need fixing right away!

Years ago, we were working on a medium size project using Chief, it would crash several times, we dumped it and moved to ArchiCAD, man, I have never seen it crash since we bought it!! It's my 99% go to program now. Still use Chief for small SFD on and off... Basic CD's only, nothing more.

Yup, something is going on, I tried raising the railing to have the wall show up, but, it messes up the rail. Here the rail wants to follow the incline, the wall may just be the "railing" for the landing. Chief is not reading the railing on the landing to connect it to the walls, or the "wall" has nothing to reference to (stairs) to follow.

I don't have a plan for it, what you see in the pic is it, just drop a u shape stair and create the walls around the stairs, tell them to "Follow Stairs". See what it does.

Stairs in U-Shape with a gap in between to allow for a "Solid wall railing" that follows the stairs do not generate the "Solid wall railing" at the landing. Chief generates the railing for the landing disregarding the walls around the stairs telling it to create the walls following the stairs. The walls for the stairs generate but, not, for the landing portion where the "U" is created. Tried several options with that specific wall portion without the desired results.

Sent you a PM

I never use the floor structure for garages, since the code requires them to slope towards the main door, I use roofs. Create a roof plane, edit all defaults to concrete size and materials, play around on how to place it inside the garage floor area without cutting wall surfaces, etc, lower the garage door accordingly, layer it under slabs. Don't forget to use the footing under the walls to the desired size. Besides that all my stoops, patios, porches, balconies, use the same approach.

Chief will generate the attic wall whether there is a wall below or not, even if you have a curved (barrel) roof. Yes!

There's no reason for Chief not to auto generate the attic wall. If you did your part correctly then, it should generate. If you did your part correctly and Chief did not generate it, I suggest you send it to Tech Support and report it as a bug. I had a similar issue in one of my plans, and it was indeed a bug in the software.

I have noticed this behavior as well, if one creates automatic elevations, and send them to Layout, it will add "color" to them, and will not print as lines. It's probably the way it ships. I have also noticed that has gone away "by itself" after resending them to layout. odd.

Make it out of CAD lines, convert it to solids, add materials, from 3d view, create the symbol, save it as a window, it will take a few minutes. You may then place the window next to a door, mull it or leave it as is.

Just to wrap up this thread Support confirmed that there's a "bug" in the way Chief reads my plan, too many things happening around that area that it confuses the program. I will also report the bug, just in case. Thanks to all that tried.

Support replied today. On the room projecting over the "open below" room their suggestion worked, basically one has to draw another room on top of the projection, of course one will also have to change all the settings for the structure so it shows as a finished floor/ceiling and make it invisible so it does not show in plan views. On the missing attic wall, I am not sure they got it, I was able to create a new plan that generated the attic wall, but, my plan does not, their reply did not satisfy and or they did not look at it in depth. I replied again with my test plan to show that it does generate the attic wall. we'll see...

This is a tough one! For SunnyD, take the plunge! read the literature that can be downloaded free. Draw a "test" project get everyone involved. (Keep an eye on this forum, lots of good resources here) I typically post bugs I find in the program. (Keep AutoCAD, comes in handy for details, importing pdf's, site work etc.). For Grkawaja, Stay with Softplan! Lots of new features, good for networks, cloud, etc. No need to re-learn much.

And a shot of missing attic wall. If you look closely to the picture, the portion of the room without the ceiling mentioned above can be seen

Tried and tested several options without success , zipped the plan and sent it to Support, we'll see what is the issue with it. A second issue occurred and it was also included in the support ticket. The main room was also a "no ceiling" plus "open below" (not sure if that had to do with it). Next to that room there's a laundry room with "ceiling" selected, but, a portion of that room projects into the main room by about a foot and a half. (Well that foot and a half) loses its ceiling as well , even though it is an enclosed room. I must add that the "open below" does not fall over the projection. Even after removing "no ceiling" and leaving "open below" that portion still loses its ceiling.

Had a chance to try a concept roof similar to the one having issues, all attic walls generated properly, without having to check additional wall settings. Not sure why that other plan is having issues, but, will look into it when I get a chance.

Will try, thanks.