EconBlueprints

I have a plan and an associated layout. I want to make the plan my default template, and the layout my default layout. This plan has all of the notes, details, specifications, sections and the like that the building departments here in New York want. After I have them saved, my idea is to edit the plan file and remove all of the floors, elevations etc, leaving only the notes and cad details associated with the plan. The layout should update to remove all of the plan files when I remove the floors elevations etc. from the plan, correct? I do not want the new template plan or layout to be associated with the parent plan or layout in any way. I want to be able to open the template, save it as a new plan and then start working. Same for the layout. So, if I do a "save as template" for both the plan and the layout, then set them as the default for new plans and layouts will this do the trick, or is there a better way (with chief it seems there is always a better way, and I usually learn by doing all the wrong way first). Then, I want to do the same thing for another template plan and layout that is specific to New York City and the five boroughs. I am sure I can really mess this up. Thanks, Lane

Thanks, that did it.

I really like the Notes feature. But, how do I create a different note list and schedule for different iterm. For instance, I started with electrical notes, and I am up to 21 Notes. I sent it to the Notes schedule and it worked great. Now, I want to create a new set of notes for Mechanicals. I want it to be completely independent of the Electrical Notes so I would like it to have the callout of M1, M2, M3, etc. to differentiate them from the electrical notes. Is there a way to do this or do all notes go on a single schedule? Thanks in advance, Lane

I want to place spotlights and GFCI receptacles in roof soffit overhangs. Everything wants to default to being placed on a wall. Is there a way to override this? Thanks, Lane

Yup, I abandoned the auto dormers and auto floating dormers for manual dormers. I really do not understand why dormer dimensions are to the siding layer and not to the main layer like all my other dimensions. Oh well, it is Chief and my love hate relationship grown one way or another day by day. By the way, after building hundreds and hundreds of homes, having done who knows how many blueprints, having been to see a gazillion building inspectors....I still have not found one single person that considers a mud sill to be part of the foundation. It is and always has been part of the framing. Only Chief thinks a Mud Sill is part of the foundation.

Ugggg. I think the "auto floating dormer" is as useless as **** on a bull, second only to the"auto dormer" button. Sorry, frustration venting.

Thanks!

As far as I can tell, all of my dimension settings are to the main framing layer. But, when I try to dimension from the outside gable wall to a dormer wall, the dimension goes to, and locks itself on the siding layer. Is there a setting that will allow me to dimension to the dormer main framing layer? thanks, Lane

Riackore, that was it!

My default for floor beams is 5-1/4" x 11-7/8" LVL. When I draw a beam in the basement, it shows up as a box with the label. Same for the second floor..but On the first floor, the beam shows up only as a single line and the label. Any ideas? thanks, Lane

Plan is attached. When I drew this, I drew two floors and a roof. I put in three dormers and no problems with that. Then, since I needed a 3rd floor, I added the 3rd floor leaving the roof built where it originally was built, top of the second floor. Again, no problem. Adjusted everything that needed adjusting, and again no problem. But In Plan View, one dormer shows up on the 3rd floor, and the other two dormers show up on the attic level. I would like them all to show up on the 3rd floor. How can I fix this? Thanks, Lane 02-05-2019_Terelli_Colonial_Plan_File.plan

I have a two story colonial with staircase to the attic. When I clicked on "auto stairwell" for the staircase to the attic, I got a message saying Chief could not find the attic floor. Since this area will have a floor but no eve walls, I want the roof to build on the top plates of the second story. The floor joists for the attic will be 40# LL, 12# DL since it will be eventually finished into a recreation room. Should I build a 3rd floor and set the ceiling height to 11-7/8" ( Using I Joists), then build the roof on the second floor, or Build the roof on the second floor, then add the 3rd floor and let it use the default ceiling height? Or is there another way to do this so I don't burst out into my normal Chief Architect rant when I click something and everything else gets screwed up? Thanks, Lane

It disappeared as if by magic when I connected the interior room to an exterior wall. The interior room was the stairwell I was working around and I did not realize Chief placed the room divider automatically, which it appears it does so the room is connected and does not try to make the walls exterior walls. Thanks! Lane

Oh, yes, I have and independent room and I did not create the divider. Got it now, thanks! Lane

I am trying to remove a room divider but for some reason it just will not go away. It is on the second floor. Anyone have the answer? Thanks, Lane 02-05-2019 Terelli Colonial Plan File.plan

Thanks, I have it now.

I don't have any idea why it acts that way. I thought the "save as" function would allow me to save the new plan as an entirely different plan, with associations of its own. But nope.

I have a folder, and it it is House A and Layout A. Now I want to create House A-1 and Layout A-1. A-1 will be very similar to A. All of the exteriors will be identical, just some of the interiors will be different. How do I save A so that A-1 will be completely independent of A? I have tried this before using "save as", but whatever I do to the second plan for some reason changes the first plan. I want the saved plan, and the saved layout to be completely independent of the "Parent" plan and Layout. Thanks, Lane

Here (NY) it is always to the interior for habitable space, to the exterior for taxable space. Also, the dimensions here are to net space, so a room that is framed at 12'-1", with 1/2" Drywall will be a net of 12'. If the dimensions were to the outside of the wall, there would be no way to account for a wall that is common to two rooms, as each one would claim the common wall for its own. Another thing, room dimensions, i.e. floor space is also relative to the structure above, so if you have a sloping ceiling above the room, any area of the room which has a ceiling height of less than 5' (that's what it is here in NY) does not count for habitable area.

Thank you!

Can custom object fields be copied from one plan to another? thanks, Lane

I increased the stair contraction and that did the trick. Thanks!

Eric, I was looking for typical detailed buidling cross section, one story, two, slab on grade etc. I see some in the chief library and can probably customize those to what I want. Lane

Problem 1. My stairs do not contract as they should, and the top and bottom inboard ends show up as crooked. Problem 2. I want the railing balustrades to show up in plan view, but it seems as if I have run out of boxes to check to get them to show up. The plan is attached, items are circled and text is in red. Thanks, Lane 2019-01-22_359_Ridgewood_Plan_File.plan

Thanks!