MoeGia

I like your idea of the 'suitcase', Ivan. This might be a good way to save design options. Some jobs require multiple design ideas and I find copying files and renaming can be confusing when I go back to a job months later. I'll give this a try. Thanks.

This is a typical double hung sill. In the northeast we use this type of windows 90% of the time. A flat sill would allow wind driven rain to pass under the sill into the house or wall.

Windows need some attention. They are basically blocks in a rough opening. No sill profile is a big problem and has been noted numerous times. I would never measure the glass size from a CA generated window. I go directly to the manufacturer's information. Doors are similarly quirky, but I won't go there.

If you open the 3D view and your model is very far away your building is most likely too far from the origin (0,0). Or you have an 3D object very far from your model. that's causing Z fighting. You can search that term here for more info. Look for objects far away--In plan view zoom way out and marquis select the entire screen. the offending object, should be selected in the bounding box. Delete it. Do this for each floor. To find the origin, place a point and set it to 0,0. If 0,0 is a long distance away, you'll have to move your model closer. I'd use the Edit Area All Floors, Transform Replicate to move it closer. Make note of the distance you move it because your elevation and section CAD will have to be moved that distance too.

Set up a warehouse plan for the Andersen 100 Series. Make the windows there and copy to you plan. Before long you'll have all of your regularly used windows. Without the bloat Michael mentioned. You can add the windows to the user library if you prefer to keep them there.

I recently set up a new Windows laptop and adjusted my toolbars (removed icons) to fit the laptop screen (3240x2160, scaling 200%). Working on the Windows desktop, I moved a few more icons to the side bar to shorten the length. (2560x1440,Scaling 125%) Now my toolbars are moving on a very regular basis. I think switching to the layout file (different toolbars) triggered the problem yesterday. (Per Glenn's observation)

Rich, you're a hoot! Can you raise the tray portion to be higher than the ceiling joist height and still have it work? Maybe 12" high with 2x8 jsts.

I was having a problem after the Windows update last week. Somehow Onedrive was stuck on replacing the User Library file and my system kept freezing. As soon as I shut off Onedrive, I was good to go. Your system is pretty robust so not sure that's your problem.

You should get the glazing area from the window manufacturer. Glass area is dependent on how they build their windows. I would not scale this number off a Chief window unless you model the window and sash exactly as the manufacturer builds it. Too much liability; get the number from the manufacturer.

A simple head casing can be defined on the lintel tab when setting your window defaults. More complex head trim can be achieved on the treatments tab. You'll find a lot of good information with a forum search or with F! (help). If that doesn't help, you'll need to be more specific about what you're trying to accomplish. Post a picture.

A tip I got from this forum years ago is to create a library of 'skylight windows' with the appropriate size and label. I use Chiefs skylights in plan and elevation. I drop the 'skylight window' into the plan in an unseen wall (usually on the attic level). The callout then shows in my window schedule and I manually add the callout to my plan and elevation. Not perfect, but once you set them up, it's less of a workaround to get the proper look and accuracy. I do wish Chief would give us full functioning skylights.

Deck House still uses most of those same details. They have always built the mahogany windows and doors on site. Deck House and Acorn were direct, but friendly, competitors for many years. Acorn focused on solar technology during the '70's and 80's. Both were located in Acton, MA. Deck House bought out Acorn during the downturn in the 90's. My husband who also worked at Acorn, went over to Deck House to continue building the Acorn product line (he ran the panel fabrication division at both places). I chose not to go so I could focus on my own business. In the 2008 recession Deck House went under, and was purchased by a local builder. Here's a link to the current company: https://www.deckhouse.com/portfolio/ It was a great place to work, we did a lot of innovative work!

I worked for Acorn Structures for many years. Acorn Structures and Deck House were created when the Techbuilt partners split up. They used a 4' modular system for semi-prefabricated post-war homes. https://thetechbuilthouse.com/ For rafters or floor joists at 4' O/C, we used 3x6 T&G decking. Deck house still uses this same type of system.

Please review this thread for a fix to the Windows update breaking the connection to your printer. Not sure if it's the same problem but it might help.

I'm on version 1909 and lost use of my nextworked HP110. I had to download from this link: https://www.windowslatest.com/2020/06/17/windows-10-june-update-printing-issue-hotfix/ The update worked for my desktop and laptop. Thanks for the link Mick; it got me headed in the right direction. There obviously was an incremental update that broke the print spooler for networked printers.

On the label panel, set the object's label to 'automatic'. If a label is set to 'show in this view', they'll show through the walls.

There is an issue with Alienware's audio software causing issues with multiple monitor setups. This might be related.

Ginger, I was able to install V10 to a Windows 10 Pro laptop two years ago. I could never could get it installed to my Windows 10 Pro desktop. I believe the dongle installation has to be done in a specific order, so follow the instructions carefully.

A couple of years ago I hired an intern to open every pre-V10 Chief file in X8, save it and create a PDF of the layout. The plans are now readable in the current Chief software. We then threw out the printed copy of the plan. I scanned all the paperwork for the job into the job folder. I now have a digital file of of most plans from 1994, and all job paperwork. I've retained all hand drawn plans pre-94 since I do occasionally work for previous clients. I guess it's time to ditch those! I'd much rather have a digital copy. I have my archives backed up in multiple locations. I delete all of Chief's Archives folders and drawings. It's great to be rid of all that paper! Ginger, download the X8 viewer on your new laptop and open your old files and save them. You'll then have them for use. It works well and you will have access to your plans.

On my HP 110, I have to create a default sheet size for each type of drawing.. (18x24 is rotated to print landscape, 24x36 is not (24" roll)) It's not a function of just changing to portrait or landscape. It's a function of the printer looking for a specific sheet size and orientation. Try creating a new default in the printer setup to see if you get what you need.

I have created skylights from windows that I keep in a warehouse plan. They are windows, sized and labeled as Velux skylights. I copy and drop them into a wall on the attic level of my plan and they report to the window schedule (or whatever schedule you'd like). Not ideal, but it gets the job done. Someone had posted this tip here many years ago. Thanks to whoever that was!

You can set your room divider wall default to a specific layer. I have mine set to a custom layer 'Walls, no show plan' which have a dotted line style (I like to see them while working). The Chief created walls automatically come in on that layer. That layer is turned off in my printing layer sets.

I am also missing pattern files in my X12 install. I believe they were custom patterns at some point (roof shingles, stone) which didn't migrate. I'm on a new computer so don't have any other versions installed. I'll try the import method.

Try using the 'all on' layer set in 3D (make sure the layers are turned on in 3D). If the plan was drawn as CAD only, there will be no 3D. If the walls were drawn with Chief's wall tool, there should be 3D.

This is a bug that can happen when using edit area. Somehow multiple copies of windows get dropped in during the use of edit area stretch command. Not sure it that applies to this plan, just mentioning it.