MoeGia

Hmm, I did have something similar happen but I was able to turn it back on

Yep, same here with my Surface 1 (2-1/2 years old) and with a brand new Surfacebook.  I was able to get back up and running on both. 

I believe you will have to reimport all of the bonus and manufacturer catalogs.  I usually save them somewhere on my computer so I don't have to re-download them all.  I would do this step first before importing your User library.

To migrate your User Library over:

In the X7 library, select the user folder, right click, select export library.

Open X8, select library, import and browse to the file you just created.  All your User library will be imported, complete with any shortcuts. 

Next step; Library, Update Library Catalogs to make sure everything is up to date

Open your X7 template in X8 and save as your X8 template. I also copy paste my hotkeys and toolbars folder in my X8 folder. I rename the shipped hotkey and toolbars folders prior to copying so I can go back to them if I need to. Everything moved forward seemlessly.

And I tweaked my X8 preferences to match X7. Very fast to set up.

Merry Christmas all!

Make sure your window is set up correctly.  Open the window dialog, verify the correct size, then go to the framing tab and verify/change your framed opening size. 

You should be able to get the rough openings dimensioned correctly between the dimension settings (looks correct) and the window framing set up.

Nice tutorial!  You should post it in the tips section.

Thanks

i have to delete all the CA presets and start fresh with just one Default Set and start learning it from there.

Starting with a single annotation set is a great way to start. Work with it for a while, then when you see a need for a second, add it. Soon you'll have a full set that will get things done quicker.

And I agree that the whole thing is a little complicated and frustrating. My biggest complaint is all the clicking within the dialog box. It would be so much easier if when you called up a set you could see all of the pre-sets without having to open each item. If the interface resembled X7's wall dialog box it would be much easier to see what you have and make changes without getting lost.

Do all 3 pieces have the same head hieght? It looks like the door is taller. Not at my computer to check.

Yes, while my HP drivers are new, they are older and troublesome.  I'm planning to move to Cannon when the time comes.

I had a similar problem early on in X7.  I had inconsistent results (dropped .JPGs, cut off sheets) printing directly from Chief to my HP plotter.  I now print to PDF first, then plot and don't have those problems.  I would try printing to PDF and see if it resolves the problem.  Also contact support.

I typically draw a walk-out basement on floor 1 with the foundation plan on floor 0.  It allows me better control of plan display, wall heights etc.  It has it's own challenges, but is a better way for me to get a clean foundation plan, and a basement plan when needed. 

I have my template plan set up with the basement on floor 1.

I'm not sure what I'm doing but it may be related to having similar anno sets, or it may be related to moving quickly between views.  I'll try to pull something together but am out straight right now. 

BTW, this is exactly about fine tuning the system.  I can work with it as is, but if I am annoyed by this behavior, what are new users thinking?

Thanks for backing me up Scott!

I use the layout this way too. BUT, when you're working on framing and want to keep sections (or elevations) up to date with text, it would be wonderful to be able to move between plan and 3D and have each hold it's assigned anno sets.  Cycling into the layout to get to the correct anno set is an extra step.  I can do it, but I don't want to.  If it can remember it there, why can't it remember by switching views????  It breaks the flow and seems like an inconsistency to me.

Not to mention it's one of those things that trips people up.  When I think about folks learning this program now, I am very sympathetic.  This is one of those got ya's, that would make everyone's life easier.  How many times a day to you go to the anno set drop down and change the set because it's showing 'using active defaults'?  Too many times for me!  I bounce around between views a lot!

Dermot said, "Views will remember your active defaults, not your annotation set."​

I still find this odd and would prefer each 'view' to remember the annotation set.  For example; I'm working on framing in plan view, but have multiple sections open so I can transfer beam and post sizing and notes to the sections.  Going back and forth between the views means I have to toggle the annoy set each time because my sections are at 3/8" and plans are at 1/4" scale.

I would prefer to have the annotation set be remembered with the view.  I understand that plan view isn't static and can change for foundation, framing, plan views, etc, (although it would be helpful to have the foundation also remember it's annotation set). 

I think it's confusing to change to 'Using active defaults' and would be better for the anno set to be retained with the view, whatever the view is.

PS.  Ha, ha spell check kept changing 'anno' set to 'annoy' set.  It sure is when you're trying to tie up the loose ends in your construction drawings!

I had the same problem this morning around 8. Glad to know it wasn't my system.

Settings, accounts, sign in options will allow you to remove the password on wake.

I'm not sure if you can remove the password since you are signing in with a Microsoft account. A picture password might be the simplest way if you can't remove the password. Try googling it.

Try going into Settings, Accounts, Sign In Options. You can choose to us a Pin instead of a password.  You can choose to use a password/pin on start up or wake from sleep. etc.

You should also be aware of this little bit of hidden functionality:

 

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-10/windows-update-delivery-optimization-faq

 

Windows update delivery is on by default and will use your internet bandwidth to deliver windows to other users on the internet.

Good to know; that's not something I'm interested in.  Thanks for sharing.

I updated my Surface Pro 1 this morning.  It went smoothly with only one glitch.  I run an old program for my personal finances (Microsoft Money Plus) and that won't open (looking for Internet 6 files (tee-hee)) so if I can't get that running I'll drop back to 8.1 until the end of the year or I figure something else out. 

I typically use Edit Area for this types of plan change. You can draw a polyline around the area you would like to change and then hit the edit area all floors icon and drag, or use Transform/Replicate to move the area precisely. Using this method you won't get pieces of 'automatically generated attic walls with no room definition' which might be the reason a roof won't build; the program can't fine any walls to define the space.

I find the auto generated attic walls a little too helpful; it might be better if the defaulted to having a room definition. It's hard to see which walls are causing the problem without opening each one.

Is it possible to save the 'Plan Note' symbol to the library with the 'specify label radio' button checked?  It keeps reverting to automatic label; I don't want to have to check specify label each time.

Thanks Joe and Perry,

This would make a nice workshop topic.  Macros, automation of plan notes, ruby????

I have been having the same trouble with X7. Im using windows 8.1 and an HP design jet 500. I was using X6 and it all worked good. Now with X7 it tells me that the printer is set to 0 DPI and wont print. The  printer box that pops up shows the DPI at 0 but its greyed out so I cant change it. I went to HP website to check for newer driver and they no longer support my printer. I just tried printing to PDF and then printing it and that works but the scale is off a bit.

 Any ideas? Is there a trusted web site for drivers other than HP?

I've had some success with selecting the 'Save as PDF' option and then switching to my HP print.  It then seems to hold that dpi, although I have a different HP printer (same problem). I was able to resolve that issue with a new driver.

That said I continue to have a very difficult time printing directly to my HP 110 with X7 and Windows 8.1.  It's quirky enough that it's better to go to PDF first--too many bad prints (cut off portions of page, drop outs).

Well...I want the boxed out window floating above the roof. The bottom needs to be roughly 18" above the roof so it can have some corbels under it.

 

I would cut the roof around the bay and add a poly solid to patch the roof hole. You may need another solid to patch the ceiling.      Not perfect but it will get  the job done. 

I'm pretty slow when it comes to this tweak of the black and white elevation views having heavier line weights as shown by the above people.

So I take a standard "elevation camera view" and I turn on my Layer set and annoset for elevations. In the annoset dialog for layer control

we then turn on just want we want for elevations, but to get the line weights we then adjust things like "roof planes" to a thicker line weight?

but I don't see the layer name for roof hatching to turn that to a grey tone?  I do for walls and wall hatching.  Although the line weight ends up

light for roof hatching, I'm just not sure how that happened.

 

I see I've got that wall hatching confused with the plan view interior hatching.  So I'm not sure how to set line weights in elevation views. Could

someone do a screen shot of the dialog box to show and example of changing to the roof and walls?

The shingle pattern is defined via the material's dialog box.  Go to the shingle material's pattern tab and change the line color to light grey.  It will then show in elevation as light grey.  The same is true for your siding--set the pattern in it's material dialog box.

When you send to layout you should uncheck 'Use Line Edge Defaults' and Use Pattern Line Defaults' to allow the material definitions to determine the colors and allow the specified layer set definitions to show on the layout page.  With those box checked it's a flat drawing using only the two line weights specified in those two check boxes.

I'm havimg the same library issue.

Another related problem is my main screen never opens to the correct screen size. It's larger than the desktop area so the status bar is below the Windows task bar. I have to maximize CA each time.

Both problems appeared after the last update.

I'm not on a Mac, but I get equally frustrated trying to get my work done in Chief.  Having a 3D view open on the second monitor makes everything painfully slow.  My computer is 2 years old (a dinosaur) and I'm running a 780 GTX.  It shouldn't be a problem.  Something is just not right.