4hotshoez

I just finished doing a huge lighting layout. I believe you are talking about having a light or group of lights controlled by a 3-way on two different floors? The connectors obviously will not connect and cause the switch to automatically change and the same light should only show on one floor to avoid duplication. So you can have one switch, light and connector on the first floor, but draw a CAD arc with an arrow pointing to a note about the switch upstairs. And the same can be done for the switch upstairs. Since the switch will not automatically change to a 3-way, you can open the core library and manually place the symbol for the 3-way switch (search for "three way"). You will need to be aware of what layer the arc and text goes on or move to the more useful layer.

Many years ago the AIA put together a group to develop guid-lines for a layer naming system. This was to help with file transfers and standardizing what information went on what layer. This made it easier for multiple users to know access/manage data from consultants and others. I found the results very useful in organizing drawing data. I would also like to use a similar naming system in Chief. I would like to know from others, if you have tried using a different naming convention other than what comes in Chief, how well did that works? I believe many layers are embedded into the library objects or in some of the obscure defaults. I know I can add new layers, but has anyone had success in renaming all the layers to "fit" a corporate standard? Before I invest too much of my time, I would like to hear from those who have gone on before me.

Thanks David. What do you mean by "profile.plan"? Is that your name for a template?

Another way is to 1. draw a polyline to the size, shape and location you want on the plan, 2. select it, 3. then use the "convert polyline" then 4. select the "Hole in Ceiling Platform"

Template plans are designed to save time. But how many do you set up and how do you organize them? When do you choose to make a new templet and when do you just make the adjustments for the differences? If you have many (10) and you need to make the same change in all 10, Does that defeat the purpose of saving time by managing templates?

Can I add one more thing? The connection between CA and Sketchup is great! However, it would be better if CA could "see" edges of a Sketchup model rather than just a bounding box. (Or just merge the two Apps and I would be quite pleased.)

Archicad had trouble with stairs. Building in 3D and showing properly in 2D is tough for any program, but there must be a way to do it.

Enhanced section cuts. The stair might display better if we had a way to slice the plan horizontally at any elevation, say a cut at 60" off the floor, looking down, which would show only things below the 60" cut. We can do this in 3D in standard view, but it would be cool to do this in any view style in parallel view. So in essence there would be a plan camera. Also with the cut with any section, vertical or horizontal, the planes cut would show a thick line or option to thicken or create a closed polygon on a layer that can be filled and have a line weight control. Archicad and Sketchup can do something like this.

Thanks. I am not sure why this would have changed from page to page.

Here is the BIG file. https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lo009p9jjfzjeq8/AABtmWXYDYSeBQ3ON50SmnjKa?dl=0

Hmm.. It has been opened and closed several times, so maybe something more complicated is going on.

Sorry about not being clear. I have 2 layout sheets with 4 sections on the first sheet and 3 (different) sections on the second sheet. I noticed that the call outs that do not have a sheet reference are the ones located on the second sheet. In the dbx the "text below line" is set to automatic for all sections on the plan.

This is not a big deal at this point, but... I noticed that the Cross Sections I placed on the second sheet of my layout are not referencing back to the floor plan call out, yet the cross sections placed on the first sheet of my layout show "P-1" on the call out. Anyone have this experience and know if there is a setting I am missing?

The current format is "FileName: CameraType - CameraName" The only control the user has is in FileNaming and CameraNaming. However, I would like to suggest that the CameraName not be in the tab, but that the tab should show the CalloutLabel instead. The callout label is auto-generated and can be changed by the user. Typically it is a unique number/letter or combination of 1-3. It is short. I would also like to suggest that the tab NOT have the CameraType in the tab. While it may be helpful, it does not seem necessary. Or does it? If it is required to use a CameraType, a simple 2-4 letter code could be used like PLAN, CLIP, CROS, WALL, PFUL, PFLO, PFRA, OFUL, OFLO, OFRA. So if a file name was a simple project number like 14036, the tab could look like this: "14036: PLAN" in place of "14036: Floor Plan" "14036: CROS-C" in place of "14036: Cross Section\Elevation - East - West Cross Section - C at Great Room" "14036: PFUL-Cam33" in place of "14036: Perspective Full Overview - Camera 33" (Cam33 or Camera 33 are auto generated and can be changed by the user) Or What if after the FileName, the tab was completely customizable by the user and not tied to the name of the camera, but had its own "TabName" in the DBX? CAD Details are simple and short. I am sure there are better ideas out there, but these are mine.

Thanks for catching that Glenn, That is not usually my problem, but that helped clean things up. So now my horizontal rails are working, but I am still not able to get the cable to show properly on the stair. StairRailTest.plan

Good catch. I never thought that a landing would have a solid fill that would allow me to see below. It turns out that an invisible wall was created that did not quite meet the wall. I did not put it there so I deleted it. Problem solved for now.

I was minding my own business when I was prompted there was a problem with a wall connection. But there is a straight wall with no intersecting wall and no invisible. Not sure how to solve this. I tried reading on it but This is for connecting walls and don't have any. I can post the plan tomorrow if there is no simple explanation.

Spaces labled "open" and "attic" are obviously removed from area calcs. But did you know that if you have an attatched garage, the area calc uses half the thickness of the wall. Other wise it use the wall layer to the exterior to figure floor area. This comes from the reference manual. See Perry, I do read it.

As I play with my stair configuration, I am beginning to hate the way Chief attempts to build stairs. If I change one setting, the stair comes apart or jumps sideways or changes width or changes the number of treads or the height of my landing. Now I know my stair might be unusual with two stairs connecting to the same landing, but I am about to build them manually in Sketchup. I don't like it Sam I am!

Let me see if we can simplify my problem and what I might be missing by submitting this plan. What is set up wrong to make the cable rail slope with the stair and appear on both floors? StairRailTest.plan

Thank you Alan. I am not available until Monday. Do you have any time then?

Thanks Ross

There is another to the stair design idea that I would like to do. I am showing pictures of a project we did with nearly identical stairs for this new project. I would like to slope the top of the wall that is between the upper and lower runs. Then the rail is built on this sloped "wall." How would you do this in Chief?

There is a partial wall under the stair to enclose it and I tried working with that, but it did not help and even messed up the height. There was an invisible wall to divide rooms, but that has been turned off to avoid being selected. The only thing is the railing itself, which I want to change, but is not selectable apart from the stair. There is a railing on the second floor that comes to the stair that I selected to "follow the stair". Then it ended up on the first floor. This is getting very frustrating as I do not see anything intuitive in this process. I know it can be done, but I am not getting it.

Yes. I worked on selecting that one in plan and perspective cycling the Tab key, but I cannot get it.