SNestor

@dshall - cardinal sin. Post the plan so we can see what you have done. 
 

That said - there are days when Chief can just make your life a living hell 

M

6 minutes ago, stevenyhof said:

I'm making an electrical plan and trying to figure out how to add my electrical line to my light fixture over the stairs - shown on the main floor. So I have a 2 way switch at the bottom and top of the stairs.

use a spline...open it and add an arrow pointing up to 2nd floor

@Tjohnson1220 - Thank you so much Tyler! 

Yes...I do offer 1:1 training...and of course my amazing (my adjective) Screened Porch Library. 

Website:  www.mychiefskills.com

Check it out...

@stevenyhof - thanks very much Steve!  

If you find yourself designing Screened Porches you should seriously consider purchasing my Chief Library.  
 

My website is up and running and you can purchase it here; www.mychiefskills.com

You can watch a short video here; 

On 8/25/2020 at 12:51 PM, BBBuilders said:

Has anyone had the problem of not being able to arch a triple set of mulled windows?  I only have the problem in one particular plan.  The window defaults don't give me the option for a arch window, it's grayed out.

Yes...Chief will arch a window that has been mulled together. Watch this quick video.  https://www.loom.com/share/a0f58f18e3004d5885e7b157088e580a

1 hour ago, glennw said:

Steve,

Great video as usual, but probably MUCH easier to do a simple roof like that using the auto roof tool.

Build a zero height second floor and control the dormer with a room on the second floor.

The big advantage of doing auto is that the model is very easy to change if you want to see how variations will look - or, if in a very unusual circumstance, the client changes their mind and wants some changes!  

I realise that it was an older video not necessarily made for this particular situation.

Yea- auto build is the way to go. 

@OnlineBuilder2 - did this video for someone on Chief Talk a while back...may help.
 

@GeneDavis - do you know if @dshall recorded the meeting and will upload to YouTube..or somewhere?  I was unable to attend but would have loved to heard the discussion...

Thanks!

2 hours ago, ACADuser said:

Another nice video Steve!

Thanks

 

Thanks...much appreciated!

I like to give an upvote for what I think is good advice. I have only handed out a handful of downvotes.
 

For me - on a lot of topics it’s just easier/quicker to give the upvote than to add another comment that just reiterates the good advice provided by a previous post. 

I don’t see any value in giving a downvote to someone just because I don’t think the opinion stated was in my opinion poor advice...I just hear my mom in my head saying “if you don’t have anything good to say - just be quiet”.  If someone has taken the time to try and help someone there’s not much value in just giving a downvote.  

@masterc - I’ve done a number of porch videos....my YouTube page is in my signature.  
 

@bmatth1 
 

Just make the brick Veneer layer Part of the “main layer”.  
 

You could make the foundation a pony wall - bottom being 8” stem wall...top being a 2-layer wall...4” concrete + 4” brick all on main layer.  
 

I’m not near my computer so this is just off the top of my head...but I don’t think setting a brick ledge depth in the foundation wall will do anything.  But - that’s a guess because I can’t test it at this moment. 

35 minutes ago, joey_martin said:

Which is why I said perhaps. 

OK...I missed that one word.

Still...you have to admit you aren't in love with saved plan views...and most times when it comes up you take the opposing view. Which is fine...but, I don't think it's good advice for new users as it's my belief that this is the way Chief is moving...so, you might as well climb on board.

But - like I said, I've seen your plans. I'd probably not change if I were you either...you've got an amazing setup which I'm sure has taken you a long time to refine. Why upset the apple cart. You should post one of your floor plans so new users can see what Chief is capable of...no one does a better looking set of plans.

17 minutes ago, skoz44 said:

Back to Working Sets.  How are you guys using them?  I realize its a plan set that never goes to layout, but what specifically are you using it for if it never goes to layout?

 

 

 

@joey_martin I agree it is somewhat complicated.  I guess I'd like to fully understand it before I ditche it.  The anno's and layers have worked fine for me so far.

I use the Working Set in Plan Views as my plan development set...I can turn layers on/off etc.  But I leave the plan views I use to send to layout alone...well, I try to not change them much. That way...I'm sending drawings to layout in a consistent format. 

Plan Views are not really any more complicated than annotation sets. If you look at a Plan View...90% of it is an "annotation set". The thing I think that is confusing is "annotation sets"...most new users do not know how to set them up. But - if you can create an annotation set...you can create a saved plan view. 

4 hours ago, Michael_Gia said:

I was just suggesting to OP that he focuses on understanding Layer Sets and Default Sets first. 

Then once he masters that he can move on to Saved Plan Views. 

@bluesparrowllc...

Plan Views are Annotation/Default Sets...so, why learn two versions of the same thing?

Things you can do with Plan Views you cannot do otherwise:

- Custom Reference Layer Set (this alone makes Plan Views worth the effort)

- Designate a floor for the view

- Pony Wall display control...(nothing like this in simple anno set)

- Open multiple plan views at the same time...maybe looking at the foundation and the first floor for load bearing or joist issues...or plumbing conflicts.

- Designated zoom factor

- Color on or off

And...you have complete control of all annotations...layers, color, etc...just like a simple annotation set. Just learn plan views...you'll be happy you did.

7 hours ago, Mark3D said:

I would ask tech support on this one as I thing the program has hit a situation it can not handle

I think Kevins plans have an issue...something "stray". Something with the foundation or a stray invisible wall or attic wall...or something on a layer that is turned off. 

I don't believe it's a program problem. 

3 minutes ago, joey_martin said:

@skoz44 does that method not work for you any longer?

 

A perspective from the other side of the isle....if it take 2 pages of comments from people and a bunch of back and forth to try and explain why you should be using saved plan views, then perhaps you don't need saved plan views. I spent about an hour looking over them and moved on. I will keep my Anno Sets and my template plan.

Joey - to use your line of thinking we probably should do away with dormers...just as much confusion with "roof cuts wall at bottom" as there is with Plan Views. Or maybe we should get rid of the stair tool - since it creates more problems than it solves. 

I'm not a one size fits all...if you like your setup...keep it. Plan Views are a nice feature but certainly not the end all and be all of Chief. @joey_martin - I've seen the plans you produce - absolutely amazing work - you certainly don't need to spend time creating Plan Views. 

I've done a number of dormer videos...check out my YouTube page Chief Skills

Here is one...

6 minutes ago, HumbleChief said:

Reference sets live under the Plan View umbrella and have no effect on active defaults or a chosen Anno Set.

You are correct...I wasn't at my computer when I was pontificating.

Yea...if you have a plan view and the defaults are being driven by a saved annotation set...and you change any of the "defaults" in the plan view...you will lose the link to your saved annotation set...which of course makes perfect sense.

Just now, skoz44 said:

Is this correct?

This is correct...but, don't be afraid of using a basic annotation set to drive the defaults in Plan Views...it works either way. If you have annotation sets that drive layers sets already setup the way you want...then feel free to link these to a plan view.  

1 hour ago, GeneDavis said:

So I'll ask the power users of Plan Views, are all your annosets now "passive," i.e., set to use active layerset, or otherwise?

Mine are a "mix"...I have some of my plan view defaults driven by an "annotation set"...but most are just passive. As soon as you change something...such as the reference layerset...your old link to the original "annotation set" disappears. If you have been using Anno sets to drive layersets for years...the "active defaults" statement can make your palms sweaty.  But - with plan views, you just ignore this. Or...just take the anno set toolbar off of your default toolbar....and keep the blood pressure stable.

10 minutes ago, skoz44 said:

SNestor,

If I don't assign an Annotation set to every Plan View then my arrows, text, callouts, etc won't go to the right layer.  Which means to turn on the text for the electrical plan will also turn on text for the Floor Plan.  What am I not understanding?

Well - let’s say you create a plan view for each floor plan...first, second...and possibly basement.  You can use the same anno/default set for all of these plans...you may want a unique cad layer. On the plan view you designate  which floor It is associated with. For each plan view you can open it and change any default and the plan view saves this setup...it’ll display “using active defaults”. So you know it’s not using one of your saved Anno/default sets. 

1 hour ago, Ridge_Runner said:

Is it just my system?

Same on my system...I'm on a MAC

7 hours ago, skoz44 said:

For the past number of years, I have been using Layer Sets and Annotation Sets to control the views being sent to Layout.  Now I've been introduced to Plan Views and am getting a little confused over them all.  From what I now understand, it's somewhat of a hierarchy:

 

1. Plan Views - control annotation sets, layer sets, and a few other items that layer/annotation do not control (reference display, floor, etc.)

    2. Annotation Sets - control dimensions, text, etc. for that specific annotation set.  They also control Layer Sets.

        3. Layer Sets - control what "layer" is turned on in the view and what is turned off

 

In light of this recent knowledge, It now seems that I should predominantly be using Plan Views to control what is being seen in the plan window, for it controls the annotation set, which controls the layer sets.  So if I want to switch from the floor plan to the electrical plan, simply change the Plan View to Electrical Plan.  Is all of this correct?

 

 

If I am understanding this correctly, then it seems that I should have a common set of views/layers/annotations.  For example if I have a layer called "Framing 2 Layer Set", then I should have an annotation set called "Framing 2 Annotations" and a Plan View called "Framing 2 Plan View", which of course all tie together.  Is all of this correct?

 

Finally, how are Working Plan View and Working Layer Sets utilized?  It's only one view, so can't understand how it is helpful.

 

Thanks
 

 

 

 

 

How is the Working Plan ust

 

Plan Views do (or can) control annotation/default and layer sets.  But...they have other benefits and you should explore using them. The Chief template "residential template.plan" includes some basic plan views. You should try this template out and create a basic little 2-story house plan and explore how the plan views work. One of the biggest benefits is that you can assign custom Reference Layer Sets...unfortunately Chief has not done a great job explaining the benefits of custom REF Sets. Another big benefit of Plan Views is that you can open multiple plan views at one time...so, if you are working on a roof plan, you can also look at your floor plan...side by side. Or...a maybe you are working on the floor framing plan and want to see where your water closet is above is located...custom ref set. 

Also, you don't really need a dedicated "annotation/default" set with every plan view...as the Plan View itself will save whatever defaults you assign to the PV. I would say that you would want a layerset to match your Plan View. 

I'd say you should get on board with plan views as I feel this is how Chief is moving...and if you don't get up to speed soon you'll have an even more difficult time wrapping your head around how to use them.

One of my big gripes about Plan Views (and a number of things Chief does)...is they release this powerful new tool and create just a general video that glosses over how great this new feature is...but they never really do a deep dive into things like PV's.  IMO they should have created a series of videos covering something like this in great detail.