SNestor

I blocked some text that I had on a specific layer...but, when I blocked it, the text was put on a "Cad" layer. I guess I'm asking this question just to be sure this is correct. When you create a block of anything the block is placed on the "current cad layer". Is this correct? So...if I want to create blocks of typical text that I use all the time...say for foundation plans or sections...and I want these the text to be on a specific foundation text layer...when I block the text it is automatically placed on the current cad layer...and not on the text layer I assigned to all the text? This seems odd...what am I missing?

Joe...your method is fabulous. Very quick and with a couple of clicks you can change the design. Genius. Thanks. If I had some type of video software I'd make a video... Basically...use a railing wall; spec it as "Panel" type. Create a screen panel use P-Solids to create the screen and the rails you want, apply the correct materials. I made mine 36" wide. Save it as a millwork symbol. Draw your railing wall, open the DBX and spec it as panel type; Post to beam; in the newel/balusters section under panels, click library...go to your library and select the panel symbol you created. You probably will need to specify the height of railing...this sets the overall height of the panel. You can create as many screen panel symbols as your imagination will allow. See my pics below.

So...are you saying I should create a mill work symbol that includes the screen and horizontal rail...save this symbol to my library...then attach this symbol to the "post to beam" railing? Sounds like the way to go...if I understand what you are saying. Thanks for commenting Joe.

I have experimented with the window method...I just don't think it looks correct in "plan view"...but I'm not an expert. Still learning.

Good point. However - each section would be identical. P-solids allow you to customize each section as needed. Maybe the spacing of the posts is unequal...or a couple of sections have arched trim.

Just some follow up...attached are two pictures. One is of a screened porch constructed with walls. The other (with the different colors) is constructed with P-Solids. Obviously...using P-solids you can do a lot of things...if your intent is to create a very customized screened porch. Both methods work...

I have experimented with building a screened porch with p-solids vs. using a defined wall and making mods...such as adding screen and details as needed. I think if the plans called for a very custom porch...the P-Solids would work best. No doubt you can get much better details (see Michaels porch above...very nice). However, for a basic screened porch shown on the con-docs - where all the client requires is that the porch is shown on the plans and located with dimensions - using a wall and adding detail as needed is the way to go, it's much quicker...at least for me. Thanks to everyone for ideas on how to create screen material. Lots of good ideas. I would never have thought to use the muntin bars. It still surprises me that after all these years CA just hasn't added screen material to the database. Using the fabric material they suggest requires the user to modify it so that it appears somewhat translucent. Why not just add a screen material (or two, or three) to the Chief database?

I've searched the forum for "clues" on how to create a screened porch wall. There isn't much out there...so, it must not be the most complicated issue. The suggestion by CA to use windows and change the glass to screen just does not create the most realistic porch wall. It really doesn't allow for the correct showing of the posts etc. I'm also surprised that CA does not include a screen material specifically for this application. The material suggested for use is listed under "Fabric and Wall Coverings>Sheers and Shades>Screen>Screen". I just don't think of this material as a "Fabric". This material also does not look very accurate in vector view (IMO). You basically need to create your own material...there are a number of methods. For my porch walls I decided to use the railing wall type. Railing is "open" type. Spec'd Post to beam in Newels/posts. Included a bottom rail (2"). I have a railing set at 32". Newels are 4". The post is just a square post I modeled and saved as a symbol. Not sure I really had to do that...but it works. I set the spacing to 48". In "Plan Display" I checked "draw newels". When creating the wall type I wanted the wall to sit in from the edge of the patio slab edge about an inch or so. So...I added a layer in the wall definition with a fill of "opening - no material". This works...but what confuses me is why the wall lines drawn are wider than the 4" post? The lines represent the overall width of the wall. I tried a lot of things and could never get the wall to draw just 4" wide. Any ideas? The wall works well enough. I wish there was a way to include the screen material...so that when I draw the wall the screen would just be there. So...for now I use a molding polyline and attach the screen material to this...and drag this polyline into the center of the screen wall. I wish there was a way to save this "molding" profile? Does anybody have a better method for creating screened porch walls? Is there a way to create a custom wall that would draw the posts and the screen at the same time? I've attached a small plan that shows the porch wall and screen materials. Screened Porch Wall.plan

Yes...summary would be very helpful. Thanks.

How do you assign a specific layer to a 3D Symbol? I'm attempting to create a closet shelf/rod symbol. I want it to be on it's own layer. However, the symbol always is assigned to the "Fixture, Interior" layer. Of course this layer does not have the line style/color that I would like the symbol to have. The cad block I assigned to the 3D symbol does have the layer I want...which is light gray and has a dashed line. So...what am I missing? Seems like when you create the symbol and the DBX asks what "type" the symbol is...that is the layer the object is assigned to.

Thanks guys...that is the answer. Just seems counterintuitive... But...it works.

Another question regarding the same plan as attached in the OP. This has to do with "roof returns". I've created manual roof returns on the front of the garage. The garage roof is 12/12. The roof returns are 8/12. When I pull the roof return up so that the roof abuts the gable end wall...I get a frieze board...but I lose the closed boxed end. If I pull the roof away from the gable end I get the boxed end...but lose the frieze. Am I doing something wrong...or is this a quirk in CA? Or...is there a better way to accomplish this? Thanks again...

Can someone tell me why the drywall on the end of the short wall disappears when I connect the wall to an "invisible" wall? I've created the same space using one CA stock template plans...and the drywall stays in place. So...maybe it's a preference of a wall definition...or something I've done. I've attached the plan and a couple of pics... Ranch Plan 050116.plan

My question is...how can I learn to use Ruby myself? Joe...is there a book you would recommend? Does Chief offer any good info related to Ruby that I just don't know about?

That's it...thanks. It's simple if you know what you are doing.

Wow... Michael...incredible. CA has tools which placed in expert hands can be very powerful.

What setting controls the color of an object in the DBX...such as a window or door? In my case...the "window" layer is set to "black"...but when you open a window to edit it...it is displayed in "purple" in the DBX.

Michael...you have done it. This is exactly the answer I was looking for. If I set the wall fill to use the "layer" color...then each "layer set" can have it's own unique wall fill. Bingo...this is what I was looking for. Perry's method works also...so, I guess I need to experiment to see which works better for me. Thanks!

Perry - thanks for that tip. I'm assuming some colors print better in grayscale than others. I'll have to experiment.

Thanks all for the great info...as always, your experience and knowledge really helps newbs like me.

Joey...that pretty much answers my question. Now I know why all the colors in the layer sets I'm using (they came from you). I sure the colors help when working with a black background. Not sure they are all needed when working with a white background. Ok...follow up question. I understand that I may want to use unique layer sets (which are tied to specfic anno sets) that will assign all line weights and colors for each view sent to layout. However, the color of walls are not controlled by layer sets. I find using color to distinguish uniques walls helpful but for a view sent to layout I'd like the walls to be black...or shades of gray? If so, this would mean opening each line type and changing the color before sending the view to layout. This process doesn't sound logical...so, I'm fairly sure this isn't a common practice. Do most of you send floor plans to layout with the walls in color...or black?

I have a question more focused on general practice as it relates to layers...and possibly layer sets. When I learned to draft plans...it was with a pencil...so, my experience with "Cad" drafting is self taught. I'm sure it's mostly a personal preference...but, I'm asking just to make sure there isn't a specific Cad standard practice that I may not be aware of. Do you generally use colors in what I would call a "working" layer set to identify objects? The picture I have attached is using the "camera view set"...and in vector view in shows different objects in there own unique color. Also...would you send a view like this to layout...if so, how would it print? I guess my second question is...do you typically send views to layout where all the object colors are black...or some degree of black? I'm wondering if you send a view to layout with a multitude of colors...how will the final plans plot? Does a blue line plot more like a dark gray? I guess this leads to an annotation set question. Would you create uniques anno sets to control layer sets that are specifically designed for layout final views? These layer sets would provide consistent views to layout...where you would know the final printed outcome. Hopefully my question is clear...I realize I'm rambling just a bit.

Well...I tried it again and it worked. Everything is aligned. I think it didn't work the first time because like Michael suggested...I made some mods to the wall before creating the foundation. I'm guess...but, if it works I'm happy. Thanks for the help guys.

I have a condition where the first floor wall is a pony wall and the foundation wall below is also a pony wall. When I build the foundation...the foundation pony wall does not automatically align properly with the frame pony wall above. Have I set something wrong in the pony wall DBX or is there a way to get these walls to align properly...and automatically. I've attached a sample plan. Pony Wall Example 1.plan

Thanks all for your help. Very much appreciated. As it turns out...creating the beveled end shape is fairly simple...once you know how to do it. (I was making it way too hard...) Now...If I could figure out how to put a stretch plane in each leg...without distorting the end shape I'd be a happy guy. Thanks again to all the experts!