SNestor

So...I'm hoping this question is general enough that I won't need to post a plan. When constructing a switch-back style stair. So...you travel up 8 risers...land...then turn 180 degrees and travel 8 risers to the second floor. My question is...how to you construct the floor landing so that it frames. I know you can use the stair landing tool to create the landing for the stairs to connect to...but this is a polyline and it does not create framing. When I created the wall under the landing (at the head of the first floor 8 rise run) it created a room. However, when I went in the structural dbx it stated that "ceiling values may not be changed as the floor above this room has varying heights".

That was it...thanks much!

I'm wondering if I have changed some default behavior somewhere. When using the leader line tool...it seems to me the standard behavior should be - you click where you want the arrow to be...drag the line for the 1st segment to where you want to change direction...then let go and drag the horizontal segment to where you want to place text. For some reason...probably user error...I can draw the 1st segment...but when I let go of the mouse to draw the 2nd segment the text box opens. This behavior occurs no matter what template I use to create a plan...even the OOB plan template. Any ideas as to what I've done to create this problem... Thanks...

Wondering why the cabinet glass is solid gray instead of clear like it should be. What am I doing wrong? Also - the table behind the couch is white marble...but it's washed out. I rendered this over night...so there were a lot of passes. This is only my 2nd or 3rd try at creating a decent render - and my results are based solely on pure luck and great software.

Thanks so much for all the great tips. I knew there had to be a way...and turns out there are many. Geez I feel dumb....

I'm sure my topic heading is vague or confusing...or both. Here's the issue. Say I'm drawing a wall...and I have zoomed into the plan to start the wall at a certain location...now I want to draw a wall say 30' long...but to do this, I have to draw a few feet (because I've zoomed in on the plan)...then, let go of the line, zoom out, grab the line again and finish drawing to where I want. Sometimes I have to let go to zoom in...and then pull the line/wall to the exact location. Ok...so, I know there has go to be a way I can hold on to the wall and zoom out...or just pull across the screen somehow? But...how? Thanks.

I'm just getting started setting up anno sets. I created a simple plan file to use to test and setup my layers within each anno set. The plan is a simple box 2-story with a simple part basement/part crawl. I suppose I should create a layout set linked to this plane and once I'm happy with everything (layers, anno sets, cameras, text...) I should use these files as a starting point for all future jobs...until I have a better plan/layout. Then I would save these files as my new template. Does it sound like I've got a grasp of this...or am I going wrong somewhere? Thanks again for all the tips and help.

Joe - is your "template" plan a copy of a recently completed plan...or some plan from the recent past? If it's a template you use over and over...why not open it and strip items out of the template so you don't have to do this exercise each time you create a new plan. Thanks

Well...coming from a newbie who gets a thrill from creating a couple of anno sets the process Joe describes seems daunting. I love the process because it seems it would make creating accurate and consistent condocs so very efficient. Which would mean you could possibly turn out more jobs per month/year and therefore make more money...which is always one of the goals. Scott - do you think the SAM videos you created closely describe Joes system?

Scott - I have watched...but it was a while ago. Back watching again. Thanks for these videos. Us newbs would be lost without them.

Starting to create some custom annosets. As I work with them questions arise that I know can only be answered here. I'm creating a roof plan annoset...that I would use to send a roof plan to layout. Do you guys create separate layers for the objects on each floor? Such as...doors 1st floor; windows 1st floor, headers 1st floor; casing 1st floor...etc. Then create the same for the 2nd (or other floors). This way you can turn on/off what you want. Am I thinking about this correctly?

Johnny...here is the link. Hope it works. https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/3507-boxed-out-window-help/?fromsearch=1

Yep...I had forgotten that I had asked about this before. The link didn't work for me...but I did my own search and found the topic. Making the space a balcony seems to be the key. Thanks.

Johnny...I know about the color on/off button. I've been playing around...and I guess CA sends elevations to layout as B/W by default. They aren't in color. However...this isn't the same for floor plans. Attached are two examples...just using the toggle button. I'm wondering why my walls have no fill if I turn the color off. I would like the fill to be at least a gray.

Johnny... How do you raise the floor in the box window to create a "seat". Also...how do you add windows...it doesn't seem possible to have more than a single window in a box window?

I was looking at the "Riverstone" plan that Chief created. I opened the layout and the elevations are a nice crisp black and white. I double click on the layout box to view the elevation view and it's in color. How do you send color rendered elevations to layout in black and white? I almost hate to ask this question...because it should be obvious...but, not to me. Do elevations just go to layout in B/W? What about floor plans? See attached pics. Thanks Riverstone Elevation.tiff Riverstone Elev Layout.tiff

Attached is a simple plan that shows 2 methods (that I know) used to create a boxed window on the 2nd floor. Neither version works perfectly..both have their own issues. Can anyone shed some light on this subject...where am I going wrong or right? Why are simple things like this so confusing....I mean, a boxed out window is a typical detail and should be a piece of cake to construct. Well...maybe it is if you know what you are doing? Box Window Trouble 2.plan

Scott - is this the video. If so...you didn't make a column with the cabinet tool. Great video...learned something new.

In my search for the perfect Porch building solution I came across a thread about how to build columns. The consensus was to use the cabinet tool to make columns. I'm using p-solids...or a moulding. Never considered the cabinet tool. Is there any possibility I could get one of the experts to do a video on this. I'd love to learn how this is done. Thanks.

Scott - yes, all great points. Most everything I do is custom. However...the porch slab will typically hang past the face of the foundation wall 1.5". Some items change all the time...like the size/shape and the number of columns...also the height of the columns. Building the porch manually probably works best for me.

So...the bottom line is just build porches manually. I figured out by trial and error to just build the foundation manually. I think it's probably just easier to build the slab using the countertop tool...adding an edge is easy. Then just pull in columns I've created or from the library and manually build a roof.

I've done it the way you suggest. The molding for the slab edge works well...but, the molding line appears in the plan view and there appears to be two lines creating the slab edge. Is there a way to correct this?Also - I'm just amazed that CA won't create a foundation under a porch...especially if there are load bearing walls that define the porch. Weird.

Porches in CA are just way to complicated...well, for me they are. I would like a fast and easy way to construct a porch that has a ceiling and a roof over it. It would have columns that sit on the slab. The columns might be 12" square...or larger. The columns and the column base need to be inset from the porch slab edge a couple of inches or so...and still align with the structural beam above. I have tried a number of ways to construct this porch...and I find the simplest way seems to be to use a countertop for the slab...this way I can put an edge molding on the face of the slab that makes it look like the corners have been rounded off. Also...I found I can manipulate this edge thickness to get the slab/countertop to extend and inch or two beyond the edge of the columns....like it would actually be constructed. I then build the foundation and roof manually. I found that if I build the porch with invisible walls...then define the space as a "porch"...the slab will only extend to the outside edge of the wall. The roof baseline is constructed right above the outside edge of the wall...etc. For some reason...CA will not build a foundation under an invisible wall. I tried to "trick" Chief...built walls, then build a foundation...then defined the walls as invisible and boom...the foundation went away. It's crazy.... I've attached a simple plan that shows what I mean about columns extending beyond the edge of the porch slab. I used a deck railing to create this porch...and a column right out of the Chief catalog. Am I missing something...are there simpler ways of doing this? Thanks guys/gals. Be kind...I'm still learning. Porches and Porch Slab_2015_07_28.plan

Joey - I do have your template and it's what I'm using for the most part. It works well...but I was confused because I was reading posts on the topic and I hadn't realized that my lineweights were different because you had modified them...with the 1/700 ratio...as compared to the std CA setting of 1/100. I think I have a grip on this...at least I think I do.