JamesR

Its a bit overboard, but its mainly for low-voltage devices (wall plates, access points, cameras, etc). On the general electrical plan view I just note generically what they are for clarity sake. However, because there can be several wall plates in a room, and several cables ran to each wall plate for example, I have a more detailed plan view that has unique numbering for each device so they can be labeled and identified in the IDF or MDF. And to close the loop, Michael had a great solution for the problem. A+ on communication and follow up. Thanks, --Jamie

Easy for you I'm sure Rene Is there any examples, or does anyone sell an easy to modify version of it? Thanks, --Jamie

Hi folks, I search the forums but didn't find anything specific to electrical devices (there seems to be plenty of info on multiple room labels for example). I'm looking for a way to have several different labels for various electrical devices (switches, outlets, lights, etc) available on different layers and/or plan views. I would like to keep the default label for most of the items (AFCI/GFCI for outlets, single, 3-way for switches) but have other plan-specific labels for each item. The only way I'm thinking I can do it is with text labels that I assign to different layers. That has the drawback of if I move or delete the device, the text label does change. Any ideas for something like this would be appreciated!

Hey folks, I'm looking for interior design service to plan out my basement remodel based on a set of wants/needs. I have a CA X15 plan that has all the walls, windows, doors, ceiling, and other structural items drawn in. I would like someone that could provide a series of options for different usages of the space based on how we would like to use the basement. Renderings would not be needed if the Chief plan file was provided. We would like a modest home theater included, so anyone with some experience there would be a bonus. Thanks, --Jamie

Steve, I'm by no ways a Chief expert, and the guys chiming in are some of the most experienced on the forums, but there are a couple things I think you might need to evaluate CA fully. I know you said you have started the Quick Start videos, but that is only about 5% of the training videos available, on the official site alone. I think you will need to invest some serious time into watching those to get even mildly proficient in using it. I'm a long time AutoCAD and Solidworks CAD user, and I find that actually hinders me when I use Chief, since it seems to have, to me, a very unintuitive approach to drafting. I know you said you only have a limited time to evaluate, but without understanding some basic things like plan defaults, I don't know if you'll be able to make an informed decision. Second, when I started with CA I jumped right in with a project and started drafting away. In the process I did all kinds of things that caused me consternation and problems later on in the drafting process. I would suggest you take the time (after watching some more of those training videos) and setup a blank plan template with all the preference and defaults you want. When I finally did this, it took me half a day...again I'm not the most proficient CA user, but its not a trivial task. Things like dimensioning defaults, non-standard layers, additional saved plan views, annotation fonts, etc. Save that template, then start your real project work. My work flow is much more efficient now that I have done that, then the first couple of projects I did with Chief's standard template. Generally, I've found the forum here and the folks that frequent it a great help. Yea, Eric (Solver) is going to ask if you've read the help, but he also will record a video walking through how to do something without you asking, and for free. Its that kind of community, and honestly the shear amount of training videos available, that helped me settle on Chief over Softplan, Sketch Up, Revit, etc.

A graphics card more powerful than a Nvidia 1050 Ti is rarer than a leprechaun's pot of gold...and might cost you as much. The RTX cards are being sold on the secondary market (read scalpers) from 140% (3090) to 210% (3080) higher than MSRP according to a analysis done by Paul's Hardware. And the unfortunate part is there isn't really any relief in sight as scalpers are making plenty of profit, so that means demand will stay high, along with the chip foundries being constrained and prioritizing other industries like automotive instead of graphics cards. Probably the best path to get one of the mid-tier RTX cards is in a prebuilt system from one of the large OEMs...they obviously have more leverage in the supply chain and less susceptible to bot purchases.

Yea, I thought about that. There is a mega collection of wall plates on 3D Warehouse (link), but not sure how to pick just one model out for one symbol. I'm actually pretty proficient in Solidworks and AutoCAD (probably part of my problem using Chief sometime I think), but its taking the solid model and bring it into Chief and getting the CAD block associated with it, etc that has me hesitant. If there isn't anything already done out there, I'll be doing what you suggest I'm sure. Thanks, --Jamie

Hi folks, I was wondering if anyone has come across any symbols for multiple port keystone jacks? I typically use anything from a 3-port single gang up to a 12-port double gang. Usually has CAT5e or CAT6a jacks, but also use them for multimedia spots that include RCA, HDMI, etc. The base Chief library items are one or two port and I haven't spotted a bonus library that tackles this. Thanks, --Jamie

Hi folks, I'm looking for some one-on-one help with a residential plan. I would like for someone to work with me to get a stacked U-shaped stair case to match the attached pictures. In addition, I need some help developing the roof planes to approximately match the attached pictures. Looking for an expert to walk me through the how/why of the methods they use, as opposed to just fixing the plan (the whole teach a person to fish thing). However, the ultimate aim is to have these areas modeled correctly. I've attached pictures of the upper and lower portions of the stairs, a few pictures of the roof line, and a stripped down plan. Anyone interested, please PM me with rates/costs and any other pertinent information or questions. Appreciate the help, --Jamie Example_Files.zip

Do we have a signature bot now?! That would be awesome...Eric's post count might be cut in half --Jamie

Hey folks, I have an opportunity to go to the Atlanta Chief Architect 2-day training seminar this year, and wanted to get some feedback from anyone that has done CA-sponsored training recently. I've gone through about 95% of the training videos done by CA, that was probably the number one thing that drew me here as opposed to some of the other design software out there. While I consider myself intermediate in skills and knowledge, I am far from efficient with my time and process. I often am redoing steps as I get farther into a plan and probably doing things the most convoluted way possible. So, the two options I was looking at to help improve my skills were the 2-day seminar mentioned above and the live Intermediate webinar courses put on by CA. Obviously, I think the 2-day in-person training will probably be better, but is it worth the 4X cost vs the webinar? Not to mention being absent from the "day job" for two whole days. I'm really just wanting to hear from people that have taken one or both of these training and what their thoughts are. Thanks, --Jamie

Hey folks, I was wondering does CA automatically form gable wall end trusses around openings? I'm asking because obviously its not for me, but before I spend an hours researching why its not working, I wanted to see if its even functionally that is present. Thanks, --Jamie

If you are getting the fixture dialog box when you double click or hit ctrl+E, then it looks like you missed a key step in Chopsaw's post. You need to convert the view to a CAD detail. Search help for how to accomplish that. Once its a CAD detail, the entire view is made up of polylines, so you should be able to get the exact length, angle, etc when you double click on a segment. --Jamie

Well, life got in the way of things for a few weeks, but I finally had time to get back and look at this. Chopsaw - your method looks to generate exactly what I would expect for an end truss, thanks. I tried everything you mentioned except the new wall definition without framing, and I am still getting a truss that has a big opening in it. The change in the wall definition to remove framing seems to work, but deleting the framing layer makes the wall thickness ~1". I'd like to avoid having a workaround that deviates from reality so drastically. Anyone have an idea why the end trusses are generating like they are? Another workaround that I can think of is having the gable walls balloon through (as Chopsaw mentions) and have them frame traditionally. However, this does reflect how the building will be built, and the end trusses wouldn't show up in the truss schedule, which I would like it to. Appreciate the input. Thanks, --Jamie

Thanks Eric, Chopsaw, and Glenn. I got the truss to form correctly on the top plate. New issue is I'm trying to change the two out-most trusses to dropped gable end trusses, and they change from the attic configuration, but not to what I would expect. They have this big honking hole in the middle like I have a window there, but there are no openings on the gable wall. I suspect its something to do with the little attic walls I have on the Attic floor, then opening is approximately the same width as those walls, but I'm not sure what settings would affect the truss framing like this. Without any windows, I would expect the end truss to be straight studs 16" o.c. Any ideas? Two Story with Porch - Truss.plan