builtright3

I think that is were your mixed up because I did that before. You cannot set this as a global setting. You have to save your changes as a template like Robert describes. So I needed to learn the difference between global setting and plan settings. Did I say that right guys?

Larry, I keep my preliminary drawings to site plan, demo plan, floor plan, exterior elevations and roof plan. I like to include the site plan for a few reasons: 1) I'm there measuring so why not? 2) I want to draw it why I still have all the visual thoughts in my head 3) I can email or take to planning for their preliminary over the counter approval of the concept and setback requirements. 4) Easy to show the customer and explain why or why not they can or cant do something 5) Easy property lines you can draw in just a few minutes and the more complicated ones you can just cut and past off the parcel map right on the drawing and outline it and then worry about the accuracy later for your submittal drawings. The garage is usually and important item to me because of clearances that are require (20' clear backup, 26' radius.....). And don't forget about the easements like electrical lines. Most houses don't have that but some do. This research I do so I'm not wasting my time and more importantly the customers money. Measure a job and take lots of pictures takes me on the average 1 1/2 hours and I go back to my office and I have the as built complete by the end of my 8 hr. day. Then I either work late or start my alterations and additions the next day.

Hate to start off with a negative but 2.9 number 3 on the list is not corrected yet as far as I can tell. "Reporting of wall coverings in the materials list for individual rooms"

No answers on this one I guess! I will just put the designer info on page 0. That's how I had it before and it works great that way.

Annotation sets are the best! Huge time saver!

I saved one of my new layouts as a template file but when I opened the template file to use it for a new job the designer information for the layout was gone. Can anyone tell me why it did not save the designer information? I would think that the customer information from the last job would be there also.

Put it in the CA suggestion box

Ok, I'm flexible. It doesn't necessarily have to be set up in my plan but I want you to see a clear example of what I looking for so we don't waist time.

So even if you do a framing section on the stairs the framing doesn't show up unless you check the box for no risers. Not sure why I haven't realized this before. That's interesting!

Joe, I think what I will do this week is build what I want on one of my floor plans as far has how the data is structured. In other words I will build the poly line areas and everything else I need with my list of data and maybe you can connect the dots with the macro's when I'm done and send the plan file back to me. I would be more than happy to pay you for your time. What do you think?

I like Perry's method Seems to me that it makes sense to do whatever looks best in all the views with out the framing because when it comes down to it the framing is in the details that can be made the way you want them.

How do you do the macro for the property square feet? Also can you create a macro to calculate square foot from a poly line solid? In other words; I don't like the way Chief calculates square feet so I outline the area I want to calculate with a poly line and I have a layer call "Square Feet" to put it on. So I would like to assign a macro for that square footage off the closed polyline I create. Does that make sense? I'm not to good with words to explain things. The other reason I do this is because I have better control over rooms that are extended so I don't have to use a room divider line to get my calculation and also area demoed and existing area remolded. I don't generally need individual room square feet. I put that in the room label for light and vent calculations. Those don't need to be perfect.

I would like to put my building data in spread sheet form on the plan. Is there any way to do this within CA and then have it also calculate the numbers I need for the city like total building area, lot coverage percentage....? I may have to learn more about macros to do this? I think this is what Joe was working on? The attached is what I typically include in my building data:

Just wanted to make sure I wasn't out of line with something. A few posted comments didn't make sense and made me think I may have been duplicating someone else's ideas. Don't want to step on anyone's toe's. Respectfully

Don't understand this post. Does it have something to do with me?

I tried it with the pony wall and the vertical lines below the windows still show up in vector view also. Bummer!

You would have to change your elevations to a cad drawings before you send them to layout so you can delete the extra lines or white them out in the layout once you send it. A little extra work but apparently you have to choose your method to suite your needs. If you use the pony wall you can eliminate the lines on the bottom section but not the top. That is why I'm suggesting to CA that they not only have a pony wall but a top section also. So the wall can be broken up into Top section, middle section and lower section (pony wall).

Thank you, I didn't know that it had to be set as a symbol.

I have learned a lot from you Thank You

Just added the suggestion to the suggestion box.

I thought of that but didn't really see the point of doing it if the top doesn't frame out. But once you have the pony wall built correctly there is no reason why you shouldn't to save a step. This leads to another Idea that maybe CA can do; Instead of just a lower wall section and upper wall section maybe they can add a middle also? It would open up a lot of doors for more options. Seems simple to add. Not sure?

I'm happy to contribute something! I have been more of a taker than a giver. Thank You

Thought I might share my bucking window technique with the world. http://screencast.com/t/Eygnajvixowq

Now I know why your head is tilted in your photo. You must be used to ducking.

First time for a video guys. Hopefully it works. This is the way I think I would do the bucking window. It comes out right on the framing plan this way. Clean and easy to draw. http://screencast.com/t/Eygnajvixowq