builtright3

Not sure if this helps but don't disregard the floor settings in the defaults. When I was making those changes that you are making now I was having trouble also. When I made changes for framing in the floor defaults everything worked after that.

I started my construction business 27 years ago when I was 23 years old. Have always done my own drawings by hand and then started using Chief 8.0 full version when it came out. Best program ever in my opinion and it just keeps getting better. I like the advice shared today. I would have liked to have here'd it when I first started but instead I learned totally by trial and error. The best advice I think I could give though is to be aware of what other contractors are doing but don't try to compare yourself to much or copy someone else's model. You need to be diversified a little to keep yourself busy but too much of that can be dangerous also. I think the best advice my Dad ever gave me in business was find your nitch and specialize in it. At that time I was all over the board. I would do anything that I thought that I could make a buck at but in reality I was so scattered and the quality of my work was not very good so I was always stressed out and I had people upset at me. Not a Good Place to Be! Now I have a good reputation that goes back about 22 years and I cant keep up with the referrals I get. I actually have to turn some jobs away. The Lord has blessed me greatly. I learned in residential construction especially you have to be a servant to your customers first. Have good communication, be open and honest, be willing to educate your customers and take the time to listen to what their wants and needs are. You should also figure out what you want or need for an income so you can figure out what your rates are going to be and don't negotiate your rates with them (you are not a car salesmen!). You can't give them your time and a quality job if your out chasing money because your not getting paid enough. I don't know what it is but when you allow someone to get you to lower your numbers I think you just lost respect or something because now they want a deal on everything. Been down that road a couple of times, not a good place to be. Not sure if this makes sense or helps anyone but I felt the need to share. I'm not one of those paranoid guys that thinks they are hurting there business by sharing with others. I prefer to help when I can. It's never hurt my business. I think the God has blessed me because I try to help.

I can be a dim-wit sometimes but that would not be confusing to me either. I personally use black fill for demo walls, white fill for existing walls and angle hatch for new walls until someone tells me I can't. But I'm in California.

Sorry I did misunderstand

I read what David said as new walls are black and existing walls are white or no fill. Did I read it wrong?

When I start a drawing I call it "Original Plan" and draw everything existing as is and save it. When I start the remodel or addition I save the file as "New Plan". I use the original plan as my demo plan but I also use the method of creating a ghost in video 362 (Showing an As-built's Mask on a Remodel Plan) on my new plan.

I like the idea of saving templates by city or county because I work in a lot of them and they all have there different local codes. But I still organize my layout pages in the same way. I do 1 and 2 story room additions mostly along with kitchen and bathrooms. Maybe for me this may be a good way to go: Plan Templates: Single Story Two Story Kitchen and Bathroom Layout Templates: Single Story Two Story Kitchen and Bath As for the city and counties I think I will just expand the library to hold all the separate note and/or use Microsoft word to store the info and cut and past it into the text boxes

I like those Ideas. My problem I think has been jumping back and forth with different methods and not being consistent and my files/templates get messed up. I will go back to the old fashion way of using a pencil and paper to organize my thoughts and develop something more consistent. Thank You

Ray, Thank you and you are right in part of what I was trying to say but I was basically trying to get a discussion going and it seems as if I failed or was misunderstood. I struggle with templates files and thought a discussion might be nice for others that might also struggle. So I thought it might be a good topic. Seems at this point I'm the only one struggling. Just started using this forum a week ago and I'm just learning the ropes. I have been a CA user for several years and I would like to be an effective part in helping other users as well as myself. Thank you guys. I will pay more attention and try not to over think or over help.

Maybe this is the better question: When you are drawing a plan can you save the settings, layer, defaults, annosets....in the plan as a template without it saving the drawing that you are creating? Dose that make better sense?

All that productive talk about anno sets and layer sets has made me think of another topic I'm interested in talking about if anyone one else would like to join in. Plan Templates: I built a few plan templates but every time I draw a new plan I add to it but the template file is not being updated. Does anyone have any suggestions on productive ways to keep your plan templates updated and organized? Or maybe I'm just missing something simple that I'm overlooking?

I really like these Idea's!!! Easier the better the more productive the more $$$$

The wall should automatically generate. Did you make some changes try to get rid of the high walls?

Ya I don't see any problems here. Your question needs to be a little more specific.

So basically the answer to my question is no, you can't dimension the framing members in a framing section unless you do something creative. I also understand that you can however dimension a single wall framing section. Thank you very much to everyone. I now at least have a better understanding of sections and can proceed with my drawing.

For some reason when I'm in a framing section the dimension lines wont pick up the framing members. I have to put in cad lines to make it work. Anybody know why this wont work? I know that I can change it to a cad drawing and then dimension it and I know that I can use the point to point tool but is there a way to pick up the framing objects in the section?

For some reason when I'm in a framing section the dimension lines wont pick up the framing members. I have to put in cad lines to make it work. Anybody know why this wont work?

If there is a secret I would like to know also. I just delete and/or adjust what need and do not need after the dimensions are generated. I set what I can In the defaults to narrow things down.

I used carbonite also. Saved my tail a few times. Best thing you can do though is get in the habit of hitting the save button every 5 minute or so no matter what program you are using.

Got stuck with a customer thru a lot of these replies. Great info guys!

Thank you, I was checking out the video's. A lot of content to go thru! Here is a video for you Robert if you are interested and picture of a California roof framing tie-in. Also a video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CJgjMGmzBQ

Test run

Thank you, I understand what you are saying but didn't know if there was something built into chief to do if automatically. Robert, California tie-in is the method of overlaying a new roof over an existing roof for a room addition tie in. I can send a detail if you want to understand it better? Thank You

Can someone explain to me how to insert the thumbnail images into this posting?

Does anyone know how or if a California Tie-in can be created for a room addition on a framing section or in 3D?