ricatic

1 hour ago, GeneDavis said:

Pressing TAB whenever drag-moving anything, wall, line, symbol, while still holding the left button, opens a dialog box allowing user distance input.  Surely you are using this all the time, right?  Want to move a wall 3 inches right?  Select it, hold, start to drag right, press TAB, and voila! there's your input box in which you type 3.

Gene

Thanks for the answer...I do use the tab drag but never associated it with moving a wall...duhhh....

Regards

Rick

23 minutes ago, solver said:

@ricatic

 

Always best not to clutter another's thread with unrelated questions. Deleting is now via the 3 dots.

We will have to disagree...I believe the question is relevant and related...it is brought up within the discussion by a highly valued member as a possible cause of the OP’s original question...a simple point in the right direction is all I asked for...

Regards

Rick

35 minutes ago, Alaskan_Son said:

 

Okay, then the next places I would look would be these:

 

Your Current Active Dimension Defaults:  Don't forget that your Temporary Dimensions get their rounding behaviors from your Active Dimension Defaults.  Its possible that you're not changing dimensions that appear to be correct when in fact they should be changed because the displayed dimension value is rounded too far.  In other words, if you want to see 14' and your dimensions are rounding to the nearest 1/2" then 13' 11-3/4" would report as 14' and look just fine.  It would however add 1/4" to your compounding problem.

 

Your General Wall Defaults>Resize About setting:  This can be both the source and solution to some of these types of problems.  Depending on how you're drawing your walls, toggling this setting can make accurate placement a lot easier and more intuitive.  This setting also controls how walls get resized so if its set so that your walls are resizing in an unexpected way, it could also cause your dimensions to jump on you.  For example, if you set your walls to resize about the Main Layer Inside during the initial drawing phase and then subsequently change your exterior wall type from 2x4 to 2x6, the overall footprint of your house would increase by 2" in every direction throwing all your dimensions off.

 

Your Wall Direction:  Wall layers can be reversed; either manually or automatically, and doing so can move your dimension ends.  This is just something to be aware of because sometimes--particularly if you JUST placed the dimension recently--it can appear as if though your dimension is wrong when in fact its just measuring the other side of the wall.

 

Your Wall Definitions:  Your various wall layer thicknesses and "Dimension to" settings can play a big role here.  This can be especially true if you are dimensioning to surfaces of walls with unusual layer thickness, when your walls have layer thicknesses that are not 1/32" increments,  when you have multiple main layers, or when your layer thicknesses have a higher degree of accuracy than your dimensions are rounding.

 

Also, just some added tips:

• I personally don't use Temporary Dimensions for initial modeling very often.  They're a little too limiting and don't provide a good way for you to keep track of what you've already set or not set.
• Again, consider toggling the Resize About setting during your modeling process.  This can make it a lot easier to draw walls like you designed them or like you measured them.  Sometimes you may want it to be the Main Layer, sometimes you way want it to be the surface layer, or sometimes you may want it to be the center of the wall. 
• You can use the Tab input method when drawing walls.  This can be particularity useful and accurate when used in combination with the Resize About Setting.
• For your canary-in-the-coal-mine, you can consider starting with a polyline or even using the Input Point tool.  You can then snap your walls to those points.  Again though, that Resize About Setting can make a huge difference here.  Your reference lines/points are only useful if they're snapped to the correct wall layers...and again, the wall layers are only useful of their thicknesses are correct and accounted for.

 

 

A question from the relative newbie...What is the "tab input wall drawing method"?...I searched the help files and this forum but did not find any information.

Regards

Rick

Richard...thanks for bringing this up. As a relative newbie, I have had this problem bite me more than once. I knew it had to be something in my methods that caused it. I found the damage could be limited by constant vigilance. Subsequently, that vigilance pointed out that the proper use of the provided dimensioning tools so nicely demonstrated by Michael was the real solution.

Michael...thanks for all the help you provide...

Lew...I have wondered why the options you requested are not available. When I design, I always try to size exteriors  to even number dimensions in 2’ increments. After visualizing a clients ideas and square footage requirements I have a required size ratio in mind...say for example 28’ by 44’. I draw the walls and want them to stay in place...there wandering ways under present conditions is frustrating. We lock roofs... a fair question is “why not walls enter.?”...

Regards

Rick

Not Lew but that is correct...and I did mean "poly line solids"...and they do not exist in HDPro...Soffits, custom countertops and custom back splashes are your only friends in HD Pro ...

Rick

2 hours ago, coffcons said:

Thanks Rick,

 

I downloaded HD Pro but wasn't able to access the layout feature because you can't save files with the trial version. I'm still not sure what you mean by "one page at a time". On my Chief 9.5 I can make a template page 0 which duplicates onto all other pages. You're saying this isn't available in HD Pro?

 

The thing that really jumps out at me so far is the apparent absence of polyline solids. I use them all the time and I'm not sure how I'd design without them.

 

It also appears difficult (impossible?) to apply moldings to slabs. No molding polyline tool?

That is correct...I never knew about the "page 0" option until I upgraded to Premiere...so I just reopened a HD Pro 2021 file and a new layout page...no option for page 0 or any other page...also...no poly line abilities in HD Pro...

Until I upgraded to Premiere, I was unaware of the depth of the shortfalls in the layout limitations...I can't imagine having the layout tools available in your current version not being available to you in HD Pro... and that is just that tool...I predict you would be very disappointed in HD Pro...JMO...YMMV...In fact, until I opened HD Pro today to check out the layout tool for you, I had not opened it since I upgraded...

Regards

Rick 














H.

22 hours ago, coffcons said:

Thanks Lew,

 

I'm going to try to download the Home Designer Pro to my laptop to see about that layout issue. I sure wouldn't want to make a new layout page for every page (if that's what you meant).

That is true...one page at a time...I just took the plunge and upgraded to Premiere from HD Pro 2021...huge difference as it should be for the cost...but...the additional tools and increased productivity are IMO worth the cost...YMMV...

Here is my take on my experience...I used HD PRO for just over a year...it does a lot...but the differences in things like layouts and plan views are large...I believe that I developed some habits using HD Pro that were counterproductive when using Premiere...it took some time to learn that there were significantly easier ways to do tasks with the expanded tool sets...I am still struggling with using saved plan views and all the various layers and interactions...but I am progressing...JMO...and again...YMMV...

Regards

Rick

Did you mean "clerestory"?

49 minutes ago, rgardner said:

I would recommend using a cabinet to model it then.  There are other ways to do it manually placing trim and material regions but a cabinet will be faster in my opinion.

Done...using cabinets...that was easy after trying to model it with trim etc...changed the garage doors and front door to cross bucks and it looks good...

Ryan

It will be an applique panel simulating the look of the windows...attic trusses over the garage eliminate windows without some fancy truss/conventional framing gymnastics. There will be 3panels...one over the 8' OH door and 2 over the 16' door

Regards

Eric...I edited my post before I saw your reply...the cad boxes in the snip show what I am looking for or similar...I have tried to apply the techniques shown in the KB but end up with a panel only 1 ply showing and attached to an interior wall...attempts to reposition even the one ply and smaller panel to outside wall fail...I have rebuilt the panel 3 times and no success...

Regards

Well, I took the plunge and upgraded to Premiere X12...I have this project that requires the barn look...it gets windows in the short upper wall...Over the garage the windows will not work with the attic trusses. I am trying to build a deco panel to add architectural detail to the areas above the garage door. I have visited the KB and looked at video. I have tried multiple times to build the panel using a CAD elevation and polylines per KB...not successful at all...the panel shown in the snip is just cad boxes ...hours later I come hat in hand to the experts who help so often. I have attached the plan and a snippet of what I am looking for...Help please...

Regards

Rick

Jim Berry High Wall Rev Truss plan.plan

Hi Fritz...check your messages...local and can help

Regards

Rick

I watched this video earlier from the other thread...this is a hope diamond size nugget...I struggled with the various methods outlined for this dormer type...this one is a keeper...thanks Steve...

Regards

Rick

2 hours ago, Michael_Gia said:

The image below is what I would prefer.

 

Because that space between the top of the footing and the floor structure is actually buried in the floor structure and not obvious to everyone.

Why not make it obvious?  Right now you have to go back and forth to set your stemwall or do arithmetic before hand.

I think the litmus test of any DBX is, "if the user has to do even the simplest arithmetic then the DBX has failed".

 

I know seasoned Chiefers can snicker at newbies, but remember when you were in that position?

 

Agree with all you wrote...I have worked through most of the tripups included in this particular CA logic...and while practice is certainly the answer, there are some issues

that are far from real world construction practices...my  experience comes from 50 plus years working in the field as a tradesman and eventually working up to Senior Project Manager....this caused a lot of head scratching at first as trying to understand the computer logic used by CA was polar extreme to real world experience...then I read a quote from David J Potter about the people writing code at CA...paraphrased it went something like "very smart people who know nothing about construction practices"...this viewpoint makes it easier to understand the problems we often encounter...

Regards

Michael

Thanks for your description of how the stem wall/floor height/ceiling height relationships actually work...I wish you had posted this a year ago as I tore my hair out chasing the ceiling heights in my early days...I finally figured most of it out but the initial learning curve is a bit steep...you made it much clearer but I think newbies will still flounder a bit due to the convoluted complexity of the DBX choices and the proper order of inputs needed to accomplish the goal...

Regards

4 hours ago, ShaneK said:

I am a snowmobile FREAK and I have been making trail maps with CA for decades.

Shane

I am a retired snowmobile freak who used to put 5000 miles a year in the Michigan UP based out of the Curtis area...your map brought back some of my favorite memories of riding the boonies between McMillan and Rainbow Lodge and over to the old Bears Den bar... Pine Stump Junction...we used to jump across the river at Rainbow and boonie west to Grand Marais...Lake Superior provided the best and deepest snow to play in...last sled was a Polaris Rocky Mountain King...thanks for the memory jog

I am also located near Caro much of the time...daughter has small horse and sawmill operation in Wells Twp...love to meet you sometime

Regards

Rick

I have been using HD2020 2021 Pro for a year,,,I have the trial version of Chief X12...you can easily open the  design templates in HD Pro from X12...and then draw in X12...the files are found in the HD pro/data/templates folder...I have not tried to do this using a trial version of HD Pro...hope this helps

Good luck

Regards

Rick

The Dell Alienware M17 shown in my signature has similar specs...it runs Chief just fine...its main drawback is the memory is soldered to the board so expansion is not possible...

Regards

Rick

This ceiling concept is popular here... I have created several models with both full vault and half vault living room ceilings. Because ceilings build over rooms, removing your room definition (invisible wall or room divider) makes for only one available ceiling height. Maybe the gurus here have a workaround...

Regards

Thanks Dermot...that was an easy fix  after finding out where to look...

Eric

Thanks for the "open with" tip...The reason I asked here is because in my opinion the problem was tied to Premiere X12...

My intentions are when things pick up here in Michigan and a few more projects are contracted to upgrade. I keep practicing a bit with Premiere to prepare for the switch.

Thanks again...

Regards

I have the trial version of X12 installed. I will be upgrading from HD Pro 2021 when economics dictate such a move. My issue is the automatic saving of my HD Pro designs as X12 and displaying both program icons on the desktop.and the subsequent auto opening of the file in X12...Is there a way to halt this behavior so drawings done in HD Pro open only in HD Pro...

Thanks

Regards

Using the .plan you sent me via email, I built this simple model in HD 2021 Pro showing what I believe you are trying to accomplish...Also, I sent you the file and the explanations via email..

Hope this helps...

Regards

I modeled this in Premiere 12 Trial version so attaching the plan is not possible. But here is what I did:

Built similar model floor plan

Set roofs on main floor to gables where needed

Added a front porch with railings set for hip roof

Build roofs at 8/12 pitch

Done

Gable cabin help.plan

I modeled this in Premiere 12 Trial version so attaching the plan is not possible. But here is what I did:

Built similar model floor plan

Set roofs on main floor to gables where needed

Added a front porch with railings set for hip roof

Build roof

Manually lowered roof pitch on porch to 5/12

Done