ValleyGuy

As there currently aren't any labels for the stair Rise and Run in the stair specifications, how are you conveying this information in your plans? Where do you label (plan, elevation, both...) and how do you label (text, macro, dimensions...) ? I use a text block in an elevation, but was wondering if someone had a better / different way?

Escape, space bar and I have a button on my mouse ..... it's such an annoyance that I can tackle it with either hand lol

I agree, my spacebar is going to be the first thing to wear out on my keyboard. It would be great if it auto drops the item between different views.

A yellow triangle with a number (a note) in the middle of the dimensioned plan view draws a lot of attention. Put in a note schedule titled something like 'Construction Notes' ... mention the additional height and add in 'additional details on page...' within the note and then insert a designated page in the layout with x-sections / elevations / details and anything else you want pertaining to the additional height. That should bring it to their attention.

I used a CA library siding. Adjust the size to 18"x18" and adjust the colour to suit.

I'm not sure if you are just new to Chief or new to the industry as well, either way Welcome. I'm suspecting that you are new to both from your post. If in fact you are new to the industry there are few things to consider when you evaluate your work that you will include in your drawings. One of the biggest questions to ask yourself is how deep into pandora's box are you willing to dive? The code book in my area is in excess of 1,500 pages, how much of it do you want to include and how much of it are you willing to take responsibility for? How many times are you going to double or triple your work load because you put some little disclaimer in your general notes stating 'any deviation from the plans must be approved by the designer'? How many site managers are going to complain about your plans being too sparse / overloaded with details? As you can see from the many posts already, details, details, details .... there will be millions of details. Some details will even change as materials change - maybe you don't need wall vapour barrier if the R21 is a closed cell spray insulation? I agree with HumbleChief, focus in on what you were hired to do and let other people do their jobs. Include the 'important' or 'necessary' details that need to be there but allow room for the residential family home to be flexible and change as they always do. This isn't a commercial type building and you aren't the lead engineer overriding the code book with strict tolerances. For example: your first two details R21 and 1/2" drywall. If you are going to treat this at an ultra high detail level, you would need to establish all the pro's & con's, budget impacts, better building practices, code requirements each option presents and then discuss with the owners to gain approval, as well as contact supply chains and contractor availability....just to be able to put '2lb spray foam 3-1/2" thick' with '1/2" thick moisture resistant drywall'. This is only the first two items..... of which not one person even commented on yet. You still need to go through the endless other components / systems throughout the house. R21 and 1/2" drywall are perfectly fine plan details. Letting the two or three bidding builders promote their style of building with their preferred materials and price points allows you to have closure and move onto your next client. R21 is in the code book, just like anchor bolts, as well as the nailing schedule for the studs to the plates. The insulation and anchor bolts seem to always make it into the plan but very rarely does anyone even mention the spikes. What is the sense of stating 1/2"x8" anchor bolts spaced 6' apart to a pressure treated 2x6 bottom plate if you don't care about nailing the studs down??? So why is there so much discussion about one code item and not another.... it is cultural acceptance. 'Floor system as per engineered floor provider' may be all that is required, fire retardant or not, special fastener or not, maybe all the needed details are included by the supplier just like the roof trusses. Find the balance in your area and apply as necessary. The builder should know the applicable governing code book and is taking responsibility to follow it.... including the spikes and the appropriate quantity to use. Why piss him off stating that he has to use full round headed spikes if he only owns a clipped head nailer? Help the contractor make money with clear plans and he will be your referral champion. Keep the governing inspecting bodies happy and they will make your life better. Make things easier for the material estimators and they will be a referral engine for you. Research other designer's plans in your area (your local building supplier will have a good selection to look at... get to know the estimator). Do your homework as you did right here, ask everyone for feedback then adapt and change your drawings as needed for your company to become successful. Remember, most clients want you to design a wonderful house....and 1,500 pages of the code book will never fit into you plans.

Yes, I had a feeling. No worries, thanks for letting me know Kelly.

Can I change the pop-up window for colour selection or am I stuck with only the one option because of my computer being a Mac? I would like to change to the more advanced option with all the extra controls (colour#2 picture). I have this. I would like this. I think this is telling me that I can't have it. Am I correct or is there a way to chose the other option?

I totally understand the feeling that you are trying to mean here, maybe we should talk about that elephant in the room. Personally, I try not to put too much weight on past customers for my future growth in this manner. Future growth must come from future customers. By definition, a business (profitable business) provides a service / product in exchange for $. The transaction is a sale and the person exchanging $ is called the customer (a little watered down, but you get the idea). The money is then used to operate the business. Anyone who has NOT exchanged $ in the last three years hardly qualifies as a customer. I'm sure that you would agree, after all do you still have the cash sitting in your business bank account from a client three years ago to pay up your SSA fee? Now, somewhere along the way that past customer has actually turned into a "past partner", "associate", whatever term you would like to use. The "relationship" started at or before the actual transaction date, however, it too has most likely transitioned. Possibly from a mutualism (both parties benefiting) to possibly a parasitic (I use your help, training videos, blog, community chat site... but never actually contribute any $ to the provider), or even to a non-existing relationship (purchased once and done - no need to communicate).There are all kinds of "relationships" and sometimes the provider is actually the beneficiary from a "person of influence" (where the past customer provides even more to the business than they take. ... the X9 person that has 6K posts- making suggestions, helping with new CA member questions, as well as a few confirmed referrals or maybe did Beta testing). Having said that, I would agree that CA is trying to balance the expense on the services that they currently provide as well as the future products / services they have yet to develop. CA needs "customers" to stay in business... and we are either "customers" or we aren't. We either have a giving "relationship", or a taking "relationship". Maybe CA should put out a survey to get a better idea of future "customers", leading to future revenue predictions, and then maybe then they would have a better idea of what the new SSA pricing levels may look like? Least of all, it may force each of us to take an honest look at how good of a "customer" we really are and what kind of a "relationship" actually exists. For all those at CA fostering ulcers and sprouting grey hair, I would like to encourage you to keep your heads up. It's hard to give your all and receive harsh criticism that you don't measure up, or to provide years of service support and product improvement only to have someone belittle your efforts because they never called for help or chose to upgrade their purchase. I don't get the feeling that you are out to price gouge me any more than I am toward my customers. I believe that you are still a company that has people behind it and not some corporate board only answering to the shareholders. Keep up the good work, and THANK YOU for helping me to be successful.

Hey Rene, sign me up. I have no interest in any other products but am super interested when you power users flex the strength of this program along with your incredible skills and years of experience. It definitely won't be a relaxed tutorial type video..... but I wouldn't watch a super car light 'em up to learn how to drive better either!

My biggest concern is the uncertainty of the SSA pricing going forward. I feel held captive to two options: 1) pay the SSA price they demand to upgrade, 2) face stalling at the current version (not keeping SSA current), with a sub-option of paying an outrageous penalty in the future to become current again. Option 1 is just a money issue that I will have to weigh out, just a business decision. However, option 2 leaves a little question of how long before CA pulls the plug on the older versions rendering them no longer useable. As a current licence owner and full time user (making my living using this tool), I feel that I'm in a much better place than most of the occasional users as well as anyone that 'leases' the program after the change date. Whether CA offers enough return on the investment required will definitely be a lot tougher on them. I feel for all of you in this position. Maybe I have a little different view point than some other full time users, but that may be because I am still fairly new to CA and not as 'emotionally' attached. I look at this program as a tool that I use to make a living. It isn't a nest egg investment that I'm going to use for 20 years then sell at 80% of the future retail price. The purchase price (licence) and yearly maintenance (SSA fee) for this tool is incredibly inexpensive. To be able to upgrade to get all the new bells and whistles to become more efficient and make more money is a huge bonus. Basically no moving parts to wear out and if something doesn't work properly - there is a company support team as well a very experienced community of users to provide assistance. Before anyone gets too judgemental, let me explain. I can't think of any tool I purchased over the past 30+ years that can measure up to the statements above. Yes some tools / pieces of equipment would carry value for a while, ....until my accountant depreciated them on my taxes. I never heard of a truck supplier that would let me upgrade to the latest model for a mere $600 USD. Can you imagine getting the latest, safety equipment, tech items, parking assist, stereo, horse power increase, rims, blah, blah, blah, in your current vehicle - AND making it a 2023 model for only $600/yr .....for the last maybe 20 years? My skid steer dealer never once said that they would install their new fuel efficient engine so I could save more money. Come to think of it, I think every other tool, including this computer will wear out, become obsolete, or become too inefficient in a shorter time than some people have been using CA since they originally purchased their licence so many years ago. Trucks won't make you a living as long as X9 has been making some people a living. Most tools are used to make retirement money, not be retirement money. No need to think of resale values if you aren't going to sell but instead continue making a living with it for many more years. Quite honestly, I can't think of too many in the construction world that can say they make $100k year after year with only a few thousand dollars of investment, definitely not anyone that needs a truck! If CA can make a firm statement as to the future SSA prices and a firm statement of the continuation intentions of the past (and current) versions longevity, that would remove a lot of the unknown scepticism. Businesses shift and change, those that don't, usually aren't around to offer any value of any kind, including re-sale value..... how much value is your old Blockbuster membership worth? Good thing it didn't cost anything eh? As for new members weighing CA's new approach vs the competitors, ...I think the latest member is making a bit of a statement with this handle.

Eric, I managed to find your video on 'searching' and how to narrow things down again. No need to send it again. Thanks

I cut my teeth on X12 and have really not had any additional lines to worry about other than when I have a wall intersection line showing on an elevation - sometimes the OSB or drywall shows a line on the siding. This is easily cleaned up by backing up the offending wall layer by using the 'Edit Wall Layer Intersections' button. Other than that, clean as a whistle.

Thanks Eric, I thought that I had to make a symbol. Can you point me to the "Best way to search" notes again?

Is this possible in Chief just by toggling something on?

Thanks Eric, I'll give it a whirl.

Thanks Alan, this is the idea I am looking for. I agree, hopefully there is an easier way. It's too bad that the slab didn't have an adjustment like the sash does in a window. The window frame stays put but you can adjust the glass panel placement by the inset of the sash.

Is there a way to place an in-swing exterior door in the proper position - near the exterior of the wall depth? The thickness of the wall (ie. ICF is about 12" thick, 2x6 plus OSB plus foam plus rain screen plus horizontal girt plus vertical boards plus battons .... you get the idea) will have a deep furring box and that will not allow the door to open more than about 90-92 degrees in the real world. I need to show that in the 2D and 3D and do not see where I can adjust it. I do not want to inset the jamb, I want to leave the jamb as you would install it physically: a 6 5/8" jamb to the outside of the wall with the hinges mid way through to the interior casing. The door build out spans the wall thickness and will then impede the door swing, the thicker the wall = the fewer degrees the slab will open. How do I adjust the placement of the slab in relation to the jamb? This probably isn't the first time this has been asked, is there a place that I can find this information, I'm coming up empty. X13 Premier

Scott I'm happy to do a zoom. I'm just confirming that I sent you a reply to your email above, not sure if it went through or you are just busy. You can email me if it didn't go through. pimm05@icloud.com

Hey Scott, I also have the iMac 27" like you have, but with the 5700XT and a bit more memory.. I'm not sure if the little extra memory and 5700 XT video card have a big difference, but I have noticed a little slow down since I bought it new last December. Apple has done an upgrade, CA X13 now instead of X12 and a much larger library all have contributed to a little slower pace. I'm not sure how much each of them play a part in this, but the slow down isn't very significant. Noticeable, but not significant enough to complain. I just started with CA when I bought the computer so I have no previous system for comparison. However, having said that, I have watched an enormous amount of videos on CA and even some on YouTube - I have noticed that my computer's lag time is very similar, if not better than most of the computers in the videos for most functions. Side Note, I ordered the Nano Screen option and I am so glad that I paid the price for it. No screen glare from lights or windows at all. Well worth the price. The factory mouse didn't measure up and I bought Memory on line as it was a better buy than from Apple. I have to live with out Ray Tracing, but over all I'm glad that I spent the small fortune on this iMac.

Is there a way to make general framing members (manually added in the plan) that are longer than the longest item listed on the framing member reporting schedule to consolidate into a Qty of items on the list? Example: if I had a row of strapping 23'6" long, how can I get the Materials List to report as a count of 2 pcs 3/4" x 3-1/2" x 12' instead of the length count of 24'? It seems that CA Premier X13 wants to only report the "Buy Option For Long Board Runs" in Actual or Linear length (LFT) and not a Count of items on the list. I was successful with making some items use the Material Data Size to change the sq ft to a Pc Count in the formulas. This was with items like soffit that are not able to stand alone in the plan like a framing member. The best solution to a stand alone item that follows a Material_Data_Size to report a pc count (instead of =Length) in the formula, is a polyline solid. I'm hoping that there is an easier way (toggle option maybe) so I can use the general framing tool. Sample - Material List Issue.plan

I bought a new iMac 27" last Christmas with all the bells and whistles (unless you work solely in a non-window environment, the upgraded screen is well worth the investment). I also love the all in one portability. As for CA X13, one thing for sure is that if I didn't start out on the X12, and started out on X13 instead, well... I probably would be using different software. X13 has renderings that are, as one client put it "... rival my kids colouring book!" No crisp clean lines, textures or shadows as in X12, even the non-adjustable pictures are somewhat blurry (the pictures of library items, or the thumbnail pics when I open objects - even the words 'Interior' and 'Exterior'!). Crashes are a far too often occurrence. As for the Radeon Pro 5700XT, it does not support ray trace. It handles the regular 3D with ease. The SSD helps the fan to run at a non-existent level with fan noise only at a minimum under heavy 3D usage. The 27" screen has pretty good real estate for screen splitting with the library open as well. Apple's mouse should stay in the box. The glass top mouse isn't user friendly for this kind of program. I bought a thumb roller type from Logitech that has multiple programmable button, I like it a lot. The latest CA update hasn't done anything as far as I can tell to improve the graphics. Customer support doesn't give a timeline when this will be fixed. However, they offered suggestions how to "help" with the renderings in the interim. Bottom line, I love the computer but if you can hold out for a bit to get the new OS, I agree with Steve, I would wait.

Hey Gene, I'm not sure if you've already found a solution or not yet. I was struggling with this as I needed an ADA ramp for a nursing home. I ran into a few issues as well, newels can be off set but the top rail doesn't follow suit, once the newels are off set they can't be extended down. Here is what I did: -make a symbol for a panel - mine was 5'8" long (max recommended ADA rail brkt spacing with newel posts). I used two vertical 2x4's for the top and bottom of a 42" angle cut baluster and then put the 2x6 cap on the top. Choose a material that you can also use for the newels as the newels will show through the 2x6 cap. Also included in the panel sandwich is a 6" space of 'no material'. This helped to centre the 1.5" baluster and 1.5" vertical 2x4's (3" thick) on the 3.5"newel post. Note: when you make this into a symbol put the no material on the bottom layer of plan view, then the 2x4's, then the balusters with the cap centred between the 2x4 and balusters. Do it the other way around and you will have your panel all messed up when you build the complete unit on the ramp. - Make the ramp, I used the ramp tool (as a ramp and as a flat catwalk - just uncheck the automatic height in the ramp specification and set the Slope rise to 0" for a flat runway) - Open up the ramp section. Under Railing; set the height (I used 45 inches to accommodate everything), check off Panels, uncheck top and bottom rails, raise the bottom up 1-1/2". Under Newels / Balusters; Square newels, 3-1/2", offset is negative 2.5", and spacing to 6', go to the library for your new panel symbol (mine is Millwork 28 .... yes it took me at least that may times to figure it out lol), don't worry about the panel thickness. Change the material of the newels to match your top 2x6 cap, and let it fly. - As for the downward extensions of the newel posts, I just made another symbol and strategically placed them in for the photo shoot. I must say that it was a pain every time I had to move the ramp a little bit, so I suggest waiting until last to insert those. It would be really nice if CA would be able to have the top rail off set with the newel posts and save some of this grief. It would also be nice if the deck framing would show up and could be manipulated like regular deck framing.Other than that, the ramp tool works pretty good.

Glenn you nailed it! Thank you. They had me doing all kinds of stuff, but looking back through the thread, we never did try this.

I am getting a black ROW and Column on my materials list. It was there with X12 where both the row and column were completely blacked out. And now X13 there is at least the dividing lines showing in a contrasting colour. The CA tech guys have had me change every colour option on my computer with nothing working yet. I sent a zippered file to the tech department and they could open it up fine in proper working order. As far as I can tell, it happens on every plan, even the pre-set CA right out of the box. I don't seem to be having any other issues with the screen / computer / program. Does anyone know what might be the cause? As you can see from the picture, it makes it tough to see what the columns are. I have an iMac 27", new last December when I signed on with CA and am running X13 Premier.