HumbleChief

Thanks Mark, seems like that gets me an additional second floor in my template plan which I really don't want as most of plans are single story. still can't quite understand why Chief defaults to 97 1/8" for that second floor default. Thank You again.

Found this in the help files attached. Only the defaults for Floor 1 can be set ahead of time. The program uses the settings from Floor 1 to create subsequent floors. This does not seem to be true.

Thanks Mark, not sure I exactly follow. I can create a template with a second floor but most of my jobs are single story so I'd have to delete the second floor on most jobs, creating about the same amount of (minimal I admit) effort. Is that what you are suggesting? And I've looked all over for a 'delete extra floors' check box to uncheck it but its too well hidden for me. Curious where does Chief come up the initial setting for default floor heights? Must be hard coded in somehow? Thank Again.

Whenever I build a second floor the defaults are set to 97 1/8 rough ceiling and I'd prefer 97" instead. I can't find a way to set that default without a second floor to set that default height, without that second floor, so I end up having to reset the rough ceiling height every time I add a second floor. Probably something simple but but what might I be missing?

If you'll notice on Scott's first post there's a space between @ and chiefarchitect.com. Take out the space like the second post and it works OK.

Of course I'm doing it wrong - THANK YOU!!!

As a follow up I tried this 'feature' and I'm sure it works brilliantly but as the video below shows, I'm simply not smart enough nor willing to invest the needed time to get these 'features' to work properly and my brain just does not get the paradigm that Chief presents around every corner. If, and that's a big IF, I need to learn this feature I will but in the mean time it's too easy for me to use the tools I know which don't always represent the hard way to do things versus using Chief's 'features'.

My work flow and scope of work relative to my designs are clearly set from the beginning of any job. For example I'll design a kitchen with the clear understanding that the (default cabs in Chief) cabinets are there as place holders only, as I do not design kitchen cabinets as part of my services. Nor do I spec any paint colors, appliances, tile and/or counter finishes as those choices are left to the client and, if they choose, an interior designer which I will coordinate with on very rare occasions. My 'styles', if you will, have been developed over many years and I now have a set of defaults for many applications that I use as needed, all living in my template plans so very little need to change any 'style' as I design. I've posted many time how each of our business models and design work flows vary and I understand any work flow or business model that includes designing everything from cabinet pulls to tile colors, counter top choices and even colors for the walls but for me I'd rather not, and to be honest, want no part of those decisions as I've been there and do not want to go there again. Also DB I meant it when I said I'll remember this thread and your post (and Tea's) regarding how 'replace from library' works and if the need arises I will gratefully remember your advice. Thank you again.

Thanks DB. Might indeed be useful but have never wanted to do any of the tasks you listed. If I do I'll remember this post and this feature - cause I hate to miss out

Thanks Tea, Never seen the tool, never used the tool, and it might come in handy but I can see, at least on my machine today, that whenever I select this particular item from the library (haven't seen it with any others) that the 'replace from library' tool is indeed selected by default. I then turn it off and select the symbol again and the 'replace from library' is toggled back on again. Not a genuine problem but doesn't seem to be consistent between library items.

Took a quick look at your plan but need more info to help. Like where's the parking lot? And does it need to slope -8 feet? or inches to -146 feet? or inches? (I can see its inches..).The only way I can make sense of terrains is with elevation regions and terrain breaks. Have you tried them?

Cool, thanks, and now see the tool in the tool bar, and also see that it's probably a tool I'll never use. Wonder why this symbol from the library comes with this tool attached? Thank You again.

Meant to say the symbol at the cursor...seems to be connected with the symbol somehow?

Kinda dumb question but what does the symbol at the cursor shown in the vid mean? thanks

Thanks DB...

Is there a way to set up custom tool bars per plan view?

Thanks for al the ideas. I don't time track very often as my jobs don't usually lend themselves, so I have no real strategy, just confusion trying to meld the Layout and Plan times into some cohesive conclusion. I like all the suggestions and think I'll try to start with a new Layout per client and open template plans from there, saving the template plan file to the client folder and use the Layout to open the plan file and track time with the Layout file. Thank you again.

I'm curious as to how you all use (or if you use) the time tracker and how to combine Layout time spent with plan file time spent. My questions centers around how to discern those time values when many time the Plan file and the Layout file are open at the same time, both accruing time, but the cumulative times of those 2 files can be much greater than time actually spent on the project? Hope that makes a little sense. Thank You

Thanks very much! Did it manually but only because I never thought of your great suggestion Gene!!

Is there a way to auto frame this condition? Instead of rafters butting into the ridge?

THANK YOU for the replies. I moved the story pole and its reach to the other side and it seemed to pick up everything

I have 2 buildings and the story pole seems to want to pull the correct data from one larger existing home (that will not be changed and is not part of the submittal) and not so great off the separate smaller building that is in the submittal scope of work. I'd like to pull the story pole info off the smaller building but it's not cooperating. https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ievtup48zv0zv6qkgi5r0/STORY-POLE-PLAN.plan?rlkey=xk4cpkl3lvu4079tr45czggux&dl=0

Weird. My template plan seems to separate them fine

I've got some text stacked in my story pole dims and can't figure out how to make them more readable. Thanks

X16 will probably follow the path of most other upgrades and include some amazing features that will help improve work flow and others that no one has ever 'suggested' or wanted (too many for me personally to list) but may prove to be useful. As usual hope is high and expectations low...