HumbleChief

The video shows a 'render' with 'Ray Trace' material qualities, reflections etc. which I assume is the feature/benefit of physically based rendering? Something I don't need but Chief has never been able to resist pretty pictures at the expense of ConDocs and other genuinely useful user interface enhancements. Still can't really discern what features are actually going to be in X10 based on that video but I always keeps my hopes up and my expectations low.

The video actually looks like it's in Beta testing as well, or at least not complete enough to give the user an idea of what's coming in X10. Surprising as Chief's usually very good at this sort of thing. Am I missing something?

It amazes me how 'unlivable' a lot of those new homes truly are. Of course I've see a lot of gutted new homes that are worse than the original because you know - homeowners - but am mostly surprised by modern design decisions. On the other hand we walked through some models a couple months ago that were awesome (personal opinion of course) and very livable right out of the box.

Me too...each has it's place but having the option is a great feature...and IMO nothing really compares to your Lumion renderings Johnny

I tried to edit the original floor plan after a quick glance at the corrected plan and it framed perfectly. The framing in this case disregards the second floor platform and frames according to the bearing lines only (apparently). It looks like the bearing lines need to completely surround the area(s) being framed which might be obvious to most but the help from tech was so very helpful and should make future framing tasks much, much easier. Another huge thanks to Tech support!!

I sent the plan file in to tech support and they really went over and above the call to address the problem plan. I think it might be worth your time to see the changes suggested and made to facilitate the final, and correct framing plan. Tech support will not usually fix a plan sent to them but made an exception because of the strange behavior. STELLAR tech support as always!!! Below is the problem as described by Tech support. I left out some unneeded commentary. "* Multiple Bearing Lines around the cantilever instead of a single Bearing Line polyline.* Too many Joist Direction Lines.* Nothing defining the lower left corner of the Floor 2 platform on Floor 1 (no walls or bearing line). ...needed to delete and replace the Joist Direction Lines several times before the program finally grasped what it was supposed to be doing. Notice that there are two Bearing Lines polylines and two Joist Direction Lines only. And, notice that these Joist Direction Lines do not touch the Bearing Lines or the walls defining the platform they define. There is no ceiling framing over the left side of Floor 1 because of the height of the roof planes." Plan attached below. FLOOR_JOISTS_1_edited.plan

Just wondering what real problem "mandatory schooling/internships/continuing education and licensing" actually solves?

Helpful guys - thanks

uhhhh on the second floor? With note like 'post below' or even 'beam below' like my structural engineer does. Probably makes sense the way it is - just doesn't fit my little brain.

NEVER did get the 'feature' that the second floor floor framing is only visible on the first floor. - sigh.

...and whose going to do the regulating? To what standard? Endless pit of regulation just like what we see now - only worse. Not for me.

Any ideas involving 'greater restrictions' have to IMO be taken with a grain of salt. I had absolutely zero training before I became a home designer and that freedom allowed me to develop a thriving business without the restrictions that some claim are needed to create a more professional environment. Professionalism does not come with restrictions or regulations or whatever term you choose. Professionalism comes from an internal ethic that drives the entrepreneur to excellence in his/her business relationships. I remember a genuine red flag when dealing with other businesses when I was a general contractor and that was a BBB rating that the company would boast about. We had the worst luck with those companies pretending to be good business people because of a BBB 'A' badge or label or whatever you choose. We had much better relationships with simple, honest people who didn't pretend to be anything but simple and honest people. And then there were the 'architects' that we dealt with constantly. What a struggle that was. Details that couldn't b built; designs that didn't work, but they had all of the "mandatory schooling/internships/continuing education and licensing..." but...they had no sense of what the client really wanted, did not listen to those needs and designed homes that fit their training and the latest trends instead of what the client wanted, if it could be built at all. My point - all the "mandatory schooling/internships/continuing education and licensing" will have zero effect on the performance of a person within their business. The skills that are needed really can't be taught or regulated but are inherent with a person's personality and their ethical view of the world so in my opinion more " mandatory schooling/internships/continuing education and licensing" does nothing more than create more "mandatory schooling/internships/continuing education and licensing" without addressing what makes a business (any business) good, professional or whatever term you choose.

Thanks guys, will look over that vid when I get chance Michael.

I know, weird thread title but I can't seem to resolve a weird problem where I have a second floor with 11 7/8" TJI's and those TJI's extend to the rest of the house where there is no second floor. Is it bearing lines? Joist direction? Don't understand and any help much appreciated. FLOOR_JOISTS_1.plan

Reminds me a little bit about my current helper. He's young and sees a tech answer to every problem. "Let's get this app for this, it's so cool." I'll respond, "Yes it's very cool but what problem does it really solve?" Sometimes there really is a benefit but many times it's just more technology that does no real good in my real world business. We examine it with an open mind and together we either incorporate the new tech in to our work flow or get on with business as we can't see any real benefit. I use a lot of tech in my day to day business but most of the new stuff I can't find a real use for.

For me, in my business, there's seems to be a limited use for the most modern technologies. I still use a tape (both digital and tape measure) to measure my 'as builts' for the remodels I do despite all of the new apps that claim to do it better/faster with all of the digital blue tooth devices etc. I still sketch on a napkin when I can't quite visualize a concept and still rely on my building skills to help design an actual buildable structure with real world details. I LOVE all the 3D tools and use them to dial in a lot of designs and structures but see a limit as to how far they need to go to become a LOT more useful. I even think we are very close to the edge of every day useful technology and over that edge would have to be a killer app that changes everything we currently know about computer design but even then if you don't know how pieces of wood and concrete go together in a real house, in the real world, it will do the designer no real good. Chief Architect is a great example. What can they to dramatically improve their software? Lots of minor tweaks and usability stuff but any dramatic change will have to come from an entirely new look at computer modeling and even then the skills of a builder and that knowledge will always supersede any magic that the newest software might seemingly provide. Great software will always be one of many great tools but must always be used along side great skills and tools in the field where the treated plate meets the stem wall.

Found it under 'Grouped Kitchens' Best to all.

Contractor and business associate, when searching his X9 libraries, types in the word 'kitchen' in the search bar it returns over 10 different complete kitchens in different styles and configurations. I type in 'kitchen' and get a lot of stuff but no complete kitchens. Just downloaded core content again and no complete kitchens. Checked all filters etc. Curious as to what I'm missing and what I need to do to get those kitchens. Does everyone else get them? Is it a bonus catalog I can't seem to locate? Thanks

Viki, You definitely need a new computer guy. Unless you got the number wrong $1700 is WAY too much to do the work described. Here's a NewEgg link to many complete systems that cost less than that. https://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100019096 4814 601190701&IsNodeId=1&cm_sp=Cat_Desktop-Computers_1-_-Visnav-_-Intel-i7_4

Thanks for the continued effort Johnny but the framing you see was after many tries to get it right. It doesn't matter how it's framed or with what, it just picks up 12" from somewhere when trying build the foundation auto. Easy to get the stem walls right after the fact but it's the template no doubt, hanging on to 12" from some hidden setting.

Nice Eric - I'm going to forego the bamboo shoots.

I tried the plan with many many different framing defaults and configurations, always with that same 12" added in for the stem wall height. Like I just posted above it's not that hard to simply create an 18" stem wall but hard, considering the multiple defaults, to get one that behaves as expected every time, unless starting form absolute scratch.

Thanks Mick, Yeah there's something in my template that adds 12" to the stem wall min. height. May never be able to locate it but it's workable knowing same. The plan I posted came along after lots of time and lots of techniques to try and get the foundation to build auto. I deleted the foundation, changed every room's framing and defaults, and tried every change but that 12" remained. It's not difficult to simply get an 18" stem wall but building it auto just wouldn't happen with that plan. There are ways to accomplish things in Chief but sometimes the multiple default layers can be very confusing as what over rides what and when. For example if you set to build the foundation with walls with footings it will not build that foundation as long as the floor above is defined any other way. So the defaults of the floor above override the foundation settings. Then any floor structure tends to follow one or more defaults like Floor/Ceiling platform or maybe Current Floor default. It is indeed learnable but is as confusing as I have ever seen a software program behave. Again thanks to all for the input and help. EDIT: I see you did indeed delete EVERYTHING on my template plan to get the correct results. May have to do the same one day but my templates are treasures I hesitate change without a lot of forethought.

If you are asking how Chief might be able to recreate the structure you've defined automatically then it MIGHT be possible, or you could stick bamboo shoots under your fingernails, which would probably be less painful. I would take the route Chris (above) suggests and draw a plan view that represents the floor/foundation plan then add specific details to define the actual construction technique. The details you show, applied to their respective locations are pretty close to enough to complete your working drawings IMO. You will probably need a section to represent the construction but that's not too hard to accomplish with Chief's CAD tools. Again trying to get Chief to recreate that technique could be a very large handful.

thx