HumbleChief

Thanks a lot Perry!! I think I'm seeing a way to address the issue.

Got a railing detail question. Thanks oops - vid coming

Yes I am, but what difference would that make??

I've got a couple issue Richard and the hitting cnrt 'S' twice is at the top of my list. I''l report Monday if I can find time.

Thanks for looking Graeme, good though but no, it does not refresh the file manager screen until I hit cnrtl 'S' again. Thanks for the idea Perry - The 'save' icon in the tool bar requires 2 clicks to update the time stamp as well.

Thanks Mark - I've discovered (I think) that it actually takes hitting ctrl+S twice on my system.

Not sure exactly what you're referring to but I have confirmed through the archive management folder that my files are not saved to the current time stamp unless I hit cntrl 'S' twice. That is certainly worth a YIKES! Can someone confirm what I'm seeing or if your plan file gets the current time stamp with only one time hitting cntrl 'S'. THANKS

Have only one user user defined macro %area.round% in this plan set. Still confused about why my auto_save files are not there after a crash, only the older auto_save_bak files. Also just discovered it take hitting cntrl 'S' TWICE before my file gets updated in the manage archive folder..

Here's a perfect example of what I end up with if Chief crashes. You can see the auto_save plan file Chief is creating now as I work on this file but if I experience a crash all I see is the older auto_save_bak file. In this case it's 4 days old. What happens to the auto_save file?

Just freezes with the windows dbx saying Chief has stopped working. So seldom (maybe twice since using X9) no way of really knowing what happened. I don't even care about the occasional crash, it's just that my archive files are not current enough to be of any real use. THAT'S the piece I can't seem to get working reliably.

I can actually watch the _auto_save file being created in the archive but after a crash that file is NOT there. Only the older auto_save_bak file which is always older and useless. SIGH...

I've had a couple crashes in X9 lately with no repeatable cause but every time I seem to have no recent archive files that I can retrieve even though I have auto save set to every 2 minutes. I go to my archive folder and there's a copy, but it's always much older than the 2 minute save would make me think. Frustrating? No. Infuriating!! Been through this multiple times with always the same out come. What am I missing?

Interested +1

Ouch, but someone really has to say, and keep saying, this stuff.

D@mn that would be cool. Is it really that simple? Must be more to it or Chief would surely have implemented this by now huh?

Pretty sure EVERY other Chief user would like to know how to do this as well...

Small note to anyone using Michael's method. I was using rich text and there were some formulas that wouldn't read correctly but when I changed to a regular text box it added some easier flexibility. Also MAJOR issues when using a CAD detail for the site plan. Haven't figured that one out yet.

Nice job on the vids Scott. I was wondering about the second floor and you answered that question nicely. I wonder if Michael can create a more user friendly version of this for second floors? Or is it even needed once one gets the work flow figured out? And one more shout out to Michael's video's and plans - WELL worth the $15.

Since I actually understood how to create formulas after the videos I can see a LOT of cool possibilities using simple poly line boxes. Again real world will be the test for me

It is really time for a new title to this thread as X9's new features haven't been mentioned but a few times but either way in regards to yesterday's GTM, thanks for hosting Scott and thanks to Joe for all the great macro possibilities, there's a lot more to explore than I thought. One thing I'd like to add is that I am the most macro-phobic person there is and not because i haven't found the few I use to be useful but because the setup is so complex and most results seem easier to insert manually and move on but I have always been interested in an area analysis that was relatively simple, accurate, and flexible. I purchased Michael's Area Analysis videos HERE and plans and found that using the DIY videos I was able to create a custom Area Analysis that seems to fit my needs though I haven't used it real world yet. The videos were clear and the best part was at the end I kinda knew how to create my own custom poly lines with areas and formulas for calculating various areas. I have a few real world questions that should be answered on my next couple jobs but I am optimistic and would highly recommend the purchase to see if it fits your work flow..

Hey Joe and others. A bit late to this party but I can think of a macro I could use and perhaps you've already done so Joe? Let's say I am doing a remodel and I am adding 235 SF. I am currently using a macro to show the added space within a poly line label. In this case I manually draw a polyline box that encompasses the newly remodeled area and in the label field I use %area.round(0)% or similar to give me the area of the room addition. If the room size changes I change the size of the box to match a refer t the new label for new SF figures. What I would like is to have that label figure be reflected in my property data calcs. As the box size and SF changes I would like the data field in the project data field to be updated automatically. The more I write this I have the feeling you already have this more than figured out. If I can make the GTM perhaps you can show how these types of macros work real world?

The quote above is from Chief's help file and I know the terms can be confusing but I bet we are saying the same thing using different words.

The difference between 5 seconds and 2.5 seconds is HUGE when working on any project, at least in my world.

Thanks Joe, I think you are saying that the SubfFloor For Floor 2 setting takes priority over the ceiling Above Floor 1 setting basically rendering the Ceiling Above Floor 1 setting useless in most cases. From help file. Thanks again Specify how the Ceiling Above Floor X is built. These settings are relevant only for rooms that do not have living space above them. • Check Build Ceiling Framing to generate or regenerate ceiling framing when the OK button is clicked. Only available when there is no living space above at least part of the current floor. Not available in the Framing Defaults dialog. • The Ceiling Structure depth displays here for reference. Click the Edit button to open the Ceiling Structure Definition dialog and define the layers of materials that form the ceiling platform. Check Default to use the Ceiling Structure Definition set in the Normal Room Defaults dialog. See Material Layers Definition Dialogs.

Always wondered - in the 'Build Framing' dbx - what's the difference between the Ceiling Above Floor 1 and the Sub Floor For Floor 2? On a two story model which one over rides the other? Do they need to match? and why are there any options for the subfloor for floor 2 on a single story model?