HumbleChief

Too easy on a single story, just turn on roof planes. Two stories you can stack CAD floor plans to show all roofs but it's not as flexible as true ref sets. Definite down side to CAD detail plot plans.

You can turn on/off any Layer and the ref sets will work in plan view but ref sets won't transfer over to the CAD detail. You can stack plan footprints (first and second floors) but it's not the same. EDIT though it actually works pretty good. Something I never knew/tried.

Good one Michael, thanks. I actually hadn't created a plan footprint in so long I had no idea how that really worked. Also in my plan template all of that is already done so I just change to the Plot Plan set and my Plot Plan is updated automagically.

Here's a quick tour of the CAD detail method for a Plot Plan.

It looks like you have a drawing sheet in your plan? Or is that a Layout picture? Go to >File>Print>Drawing Sheet Setup and turn off "Show Drawing Sheet In View" then send your house footprint to the CAD detail using the proper Layer and the scale should be OK.

I remember that there was a reason too Perry but somehow have adapted myself to the CAD detail method and like it now that I have.

I remember that too Scott and was convinced I would use the Layer method from that same discussion but discovered a couple cool features about the CAD method that I have adapted myself to. BTW the CAD detail method is live and you don't have use ref sets to show different layers. I'll do a quick vid.

Just so others know, using a CAD detail for the plot plan also allows for live updates of the floor plan and it's easy to show roofs, or any other layer for that matter, that you'd like to show, without reference sets. Not arguing for the usage of a CAD detail but it's good to provide accurate information for others to choose.

Not sure I understand. Do you use a CAD detail or a Plot Plan Layer?

That looks great Perry, please share your experience when you get it.

BUT... remember there are 2 schools of thought in the Chief forum community. One is to follow Chief's training videos and use a CAD detail, the other is to use Layers to set up a Plot Plan that turns on/off the Layers needed to create a Plot Plan. I've dabbled in both and have settled on the CAD detail method per Chief's suggestions. Others use Layers. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Lot to learn regarding same. Re-read our post Roz. To duplicate a survey Chief's suggested CAD detail method may be best. Stay tuned for the smart guys and their advice.

Only partly true Alan. Chief certainly doesn't need a fast graphics card as you can attest, but a Chief user might, as a very fast graphics card pays off huge benefits in speed when the models get very large/complex. My 780 performs great until the model gets really large and complex then it sweats a bit with shadows etc. I want a very fast gaming card even though I don't play games. You're free to choose the video card that works for you but it may not be the best advice for others who may need more power from their graphics card as Chief models get larger in size.

Hey Perry, Maybe hold off on your new computer as NVidia just announced some new Graphics cards.

The general rule for buying computer hardware remains the same. Buy as much hardware as you can afford. The fastest processor, the fastest Graphics card will without a doubt pay dividends in speed with Chief Architect. With that said what do you hope accomplish with Chief? Occasional small models? Small business? Large models? Large business? No matter what your business model the processor is generally not something that is easy to swap out (not hard, but not ideal) but the graphics card and memory can be changed out a bit easier so if you have definite budget concerns buy the fastest i7 you can afford as they generally have more cores than an i5 and maybe a lesser Graphics card and memory that you can upgrade later.

Thanks for the replies. The builder in question has ordered thousands of windows with very few mistakes and was taken by surprise by the confusion. I wasn't there so I don't know what transpired but he probably ordered it correctly in his mind but found out that the window manufacturer/rep had a different version. Either way it doesn't sound like much has changed when ordering windows. I'll ask him again and find out what happened.

Like it.

Yeah my builder hadn't heard of it either and explained the situation when I asked him about the (2) 26" x 40" windows in the back of his truck.

One of the builders I design for has run into a recent change in window industry spec's and wondered if anyone else has experienced this. The change is a move toward sizing in inches instead of feet. Example a 4040 window is now being referred to as a 48" x 48" window; a 2040 as a 24" x 48" etc. He ordered a 2640 and got a 26" x 40" window. Anyone else seen this? Is it new? I've always spec'd my windows in feet 4040, 2040 etc. and my schedules were always in those same feet as well. I'm now using inches in my schedules as well as ft. but wondered if this a new trend or different for every manufacturer?

Great work Bob, must feel really good.

Nice work Todd. I did a video that might help others.

Un-check Hide Terrain Intersected By Building - or check it - can't remember.

Post the plan Todd, I'll see what I can do.

A lot of that functionality is already built in and if you need to do any manual work use floor beams/joists to frame then your material list should be more accurate. Check some of Chief's framing training videos, I think you're missing a couple of tools that will do some of what you want.

That's the way I know Chief's behavior as well. Would be awesome to be able to define each floor's framing on a room by room basis but I'm not sure I come up against that situation very often. Still, I'd like the flexibility.

I didn't think about the elevations.