HumbleChief

In this case the framer used rafter ties which are basically ceiling joists tied to the rafters at the lap over the top plate. Perfectly valid method to brace a roof in lieu of engineered collar ties. In this case the framer just threw them in and didn't nail the ends enough. I think my engineer recommended 10 10d nails per lap?

Interesting articles Richard. I've installed engineer designed collar ties with no rafter ties or ceiling joists but they were engineered carefully and installed properly. Always use the metal straps over the ridge. My current house had a concrete tile roof with 2 x 6 rafter ties every 4 ft. O.C. They were probably enough to keep the rafters in place, the ridge board from sagging and the walls from splaying outward but the framer only used a couple or 3 16d's at the lap with the rafters. That wasn't enough and over time that nailed joint began to fail and the ridge sagged, the walls moved and the fascia bowed under the stress. I talked to my engineer and learned that the connection of the rafter ties to the rafters where they lap was very important. I jacked up the roof over a couple weeks, nailed the cr@p out of the rafter/rafter tie lap, and created a truss system with plywood gussets. Held fine until we tore it off for a second story addition.

Amie, Remember that when you RayTrace your CPU is spiking to 100% usage (your video card is not involved int he process) and if you have an older, slower CPU it just plain takes a long time to RayTrace. What are your computer spec's? That might help track down the speed issue but sadly there's no cure for a slow CPU when RayTracing. And what is your name? That won't help with the issue but will help us address you in a more personal manner. EDIT: Found it on your web site, Amie.

Amazing response Dermot - much appreciated!!

Doing a container home in Sketchup is much different than building a container home on your building lot. WAY more involved than initially meets the eye.

I designed, permitted, and built a second floor container structure in San Diego because the homeowner was infatuated with them so it can be done in Chief. At first look they seem like a great idea and maybe in some states/countries (where you don't need a permit to build things) they are, but the most important thing to remember is once you cut a hole in them the structural integrity basically falls apart and they need to be re-engineered to meet current seismic/wind loads etc. That includes either interior or exterior bracing that you will see if you look closely at any real world container structure. If you choose to really open them up to make them useful in a real world living space, the added bracing systems can be quite expansive and expensive AND you need an engineer willing to calc each panel etc. Again, not for the faint of heart, but possible. If you insist it's doable, but IMO they are best left in the pictures you see of them in foreign countries or as a shed out back. As a house? Do a LOT of research before you jump, the water is cold and very deep.

Ouch. Tech is working on a fix, must be a pretty high priority.

+1

That's the best strategy of course and it's rare that I do as well but found a need in a couple plans - please beware.

Ouch, thanks for that test Michael.

Sorry Joe, not going to try copying and pasting a windows schedule again - in any plan in any way. Too much at stake.

Your call, but if this is the only issue then you could update and just not copy/paste window schedules and/or you don't really need any of the improvements/fixes then waiting makes sense.

Please note - this will disappear your second floor!! Just had it happen in another plan file.

This is repeatable - and fatal! NOT trying to be dramatic but I just tried it again (please don't say it) and it deleted the second floor - again. Back to the archives. I like to copy and paste my window schedules because I have a couple custom things I don't want to do over again but not going to happen again. Will create from scratch..

I had a very bad crash https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/9255-first-major-crash-with-new-182042-update/ that removed an entire floor of some fairly complex work. My archive files saved the file and I know what happened but I'm still using X8 as that's the first crash I've had in a very very long time. As Glenn says above if you wait until there are absolutely no issues all you will do is wait.

Interesting Joe, thanks for the confirmation and the tip. The error wasn't really the problem as I've seen it before, but the effect of deleting an entire floor of hard work freaked me out a bit. Thank goodness for the archives.

Will when I get time - leaving for an appointment.

I was able to duplicate it by copying and pasting a window schedule from one CAD detail to another. Got the message below and Chief crashed. Simple to avoid by just creating another, new window schedule but I've copied and pasted schedules before with no problems.

...not sure if it has anything to do with the update or with this particular file but I got a warning message - unable to save this file etc. etc. and Chief would no longer respond. I closed Chief, re-opened and the file I was working on no longer had the (very complex) second floor and all the detail, cabinets etc. were missing from the first floor - it just deleted an entire floor and blew up another. I was able to retrieve an archive and the file looks OK but the original file is toast - just sayin'.

Running fine here.

Interesting article Graham, thanks for posting that. If one were willing to build their own system that seems like a great way to go.

...my experience in California...

Thanks Graham

Curious about which you prefer. I used Live Views in the earlier releases and had some problems and have never returned. I now use plot lines with shadows, no color, sun set to follow camera. How about you?

If there is no vertical surface like a wall Chief will create the p solid at the plane of the Camera itself - look there first.