HumbleChief

This what I was trying to convey in my post above, perhaps poorly.

Pretty sure we should not be surprised that CA is going to a subscription model versus one time purchase (with its associated SSA renewals) as this is really the only way for modern software companies to stay in business. The phenomenon is clearly illustrated by posts in this thread alluding to users who are still using older versions with no intention of upgrading and most importantly no future income for CA from those users. Subscriptions, as distasteful as they can be, are the only modern solution to modern software business models. I see a few comparisons to the cost of Revit, or ACAD and Archicad but the comparisons are not comparing apples to apples IMO. If Revit et al is a better fit for your business model then the price is not important and becomes a line item in your cost of doing business. If Chief fits your business model then the same applies. And that's the big question. Does either the SSA or the new subscription model fit your business model? Do you design 250 homes a year like Joshua above? In that case the cost of CA (or any competitor) is no more than $10 - $15 per house (depending on number of licenses of course) and can be absorbed easily. One or 2 houses a year then the equation changes but any of the CAD design software should not place a burden cost-wise on a well itemized business model. Don't have enough money set aside when SSA comes up for renewal? Why not? Can't afford the subscription model? Why not? Those costs should be anticipated, built into the business model, and paid with funds set aside for just that purpose. None of that makes software subscriptions good or bad but they are a reality in todays world and have to be accounted for when costing design jobs.

Probably over kill but so is a Ram TRX and a Raptor 'R' but also probably a lot of fun - for a price. Let us know what you end up with please.

Thanks for the updates and info - looks pretty nice and it looks like I can do my primitive sketching as well.

Just getting to this and another thanks Glenn!

Hey Joe, I think many people have been using custom tool bars for eons but I am late to many parties and am just discovering them. Wading through those dropdowns to find the single tool I'm looking for is extremely inefficient. Now I can find the window tool with a simple single click. Let me/us know if you learn more.

For anyone interested, I had created a free floating tool bar and they will only 'dock' when you are in customize tool bars mode, and yes double clicking the name will change the name of the tool bar. Thanks again Glenn.

I tried docking the custom tool bar to the left but couldn't get it to 'stick over there. Missing something simple, maybe the 'tool palette' layout was keeping from docking there? I'll try again. Did not know there was a right click tool/menu option as you've shown, thank for that and thanks for your help as always.

Thanks Glenn, I saw that area where the tool bar names lived but couldn't clearly see how to change the name? Double click the name perhaps?

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00610/controlling-the-display-of-the-crosshairs.html

I went back to check if I posted about Style Palettes instead of Tool Palettes, could have gone either way Stream Deck XL - looks pretty wild.

Have now expanded to 15 of my most commonly used tools with no more trips to the main tool bar and wading through drop downs and palettes to simply access the tools.

Different strokes, I would actually like less, quick access choices rather than more, and anything with fewer clicks makes me very happy.

I don't think they access the library and I'm not a big fan of style palettes (tried them twice never to return) and these tools are very simple in their intended use. For example, I'm laying out an as built floor plan and as I am working through each room I need the window tool, so I go to the main menu, choose the window tool, the palette is occupied with 6 tools of which I almost only use the one 'Window' tool,, I place the windows and now it's on to doors. Back to the main tool bar, select the door palette of which I am offered 9 choices (of which I usually only ever use 4) choose the door type and place in plan. On to the cabinet tools (12 tools this time) but I only really use 3 but wait I need to install another hinged door. Back to the main tool bar select the door tool, select the hinged door, place that etc. Quite a few trips to the main tool bar that aren't needed with this little custom tool bar but would still like it if we could populate that palette area with our own custom list of the most often used tools. Also have a feeling I'm very late to the idea of custom tool bars but better late than never.

Thanks Joe, here's what I've done for now. A little compact tool bar that has the 3 cabinet, one window, and 4 door tools that I use most often. Looks like it will stay put in a template file and saves fishing through all 27 options between cab, doors and window tools and clicking over and over again between the tool types. Would still like to populate that palette area with various options and more than one tool palette type. Not sure if these little tool bars can be renamed - would be nice.

I'm not sure what it's called when you select a tool, like doors, and it displays a tool palette on the left with hinged, doorway etc. rather than a child drop down menu but I was wondering if there's a way to stack various tool palettes in that area? I've attached a terrible pic of the idea. Or are there other options?

My guess is the problem is shown in the pic attached. Open the Terrain Perimeter to get to the dialog box shown.

Still not sure about this but I think older versions of Chief wants the plan files 'saved' before it starts to automatically save archived files? Anyone clear about this as I seem to have been trapped by that 'feature' in the past?

Nothing worse. in the 20 years I've used Chief I've had 2 or 3 files go missing on the computer 'Archive' folders and only one time I was not able to retrieve one from my Carbonite backup. Still no worse feeling. I'm not sure but I think there might have been a change in X14 where the plan file doesn't have to be 'saved' before the archive setting start but am unsure. I also ow have DropBox that saves older versions and history that I've used perhaps once? Sincerely best of luck.

I remember those 2 videos and remember thinking that that basement is about a 5 -10 minute measure using my stone age techniques, and that time would include talking to the client about the weather. Not saying there's anything wrong with noting that an interior wall is out by 3/16 of an inch but that's not information I've ever found useful. I did like the Leica though, might replace my Bosch when the time comes.

I was trying to sketch up an idea I had in my head in Chief the other day and was going in circles. By the time I got close in Chief the idea had morphed into something unusable. Then I picked up a pencil and paper and began sketching out an idea and voila, there it was. Not the best analogy but sometimes a pencil and paper is just more practical in the real world than all the latest technology. I walked through, in my head, a house measure with a Disto Blue Tooth device that included a lap top opened to Chief on a stand that moved from room to room, and tried to imagine choosing a wall, taking the measurement, checking the wall in Chief to make sure the measurement was entered accurately, and/or checking to see if the correct wall was selected, then selecting another wall, going to that wall with the Disto, measuring, then back to Chief to select another wall, then to the next room, rinse and repeat, and so on. There is even a video out there somewhere showing the technique but after watching that it only confirmed that it's simply not for me. I am not a Luddite when it comes to technology but technology for technology's sake leaves me wanting as compelling as it is. And sure someone will post a thread about a lidar enhanced room measuring device that gets real close and is compelling because technology simply is compelling but I can get most measure done in under an hour, miss features rarely (any more) and am no longer enthralled with the latest measuring techniques. Do you remember Chief's Room Planner? Me either.

THAT Sir, (Penny) is a thing of beauty.

https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-rtx-4090-review

What? I can't hear you!!

Not recommending anyone else measure the way I do and this did not require extreme accuracy but this is what I brought home from the job walk to build the as built model. I take a pretty detailed video with my phone and note window sizes verbally as I know a 4040 slider when I see one or detail the windows when needed. I no longer measure the exterior. I tried graph paper and Rocket Book and a blue tooth laser and they just got in the way of my personal work flow. Looks pretty scary but really easy for me to interpret as all the squiggles mean something and translate pretty easily with the video for confirmation.