HumbleChief

You could spend hours trying to figure out why Chief always has a couple of attic wall areas that won't build correctly or just drag that attic wall down to fill the void. This area is a lot more interesting to me.

http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00359/#Mansard

It doesn't take much research to learn that there's a lot of information in this post that just isn't accurate and if you're searching for a good laptop that's the first thing you should do - research and learn the facts about today's laptops, both Mac and Windows. If you want a Mac then find one with the best video and CPU performance you can afford and the same goes if you want a Windows Laptop. If you want to argue which one is better then there are posters here, apparently, who will do so. I will not. The best windows laptops for running Chief tend to be the best gaming laptops because Chief response best with gaming video cards. Fast video and fast CPU's with an SSD (they really don't come in a 'slow' variety reserved only for Windows laptops) should get you surprisingly good performance with battery life much longer than 2 - 3 hours (curious why someone would type that misinformation?) Again buy the fastest of everything you can afford. I have a friend who bought a fast Asus gaming Laptop a couple years ago and was very impressed with how well it ran Chief and the screen was good too. Here's the highest rated Laptops on NewEgg (not notebooks which is an entirely different category) http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100025325%204115%204814%204809&IsNodeId=1&bop=And&Order=RATING&PageSize=90 If you want a long battery life try these, or better yet try and find a laptop with only 2 - 3 hour battery life. http://blog.laptopmag.com/all-day-strong-longest-lasting-notebooks As always a good, fast laptop, either Mac or a Windows based will be more expensive than an equivalent desk top but you can't replace the portability and with a second (or third) monitor as Joey suggests you should be good to go.

Hey Joe, I resemble that remark! Logic? That's a good one. Here's my understanding - Actually the foundation supplied by the room below has something to do with when there's a foundation that isn't really a room but it has a floor even though there's no floor on a foundation if it is a slab but since the slab level which has no real floor under it uses the ceiling of the foundation slab which also has no real ceiling using it as the floor of the room above, Unless it's an actual room for a foundation in which case it all makes perfect sense... unless you're willing to wait for Glenn to explain it. Hope that helps.

Cool

That's odd, Ctrl+S has always been save on my many versions of Chief - always.

Same here

Sorry, Scott that was my version of trying to help. Best of luck.

Teaser perhaps, but anyone new to Chief and an expert in any other piece of software will find that design very, very difficult at best. Even posting the plan will be of little help IMO even though expertise is always appreciates Yusuf. This user needs some fundamental tools that will work in Chief instead of Revit and the learning curve in Chief, even though it might be a distant memory to many is steep and pretty unforgiving. From me, I wish the user the best and maybe post a couple of specific problems, with the plan to get Chief under control.

Hey Scott, Here's what I get. The 2 on the left are from your files and I couldn't see any difference. It looks like the material is Metal_corrogated_Shiny? The one on the right is with a stainless material I picked up from somewhere. Not sure that helps but I share your frustration.

No problem Mick, I appreciate your feedback.

Thanks Joe, Kelly, Perry, Any other noticeable changes for the better/worse?

You are not kidding Perry. I watched a couple of 'how to's' with Revit and was amazed at the amount of effort to get the simplest tasks done. One video was an hour long that I swear would take 15 - 20 minutes with Chief - max - you probably much, much less. And the end product had much less detail, almost no cabinet selections etc. I was quite surprised. Given that, I don't envy anyone trying to learn Chief especially with another work flow in their minds from another program. Very difficult me thinks.

This might help a little but you have to find a way to post the plan if you really want some help from those that really know this program.

I remember watching that video Curt. I think maybe I googled Columns in Chief and found that vid. Great, great, presentation by David Michael.

Joey, I think you got and it looks like the way I do it. I also love the idea of using a cabinet with the counter top just have never done it that way.

Quick vid. Won't work for everyone of course but it's fast and very flexible.

Good one Alan, of course I was just showing one way to do it and did not know that about Exterior Fixtures, Thanks Joe.

Very interesting Mick - nice job.

Quick vid - hope it helps. Lar

'shift' works too...

I find it very easy to just create a simple note schedule using text and call-outs. Tried the plant schedule but way too much effort for simple plan notes. Maybe a 'notes' schedule would work but Chief's schedules, for me, are way more work than they are worth without word wrap and almost zero flexibility etc. To be clear I create a stacked list of call-outs, either numbers or letters, with a simple description next to each call-out. Then each call-out is copied in place and moved to the relevant location on the plan and the call-outs and text are spaced evenly etc. with the space evenly tools. I don't really want a schedule until Chief's schedules are way more flexible. And of course any manual list can be saved to the library to modify for each plan. Very easy and more importantly, very flexible.

Here's a brief video that may or may not help and as always it's best to pay attention to those would know more about such things.

The window schedule also has the ability to create a separate schedule for each floor.

I'll assume Chief premier has similar tools?