HumbleChief

Always wondered about this calc and now I REALLY wonder about this calc. Why and when is a 20 ft. x 20 ft. room not 400 SQ? How is Chief calculating square footage. I simply do not understand. http://www.screencast.com/t/GXZH4LlliW

Agree, agree, agree.

I did try that Joey and appreciate the tip but everything including the second monitor was locked up with that text box. Tech support had seen it once before and hitting the escape key got rid of it but not this time.

Talked to tech support and had to end the application in task manager. We went through a few hoops to get everything back but all is well. Hope this helps someone in the future.

I'm afraid to close down X7 with the task manager as I don't know how much work I might lose. Time to call Tech Support I'm thinkin'. http://www.screencast.com/t/Iidnw2pxrH

That video was pretty good. I've done a hundred as builts from scanned plans and never even knew there was a Point to Point Resize button. Great tool that I'll use from now on.

Chuck, There's a 'keep deck framing after deck room is deleted' check box that does just that if you want to change the room name. Just tried it and it works. If your only problem is the electrical outlets showing up as Weather Proof I'd create a CAD electrical outlet and place them on the wall where you need them. I have a little custom GFCI outlet in my library for islands that don't have a wall that Chief needs to place outlets on. Works fine.

I hesitate to call this a tutorial but here's one way to duplicate what Curt did. http://www.screencast.com/t/NBXEV2ELiF

IMPORTANT - Chief CAN change your default floor heights out of the blue. I'm working on a plan and the first floor default ceiling height was changed to 0" after I set it to the default 97". If your plan gets wonky this is the first place to look. This is a major bug of some kind and I will not be able to reproduce it but I noticed my 3D views were destroyed and did not know what happened. I checked my defaults and my first floor height was 0". User error? I'll always cop to my ignorance but this just up and changed so beware. Also points to the importance of the defaults. A good place to check first if things go a little nuts in your model.

If you modify 'floor defaults' as Joe suggests you have a future touchstone of sorts if your floor heights ever go wonky on you. Using floor defaults to set/change floor heights is a very good Chief practice and will insulate you from future mystery floor height changes.

If I have a job that needs to get done and I arrive on a job site and don't have the proper tool, or the job is way too complex to even figure out which tool I should have brought, I'll find a way to get the job done with the tools I have. Is that a work around? Or creativity using the tools at hand? A Chief user with a job that needs doing and a request for tools that Chief doesn't have could just say "I don't like the word work around." Or that user could get creative using the tools he does have and get the job done. Work around? ...or Creative and imaginative? You chose the terms that makes you happy as long as it doesn't keep you from getting the job done with tools you do have.

The video really helps and unfortunately I've got nuthin'. I've simplified my page numbering and let go of A-1, S-1, G-1, E-1, etc. and MIGHT be able get what you want but I think you hit the nail on the head for problem - Chief needs more options to achieve what it is you want. What about Perry's idea of simply creating another Layout file and delete unwanted pages, then number and order the remaining pages any way you want?

+1

Easy. I like it.

Interesting Perry. I think I get what you doing but then you'd have 2 Layouts correct? Might get confusing though renumbering everything can be a pain. I went and re-read Jon's post and got his dilemma fixed, I think, but not sure sometimes from reading the posts. Either way have a great weekend. http://www.screencast.com/t/43kFh4aQ

Not sure I'm seeing the problem. If you place the macro %layout.label% on your page '0' where you want to display your page numbers, then put the information in the edit page info box for label then everything displays however you choose it to display. Then you can print whatever pages you want, now with custom page numbers, by simply selecting those pages when you print. I must be missing something. Also includes not using the number field for anything as that uses the sequential numbering that I find too limiting. And I think I see a hashtag (#) in the Label field in your vid Scott. I don't use that and custom number each page. Takes more effort but allows for complete customization of all page numbers and what goes to the table. Still have select the pages you want to print but that's a no brainer.

Really nice Kjell. Amazing software in very capable hands. Great job.

BUT...you have to have your Layout Page table set up right for it to work. http://www.screencast.com/t/alt4vwMcLbyM

Not sure if this what you're looking for as we wait for Scott's vid to process. Re-read your post and it seems like you could accomplish what you want using Chief's Layout Page tools. http://www.screencast.com/t/xmmL3uxVC8O

Not good. Sorry I couldn't help. Reads like a tech support issue.

Rob, The picture you posted shows the Wall Icon selected, not the cabinet icon, and the edit bar will many times appear after selecting an item that needs 'editing'. That's not to say you're not having problems with your tool bars but the picture you posted isn't showing those problems. Another way to refresh your tool bars is to rename the 'toolbar' file to toolbar OLD and Chief will regenerate new tool bars. That may resolve some issues.

So very helpful Perry. Really really appreciate your time and explanation. I've got a very cobbled together system, that is an insult to the word system and it really takes time doing things over and over. Not everything but too much to be efficient. Must learn a new system and yours is an inspiration that I'll use some pieces from for sure. Again thank you for your time and effort.

Two separate plans? As built and separate remodel?

Thanks for taking the time Perry. Good system for sure but I was wondering - Do you use one plan for your as built and remodel plans? Or do you save the as-built then create a second remodel plan, from the as built, using your system on the remodel plan?

I use a separate as built and remodel plan with separate schedules and in this case I think I could have created a couple phantom walls/windows to get the schedule sorted. Would love to see a video of your method Perry.