HumbleChief

Haven't posted to this thread but have read it and find myself agreeing with the above post as well. I've said many times that my brain doesn't work the way Chief is designed and I know there's nothing I can do about it. I don't think of myself as a stupid person or slow minded but when I use Chief I feel really really dumb. I find myself in the same predicament as the poster above when I need to solve something. I search and search and the forum helps a lot but it seems I shouldn't have to 'ask so many questions' of a software. That blasted 'structure' tab with that stupid little picture and 9 fields to fill with numbers representing something to a software engineer but absolutely nothing to me and the way I think. I've been using Chief for 15 years and still don't understand that structure hell box. Really, when is there a floor under this freaking room? A slab? No wait it's supplied by the room below? Cryptic and arcane and yet it remains unchanged for years and years and years. If someone feels like I should just learn the program or post a specific problem then you are missing the point. Why should any user not be able to understand the most basic room building tool in Chief? After 15 years? There's something wrong with that picture. I'll take my share of any problem I face but I've been using software for over 30 years and have NEVER been stumped about basic techniques like I have been with Chief. It's simply built around a software paradigm that does not fit with my way of thinking so I've adjusted my way of thinking to fit Chief. It's been hard but I get most of the techniques at this stage and understand that software engineers think like software engineers and not like builders or Architects or Designers or Construction Document preparers. None of this means I'm looking for other software but I have really quit with the 'suggestions' merry go round and have resigned myself to understanding Chief will evolve the way its designers decide and I will adapt to those design decisions. Until Chief truly understands how people really use its software we will be wed to all the questions that this forum generates.

Same same

+1

Way to go Bob. Which technique did you use?

You could start here - https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=timber+frame+chief+architect

I'm suggesting it did matter on my system, and it's just a suggestion, do what you will with it.

I was timing your video, not my system, and it seemed you may have counted a little more quickly in the X7 version of the camera shot - but the rest of the slow downs? Not cool for the users or the programmers. But either way I'm with you, there's trouble in River city, and those little delays really add up and X7 just feels 'sluggish' overall compared to X6. Did you try emptying the temp cache folder? (type %temp% in the windows search bar and delete everything that's not being used 'skip' the stuff that is) Made a difference in my system - until CA then created huge temp files and the slow downs returned. Tech is on it I'm sure and I hope X7 returned with X6's speed.

I got between 4.9 and 5.1 seconds with X6 in your first camera view example and about 5.1 - 5.3 seconds in X7. Couldn't find an appreciable difference when I was using a stop watch - just sayin'. The save delay and camera view delete delay are a niggling pain that I feel with every plan. Ugh. ..and I agree that the difference is noticeable and just drags on the creative juices when using X7.

What is a 'Kudo'? and why would I want one or give one out?

I didn't try Doug's suggestion - here's what I got. http://screencast.com/t/1hZ1v1laaDBa Got the same results as Doug. Fast again with All On then back to floor plan set.

I'm not sure what problem the solution is chasing? Can someone explain the problem?

Thanks Glenn,

OK Glenn, I can call off the crazy/stupid for the time being. Is there another way to create the plant-on molding I was trying to accomplish? And BTW for anyone else trying this type of plant-on you (or at least I) need to create a molding that 'leans' the other way to get the molding to flow around the outside, regardless of the inside/exterior selection. This shape gives this result.

I don't get that option, what am I doing wrong? http://screencast.com/t/cfMJzEODW

Zoomed way in and grabbed a section of line and it worked - Thanks - Great video - very helpful.

Why do 3D P-Lines only show that single useless line?

Thanks so much. Shift select doesn't seem to do anything that I can tell but yes it's in the attic - where I drew it doh!!

Thanks Perry. Didn't try that - I'll have to revisit my stupid

Thanks Joe but there's no option to create a molding poly line just a 3D molding poly line. Transform/Replicate works to move it. Did I say thanks?

I simply don't know how to move a 3D molding poly line in plan view or 3D. Nothing like CA to make me feel really stupid - and actually I mean that. There is NO OTHER software that has so many secret handshakes and bizarre techniques that I've ever used that just makes me feel stupid. I've actually pondered the possibility that I am stupid and then I try a new technique in Chief and it confirms my suspicions. [/rant] http://screencast.com/t/Odt0xsPnsC 3D Molding Plan 2.plan 3D Molding.plan

Bob, If you rotate the 'texture' material by changing the 'angle' 90 degrees you should get that grain to go the other direction as Alan suggests but also you can use any picture from any place to create a material and use that as a texture. Here's hundreds of wood grains to choose from below. It took me a while to understand the whole 'texture' and 'material' paradigm that chief uses, and I would never accuse anyone of being as dim witted as I, but if you're stuck, ask and there will surely be someone here to help. Good luck. https://www.google.com/search?q=WOOD+GRAIN+PICS&espv=2&biw=853&bih=626&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=1UrRVJvlM8ibNv_kg9gL&ved=0CCAQsAQ Here's a Chief Knowledge base article that's probably more than you need but I always forget how do this stuff.

Talks funny and everything. (Nice work Glenn) http://screencast.com/t/t6wIKFYBVbD https://www.facebook.com/ChiefArchitect?fref=nf

That's funny Alan. I print directly from the plan file all the time when scale doesn't matter. Fast way to get info to a client, truss company etc. BTW you can come by with your dogs any time - I love puppies! I also was born in Carmel and grew up in Monterey so whenever I see your sig I reminisce a bit.

I was asking Chief to print the 'current view', not the whole window, not the whole terrain perimeter but the 'current view' those are two different requests - which it will do - most of the time. Try it and see if the 'current view'; doesn't include only the data in the 'current view'. Looks like it's working today or at least maybe my brain is working today.

Of course it's working OK today on a plan that would not cooperate the other day. Here's the 'current screen' And here's what should print - pretty close. Just couldn't get it to happen the other day.