HumbleChief

I'm not sure I will EVER understand the Room Structure tab and if there's anything I would change tomorrow about the program it would be this 'feature'.

I've built a thousand mono-slabs but for some reason I cannot get this slab to look correct in a back clipped section. The floor height is set at -24"and I've tried every thing I can think of but I keep getting this short stem wall or even an extra 4" slab in the section. I'm sure it's simple to someone but my brain does not work well with the structure tab. Any help greatly appreciated.

Here's my latest section cut.

Plan

FOOTING STEP 2.zip

Built a thousand mono slabs and footings but this one has this weird step along the outside edge. Couldn't do it if I tried so can't fix it either. Any clues?

Plan here

FOOTING STEP 2.zip

Only downside of the rec polyline is it won't follow terrain like a sidewalk will.

STOP Doug!! That's not the way I've learned to do it in the past and I CANNOT learn anything new - please stop now!!!

No, but if you start drawing your walls by right-clicking, you can draw them continuously which might be even faster in some cases.

Whaaaat? NEVER knew that. Great tip.

BTW I have an employee who uses ACAD and he was showing me how to draw lines etc. and it was crazy making but I got used to it for small tasks and editing ACAD files. Never used the  click-release-drag-click-release method in any other CAD program so had a hard time getting used to it but I managed. 

@ gawdzira I have been using the ssa training videos and they are ok ...the help menu is better for finding specific answers to questions.

I tried it for an interior remodel and found it hard to set up layers to show existing demo and new walls then make a demo plan and proposed plan with several different options. Autocad has refs which make life a lot easier. That way you can reference in existing and draw new over the top and create several different files (that reference the existing dwg).

I'm used to the ribbon interface (not tool bars) CA toolbars they seem so small and hard to recognize what they are. Softplan has a ribbon which I liked.

Maybe I'm giving up to early but it was wayyyy hard to learn and I ended up just getting frustrated every time I tried to do drawings.

Joe,

I'm no real advocate for Chief and as I stated above totally understand your frustration but the example you gave above is a perfect example of re-learning the nuances of a new program. Chief doesn't work like ACAD, it works like Chief and if you're not willing to learn how Chief works then I get that but another approach on this forum might be to ask how people handle interior remodels. You might be surprised at the help and answers you get. I've done interior remodels for over 15 years using Chief and there's a technique that works pretty well but it is unique to Chief. Without that knowledge it has to be frustrating.

So again, another approach when you get frustrated is to post your questions here and see what comes up. I even think there's an SSA video on remodels and if not there's more resources that can show you how Chief handles remodels. If that doesn't work for you then Chief may not be for you. I totally get that as it drove (drives) me crazy for years till I began to really understand how Chief operates. Best of luck either way and as has been said this community is an amazing resource you will not find anywhere else.

I just checked the overview linked above (at full screen which was no problem on my computer) and am wondering what you really want - to learn Chief Architect or to complain - about something. Really curious - which is it?

I am asking because the overview (again at full screen) is an excellent video resource for the beginner IMO but I've been frustrated before and needed to rant about something even though everything I wanted was really right there in front of me so maybe re-think what it is you want. If you want to learn Chief Architect I suggest you join the discussion here and the help will amaze you. If you just feel like ranting then I personally get that too but it won't get you much real useful help.

Make sure your attic walls layer is turned on and are set to auto rebuild (Alt-Q). Check the height of your glass doors and sometimes if you pull the roof planes back, then re-locate they will re-cut any intrusions and sometimes even get your attic walls back. Also try hitting F12 to rebuild.

I've tried chief for several weeks and and frustrated with the lack of cad tools, lack of remodel features (existing, demo, new walls), and the hard to use "user interface". Softplan looks like a better interface and has the features I'm looking for overall. Anyone else have the same problems?

Joe,

I think Chief has an extremely steep learning curve with no short cuts that I can remember and your frustration is totally understandable to me as it took a VERY long time for me to grasp the paradigm that is Chief architect. What I have learned over the many years is that Chief does indeed have all the features I need but accessing them efficiently took a long long time to figure out.

I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed but I have a feeling Soft Plan would be equally as difficult to master but it might fit the way your brain works better than Chief does. If they have demo give it a try but if you do decide to stick with Chief I guarantee it has all the CAD tools you'll ever need as well as other tools to get any residential job done.

...well there you go - your mileage may vary etc etc etc...Have you tried the above method? Not sure it works on invisible walls but seems to take of other Layout update gremlins...

Yes there is a secret way and no it has not been fixed. When in Layout click on the offending (non-updating Layout Box) and click on either the 'Object Layers Properties' or the 'Layout Box Layers' dbx, (can't ever remember which) and then just click OK to close the dbx. Updates the Layout box every time.

This was discussed and noted quite a long time ago but I still get caught out just like you and use the above method to update.

SHould be documented but I'n sure the folk at CA are even aware of the problem as it's quite intermittent and almost impossible to replicate.

Good tip Mick - thanks

Thanks Jintu - Appreciate the help - hope you're well.

...but in the roof framing dbx I un-check 'Eave Fascia and Gable Fascia turns off too. What's the trick? 

Ahh....

 

That would be Materials.  You can select a series of framing members and edit their Materials.  As per pic below

Thanks Joe, I was looking for a more global solution per Glenn's suggestion but as always really appreciate the helpful comments.

That was it Glenn - Thanks for the reminder and helpful tip.

I was able to change the rafter defaults in the 'Framing Defaults' dbx. Re-built the framing and the colors are the same now. Fascia color had no control over the color - this time - and only on certain roof planes.

Seemed like there was another location that had more selection other than general, post, and rafter.

Thanks Joe but it seems like the Layer Set controls the color of the plan display not the 3D display of the materials. For instance I can click on a rafter and choose the material color for the rafter but I can't find where to control all the rafters and their color. I've seen it done but can't find the dbx or material color location.

I have seen a video showing ceiling joists one color, rafters another, wall framing another, etc. VERY simple process but I can't remember where those controls are.

Title should read Framing 'Member' Color not 'Material.'

I have previously used the fascia color to control the color of the rafters but I have a plan that seems to choose random colors as the pic shows. I've rebuilt the roof planes and re-framed everything numerous times but I can't get the roof framing to behave consistently.

Also I know there's way to control the color of each member type but cannot find the magic location. Any help greatly appreciated.

Plan here

RAFTERS 1.zip

I'm having this EXACT same problem. I've set up roof framing a thousand times and the sub fascia measurement controls the tail depth every time I've done it. Now, on this plan, I want 2 X 6 rafters with 2 x 4 tails and the sub fascia measurement has no effect on the rafter tail depth. I re-booted with no luck.

I also opened a new plan and every thing works as expected.

I re-built the roof plane and it is now working as expected. A bug for sure but not sure now how to replicate it?

Hope that helps someone else who had/has this same problem.

Flush 4 X 6 beams @ 5 ft. O.C. with 2 x 6 joists hung from that flush beam. Not too complex and of course I can build it manually but was curious if Chief can do this automagically?

Detail something like this.

Robert, IMO there's no way your box is too slow for Chief. I think there's something else going on and if you're current on your SSA give the tech guys a call they are very very helpful. I've called more and more lately and they always answer my questions and have solve some issues that I've needed answers to quickly. Very well worth the time and effort IMO.

I would love a command to select a point and delete it instantly.

 +1000

Done this a thousand times by dragging a node over another with snaps turned on and the node is deleted - most of the time.

Other times I'll drag and drag and drag and snap and snap and the node gets really stubborn and won't delete itself - then it will.

I was wondering if anyone else had this experience and/or if there's a setting i might change to get this to behave more consistently?

Would LOVE to have more control over elevation line weights - however CA gets there is fine by me.