DeLayDesign

Like @robdyckmentioned; Chief is fairly accurate with modeling and ultimately the quantities you may need of something. If you set up a template a head of time with accurate pricing you could ultimately create a unique experience for clients where you could give them a general idea of cost and quantities. My concern comes with additions as Chief's poly-box material calculator makes me anxious as to what I'm actually including in the material list. I've done it a few times, just for general information but most contractors will/ should rely on their own take-offs for accurate buildability. At least that's my opinion. As a designer I will never take liability for a contractor's work.

--------------- Both are essentially 'subscriptions', however. The biggest takeaway from this would be that under the first scenario your license is yours to keep and continue to use even after your stop resubscribing to the SSA. The second scenario is more expensive and also does not allow you to use the software if the subscription isn't paid. Consider your choice wisely. Keep in mind if you don't have a current SSA plan they are giving you the opportunity to reinstate (purchase) your SSA - this may require additional funds if you're out a few years.

-------------- Hi @KristjanM what you've posted isn't quite right. I click on the FAQ link at the top and this is what I discovered: 'Yes free upgrades you receive as part of your legacy license SSA will continue as a perpetual (permanent) license.' - So with this I would assume in 4 years having paid my SSA continuously for that time my new perpetual license (theoretically) would be version X18. Meaning if I decided to no longer continue my SSA I'm stuck in X18.

------ Actually; Chief has a few tutorials you can reference about their raytracer. @SusanC has as screen grab of the vidoes I think we all recommend; but here's the link if you have trouble finding them: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/playlists/103/ray-trace.html This one in particular may help you sort out the lighting: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1972/ray-tracing-gpu-lighting.html?playlist=103 Keep in mind; if your graphics card doesn't have a 'raytracer' you'll be limited on how your images turn out. If this it he case your better option for renders is Chief's CPU renderer which takes a bit longer to complete but should give you a decent quality.

--------------- Hey @para-CAD; when I first heard of the move I was thinking the same thing you are, but Chief seems to have explained that as long as we keep our SSA active things will continue to operate as they always have. We'll still be entitled to upgrades and support and receive perpetual license (permanently yours). It only changes if you don't continue your SSA. If your SSA goes delinquent/ you stop paying it, you'll have to sign up for Chief's new payment system which would be a yearly subscription. That license would NOT be yours permanently. The only other question is - will SSA stay the same as it has been or will there also be an increase to that cost. So - basically we'll need to keep our SSAs current which ultimately make its a 'subscription', just one with less consequences. I for one don't mind 'having to pay' the SSA as long as I get a permanent license out of it. Subscription software's seem unethical to me. @DavidJames - These subscriptions have been around for a while, and I can't say I've seen the 'discounts' ever really expire; but yes it could get tricky if they do.

----- That's great news - Thank you.

-------------------- Hey there! This is a layers issue. Something I wish @ChiefArchitect would address in future released. It would be awesome, to have the ability to offset walls in specific applications. One wall type I often run into is the split wall for a walk-out for example. Concrete at the base and framed siding but the way I have my typical framed siding wall set up the 'align main layers' will put the exterior face of my framing in line with the concrete; which isn't how we build it here in Illinois (we typically build with the exterior face of the plywood aligned with the exterior face of the concrete wall.) Because of this, I have to create a copy of my 2x framing siding wall and move the plywood down, into the 'main layer' category'. Creating a copy makes sure my other walls build the way I want them to and don't get adjusted per the new walls perimeters. The align main layer function will then work properly. Although your situation is a little different, I wonder if it's a similar situation with your wall layers.

-------------- My Solution is to use two cabinets, but requires you turn off the 'Create Automatic Blind Corner Cabinets' option. I am unaware of another way to keep Chief from wanting to fill in the interacting surfaces. Check out the video below. Open Corner Cabinet.mp4

------------- Short answer - Yes. Long answer it's annoying. @ChiefArchitect should start giving us more freedom when it comes to construction elements. Obviously limitations are important to keep building 'accurate', but things like sill sizes shouldn't have limitations. My solution for this is to create a custom molding. You'll need to make sure your wall is built correctly first. I quickly created a 2x8 wood stud w/ stucco exterior (3" thick stucco) wall for this example. Adjust your layers and thicknesses if you need the window to be recessed deeper. Each molding you create to use as a sill will need to be adjusted to the correct height you need first. I am unaware of away to adjust the height of a sill while inside the window dialog box. For my example I created a angled molding that was 24" tall and 4" at the base. Although you can't adjust the height of the sill, you can adjust it's recess so If you make it deeper than your exterior finish you should be able to recess it as needed. Once you've created the shape you need, simply add it to your library and name it. From there you can open the window dialog box and select your new molding from the library under the sill option. The benefit to doing it this way is the molding is then in your library to be used on any windows you have in your plan. (Sorry for the poor quality, I had to save it in 480P) Custom Sill.mp4

From what I understand, and please correct me if I'm wrong. The Change in January will ultimately put us in the same payment system as other software like Adobe and AutoCAD, where one must continue to pay a subscription fee yearly in order to use the software. If the account goes unpaid/ delinquent - the software is locked and can't be accessed. ---- Question ---- With our current SSA subscription the terms stated we would have access to any upgrades while in our SSA for the year, i.e. when X15 is released I can upgrade 'for free' because my SSA is current. My SSA doesn't expire until September of 2023. If X15 comes out in that timeframe will this be a permanent upgrade for me (like it has been for pervious versions) or will I be forced into the new yearly payment system?

Hey @stevenyhof I apologize if you've already received your answer. If I'm understanding correctly; you're trying to create a custom object that you can then use as a shutter on your windows using the shutter feature in the window itself. If so, simply building the object and adding it to your library may not be enough. You'll need to create it as a 'symbol' first. Luckily the newer version of Chief have made this much easier. Once the object is made, Block it together, then simply right click the blocked object and in the dropdown select 'convert selected to symbol'. It doesn't matter what you import it as (there use to be a specific shutter option), but once it's imported as a symbol you can access it in the window dialog box as a shutter.

Hey Experts. I'm trying to rearrange a cabinet schedule so all base cabinets are together, all wall cabinets are together and all tall cabinets are together. I can't seem to find a way to tell the schedule to do this - is it possible? I know you can move items individually in the schedule.

If you've used every avenue of the software for at least a few years, You probably don't need to do much studying. They did throw something at me that I don't often use which is plat line specifications. Normally I import a PDF of the Plat, scale it, then trace the perimeter... so I had to teach my self pretty quickly how it's done while nearing the end of my 4 hours they give you for the exam. Overall. It wasn't too difficult, but be sure to read and reread what they are asking you for. Some of it wasn't written very clearly.

Hi @stager386 You and I are living similar lives. I had the same though and recently took the CA certification. If you have your SSA it's really not that expensive, and you get a retake if you 'fail'. The 'exam' was relatively straight forward too, but they need an update in my opinion. I took my exam a few months ago with X13, but I'm fairly certain the plan I needed to duplicate were from X5 or older. Either way - it can't hurt.

Gotcha! Yeah I run into that issue with layers when I try to delete a layer I no longer want to use. It would be great to know where it's tied to.

I also use Google Drive. I have a suite account which gives me 2TB of storage with my monthly plan. I will warn you. Google Drive won't work with the safety options available with Chief Architect stopping you from opening a plan while someone else is in it. So you'll want to communicate thoroughly with your new employee on who's in what plan and when.

@TopagnaOverlookI'm not sure I understand your question. You should be able to just open up the wall you want to change by double clicking on the wall then going to wall type and then define. Or if you have a wall schedule set up, you could access the wall by right clicking the wall schedule and opening the object in schedule.

Try copying the attic walls that are cut by roof into a duplicate of the wall, but mark it Partition.

I've also come from a background using Softplan. I was in that world for three years. It runs very similar to ChiefArchitect. Neither are without issues. Recently we hired someone who comes from a REVIT background. As I have been teaching him Chief nearly every other sentence from his mouth is; 'wow, Revit make doing that a bit more complicated'

We build all of our second story addition over existing ceilings this way. We've always just thickened up the floor structure in Chief, but I would love a way to change the direction of floor and ceiling joists so they aren't stacked running the same direction. We don't always run then perpendicular to the ceiling, but sometimes we do. The reason we don't sister is the added floor structure allows for HVAC and plumbing with ease. I know this thread is old, but has anyone found a solution?

Hi @ChristinaW In order for the attic to be usable space, it needs to be built like a floor. So your plan will tech have '3 floors' Once you've accomplished that it's a matter of forcing your roof to sit at the correct plate height (AKA - the second floor wall height) Once you've done that Chief should understand what you're trying to do. I'm not entirely sure why it's not building the attic wall for you now, it should be; but it's hard to know without seeing the plan file.

This has been an issues for as long as I've used Chief. It's unfortunate an frustrating. It seems to happen for my team more when they have 'custom' buttons or toolbars active. I've been able to restore them by importing the tool bar again, although it doesn't always work. Back with version 10.08 we use to have to make a copy of the toolbars folder, rename the old toolbars folder as something else, then paste the copies version back into the main folder in order to get them to re-establish. (C:\Program Files\Chief Architect\Chief Architect Premier X13) or in your case X12. Good luck!

Without access to the file it might difficult to know exactly what you happened. My first stop would be to check your materials under the 'materials' area of the wall dialog box. Perhaps you accidentally painted the exterior material with a transparent finish - like Glass?

Hey Experts. I need to create a framing plan, but when I 'build framing' it's showing everything including the existing structure. What is your tip on only showing what's new? Thanks so much!

Google actually has an add on, but I use Screen-o-matic. The free version allows up to 30 mins of recording time.