ACAaron

I've just hired a new designer in my office and am working on getting her trained in Chief. I've put together a syllabus of sorts of what videos she is to watch, in what order. I'd like to come up with something show that she can practice what she learned and show competency. Ex. I had an old CAD book that would walk through a few sections, then you would need to create what you read using files they supplied. Does anyone know of something like this or have suggestions? Thanks

Does anybody have a load bearing double brick wall detail based off the IRC they'd be willing to share, or could reference me somewhere? As well, I'm also looking for a detail for a load bearing brick 12" or 16" column. These are 2" h X 4"w X 8" long bricks. Thanks

Quite an annoying thing, you'd like would have been updated by now.

When I create Rich Text items on my computer at home, they will sometimes open up on my work computer "offset". As if the text was written in two lines; however, it's on only one line. I fix it, but simply opening the Rich Text box, then closing (see attached). I know this has been an issue for years and if I recall, has to do with the monitor resolution the file was saved in. Any fixes to this?

I'm working with an external company to help me create my as-built Perspectives, which they are creating custom textures for. When they send me the backup file and I open it, the custom textures are located in the folder they sent me, as opposed to the CA library. Due to, when I create the working .plan file (copy the the As-Built), I now have to associate everything to the texture file location, or manually copy items to the library. Is there a way to tell CA to copy all textures NOT in the library, to the library? Or any other suggestions for dealing with this?

I'm working with an outside drafter and every time I receive their files, the text boxes are "crunched", making a text box that is supposed to be one line, two kines. I have to open it, then close it and the text goes back to what it was originally supposed to be. This has been an issue for years and if I recall, it has to do with the monitor resolution that the text box was created in. Are there any solutions to this yet?

I did find a number of resources. The challenge is most of them are based on AutoCad and other software systems, so it's been taking some time converting colors, shading, line weights, etc. to CA. Send me an email to aaron@aaron-co.com and I'm happy to share. The big challenge I'm finding is a "look" that I like. My goal is to create an overall format that I consider a piece of art, rather than just a drawing set. I have found some samples that I like but once again, trying to duplicate shading, line weight, etc. from a pdf that someone else created...

Currently I use Google maps for my location map; however, looking for something with less "stuff" in the image similar to what I've attached. Does anybody now of a resource, or a method to create these? (Besides CAD lines)?

I just spent a few days revising my temple plan file and layout file, along with layers, annotations, etc. I'm having a difficult time getting my Plan View Settings tiled in to work correctly. Would somebody be able to offer some clarification. I attached a copy of my default sets and my template plan file. I'm hoping my Plan View settings will be in here. The issues I'm having: My primary frustration is in changing font sizes. I create my drawings on 24 x 36 and then many times create another copy on 11x17 or 8.5 x 11. Due to, I need to change the scale of iit to fit. I'm pretty sure there is a way that you can send a file to layout at a 1/4" scale, then adjust the Plan View setting to auto magically change everything to a 1/8" scale. As in all the fonts, dimensions, etc. automatically change and are reflected on the layout. I've been watching a ton of video's and they all use an old version of Chief, which the Layout Specifications Box had a drop down that you could change the Plan View. In X15, it appears that the only way to change the Plan View is to go back into the plan file and do it there. Why do we have Annotation sets for different scales and then also for different plan views? It seams that the Annotation Sets that are based on different scales, can also control the proper layers. Any help on this topic would be greatly appreciated. Ideally I'd appreciate it if someone was willing to share there files files to see how your Plan Views, Annotation Sets, etc. are all setup and work together. Or if you know of a sample on the CA website that works well.' Thanks Aaron Skoczen AC Plan Template_Active.plan AC Default Setsz-230817.cadefs AC Default Setsz-230817.cadefs

Thanks guys. This is great.

Hey guys, We do a lot of Casitas (Guest Houses) here in Tucson, so we're working on creating some pre-made plan sets that can be sold as is. Similar to what the production builders do. All of the drawings will be done in Chief; however, I'm looking to create some attractive floor plans and elevations to place on flyers similar to the few I have attached. Before I start digging into research, can Chief Architect create colored floor plans and elevations like attached? Thanks

@Renerabbitt Rene, I'm not sure what you're referring to in regards to the "note system" Could you elaborate?

Thank you all. I'll give those a try. @Renerabbittwe did work together once a while back. I'll rech out on the next one to see if you're available. @MarkMc Dropbox Paper sounds like it would work perfect. I'll give it a try. @Kbird1 The issue is more on the end of the drafter, which is part of the issue. Thanks for the thought.

I'm having some issues with my home laptop when I try to view anything in perspective Overviews. Even a bare .plan file with a couple of cabinets in it. Orthographics work fine though. I've gone through the Troubleshooting article KB-00106 and made all of the adjustmetns, as well as ran windows update to check for any driver updates.. I am using a hub; however, have tried with the hub and direct on the laptop monitor with no hub. I've attached the error as well as my video card status. My home laptop is: Windows 11 Intel i5-8250 @ 1.6 Ghz 8 GB RAM Intel UHD Graphics 620 w/ 2 GB Ram Any suggestions?

A few months ago, we started working with a remote drafting company for our permit drawings. I bring the client through the design process and send the drafting company the .plan files for the as-builts and finished design, along with photos and necessary notes. Then they create the actual permit drawings. We've completed two projects now and have run into some coordination issues. I was hoping somebody has found some solutions for these items they'd be willing to share "best practices". Sharing Files - when .plan and layout files are shared back and forth, we create full backups of the files and share the zip file via DropBox. The issue I'm running into is the zip file contains EVERYTHING in it. The most recent one they shared with me has 146 files (plan file, images, materails, etc.) that all unzip to one folder. So now I have a ton of files that are most likely already in my CA catalogs library folder and everything is a big mess in one folder. Any suggrestions for sharing an organized folder containing only new items that are needed (not including the CA catalog items) Notes and questions - we currently are sending questions, notes, pictures, etc. through email, which is becoming somewhat disorganized to look back at Any suggestions for a simple online platform that will allow for collaborqation like this? I realize there are a ton of them out there (ClickUp, Monday, Asana, etc.) I'm looking for something that is rather simple wihtout a huge learing curve so I'm not "teaching" how to use it Any other tips or suggestions that people have found that may be helpful are appreciated. Thanks

Odd. For some reason, I don't get the option for "User" in the Filter. I do see I can right click on my User Catalog and do a search; however, I'd prefer to create a filer. Any suggestions?

90% of my Library Symbols are either custom, or ones I found in Chief library that I moved to my user Catalog. I'd like to be able to search for something, but limit the search to just my User Catalog. I am not able to find a way to create a filter for this. Any suggestions on searching in my own User Library easier?

We have been doing a lot of Guest House projects lately at all very similar, except for floor plan, so I'd like to create a "template" .layout and .plan for it. So far, I've copy and pasted the last one to the new folder, then edited the floor plan and all other associated views. It is convenient that all the notes, fixtures, etc. are already in the drawing; however, there is still a lot of work moving around receps, switches, colors, flooring, etc. Does anybody have any thoughts on making this process easier for the next one?

Hi, I've been utilizing CA for about 10 years, so have a ton of default details, objects, line styles, etc. that I've customized. I currently have them in an organization structure that really only makes sense to me. I've recently hired an architect, so am looking for a structure to reorganize so that we can both find and utilize items. Specifically, would like to have a naming convention and organization for CAD Details, that can also be printed out to enable us to simply scan through a print out to determine what we need, then insert it (as opposed to looking through the CA library). Does anybody have a system they like or be able to point me to some reference items? We strictly do residential remodeling, so utilize something like Uniformat II would be too much. Thanks

We our changing our design process to try and qualify the clients in or out sooner. Part of that is to create our own in house renderings for kitchens so that we can meet with the client in our office and change colors, styles etc. on the fly. When completed, just send it to our cabinet vendor. I'm having troubles with change cabinets on the fly. What is the best way to change the cabinets color and style quickly? I've tried Style palettes - I've tried taking some sample files from Chief, copying the room as a style palette and then applying that palette to my kitchen design. Many times it doesn't copy over a material from the original There are times when one of the cabinets (wall, base, etc.) takes on the properties of the defaults in the .plan file, while the rest of them take on the properties from the original plan I created the palette from Changing the default material colors - I tried just changing the default cabinet properties in the .plan file - this is cumbersome and not quick What I've come up with so far, which I don't love is: Create a base cabinet, wall cabinet, and full height cabinet exactly as wanted with color, door frame, hardware, tops, etc. then copy these to my library. Then to change out a kitchen, place one of the new cabinets from the library and set is as the default Issue is first, this will take quite some time to create all of these. I imagine I'll have 20 - 30 to represent all the options. This also seems like a work around What technique are others using for this? Any suggestions to what I'm doing? Are there any cabinet catalogs that contain the wood species and color on the actual cabinets? So I don't have to apply everything separately? Thanks

I'm looking for an easier method to label my electrical circuits. I currently, I insert all my receps, switches, lights, etc. run all my calcs that create my panel. To label the circuits, I then copy and paste the number to each recep, switch and fixtures. See the attached screen shot for what end goal is. The issues I'm having are: It's time consuming to copy/paste each label, then go back and change an entire room to the same number, etc. etc. etc. If have to change a circuit later, changing all the labels is cumbersome And most importantly, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and getting all the labels to set in the exact same place in relation to the fixture is an issue (The screen shot attached drives me nuts due lack of symmetry) Does anybody have a better solution that they wouldn't mind sharing?

I'm starting to track the time that I and my employees are spending on our drafting. For a given projects, we'll typically have a working.plan file, an as-built.plan file, an 8.5x11.layout and a 24x36.layout. As I've come to realize, the time tracker tracks the time in each of them separately. So if I spend 2 hours on the as-built.plan; 4 hours on the working.plan and they are both sent to at 24x36.layout file which I spend 1 hour adjusting, I now have 7 hours of work, but it's split up amongst all the files. Is there a way to link all of the time together so I can see the total time spent?

When working with a client, I may go through 4 - 6 different floor plans to find a final. In all of them, I need to do a takeoff to put together a budget and I'm trying to find an easy way to get the interior and exterior wall LF. Ideal world, I could easily determine the LF of New Interior Walls, Existing Interior Walls, New Exterior Walls, and Existing Exterior Walls. I've tried auto framing the walls and using the materials list, however, I only have the treated fir plate to use to count my LF and it does not distinguish between interior and exterior or new and existing. I've thought about changing the name of base moulding on the four different options, but the base appears to be controlled by the room, so all four walls have to be the same. Any suggestions in attaining this? A macros of some sorts? Aaron