Kbird1

Yep , you as the Architect had to deal with it , cos the City demanded it, the Builder couldn't have cared less , and would of spent WAY less time trying to establish heights if it related to his local site rather than the beach in LA of course that level changes every 6 hours with the tide too . so whatca gonna do , no sure why they use SL since it's never constant , and give it a yr or 3 and Global Warming will change it all anyway..... maybe I just don't think BIG picture enough ? its getting to the point where my 4ft level is gonna need a military grade GPS unit embedded in it just so I can figure out where the top of my slab should be...... But I realise it is cos the Surveyor's equipment is now calibrated this way . so is easy (for them) , and I get it on large civil engineering jobs etc ,but not for Residental , we still have to deal with decimal feet onsite too, who ever measure anything in DF except a surveyor? might as well still be using chains..... someone could easily hit a button and provide it in fractional feet (too) so the guy with the ( fractional) tape measure can get on with it and not have to figure out what 123.389 ft is 1st....

no attached plan I can see.....?

The EASY solution of course , if X6 is out of the question now, is just to have two computers under your desk like me and use a KVM switch to go back and forward as needed with a tap of the scroll-lock key..... leave Chief where it is on the old machine and use your new computer for the "Everyday" stuff ,like coming here to the Forums.... M.

Another option is to Dual boot XP with Win 8 and use it just for CA10. you already have a licence for XP so why not use it.... you may even Want to have Win7 instead of 8 ? new computers can still be ordered with Win7 too.

He is using the USB Key Hasp or Sentinel Hardware lock seen here about 4th item down , perhaps you'll need to swap out for one of those? http://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/addon/ your other questions might be better asked at Customer Service ...at least to start. M.

Was the symbol dimensioned in Feet not inches ? Had this issue with 3D Warehouse stuff before..( it looks big enough) .... resize in Sketchup? and re-import perhaps?

a suggestion...break it every 8' feet +/- , if you plan to use 8' fence panels as well....

Yep , not sure why the Fireplace Tool was never expanded so you could do the chimney too , or why it can't do "chases" M.

While on the Knowledge Base's today , I found two articles ,using slighty different methods ,both start of similar but finish differently. http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00744/262/Home-Designer/Custom-Objects/Creating-a-Custom-Fireplace-and-Chimney.html# http://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00058/

1st thought would be check...... Is you Minimum separation set to 4" on the Plan Defaults>Window>General tab ? Is "ignore Casing on resize" on ? Then I think they'll snap together at 4" apart might have to do up and down in elevation view....

I stand corrected by OB1 makes a mess of the walls on "build house" but it's either that and repair or you build it yourself anyway.... M.

Its actually a pretty quick way to throw together a basic design but no you can't set rooms on an angle initially but once you "build house" you can add the angled part yourself , as per the normal procedure , it seems to auto add Doors to Rooms but you need to place your Windows. Probably a good feature actually for doing quick and dirty plan views for Real Estate/Sales etc since you only need to input the basic room sizes and layout. M.

do a search on laptops , it was discussed a few times recently but I think a few liked the Sager and Asus brands too for $3200 you should have LOTS of Choices... http://www.sagernotebook.com/

Good tip Gerry ...... thanks M.

Scott did some Video's ( see link ) but if the Firebox is on the interior you need the 3rd (Blank) floor , if it is exterior chimney ( think so in your case) you don't , but need to cut back the roofline and add the inner "no locate wall ". https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/1319-chimney-framing-videos-by-dsh/

sounds like a display options/layers issue to me but best to post the plan so others with X6 can have a look for you... M.

Because of the double wall in My Method you may need to increase the depth of the firebox to get it to show properly or it may show one of the wall layers in the opening instead. The fireplace will cut its own hole in the wall , just use the Ctrl Key to position in the wall. M.

The Break line Tool has TWO applications depending on your needs..... single click the icon to break (bend/move) a line but both are still attached to each other double click the icon to completely break the line ,ie so you can move a piece away or delete it. and don't click on anything in between or you will "lose" the break you made and have to redo it... And yes it can be frustrating to use at times ( zoom right in) , be nice if it had a sticky button like the copy paste Tool M.

Yep can do that , thought you could post the missing textures possibly , so I can keep your Library "Original". I don't think there will be a replacement for the Missing Deloren Control Panel though in the microwaves. M.

.Calibz goes back to X2-X3 maybe earlier X1? , but if you extract the calib you lose the included textures (if any)..... and it does not help with the "version" problem , perhaps if you are a master with a hex editor , but not us mere mortals...

Yep , it's how the guy onsite works and he don't give a fat rat's a$$ about Sea Level (or decimal Feet) ... especially if he's 3000 miles from the Ocean

The technique I used above works for Framed Chimney Chases as well , just tried it to make sure on the plan I posted above , and it does work for adding a chimney after the fact too if needed, which I hadn't tried before. I'll attach the new plan too. Only downside is in section view you'll see the interior wall of the chase against the house , so you'd need to remove those lines in your section detail. I used a text box on my .plan to make notes originally so the "How To" is On the plan. Updated on One level if adding afterwards. Your trick of the extra floor isn't needed but , maybe it could help ? have a look on the new .plan , You or Glenn can no doubt modify my technique and make it better, being you ( and others) here really know the inner workings of CA. Mick. New plan: Brick Chimney Example cw Framed Chimney_X5.plan

check your Preferences>General>New Plans >Open and Save As setting if it is set to Use Last Folder , and you tried to save to a network or ext. HD that isn't there anymore maybe it wont? gets confused?, it may not be actually trying to save in My documents .....you can reset that in the same window with the "use this folder checkbox" too worth a look anyway. M.

True Brick Chimneys don't have framing but not sure what the OP really wanted ?......However it might be done this was for "the look" , a framed chase is usually only done for B-Vent type chimneys , otherwise it would be double (masonry) layer brick. Might use "Cultured Stone" on a framed wall these days I guess too.... Scott's idea of the extra floor should work too , it is the same method used to do Custom Cupolas , you just have to make sure to derive the extra floor from a BLANK plan or it doesn't work. Not sure if it works if the Chimney is "outside" the building though, haven't tried that part. http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00869/52/Home-Designer/Roofs/Creating-a-Cupola.html If you build the Chimney as you Build the House it is pretty painless though whether brick or ??? , didn't try too hard with this example when I tried it out a while back but you should be able to add slopes etc with "Shapes" too . No doubt someone has a better method too ?, but I could see how a "tool" would b quicker though and there'd be no need to build it as you build the house..... you could however "pull" the walls up in elevation if you forgot, using this method from the basement too I think. here is the X5 plan which includes my "how to" to myself. Brick Chimney Example_X5.plan

It would be nice to have a toggle to "Turn Sea Level Off" , so you can work with "Local Datum Heights" (except when you need S.L.) I have NEVER seen S.L. referenced on a set of Plans , it is always off the nearest City Datum point such as the top of the Curb or a Manhole Cover etc , the old standard set point used to be 100.000ft (decimal) and everything + or - from that, far easier to work with , though why they can't convert it to fractional feet ( at the touch of a button) for the Builder onsite doing layout etc ,I have no clue either .... the Construction Master Pro gets a hell of a workout on those days.... maybe different in the metric world of course M.