HartDeNoble

I do have Steve Nestors screen porch tools, I have had them for a number of years, they are a big help. You definitely have a much better understanding of how the development process goes.I lacked understanding of how it all is intertwined together, so i shouldn't be so quick to reply to things I do not fully understand. My point was there is a lot of users including myself that want the focus to be on tools and drafting features that have been neglected for a number of years, and are needing to be revamped for more user control (I know I am generalizing but you get the idea).

That is also fair. I think the frustration is mainly from stairs, front porches/screen porch control, and some other key areas that have been neglected. But you do make a good point that the last update did have a better focus on other areas besides rendering/3d. I should be more careful with my wording because the programmers who work on chief do an excellent job and they are put in a tough spot on deciding what features/tools to update or add.

I am in the high end design here in Wisconsin. I do not do interior design, but we are still in the high end market regardless (and some of the interior design teams we work with use Chief). The problem for many users, including myself is that it feels like way too many resources or people are being used to develop the rendering features/improvements. I get that there is a seperate division for rendering/3d but I think there is a decent amount of frustration from many users that want the main focus for at least a couple of versions to be on drafting tools (stairs, porches, etc). Chief is so far behind in those areas, that in my opinion, the resources and all departments should focus on those things and cool off on the rendering features for a while, especially with so many other options for rendering now. Just my two cents. Chief is so user friendly and is such a great program, there is just a need for more user control with a lot of their tools/features.

Couldn't agree more. We need focus on drafting tools. Stairs, front porches, so many more. The rendering capabilities with Chief are good enough and ai is going to continue improving, so its such a waste of development time. I no longer even try to get a photo real rendering in chief, to time consuming when ai can get really close (occasionally have to do photo real when ai can't stop changing things, but I am sure that will improve).

Thank you for the info, that will speed it up. This was what I was really looking forward to, super bummed to hear this isn't possible yet. I sort of figured this was going to be one of the capabilities of fill based layers...

I know we got new fill based layers in x18 but is this possible without having to draw a bunch of cad boxes with fill? Not the end of the world, but the poche fill just doesn't have enough control or customization. Like some others, I want my sections to be clean and to have the whole attic space/roof space as a solid fill. Is this now possible with fill based layers or is it still more cad boxes/work- arounds?

This is one of my main suggestions but it hasn't come to come to fruition thus far. I know Rene has also requested it also. I am guessing the main reason it hasn't been implemented is Chief doesn't have the staff/resources to get these big changes for us. I also think Chief, at times, has an identity crisis, I would love for them to pivot more towards being a full BIM like archicad/vectorworks, and not lean into the rendering side as much. One example I have been wanting since Day 1 (and many other users) is being able to change individual wall heights and not use rooms to control walls. I know this works but it just seems backwards to me.

I would agree, and having talked with other users, many feel the same. I want it to be known that I am thankful for everyone who works on the software and their hard work but it is super frustrating getting this type of release year after year. The rendering is a pretty picture that helps sell jobs, yes, but can we get a release with just improvements to tools like the stair tool, front porch beams, wall intersections, layer based fills, roof eave fix/improvement. I just simply feel some of the features being added do not help at all.

Really like the project management tool, great addition. We really need to improve the construction tools like so many have requested. Layer based fills (this will fix the poche from X16 that is basically an incomplete tool in my opinion), improvements to wall intersections (especially short walls), fix boxed and flush eave settings (super quirky), stair tool improvements such as being able to edit each tread individually like we can with landings (grab handles on all sides), porch/railing improvements (see steve nyhof post on this), curtain wall tool (railing tool is a start), and personally i think we need to have wall heights expressed individually and not be room, but I was told this was not possible (which is disappointing). I hope we can get more construction tools/ improvements in X18. I know I made a list which is frowned upon but I know these are all very popular requests.

I would just use polylines and then distribute them along the curve/arc you desire (I use the transform/replicate tool) and then convert polylines into 3D solids, change the color to match brick.

I think it kind of is. I found a way to manipulate it so I can get it similar to the picture I show. Essentially I add a attic wall along the whole cross section line. I delete all of the rooms ceiling joists (since I will be using trusses anyways) and then I delete the structure depth on the roof planes that was 3 1/2''. Then I can get it to look similar. I think the feature is nice for some very limited applications but we need more customization (I think at times this is the crux of chief architect not enough customization within tools or settings).

I kind of assumed that's what they made the poche fill for... but it seems kind of pointless when we have zero customization for it. Back to polylines I guess. Wish when we would get new tools/settings there would be more customization with them.

Something more like this

I really like the poche fill update for X16, but I was wondering if there is a way to edit it or settings for the fill itself. For example I want the whole attic space to be shaded/solid fill (what would be trusses). Right now it only shades the bottom cord. Any thoughts?

I am really hoping x16 has some great construction drawing tools/improvements. The rendering and cabinets needs to take a back seat in my opinion. x15 was a great update but we need more control with decks, porches, stairs, curtain wall tool, dimension leader lines, etc.