DBCooper

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Posts posted by DBCooper

  1. Call tech support when you can.

     

    Assuming it is all plans, this sounds like a problem with your machine or installation because I have not heard of anyone else having problems like this.  If it is just a particular plan, then it sounds like it could be a bug.  In either case, it seems like the kind of thing you will need tech support to help with.

     

     

  2. I don't think you actually want to see the rim joist because the siding should be dropping down to cover it. 

     

    So things I would look at would be to see if your walls are set the default heights (you should not need to manually change wall heights except for special situations) or if you have done anything goofy in your floor structure.  An easy way to reset your wall heights is to use the "reset to defaults" tool.  If this doesn't help, then you should probably post your plan.

     

  3. Did it say "optimize" or did it say "vacuum"?

     

    I have never seen optimize but according to the manual this is what the vacuum does:

     

    When content is deleted from the Library Browser, data associated with that content may remain in the library database. If you delete library content for the purpose of increasing available disk space, you can right-click on the User Catalog as well as the Trash and select Vacuum from the contextual menu. See The Library Browser.

     

     

  4. If the layer for the molding is on for that view, then maybe your molding is too high or low to see.  Could also be an invisible material?  Could also be a bad molding profile?  Probably other things as well so if you want better than guesses, you will need to post the plan.

     

  5. Your material needs to have a pattern for the pattern to show up.  You can actually generate one from the texture using the "define material" dialog but these might take some tweaking to make look ok.  You can also assign one of the pre-made ones.  Personally, I find wood grain patterns way too busy for elevation views.  

     

    Here is a training video that might help, but there are lots of other videos and articles about this stuff:

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/259/creating-and-editing-custom-patterns.html

     

  6. If you use the "make terrain hole" feature, it is then manual and you will have to update it anytime you move walls.  Do whatever you think is easier.  There are times though, like when you have a stepped foundation/floor plan, that moving the terrain down or even up a floor still won't give you what you need.  In these cases, you have to make your own terrain hole.

  7. You can't change the template for plans or layouts once they have been started.

     

    You can start a new layout using the right template and then copy everything over. 

     

    You can also just resize the drawing sheet and then just remove the borders and title block and copy them over from the right template.

     

    Either way is a bit of work but not too much.

     

  8. I get the arch block button as soon as I select two or more material regions or custom backsplashes.  If you want to make the block out of just one, you need to hold down the shift when you select it.  This puts you into group select mode which makes the block tool show up.

     

    If it's not that, then you probably need to post the plan.

     

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  9. Have you ever been able to run any version of Chief on this computer?  Or is this a first time installation for you?  Do you know that your system is compatible?  

     

    I recommend tech support as well but you are going to have to wait until they are open on Monday though.

     

    Until then, you can see if these tech articles have anything that might help:

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01191/troubleshooting-activation-issues.html

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00214/troubleshooting-installation-problems.html

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-03049/troubleshooting-chief-architect-software-closing-unexpectedly-on-windows.html

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-03125/troubleshooting-error-messages-associated-with-the-program-s-data-folder.html

     

  10. Regarding the toolbar problem, have you tried "reset side windows" in the preferences?  I think the edit toolbar is controlled by the side windows setting but you might need to use the "reset toolbars" button too.

     

  11. I didn't look at your plan but you might try using the wall material region instead of a different wall type.  I don't think it will cut the room molding automatically but since you won't see it, you might not care.

     

    Whenever I have problems with auto room moldings I just use the "make room molding poly" tool to convert it to a manual one and then fix it.  Just need to remember to fix it again if you move any walls or doors.

     

  12. 0 - it's better to post pictures directly on the forum so people don't have to download a pdf to see them.  it's always good to make it easier for people to help you if you can.

     

    1 - it looks like somehow you made the wall into a room divider (invisible wall).  maybe you accidently drew over it with an invisible wall which replaced it?  not really sure but you can "fix" it by turning off the invisible option or redrawing it with the right wall type.  your doorways are gone though so you may want to copy the ones from your older plan or just rebuild them.

     

    2 - you can't use match roof if you want to make a doghouse shaped window.  This tech article will explain how to do it manually:

    https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00036/creating-shaped-windows.html

     

  13. You can't change the core libraries (and I doubt Chief will ever let you) but you should still be able to do what you want with only a little bit of work.

     

    You can make your own GFI outlets with the text exactly how you want and save them to your user library as an outlet (not as a block).  Once they are in your user library you can assign them to your electrical defaults.  If you do this correctly, they should work exactly the same as the OOB ones. If you do this for your template plan, you won't have to do it again.  If you can't get this to work right, then you are probably doing something wrong.