DBCooper

If you are trying to send a camera view to layout, then try switching to a vector view. "Plot lines" is greyed out when you are sending a plan view or when you are in a standard render/PBR camera view. Also, the reason that when you change the layers in your plans that it changes the layout is because they are using the same layer set. I recommend checking our the training videos related to layer sets and saved plan views.

Yes, it seems to depend on the object types. Just like using "open object" on objects selected in a plan. Some things can be opened together and some can't. They don't always need to be the exact same type though. For example, I can select a hinge, a chair, and a dishwasher and I can still use open object. If I include an electrical object with them, then I can't. But if they are all electrical objects, even if one is a switch and another is a light, I can open them. I can also select a "garage door" and a "doorway" as long as they are both door objects or both door panel symbols but not if you mix them together. Clear as mud?

#1. This might depend on which dimension you are trying to change for a given wall configuration and how you have selected the wall. Show us an example of a config and what you are trying to change and I might have some better advice. #2. The reference floor will be displayed using a layer set and you can use any layer set you want. Just make sure the objects you want to see are turned on in the layer set you are using for your reference display. So basically, you can control what shows up in your reference display just like you can control what shows up in your floor plan.

I think the "line separation" under the "general" page only affects the baseline dimensions. You have to change it in "setup automatic" if you want to change it for your automatic dimensions. I don't think these settings have any affect on manual dimensions though (so I have to agree with Kenoeightspot that you could use your grid spacing to help with this). At least, I have never figured out how to make them work for manual dimensions so maybe there is a good feature request here somewhere.

Have any of you guys tried it? Seems to work for me.

Are you sure you want to lock the "focal point" (or "target") because it sounds like you really just want to lock the "focal distance"? I don't think you can "lock" either per se, but if you use the right camera tools, it won't move (or it will move the way you want it to). For example, if you move the camera in or out using "i" and "o" hotkeys, you will move the camera closer to or farther from the focal point without moving its location. If you move the camera forward or backward using "f" and "b", you will move both the camera and target along a line and keep the focal distance the same. None of the camera orbit tools will move either the focal point or focal distance. They will just rotate the camera around the focal point. The pan camera tools will keep the same focal distance but they will move the focal point sideways (or up/down) the same amount as the camera. The tilt camera tools do basically the opposite of the orbit tools but they will also keep the same focal distance.

My "palette options" has a "fit palette" as well as the option to change the display from "grid view" to "list view". Maybe it looks different depending on how you have the palette setup? The "gear" button actually appears in several other places, like in the ALDO and the library browser. It usually has settings that are relevant to the window that is in. Hovering over it should also give you a better description of what it does. Once you get used to it being there, you might find it kind of handy to know where to go to change your settings.

I think Joe means you could use a "polyline distribution region" because I don't think you can use a "material region" on a roof.

Try making a copy of the plan and deleting everything that is not relevant to the walls (such as fixtures, furniture, cabinets, saved cameras, cad details, framing, etc.) You can use the "delete objects" tool to do this very quickly. You might not need to use "backup entire plan" unless you are using custom textures on your walls.

I am no macro expert... but have you tried just using the built in macro ".to_ft" and ".round"?

The ones in the Chief library all seem to stretch just fine without any stretch planes. They stretch uniformly though which may not give you a very accurate representation of the actual pullout you will use (or one you can actually buy). My guess is that you have done something wrong setting up the symbol you imported. I would compare the settings with one of Chief's to see what is different. Or, if you want someone to be able to help more, you will probably need to post a plan.

Maybe stair_section.width * stair_section.riser_height? Keep in mind that these calculations probably won't be very accurate for any stair with starter treads, flares, or curves. They also don't handle landings. Not sure if there are any better solutions though.

What logo? It could be a watermark or maybe it's on page 0 of the layout which makes it show up on other pages. Without a layout or even a picture, I can only guess. This tech article has some good info about how to setup a layout template (including how to add your own logo to your layout): https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00737/creating-and-using-layout-templates.html

Maybe, maybe not. I think the rule that chief uses is that if the stair is against a wall, it will build a handrail and if not against a wall, it will build a normal railing. In your picture, it looks like you have a single step between the landing and the next floor. I'm guessing that either there isn't a wall there or the program just doesn't see it for some reason. I *think* it only looks at the walls that are on the floor where the stair was drawn and not the walls on the floor above. In either case, the solution is to just manually turn off the railing for this top section. And the easiest way to do that is to select it using the shift key and turn it off in the stair dialog.

You should probably post a copy of your plan. Or at least tell us how you created that brick wainscot.

Did you check out this tech article: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01069/designing-a-traditional-pole-barn-structure.html

My math may be a little rusty, but isn't (1/24" : 2') the same as (1/48" : 1')? I think (1/21" : 2') would be the same as (1/42" : 1'). But I still think it would be easier (and more accurate) to use 1:500 if this is the actual scale you want.

Have you tried 1:500 (either both in "ft" or both in "in")?

I don't think X15 works any different than X14. The preference only controls what happens when older plans are opened up in the newer version. Once the plan is saved in the newer version, the preference won't change it.

Just to clarify, I wouldn't try to actually work from a file saved on a USB because I think that might cause different problems. But I think keeping regular backups of your plans on a different drive might be a really good idea. If you were to manually save a backup of your plan files at the end of every day, then in theory you would never lose more than a day's work. Of course to do this right you should also test your backups every now and then to make sure they are not getting corrupted either. I keep all my backups on an external hard drive but I don't always remember to do this on a regular basis.

I'm with Mick here in that I got lost in your description of what the problem is. As a general rule, stairs will look the same on the floor above as they do on the floor below as long as they are in an open below room (other than the up arrow will show as a down arrow). f this is not working for you, then post your plan and I bet someone can figure out why. If you actually want it to look different, I'm not sure why but you need to explain it a little bit different. You can change the settings for how they look on different floors when you are using stair breaklines but I don't think this is what you are trying to do.

Yeah, my guess is that this is one of those wall vs. room fights over materials. You probably changed the exterior room material and it is overriding whatever the wall thinks the material will be. Try selecting the "exterior room" by clicking just outside one of the exterior walls (you might need to use "next" to actually get it), and then setting the material back to "use default". Then you might need to select the wall and check to see what material is being used on the exterior surface and maybe set it back to "use default". I think the rule is that if the room has a material assigned, the program will show that. If the room material is set to "use default" then it shows the wall material if it has a material assigned. And if the wall is set to "use default", then it will use the wall type. Simple, right? If none of this helps you solve your problem, then you will probably need to post the plan.

You open the general plan defaults and turn it off. And if you somehow turned it on in your default template plan, you should turn it off there too.

Are you using 25.2? I thought that problem was fixed in the latest update.

I haven't noticed any slowdowns and I haven't heard much on the forums about them either. I also wouldn't put too much importance on what other people are saying or what you saw in beta video from months ago. Why don't you go ahead and try X15 for yourself and see how it performs with your plans on your machine. And if you do notice any performance problems, do everyone a favor by reporting them to Chief.