JKEdmo

As a newish user with a newish perspective influenced by the software I used to use, I'm pretty happy with Chief. Very good customer support, tutorials, user forum, etc. I definitely appreciate that emphasis. And, the software is robust. I sometimes feel the software could use more spit and polish. Kind of hard to qualify. But maybe that's something we need to live with given that it's a smaller company... Lastly and with regards to priorities, I would always prefer improvements to basic architectural features and tools over any new 3D content (furniture, fixtures, etc.) and maybe even cabinetry tools. Not complaining, but to me that stuff should be secondary to the basic nuts and bolts. Hope Chief takes this as "constructive input!" Jim

Is it this one?

nothing like a little office drama, right?

Rob, can you clarify what you're looking for? Jim

touche'!

Conceptually, it seems like the option to exclude an individual object (window, door, etc.) from dimensioning would solve this, no? Similar to including / excluding an object from being scheduled.

I googled "PDF to PNG." There are a number of online tools you could try. Jim

thanks!

Super - worked like a charm! Chopsaw, just to confirm and that I'm not taking crazy pills -- Chief does not have basic perpendicular object snaps and that this is instead handled by the make parallel / perpendicular tool? Jim

Yes, good solution and probably cheapest for short parapets. I wonder if there is a point where the roof mfg. stops warranty on product where it stops being roofing and turns into siding? Another thought for general parapet detail - I'm inclined (pun intended) to slope cap flashing inwards to drain toward interior roof. This helps avoid dirt streaks down facade from grime build-up on top of parapet.

Good morning, Drawing up a house that has one wing that is off-angle / non-orthogonal. So, have to draw walls at right angles to "off-angle" walls. I discovered the "make parallel / perpendicular" tool, which seems to work great. But, why no perpendicular object snap? Does Chief not have this snap option? Maybe I'm blind and missing this? Jim

Had to do my first spiral stair today for an as-built and surprised that the stair tool could not handle it. I wound up using the library symbol. Just curious about X15's current ability to create spiral stairs? I read a number of old forum threads about the topic. If I understood correctly, spiral stairs still need fussy workarounds. Still true? Thanks, Jim

It could be that the upper layer is meant to be tapered to achieve drainage. If that's the case, I might call it out as such to distinguish from base layer. Jim

If surrounding terrain is to be kept flat, maybe you ramp up to the carport? - to clarify, build carport approach as a concrete ramp perhaps with site walls on sides? Jim

Scott, A couple of thoughts for your consideration... Many modern membrane roofs do not need a cant / coping wedge in my experience. Looks like you show a metal deck over a wood roof truss. Not familiar with this combo and not entirely sure if very common. I'd say either wood roof deck over wood truss or metal deck over open web steel joist. Parapet - I think bottom plate needs to go farther down to roof deck for secure attachment. Also, I'd be inclined to show a double top plate for parapet so that parapet can be "locked together" to adjacent parapet at corners. Lastly, no insulation needed in parapet stud bays. Jim

Yes - I bought Chief a year ago August (coming from Autocad) and I have been trying to learn the good habits with this new program. The forum helps a lot for me.

JT - I think it might be the "auto position tail" setting on the polyline leader. Try turning off. I got some good results. Jim

Thanks for the heads up. - Jim

Thanks to all! Found the 3D plants in bonus catalog and tried them. Pretty good look, but probably not worth it as it really increases the time to generate plot lines. I could thin out the 3D plants, but still.... I think Alan was suggesting just cut and paste 2D CAD block images into the 2D elevation view. Probably best compromise. Jim

Thanks. I did not know this. Jim

Well, I switched the layout box from plot lines to "live view" and the plants now show up... go figure!

Good afternoon, I have a raised planter with some flowers. The plants show up fine in the Cross Section / Elevation view (circled red below): However, when I send the view to layout, the plants are not displayed in the layout box: Any idea why? Thanks again, Jim

Thanks Doug. I need to learn how to make a custom material "decal" using Photoshop or Gimp. Jim

Thanks Mick. I'll take a look at this approach. Jim

Good morning, Adding a patterned window film on an interior window wall for visual privacy. Very similar to this: I have a couple of questions... does anyone know where I can get a "dots" or "squares" material graphic pattern for this? (It seems Chief has frosted and reeded glass, etc. but no graphic patterns). as for technique, I just created a very thin 3D solid overlay on the glass. Is there a better method? Thanks again, Jim