madcowscarnival

Hey all. Last year I contributed to this thread (33086) in my support of PDF Architect. If I could keep Version 8 it would still be great. They forced an upgrade to version 9 (had no ability to stop the upgrade) and quite unfortunately it is now awful for my uses (basic line drawing, occasional dimensioning, adding and editing text (at different size and fonts). I've been in contact with their support, did their suggestions (fully remove, reinstall, etc.) but it is not resolving my issues. I think it's something as simple as what I used it for is not their main customer base. So, I revisited the old thread, a number of folks suggested TurboPDF v4. I'm trying to get a trial version, but in the meantime wanted to ask specifically here: The folks that use it and like it, do you make basic shape markups (think if someone brought in a hand drawn scan, could you markup to show potential beam locations, dimensions, leader arrows etc.)? On a created PDF (as opposed to scanned in or "print to") can it edit text in the document? I know Bluebeam is a comprehensive program, but its OTT for my needs. A couple others sound good, but TurboPDF seemed to be the most frequently mentioned. Thanks all.

This is my concern as well. I do not use Chief regularly, nor do I even regularly design houses, it is essentially a hobby software. It is very useful when I do need it though (perhaps not enough to justify costs over the years, but worth it from an investment buy). If I buy outright the last version available, X14, how long will I be able to use it. How long will I be able to do license management to switch between computers (office and house). Will my other perpetual licenses work (not really an issue, but I did pay in full for them)? My biggest concern is Chief will run at this with a full head of steam and fairly soon, try to force everyone on to a rental agreement be simply no longer allowing users to access perpetual licenses. Can anyone from Chief chime in, or anyone point to something other than what Chrisb222 copied from FAQ above?

SNestor, yes. Now I have to get the builder in here to sit down and look through it. Thank you.

I had not tried that, but will try and see what happens. I did just find out that those tools work in "ortho" independently of what "plan" floor they are on. Very nice. It seems like it solves the problem pretty well, but maybe not with the correct method.

Hey all. I'm trying to figure out a roof layout for a builder's hand drawn plan. There is a 2nd floor at the front of the house, the rear pitch extends from that 2nd floor ridge to the first floor wall at the top plate. The rear plane (a 10:12) is "located" on the second floor. There is a breakfast nook extending from the rear wall of the house. I want to try and make the valley from the 2nd floor plane "attach" to the valley on the 1st floor rear gable using the join planes tool. I've attached. That's not a particularly critical area, but demonstrates the issue I'm having. The entire purpose of this is to figure out the rather messy area on the right side of the plan without him just going in and overlaying crickets as needed. Thank you all. Untitled 1.plan

I'm looking for a source for a basic, generic office desk (file cabinets a bonus too). Internet search showed there is a 2020 catalog for commercial furniture (X12 and above), but I'm in X11 for the foreseeable future. Is my best bet 3D Warehouse? My only concern there, is every time I've used one of those blocks they are pretty large files. Are there any older, obscure mfg or Chief catalogs that would have a simple "office" desk? Thank you all.

Something else I've heard of is "theft of professional services". You don't have the same burden of restricted lein filing time, and may be able to file a lein after successful judgement. Less burdensome than small claims, but more bite. However, I have not actually gone through with this process yet, its something my accountant's other clients have used successfully.

Excellent Glenn, the "place point" was my problem. Also, Chopsaw, thanks for the info on the transform/replicate box, that's something I don't know that I've used before.

Thanks chopsaw, that is the tool that appeared on my cursor, but no dice. I just manually moved my structure to 0,0 but it doesn't seem to work either. Selecting objects brings up a rotate handle based on that object or that group alone. I'll try to suss it out in the morning, I appreciate the quick response.

Is there an updated method to rotate selected objects or groups around a user defined center point? I tried the method in topic 12425 with no luck. Placed a point marker in the center of the structure, edit behavior to rotate about current point (cursor appearance changes), but objects till rotate around their "own" center point. The ability to rotate various objects around my center point would be immensely useful; I'm trying to set up a "grain bin" house with a single center point. Especially things like cabinets and door locations. That one post appears to be the only one referencing a user point, but its ~5 years old now. Thanks for any help all.

CAD was going to be the direction I went if there was no built-in ability. Thanks folks.

I realize I'm likely asking Chief to do something it's not really set up to do, but here it goes. I'm working on a basic layout of a "grain bin house". I have the exterior wall set, I believe I got the stairs to snap to that exterior wall, and windows are initially located. However, I'd like to place things a little more accurately, is there such a thing as dimensions along a curve? None of the automatic tools seem to want to initiate anything. I can place manual dims, but only on a straight line. Are there any other options out there?

For years I've always just worked through the "reflect about" method above. This is the first time I've seen that "Reverse Plan" tool. Wow, that's easy.

Thank you SNestor. I like the architectural 'X' mark. That really solves the issue with how I'd been doing it (manually intersect roof planes, then drag main back out to wall.

Ahh, thanks for the catch Chris. The main roof of the house will be trusses bearing on the exterior wall. The pitch break change will occur somewhere to the inside of the exterior house wall depending on the slope of the porch. Porch rafters will overframe on the trusses above the exterior house wall.

Hey folks. I have no problem setting this situation up with manual roofs; its easy and quick. This morning I was experimenting in trying to create it with an autoroof and am not having success. I've tried the steps in KB-00045, but can't even duplicate that method (though I would prefer to not need to set height of pitch change or distance from baseline). Untitled 3 is what I'm trying to auto-create (9' house ceiling, 8' porch, 4:12 main roof, 2.5:12 porch roof). Thank you all, as always. Untitled 2.plan Untitled 2 - Copy.plan

That's how you know the forum has made the big time...

Is there a way to create a group out of the post and footing in a post-frame building without grouping as CAD block? The file I'm working with, when grouping the posts and footings, loses the post data in 3-D view and only shows the footing. It "might" have also not allowed the dimensions to identify the post as an object to locate (though I had some dim settings wrong). The post only shows back up after unblocking the CAD object. I'm just trying to make it a little easier to select and move around post&footing without tab-selecting the post, then ctrl+click the footing (or CAD block, select, unblock). Other than this rather minor "issue" Chief is letting me put together a post-frame layout nice and quick.

Thanks Gary, had not thought of extending the main body away from that gable. Solves several issues at once. Appreciate the note on moving forums Solver. Had forgotten about the chatroom. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like I can do that from the original post. Mods feel free to move.

Also, here's a PDF print to have an idea without needing to download the draw ing file. Untitled 2.pdf Untitled 2.pdf

Hey all, I'm trying to put together a very quick and dirty ortho for a builder I know. He has some owner's working towards additions on each end of their in-ground house and I'm trying to get them a little visualization while builder and own er are trying to get some professional designers involved. The main body of the house is existing, with gables sticking out of the front. Garage addition on the right is pretty straightforward. I have no idea on the left how to add a ~12'-15' extension then tie in the roof and have it "look" good. 2nd file is with a porch extension and a shed roof extending to the face of the gable, but the tie-in at the fascias is strange. If anyone has some thoughts or ideas to share, I certainly appreciate it. I haven't added in a saddle roof for the dead valley, just working on an idea at this point. Thank you all. Untitled 1.plan Untitled 2.plan

I'll put in a vote for PDF Architect also. It's pretty comprehensive for what I need, from basic line markups to object editing (lines, circles, text, etc) (bonus rudimentary dimensions). It is subscription now, but only $60ish per year (frequent rebates/discounts). I found BluBeam a little "too" comprehensive, as in a full drafting suite within a PDF editor. Still use Reader for opening, signing and printing.

I agree with the others just increasing sheet size to Arch E1. It's still manageable on a job site (especially with binder strips) and can hold some pretty large houses. The 36x48 sheets are clownishly large (though I have printed those off for clients before). If you print in-house, its well worth picking up a 30" roll, mine has lasted for years, but paper doesn't go bad.

Thanks chopsaw. I'll give that a shot. Yes, 90% of the time, I'm working with a generally flat area for the house. If they have changing grade, we call out a conc. stemwall instead (these are all patios rather than elevated decks which seem to have their own pier control)

I've unsuccessfully searched the forum and general web searches. Is there a way to add round pier footings (like 18"diax36" deep) to a porch railing columns. Something that would be automatically controlled with the post spacing set in the railing wall dialogue box. I really only "need" to to display and easily dimension to them on a foundation plan. The railing wall dialog gives an option in "Foundation" for "foundation wall" or "slab footing" but nothing for isolated pier footings (which are commonly used in my area though I prefer continuous footings). I don't necessarily need to even control the diameter or depth (though it would be nice), I can do that by notation and detail. Is this available in the program somewhere else? Currently I use CAD lines to draw in the correct locations, cut&paste in place on the foundation plan. It's not difficult at all, but it's cumbersome. Thank you all.