madcowscarnival

Joe, Thank you. Looks like I have some work cut out for me in setting it up, but an easy switch afterwards.

It's hard to frame this question, and why my searches haven't turned up much. To set CAD to draw on a specific layer, there is the nifty button "CAD" that does so. Is there such a thing for text? I have a specific layer "Text, Code", that I want to use on a specific set "Code Set". Is there a way to make all "text", "rich text" and "leaders" to draw on the "Text, Code" layer without going into the default settings and creating a new text set and assigning that new text set to that layer? I can do that, but I will often switch between layers as I complete different areas (or during revisions). Having a more speedy, streamlined process would be nice.

Have you tried a basic restart? (not intended as insult in any way). My computer is home built. When I start getting odd reactions in any of my graphics intensive programs, or absolutely loading up my RAM with 8-10 programs at once for several days, sometimes until a lock-up, I just have to do a basic restart. On the surface, there is no indication of memory malfunction, or even overloading, its just not doing what I want it to do. I've found my build less stable than a mfg. unit (but not enough to justify buying an equivalent build outright). I mess with various styles of garage doors and have yet to have a lockup in Chief.

@David, the top of the stairs are partially bumping out and showing spindles and different handrail location where the stairs start crossing the garage wall. I can't figure out how it does that particular action but it has to do with where the wall on the first floor stops. I extended the wall into the garage and it worked appropriately. If I made those walls invisible, it went right back to the spindles showing and the handrail bumped out. Maybe with that little additional information someone more knowledgeable than me could step in.

Chopsaw, that is indeed the dialog box I am attempting to modify. I change the values in that box, but after closing out of the edit box, nothing is reflected in the plan (needed) or in 3-D (checked just in case it was showing up there. I will research modifying symbols in that manner to find out if I'm doing something fundamentally wrong. Edited all three axis lengths individually, through a variety of lengths. None produced any actual change in the appearance. Though the changes "remained" when I went back in to edit mode.

Thank you for the replies folks. I attempted the creative stretching in the "edit object" -> "sizing" dialogue, but it doesn't appear to change the symbol in plan. Deleting the surface doesn't give me the option to move the mounts. The object stays combined, just with the surface gone. I would like to be able to explode the object, like the opposite of the architectural block command. Attached is what I'm trying to accomplish. I would like to make the symbols work so I don't have a bunch of individual rooms in a single restroom.

Is it possible to unblock the bathroom partition "sets"? Specifically "ADA right"? This would be a very handy fixture to use, but I need a wall stretched an additional 18 inches. If I simply drag to the needed location, it stretches along the block rather than just a wall. It would be very handy to manipulate individual objects rather than creating the restroom partitions by hand.

I use end to end and point to point dimensions quite frequently. Is there a setting that would permit me locating both the end points as well as the text placement all in one "move"? Currently, I click one end where to place, release left click on the other end, but it drops the dimension line right there. I then have to click again on that dimension (which can be hard to select depending on how much stuff is in the way) and drag it out from the wall. I would really like to know if there is a setting to set dimensions similar to roof planes. Click, drag, release, (locate) click. Also, is there a method to permanently relocate the "Living Area" calculation? It sits right on top of the outer auto dimension. Every time I move it out of my way, if I change anything involving the dimensioned object, it pops right back to where it was.

I posted something very similar on a previous older post, but: I would recommend using onedrive, which can be a mapped network drive without any virtual local folders or after-work-completed sync. As a mapped drive, the entire thing can also be backed-up with Windows built-in SyncToy (a good program despite the childish name). I suspect (though I don't personally use it in this method) that this could store all the various referenced library files as a central repository.

Apologies, resurrecting due to my former life as a necromancer... (and for future google searches) You don't say what the building is, but might could consider decorative concrete forms. Stained and sealed afterwards can make them attractive with variegated colors (acid stains). In my neck of the cemetery masonry work is very pricey (even on a buddy discount). I have no data on cost/availability forms but I certainly follow the keep it simple philosophy. It can not be mistaken for anything but a formed concrete wall but a way to dress up a plain one without the complication of veneer.

As an aside, AutoCad, even when a file is closed, retains some manner of access to the file causing a similar issue (such as trying to move file location or rename even though not currently "open"). One thing you might look into is mapping a network drive to a "cloud" account. The only way I was able to do this with is a Microsoft Live (OneDrive) account though it seems it can also be done with google's equivalent drive. It is pretty trick and simply functions as another file/drive on your computer (may be what TKA is referring to) without going through a VPN process on remote computers. However, we also have some fairly high-speed internet so I don't notice many delays (from autosave etc) during use. EDIT: You can also use Windows built-in SyncToy to backup the mapped OneDrive location for additional redundancy. (scheduled for after-hours) and you can never have enough redundant redundancy.

Sure enough. That PNG acts like its not even there. Thanks.

So, by some manner of foolishness, I lost my electronic copy of a foundation plan that a client needed to modify (had accidentally started drawing a new one over it before I saved as a different file). They marked up a mirrored copy of the print, and I imported into a fresh drawing. Man oh man is it slow to respond. I "feel" like I have a well built, fast-ish system. New 1080ti card, 32GB ram, but a standard spindle hard drive. With the PDF background (only a 350K file) that I'm tracing walls over, there is nothing even approaching smooth movement. The program is only using about 50% on 3/6 cores. Is this just something one generally has to deal with program-wise? Are there any changes on the program that can be made? Thank you for any input.

Photometric plan would be a more accurate description.

Taking a wild swing for the fences. Does Chief have the capacity to produce a lighting plan? Something like a grid layout on a parking lot, with lumens at each point on the grid based on a specific light source? I realize this is pretty esoteric, and I'm fairly surprised that this particular City still requires this, but maybe as Chief does so much high-level modeling with lighting sources, positions, etc. it can produce something similar. Thank you ahead of time.

I'm trying to figure out a way to increase the resolution of using the image clip function of your run-of-the-mill Acrobat Reader and pasting into Chief Architect. I use this frequently in two scenarios: copy-pasting something from my PDF of the 2015 IRC/IBC as well as copying images from previous drawings/details made in autocad. I'm aware I could import and create new details in Chief, but the dimensions/labels always come in strange requiring more time to correct them than I have right now. However, from the code book, I have nothing short of recreating a detail from scratch. I have previously image/PDF printed from a virtual printer at high resolution to a standalone file then imported into Chief, which looks good, but is time consuming.

Thanks. I too have to stay with Windows 7, not because I simply dislike the tablet-style interface, but a bunch of legacy programs that I can barely get to work on 7, let alone the change in architecture to 10.

JB, I've been holding back on this type of swap to avoid going through what you did. Given it was eventually successful, would you do it again? Was the performance increase worth it?

I have a library file that creates an error on opening CA on my home computer. It says something along the lines of 3DBonusPlants.calib is corrupted or not loaded. I go to try and find the file to remove it but can't find it in the library. How can I remove this particular file without being able to locate in within in the program. It is a repeating error, I'm just at the office right now and will try to post the exact messages later tonight. It doesn't cause any issues during program use, just the messages during the initial load.

Thank you.

What are you going to do with the graphics card you already have? Its no slouch and more than the minimum already. I just dropped a GTX1070Ti into my rig ($400 store sale and mail in rebate); for a few hundred more the 11GB models should future proof you for a good long time. If you do go with a 1070, take into account the available real estate in the case; its gigantic.

This will be another difficult issue to describe. This apparently only occurs on CAD details imported into my drawing. I initiate a text leader, choose the location where I want the arrow to be placed, whether a mid-point, end point or nearest snap somewhere on that line. I then drag the leader line back to where I want to place the text. However, almost as soon as I start dragging the leader away from the cad lines, the arrow origination placement starts jumping around to other snap points on the cad detail. It seems to vary where it jumps around to with where I'm dragging the line to place the text. This occurs whether I'm holding the CTRL button or not. Is there any way to disable this behavior?

Okay, so X10 basically rendered (<-not actually a pun) my home office computer obsolete. I don't want to go through the hassle of a new build yet, so I'm going to take my main comp GPU and toss it in there (AMD FireProW4100). Its only a 2GB card but runs X10 as far as I can tell. The office computer will get a new GPU. At what size of modern, fast GPU am I throwing money away? CA is the only graphics intensive program I have, and I don't play PC games. Should an 8GB future proof me for another 5 years? 11GB are fairly pricey and seem like it wouldn't do much more. I do use scans of client drawings as a background, and it slows the program down a bit when zooming. Will a good GPU make that process more smooth or is that a matter of CA management of a large background file (1-2MB or more)? This is also the case in AutoCad if I'm using a high-res file in the background. I'm semi-limited to a PCIe 2.0 x16, the mobo is fairly old at this point.

Joe, Thanks. Opening from the layout view allowed me to change to plot lines.

I'm sure this is a simple google search, but can't properly phrase the question. When I'm sending an auto-elevation to layout, it used to go into the layout as a line drawing. For some reason my current plan is sending them with full color and fill information. It seems this is due to the "Camera view options" but on the right elevation specifically, I cannot switch from "live view" to "plot lines". I don't have a large color printer and seldom use color/fill information on plan sheets. Thanks,.