DefinedDesign

I'm traveling at the moment but when I get home I will test this and let you know.

Thanks Carrie, after reading the article it does appear my time tracker is not stopping when the "Stop timer if idle for 1 minutes" option is enabled in Preferences and the specified criteria is met (i.e. program is idle for 1 minutes). I will submit a ticket.

I checked the clock and when I get the time out notification it keeps recording the time. I let the notification stay and stepped away from my computer for an hour and came back closed the notification and checked the time log and it recorded time the entire time I was away, that is problematic.

I wonder if the new 3D Cladding in X18 would be helpful? Here is the link to the new features in X18 video start at the 17 minute mark. Please let me know if it works for you

Does Time Tracker count the idle time before it times out, or is that idle time automatically subtracted from the log?

In X17, I place both switches on the upper level at the top of the stairs, and then adjust the height of the switch that should appear at the bottom of the stairs. I add a comment to the switch and turn on the Comments column in the electrical schedule.

Just found out this feature will be in x18!

Wondering how NotebookLM would handle this. I've tried in ChatGPT and the results are miserable.

Thanks DB, question when it converts to an architectural block will it still populate in the materials lists for the cabinet schedule and countertop quantities?

Thanks Jim! This is problematic as I have cabinets in others rooms that need the automatic filler. Is there a way to turn it off on just the cabinet?

Have a custom vanity/base cabinet that is intentionally located 1” away from the wall on the right side. The cabinet box is positioned correctly, but Chief is automatically extending the right end of the cabinet/countertop assembly to close the gap and reach the wall (highlighted in yellow in the image below). Right End Extension is set to 0 The cabinet is intentionally offset from the wall I want the cabinet and countertop to stop at the cabinet end and maintain the 1” gap I do not want the cabinet or countertop to auto-fill the space to the wall

Renee, thank you for the video. After watching it I can appreciate each object in Chief much more than I have in the past. I had no idea the level of complexity it takes to generate a material. What do you charge to generate materials?

Thanks, I’ll do some homework in the Chief reference manual on what this is, appreciate the help for a starting point.

Thank you. I appreciate the file. I will most certainly use. It. I am very unfamiliar with the process you wrote about. I will search Chief’s video training to see if I can teach myself how to do this.

@GeneDavis Thank you for taking the time to share the video. I actually follow that YouTube channel and have tried many of the suggestions using ChatGPT, NanoBanana, and Gemini, but unfortunately my results have not been very successful. It may be that he is starting from SketchUp instead of Chief Architect, which could allow the AI tools to perform better in his workflow. For me, I have found that the amount of time spent trying to get AI to generate accurate visuals that truly help the client understand the final result has not been worthwhile. As a small builder, we also have to be careful financially and cannot justify adding multiple expensive software tools and subscriptions. I truly appreciate you taking the time to respond. I was hoping there might be a solution within Chief Architect itself that could produce the type of results we are looking for.

It does not print. Thank you.

Chief Architect X17 Project Management Question: When opening a new layout page, there is a small crosshair/reference marker appearing on every single layout page, including completely new blank layout files. It is: not selectable does not seem tied to Page 0 appears in the exact same location on every layout page survives reopening the file appears even in a brand new test layout I initially thought it was: a CAD point reference marker origin marker cursor/tool state layout object Nothing I have tried removes it. I have attempted: Select Objects tool deleting/selecting it turning all layers on checking Page 0 reopening Chief creating a new layout zooming in/out Escape/Spacebar changing pages What exactly is this thing, and how do I get rid of it permanently?

Thanks @GeneDavis I have experimented with AI image generation quite a bit, but I have not found it reliable enough yet for accurate architectural material rendering. I need the rendering to remain true to the actual architecture, geometry, and specified materials. For example, accurately applying soffit materials, brick, metal roofing, TimberTech decking, trim details, vent patterns, proportions, and lighting conditions without the AI “reinterpreting” the design. Why I pay for Chief. I have found most AI tools still hallucinate or redesign portions of the architecture rather than faithfully represent the actual modeled structure and material assemblies. Was hoping to improve the material workflow directly inside Chief so the renderings remain tied to the real construction model.

Attempting to create a more realistic wood grain vented soffit material while still preserving the existing Chief vent perforations and panel grooves. Currently using the stock: “Vinyl Soffit – Center Venting” with “Blend with Texture” enabled. However, the stock Chief texture does not contain much actual wood grain detail, so tinting it brown still reads more like colored vinyl than stained wood. I would like to keep the existing vent perforations and soffit geometry from the Chief texture while also achieving a realistic stained wood grain appearance similar to the attached product image. What is the best workflow for accomplishing this in Chief?

Mostly because I was trying to avoid reintroducing a wall issue I previously worked through with Chief Training. During that session, I was instructed to use a railing wall in that location as part of the workaround to eliminate a hole that was appearing where the deck and wall intersected. Since the workaround resolved the issue, I was hesitant to remove that wall entirely and risk recreating the problem. My thought process was that converting it to an invisible wall and unchecking “Railing” might preserve the corrected wall behavior while functioning similarly to a Straight Deck Edge. Clearly that assumption may have been incorrect. At this point I will probably submit the plan to Chief so I can determine whether this is expected behavior, user error, or a software limitation/workaround interaction.

I’m running into an issue with deck plank overhang in X17 and wanted to see if anyone has encountered this before. My deck plank overhang is set to 2.5”. The overhang generates correctly around the deck except at one location where I converted a Straight Deck Railing into an invisible wall and unchecked “Railing.” I also tried drawing a Straight Deck Edge over the wall and get the same result. At that location, the first deck plank stops flush instead of maintaining the 2.5” overhang. Is this not possible?

That is what I thought, but for some reason I don't see a color listed.

Thank you, @Joe_Carrick I appreciate the response. I must not have communicated my question clearly. I am not trying to apply a new paint color to the wall. I am trying to determine what paint/material has already been applied to an existing wall surface in the plan. I’m working in an older plan and cannot remember what paint color/material was previously assigned to a particular wall. Grateful for you.

What is the fastest and most reliable way to identify the actual paint/material currently applied to a wall surface?

You are correct! Thank you for your help today! All fixed and Copy/Paste Hold Position is working correctly! Grateful for you.