PitMan71

My first time exporting library items..... I right click over the folder or item and select export..... I locate and name the file and chief appears to complete the process. When I browse to find the exported file it's nowhere to be found. Am I missing a step somewhere? thanks

Gotcha. Thanks. Thanks for the suggested fix.... I'm gonna go try that now.

On the left side of this home above the garage entry the frieze board is recessed in the brick instead of being at the face. Im sure it has to do with the dormer above, but all of my efforts to correct the problem, create larger problems. I am believing there is a clean way to correct this, but I am struggling with it. Problems like this and sorting through possible solutions can be time vampires. Anyway, thanks to all of you for having a look and recommending solutions. 69204-23E.plan.zip

Is there a way to tell chief to use the first floor wall materials to cover the floor between levels rather than the adopting the wall material from the 2nd floor? This is not always something I would need, but it would be nice to choose between the two. I know there is a work around for this by using a pony wall on the floor above with the first floor materials at the bottom. Thanks in advance.

Thanks for posting..... So far I have done all my SF reports using polylines and schedules. I like to use fill on the plines so I can be sure the edges are where I want them....Different Area types have different fill colors..... I wanted to streamline that task to where I didn't have to spend so much time editing the properties of the poly lines after I drew them if that makes sense. my idea was to create library items, but that doesn't work. I like Rene's suggestion but I am not exactly sure how to do what he mentioned AND I would want to make sure the SF's are figured the way I want them to be.

I'm not 100% but it seems like early on this year when I first starting using Chief, there was some uncertainty about the calculations and I opted to go the route of poly lines so that I was sure of the reported numbers. Is that included OOB or what kind of setup is involved? If it makes life easier, it's worth at least giving it a try. Send me some info or a link to check out. Thanks

I am trying to streamline the process of creating my area poly lines to have the color, fill, label, and schedule selections that I want. Living, Garage Porches, etc.... I have tried creating objects with the labels I want and adding to my library but that didn't work, program sees them a trim poly lines when I drag them into the drawing. Is there a way to accomplish this? It would be nice if I could invoke the polyline tool and it just draws it with the properties I want, but I haven't found a way to do that yet. Is there something I am missing? Thanks in advance.

Hey Don Click on those text objects and open the DBX (Dialog box), on the left side find options, Try unchecking OR checking the box "Rotate With Plan".

Yes. This. I am convinced that if Chief Architect were a person it would be Rene. He is a leader and innovator with Chief AND shares incredible insights generously with other users raising everyone's level of understanding. It's worth connecting with him on this issue. While you are at it have a look at his website....https://www.rabbittdesign.net He has several custom Chief tools available for purchase.

You are no idiot. You are a genius adapting to something unfamiliar. I get the sentiment tho. I have used auto cad for 35 years.... Im still hitting F8 for ortho.

Cool. Have fun with it. If you need additional help you know where we are.

I have never used this before. BUT I'm gonna try it out. Thanks DB for reminding me of this.

This is great information. Thanks for sharing. Sorry that you are having issues, tho. I know that has to be frustrating. Hopefully you can return the laptop and get what is needed. Good luck.

Okay...... You might try pulling the front facing wall left edge to the left into the room on the left..... Ultimately, this would be way easier with manual roofs. I would suggest this as it expands your flexibility in situations like this. Automatic roofs are great, but can only get you so far because they are limited to solving based on the location of your walls. In your case, technically the roof can be solved in the way chief is solving it AND the way you want it. Either you manipulate the walls to get what you are looking for or the roofs themselves or graduate to manual roofs. Manual roofs aren't limited to the location of walls. Stay with automatic to get the roof as far as you can and then make the manual changes. I am new to Chief as well. Manual roofs appear daunting BUT really simple once you get the hang of it.

Can you post your plan or a picture of what you are referring to? I pulled up chief to try and recreate what you are talking about.... I do see where the wall connects through the brick, but its a transparent connection and doesn't seem to affect the way the connection appears. The reason the deck railing is connecting in that way is because it's connecting its main layer to the brick wall main layer which is the framing. In order to get the deck railing to connect to the brick itself is to make a copy of your brick wall type and in the new wall type moving the brick materials from the exterior layers to the main layer in the wall type. Might end up looking like the attached pic. Caution: This may work as you intend, but it could cause unintended issues. Either way, I think it's worth giving a whirl.

You are wanting the 12' plate roof to continue left and die in to the 9' plate roof creating a valley instead of what you've got here. Does this sound right?

Following.

You mean from the library?

When you create a text box in your layout view, look in macros under layout info.

Hello Wesdutka The room divider is like any other wall. Click on it and then open the DBX. On the general tab, under Options make sure the "No Room Definition" is NOT checked. Also, I would check the wall type and see what it is reporting. If that doesn't work post the plan so we can have a look. Thanks

Thanks!

So you use the region to create the batten boards? Thanks

Here you go. The two wall properties on DBX are.. STRUCTURE >> "Balloon through ceiling" is checked. ROOF >> "Roof Cuts Wall at Bottom" is checked. SO... I did all this and it didn't work on the piece of wall. After closer inspection of the DBX under Structure.... The Default wall bottom height and Default top height were unchecked. When I checked that and applied the above settings again it worked like a charm. When breaking and adjusting the roof hole for the dormer it seems that the program knows what you are trying to do since it tends to break and snap when you move the roof edges to where they are supposed to be. Anyway, the one side that I did with the hurdle of finding the top and bottom wall height setting took me like 5 minutes. Also, for some reason when I initially stretched the dormer wall, the 4 siding finish didn't go along with it..... I had to fix this in the end. BUT it bears mentioning to trust the process and do all the steps.... from the middle things look like a train wreck. I hope this helps you. Good luck. FIX1479184323_May1ReynoldsNewGarageDormer3.plan

Hey Jeffrey. Building dormers manually is totally fine. What you have to do is break the roof hole such that part of the roof is beneath where that triangular piece of wall would be. Then pull the wall into the room to fill the triangle. Break the dormer wall at the point where it interacts the short wall in the bonus room. Lastly, you will adjust the new wall properties a bit to where the program cuts off the bottom of the wall at the roof. Sounds complicated but it's really not.

Post your plan so we can have a look.