BrownTiger

I do not know reasoning behind importing into plan, moving to a layout and then adding to a library. Without a file hard to tell. I would: 1) Create plan file called "MyDetails.plan". 2) Create a new CAD Detail. 3) In that cad detail import your dwg detail. Make all your detail about same size and same look and feel. repeat steps for every detail that you have. In the layout file attach this details plan and send the detail you need, adjust the scale. I would not waste library space. Every plan that needs details attach same details plan file. = IMHO size doesn't matter as long as they all about same scale. You can send every detail at let's say 1/8" - 1 scale.

In ChiefArchitect software Library Item does not have a description: It has a) name b ) keywords c) styles. I may be wrong on that one, but I though that prior to future release X9, item folder name is not even part of the search.

Don't know anything about X4 - never seen it, But if I understand correctly what are you saying is that you think: PCL Job headers are different between X4 and X8, and presumably and You know it is NOT the difference between like Windows Vista PCL 5 spooler and Windows 10 PCL 6. When a job is converted to PDF everything works correctly. Because when printing PDF documents only headers that will be sent - will be sent by Adobe Acrobat reader. On the other side, when printing directly to a Canon ipf700 you job is sent with portrait orientation instead of landscape.... Am I correct?? ChiefArchitect support should be able to easily reproduce and see these headers. You could too by enabling print to file... But I do not know if you have to since you are paying the maintenance.

Additionally I saw him getting bad rep for posting layout, instead of plan, insisting on HELP [amateur mistake], ignoring everyone. <LINK>

You have two schedules one on Floor Plan: Floor 1 and one in CAD details WD Schedule Delete one of them

Take a look what I posted: But before you uninstall, SP comes with 22 fonts. SP-HandC.ttf is very good, it is condensed version Chief Blueprint like font.

1) CA is not so great for commercial properties where you need blocking and replication of a sections of the building. 100 apartment complex with mostly 5 or ten repetitive units would be easier and more practical to do in RevIt [unless CA will do something in X9 to address the issue]. 2) CA Layout [See file/print/Drawing Modes] supports 23 different predefined paper sizes(and D 24x36 is the most common), but you can also define your own. No issues there. @Jonnoxx > The "Floor" User Interface in CA is COMPLETELY counter-intuitive I personally disagree, however I wish they would adopt Model(s) encapsulation. It would be very nice to be able to define Model 1 (Standard Basement, Standard First floor, Second floor, Attic); Model 2( Standard Basement, Alternative First floor, Second floor, Attic), Model 3 ( as Built Basement, as Built First Floor) , etc.... Currently this is done by having separate plan files that are merged into one layout.

This has all kind of uses I can do James Hardie Artisan 1.5 in. x 3.5 in. x 12 ft. corners in - Siding 12' [or shall I say 6'] measures. [CA - does corners as a union of two pcs]

I agree. Still think Softplan beats CA as far as Softlist producing one material list. I am also going to try checking "Consolidate Unhandled Boards". Not 100% sure what it is going to consolidate them to... 16' or 8' or 9'. Wish me luck.

We went over that about a hundred times. Walls are not normally framed 2"x4" - 42'-10", so chief undercounts the number of studs missings at the ends. I am well aware that you can get Running Total Length from chief using LinearLengthReporting, or by dividing all walls into sections 16' foot long. > I think this is already fixed - you just need to know how to use Chief. You know I resent this, second I do not think you know what BuyList vs Cut List is. Cut List Buy List Plate 2"x4" - 42'-10" - will be on the Cut list as 42'-10" - because it needs to be cut at 42'-10 to cover the length of the wall. Since we do not have 48' lumber defined, same plate will appear as 2"x4" - 42'-10" on the BuyList, because buy list basically rounds to a nearest length defined in structural member reporting dialog. So see for yourself.

These are attic walls with some erroneous twisted nodes. Just delete them in 3D, problem solved.

I do NOT want to directly compete. NOR support anything ChiefArchitect LONG TERM.

Ok, but OP never stated what he wants. I wish CA would allow formatting and formulas in a material list. And not clear why OP cares that material list displays actual size 4649. IF he wants to see per plane... All it is simple macro "RoofPlaneArea" obj = referenced ? referenced : owner result=obj.surface_area/100 result = result.ceil result Save macro as context none and checked Evaluate Place macro into roof plane label as %RoofPlaneArea%

Are you just looking to display plane area in squares? Let me know. I do not have a slightest clue what Joe macro packages does. But you do not need it to display roof plane squares. If you want macro let me know.

Issues with CA: 1) No builder wants to see 2"x4" - 42'-10" or 2" x 4" - 34'-5", CA needs to introduce wall segment size e.g. 16' 2) Ability to trace rouge lumber reported: what the heck is F362 3) Add fluff to material list: permit fee, architectural fee, engineering fee, cleanup fee 4) Custom formulas: rough nails = total wall length *0.2 \ 50 pounds And you have softplan's Softlist

> A merger or takeover would be worth it for me. I really like SP SL add on. Adding one or two C++ developers and Chief can crush SP. These features that we are discussing are not hard to code. > The concept of "drawing modes" in Softplan versus Chief's highly sophisticated and elegant annotation sets and layer sets approach blows Softplan, not only out of the water, but out of this galaxy. Very true. I do not believe Softplan has true 3D capabilities like Chief Architect, Some of the software design decisions are very convoluted. However beyond little things it has to major strength: 1) Builder Options <here> Very nice. 2) Softlist: On outside SoftList appears to be a major strength. You can click on any wall and get pricing. On inside it is complete farce. It is just a macro script, with only few predefined options. [spc file= sqlite database] It defines three length 2x4 Precut (A)-7' ($2.44), preCut (B) 8'($2.56), and preCut (C) -9'($3.49) 2x6 Precut (A)-7' ($4.08), preCut (B) 8'($4.59), and preCut (C) -9'($5.06) For the rest Chief Architect can do this so much better, but it is not configured. Like drywall CA can be set to 4x12 and 4x8s in the wall defs, it differentiate rim joists. It reports all kinds of cuts. But it appears that the designers CA material list never completed the coding. CA goes for better or worth in a lot more details, but lucks few final steps: predefined pricing and the ability to specify the formulas to customized lists. This looks impressive but it is really NOT. It does provides what builder like to see: a simple list.

It appears that the landing is acting like P-solid object.... It will not frame automatically, not accounted in any schedule. It doesn't have floor structure or floor finish. Question: what considered to be a top of the landing, if it adjacent to real floor/room? Do I understand it correctly that it should be a Room Floor (C) + Floor Finish (K)?

I liked how in SP you can right-click on the window in a brick wall and specify brick ledge.

>What I would like to do is lighten up the PDF floor plan to a light gray so I can see the walls that I have drawn better. Normally all you have to do is to place the PDF in its own layer and specify BACK group. I would suggest you watch the video <Tracing Over the Plan>, also turn off COLOR to see better. Point 6:32 addresses Pdf specifically.

Because it saved in 19.0.2.49x64 or 2575 and 18.3.2.2x64. is 2466

ChiefArchitect support export for rescheck. So really all you have to do is File / Export / to REScheck and create rxl file.

You are 100% right. Chief caches PDF somewhere, unless name of the file is changed it doesn't appear to read it again. The checkbox "save in layout" does not appears to make any difference. Also it explains how can ChiefArchitect open layout/plan files with multiple PDFs attachments so quickly. Sooo You have to change the file name.

How about save new PDF under a different name. Delete the original. When opening layout Chief will offer to replace the missing file. Select a new Pdf.

You are talking about attic wall framing right? What have you tried? 1) Selected the attic wall and hit "Build framing for selected object" (assuming framing did not disappear) 2) Deleted attic wall and let the software regenerate it.

Even if you assign macro to "W1" component field like comment, header and width data are not available. If I understand correctly what Joe is suggesting is to capture data in the label (store on global) and display in the component. Ugh