Alaskan_Son

To be clear here, there is a huge difference between taking the time to properly model the whole terrain (an accurate model) and cheating for quick visuals (terrain modifier or dropping the garage floor height). Its either quick and easy or accurate and I don't see that accurate was ever being discussed for this one. If accurate is the goal then we would need to be discussing a lot more than adding a terrain modifier. We would need to be discussing elevation regions, elevation lines, elevation points, etc.

You think a lump in front of the garage would be more correct good sir? I don't see for a second how either of those solutions provide for an "accurate" section.

I think you're missing out on the opportunity to actually learn something here. Chances you're having problems because it's an "older", "glitchy" plan are between slim and none. I think you're just doing something wrong. Post the plan (even a stripped down version and you'll likely learn something new so that next time you run into this you'll be able to do it right. In fact, the same thing that's stopping you from effectively moving the garage floor is likely to cause you problems in other areas anyway.

I think this advice doesn't apply when the rest of the terrain is modeled completely flat. A terrain modifier is going to produce nothing but an awkward and inaccurate lump in front of the garage. If a person wants to model accurately (which I agree is typically the best practice), then they need to model the whole terrain accurately. If they just want quick visuals though it makes a lot more sense to just drop the garage down.

You have all kinds of problems in that scenario. The dropped ceiling is the easiest one to deal with.

Something to think about... While there are definitely appropriate scenarios for using the ceiling finish layer to provide a dropped ceiling, I honestly don't think that's typically the best way to handle this particular scenario and it can cause a lot of heartache in the long run. Using that method requires artificially breaking your room up into multiple rooms using walls. Those otherwise unnecessary walls and room definitions can start to wreak havoc on cabinets, moldings, wall finishes, floor finishes, room schedules, room names in other schedules, room dimensions, etc. etc. If the dropped ceiling section doesn't align with a normally defined room area then I believe a soffit, ceiling plane, p-solid, etc. is a much more accurate and suitable method. Just my 2 cents.

Using the ceiling finish as Mick pointed out is probably the most accurate and suitable way to do what you're trying to do although you can also use a manually positioned ceiling plane, a polyline solid, or even a soffit amongst other things.

For that particular plan since it seems like you're not using an accurate terrain anyway, probably much easier and would look nicer to simple lower the floor for that garage room.

If I'm understanding your screenshot and questions correctly, I would typically either use a Polyline Solid or the Soffit tool for the lowered ceiling although there are other ways as well using room definitions or ceiling planes.

Sorry, Nothing I can think of.

Good video Steve.

As Eric pointed out, you should familiarize yourself with the tools you're using. When you paint an object using the material painter, you have several options. This is from the Help files (which all users should be using regulary)... Material Painter Component Mode is unique to the Material Painter Tools. It is the default mode and applies the selected material to a single component on the target object. For most object types, using this tool is the same as opening an object’s specification dialog and changing the material of one of its components on the Materials panel. See Materials Panel. • Material Painter Object Mode replaces all instances of a material on the target object. • Material Painter Room Mode replaces all instances of a material in the current room. • Material Painter Floor Mode replaces all instances of a material on the current floor. • Material Painter Plan Mode replaces all instances of a material in the entire plan. In addition, there's that little paint roller icon or the Blend Colors With Materials tool. If you have that toggled on, what it essentially does is leaves the Texture (image file) being used for that particular material in place but blends your desired color with the image. It should probably be noted that this is essentially the same thing as checking Blend With Texture on the Texture tab in the Define Material dialog. Anyway, if you paint a solid color onto an object while Blend Colors With Materials is checked (toggled on), it simultaneously create a brand new material with that "...PAINTED..." nomenclature. If you want to change it from that, you can either: Adjust the material definition for that color you created by using the Adjust Material Definition tool Adjust the material definition for that color you created by going into Plan Materials (Shift+C) Simply change the material being used for the desired component through the Materials tab Simply paint the object(s) the desired color again...this time with Blend Colors With Materials unchecked (toggled off)

Just a side note on this, but we've actually created this type of look by just purchasing a plain old solid core smooth panel blank and routering the grooves with a standard V-groove router bit. I was SUPER happy with the end results after staining and sealing too. It was either that or order the door to be imported from Europe for like $800 plus shipping. I originally had my doubts about how the laminated veneer would handle it, but it worked without hitch.

It's because length is a Measurement. Either convert it to a float first with something like length.to_f or use the Measurement class to your advantage with something like length.to_ft

That's cool. I hadn't seen that one before. There are a few others out there, but they're not as robust at that. Thanks for the link Kevin.

You don't insert custom fields in the schedule. You insert them in the wall. You only display those columns in the schedule.

It's in 3D View Defaults>Always Display Active Cameras, but it won't solve your current problem.

What are you expecting to happen?

Several ways to deal with that problem but to me I think it's totally subjective as to whether it should really be considered a bug or not. If the individual windows aren't set to be excluded from the schedule, then why wouldn't they be included? Also, just as a side note, you can easily control the behavior in X12 even further by using Custom Schedule Categories. EDIT: I only read that one post when I responded just a little bit ago. I just went back and read the rest of that thread and realized I had already responded with some good information there. Read my last 2 posts in that thread. Bottom line is that I don't think its a problem and neither do some of the rest of us. And by the way, just because Chief acknowledges something isn't the same as them admitting there's a problem or that it will be changed. They may just be acknowledging that they see what you're saying and have documented that you want it to work differently. Doesn't necessarily mean they plan on changing it. Also, don't forget that not everyone at Chief is 100% familiar with all the settings and nuances. They make mistakes and misunderstand things just like the rest of us and as such make incorrect statements too.

This is an entirely different question, but yes, this is possible. You really need to uncheck Group Similar Objects though unless you know for a fact that all similar window just so happen to lend right next to each and will fit perfectly into your desired sequence. Anyway, after unchecking Group Similar Objects, just go around the house selecting the windows one by one starting at the desired corner and then click the Move Up/Down In Schedule Tool till its properly positioned. Continue around the building till they're all in order.

What pray tell might that be sir?

All the schedule does is report windows in the plan. There's nothing wrong with the schedule. It's your windows you would need to start fresh with. Select your window tool, hold down the shift key, and draw a marquis around your entire floor. Click the Open Object tool and then delete the Comment. Repeat for other floors. Your real problem though is that you need to understand how schedules work. If you want the comment to apply to all of a specific window then you'll need to either group select all those window or (as Robert already mentioned) use the Open Row Object(s) tool. Anything with a unique comment will report as a unique window, and right so. My personal opinion is that I wouldn't be trying to combine my windows as a single line item like you are. For example... "1 WINDOW W06 WILL REMAIN ALL OTHERS NEW, OLD IS IN FIRST FLOOR MASTER" You're making more work for yourself. Use the schedule like it's intended. Adding a note to the window in the first floor master noting it as existing will clear all that up in one fell swoop. Plus, you won't risk accidentally re-ordering your schedule and making yourself look silly with the reference to W06 if that's no longer the schedule number. "THREE 07 TO REMAIN, OTHERS ARE NEW" Again, add notes to those 3 windows and they'll become their own line item.

I mentioned earlier in the thread, but he didn't actually write the items up. He just gave us a sort of warning for future and since I wasn't there at the time, there really wasn't/isn't anything for me to do about it. I was just posting here out of curiosity as to what others may have run into. If it comes up again, I definitely have some ammunition with that ICC clarification commentary.