Alaskan_Son

Ya, Chief doesn't get its framing material definitions used in the material list from the plan materials and as far as I know there is no way to get the material list to automatically report any custom information for framing objects (unless you specify the material as something other than framing but then you have other problems to contend with). I think the best (and perhaps only) way to change the material definition for framing objects in the material list is just to edit the desired field(s) directly. You can do this pretty quickly by copying the desired material name and then selecting one or more fields and hitting Control+V (paste).

Probably the fastest method at this point... 3D>Materials>Plan Materials. Select the framing material you are using now ("Fir Stud 24" OC", "Fir Framing", "Fir", or whatever it might be), click Edit, and rename to "#2 SYP". Now open your framing schedule and click Okay.

I assume you've already tried sorting out the problem on your client's end? Sounds to me like perhaps one of his print(er) settings just needs to be adjusted.

I think I've posted this tip for you a few times Alan... Click once as usual to start your operation (draw, move, resize, etc.). This can be using any mouse button as necessary. Drag your item outside the drawing window and without letting go of your original mouse button, click once on one of your unused mouse buttons. Let go out of your original mouse button. You can now return to the drawing area and pan and zoom as usual. Just click again to finish the operation. NOTE: During step 2 it is best to click once using either your center mouse wheel or your left mouse button. If you use your right mouse button and you aren't completely outside Chief's window you may get a little popup menu. If you DO get the menu just move your mouse outside the menu box but still outside the drawing area and left click to get rid of it. It might be a bit unusual but if you take a few minutes to get used to it, I think you'll be happy you did.

Here's a video going over some advanced symbol manipulation techniques--in this case, used to model a mitered glass bay window... There are quite a few variations, optional steps, and other ways a person could model this kind of thing, but I wanted to share at least a small number of the tools and techniques that I personally find invaluable for this type of thing. Hopefully some of you guys will be able to appreciate them as much as I do. As always, if you find this or any of my other videos valuable and helpful, please consider sending a small donation my way. A quick thumbs up or reputation point is always appreciated as well : ) Thanks for your support guys.

Like the other guys above have already mentioned, I would encourage you to model that situations like it will be built, but just so you understand what is actually going on... The reason your windows are "filling in" like that is because the walls below are trying to build through to reach the roof above. There's no main layer or floor above to stop them so they just keep going. There are quite a few ways to address this depending on how it will actually be built, but one of the methods is to simply manually drag the lower walls back down in elevation... That may or may not be the best solution for this particular instance but hopefully that at least helps you understand a little better whats happening. There ARE times when we are using an unusual wall definition to model actual real world conditions and so its good to know how and why Chief is doing what its doing so we can force it into submission. There are other methods as well.

Yep. You can use macros. Here's a tool I made specifically for purposes such as this... You can also use this method though without having to use macros...

I would really recommend that people try going through the Tutorial Guide too. In fact, I would suggest that the Tutorial Guid e is probably the single best place to start. The Help files, the knowledge base, various tutorial videos, etc. are all great but that approach inevitably leads to people skipping over important fundamental basics. The Tutorial Guide serves as a very good introduction to all the important concepts each user will need to understand to effectively and efficiently utilize Chief.

By the way, before I forget... Don't try to add any architectural blocks that include distributed objects with CAD blocks to your library. Not only does it not work but you'll likely end up in a never ending loop of errors and you will be forced to close down Chief using Task Manager. I came across this problem a while back but I forgot about it until just recently while testing out a new tool. I'll try to remember and report it when I have a chance. If they if you guys end up trying it and experience the same thing maybe you should report it as well. It would be really nice if we could store these types of things in the user library.

I might be missing something here,but if you want to import the whole plan, why not just save the plan as your Profile Plan? File>Templates>Save As Template.

Good morning Joe! You can also include lines, polylines, arcs, etc. by blocking them (CAD Block), adding that block to to the library, and then assigning that block to a distribution path. The distribution path can then be added to the Architectural Block...which is the same way we can add Text, Rich Text, Callouts, Markers, Etc.

Yesiree Joe, Architectural Blocks are my new best friend. As you know, we could probably spend all day discussing what we can do with them, but let me add this before I hit the hay... You can also include lines, polylines, arcs, callouts, text, rich text, and any other CAD based object you can think of. Let's see if anyone can figure out how before I get back.

I would post a fresh copy except mine is no longer "fresh". I use that profile plan as my personal template.

I concur with David's approach. I would add though that walls can also just be stored in the library too so you don't even need to go through the export/import process. You can be a lot more selective that way too.

In the future you can use Multiple Copy as well. You just need to use the correct handle again...

I would personally start by trying to save to a different location. Maybe to your desktop or directly to your documents folder and see what that does. Then try saving to a different drive...a USB maybe. Then go from there depending on the results.

Sweet. Glad you got it figgered : ) Please remember this experience in the future. Almost always best to post a plan along with your query when you're having a problem you can't seem to sort out.

...or contact tech support. NOTE: You could also try to reinstall Chief to see if that fixes any corrupted files.

Walls are 10m long on my end. I suspect you have one or more corrupted units.dat files. send me an email and I'll see if I can't help you out...

Make sure to close the plan file before zipping or trying to post directly.

Rudolf, do yourself a huge favor and just post the plan. More likely than not you'll have a good answer within minutes. If not an actual solution you may at least get to figuring out what's going on. I see time and time again where people waste HOURS and even DAYS in utter frustration only to finally post the plan and have the answer in a couple minutes.

Very nice of you to make a video Edward. Thank you. What you have demonstrated is basically the same method I would use myself. The only things I would add are that: 1. If your font(s) are all one size and your text has been cleaned up appropriately (I realize you hadn't taken the time in the video to finish that process), there really doesn't need to be much futzing with the top and bottom of your layout boxes. As long as your first box ends halfway between lines of text, you shouldn't need to do anything but align text with the second box and then copy, point to point move, and reshape (snapping to previous layout box(es)). 2. If you are pretty quick with your tools you can also use transform/replicate followed by a couple guidelines and align/distribute to make pretty quick work of the whole operation. Thanks again Edward. It's a technique useful for a whole lot more than just columns of text and would make a good addition to anyone's toolbox.

This^^^^ is Ed Zachary the first thing what came to mind for me as well. And by "plan view" I think Eric was kinda assuming you would understand this meant you would be drawing it all parallel to the Z plane. Just an aside to that, but I might personally draw all the beams as usual and only draw the trim per Eric's suggestion. That and/or using solid extrusions and boolean operations (could be drawn parallel/perpendicular to axes or not). After inspecting the picture above a little better, I'm really thinking the solids might be a necessity at some point. At any rate, it's definitely doable but it will likely require learning a good handful of other tricks along the way as well. Probably a good exercise.

Its actually the material definition that matters the most. You can use ANY material from the library just so long as the material type is set to Framing...