Alaskan_Son

Or if you want it to be automatic, use this...

No. Check it out. I think it's either 30 days or 30 imports.

BTW, the paid version of that extensions is only $79.00. Well worth it IMO if you need a bunch of those symbols.

The extension I pointed you to works with Sketchup Make (free version) and is available as a free trial (full featured). I actually have that installed right now. Here's one of those symbols imported into SKP, exported to Chief, and then exported to you as a CALIBZ... Sanitary tee.calibz

What site is that?

I'm not sure why there would be 2 DXF files if one wasn't 3D though. Are you sure you're downloading the correct DXF and using the correct import option (3D symbol vs drawing)??

Try this Chop... http://www.simlab-soft.com/3d-plugins/3D_PDF_importer_for_sketchup-main.aspx import to Sketchup then export to Chief.

Might not be possible in the version you're using, but for anyone else who may have the same question... Try making one (or both) of those prow front walls a "High Shed/Gable Wall".

Try unchecking "Use Room Ceiling Finish" in your roof dbx.

Hey Brad, I never really studied your question very thoroughly till just now, but I just took a better look and the problem is crystal clear to me... There doesn't seem to be anything wrong with what Chief is doing. It looks like all that's happening is that YOU have modified the text box. In doing so, you have placed extra characters and spaces which has thrown the tabbed alignment off. It's word processing 101. You just need to add/delete tabs and spaces as necessary to align things to your liking. Am I missing something?

This is not entirely accurate. Chief will recognize "\t" just fine if that macros is placed into a RICH Text box. So...I was working with this again here today and I found that the "\t" method actually DOES work in regular text boxes but it is strangely limited in that... You have to actually place a manual tab somewhere in the text box before the tabs in your macros are recognized If you want to "Display Grid Lines" you have to manually place all the required tabs in the text box in order for the grids to properly generate. This could be done with column headings or by simply creating an extra row of empty "cells" at the bottom of your text box.

The video card should be a non-issue when it comes to ray tracing. Video card is used for normal render views but ray traces are ALL CPU. In fact, unless you've specifically limited certain cores to the task, you'll probably find that during ray tracing all cores will be running at a constant 100% on any computer.

Just make one in a blank plan using a cabinet, solids, molding polylines, etc....create a 3D view...convert to symbol...add to library as "Millwork". Now you can select that item as your newel. You may also want to place some stretch planes.

Okay, I got it. I knew something had changed...The new feature is that you can now control the pitch and overhang using the Gable/Roof Line tool. In previous versions it did not work that way. The pitch and overhang could not be set independently of the rest of the roof and could only be controlled via the Built Roof dbx. thus severely limiting the way that tool could effectively be used for auto roofs. Sorry for any confusion.

My mistake, you are absolutely right. That has been there for a very long time. I edited my posts so as not to confuse people. I'm obviously mixing that up with something else that is new but I'm not sure what. I'll have to get back to you on that. Thanks for pointing out my mistake.

Maybe attach a screenshot and plan along with a description of exactly what you're trying to do and one of us will take a look for you.

Have you tried temporarily moving one of the roof planes up or down a level, placing the rafter(s), and then moving the roof plane back?

Here's a third take on the subject showing how to... Use the "Gable/Roof Line" tool. Set things up so this situation can be built correctly without the need for any manual modifications. Set things up in such a way that allows us to leave Auto Rebuild Roofs toggled ON. Hope it helps someone... EDIT: As Steve points out below, I made a mistake when I said the Gable/Roof Line tool is new. It is NOT. It has been there for quite a few versions now. The new X9 feature is that you can now control the pitch and overhang using the Gable/Roof Line tool. In previous versions it did not work that way. The pitch and overhang could not be set independently of the rest of the roof and could only be controlled via the Built Roof dbx. thus severely limiting the way that tool could effectively be used for auto roofs. Sorry for any confusion.

Yep. I was actually JUST making a video to go over that. Will post here shortly.

That message will also display when a file has been saved in X9. I think the wording should be changed to drop the "X8" part.

No. Try adjusting this setting...

Hey Joe, not sure if you've thought of this or tried it yet or not, but I use additional molding polylines and single segement polylines for this type of thing all the time. I use the perimeter (length) of the line to get the dimension I need. If that line or polyline has an arrow on one end or the other you can even partially automate it further using the connectivity behavior. You can also use the height and width of additional CAD boxes as well. Come to think of it, this is another area area where the x and y location attributes I've requested might come in handy. Anyway, just thought I'd throw those ideas out there for you just in case you hadn't thought of them. P.S. I tried sending this as a PM but the personal messenger said you couldn't accept personal messages for some reason.

Cue Lew... Seriously though, does Weyerhaeuser Forte even have an import option? If so, what file formats can it use. I'm away from my computer or I would check...I think I still have it installed. I could be thinking of a different program, but as I recall its nothing more than a 2-D calculation program.

I could be misunderstanding something here, but you can use Edit Area (Control + H) in many circumstances to "stretch" CAD work.

Okay, I think I might understand now. I believe that as long as the CAD block contains the same line work, if there is a CAD block with the same name already in the plan, the CAD block from the library will take on the existing CAD block properties. So...if you open a second plan at the same time, you can place the same CAD block from the library into each of the 2 plans using the same Current CAD layer, and they can still display differently and have the line work on different layers once exploded. If you want the new CAD block from the library to take on your new settings in the old plan, I think you'll have to first purge the old version from the plan and from CAD Block Management and then place the CAD Block from your library. I believe this works the exact same way in both X8 and X9. Hopefully that made sense.