Alaskan_Son

Might sound like a silly question but just to make sure, you are clicking OK and not just closing or canceling the dialog box right?

Yes. Setting delays to an appropriate number is key. You want the delays to be long enough to ensure the process will carry out but not so long that the macro takes forever to execute.

Good thought on selecting NONE. I hadn't thought of that and not sure I ever even noticed that was an option. Quick bonus tip... Tthe automatic block you get when you select NONE is based on the window Type you have selected in the Options tab.

It can be a lot easier than what you're doing. For starters, use CAD Detail From View to get a couple snap points and simply use Point To Point to position. Also, don't forget you can set a Symbol's Elevation Reference to From Roof. The 2D Block will be wrong, but it does provide one way to get an automatically rotated symbol at least. You can then select that rotated symbol, Convert Selected To Symbol>Add To Library, select the original, Replace From Library (or simply place manually), take an elevation view, CAD Detail From View, draw a line From/To, Cut, switch back to Elevation View, Paste Hold Position, select the symbol, Point To Point Move, and use the 2 ends of the aforementioned line. By the way, this is one operation of many that could benefit from my suggested Convert To Symbol In Place functionality... It also highlights another issue...that Flush Mounted items do not create accurate 2D blocks. You could set the Elevation Reference to From Roof and then replace the 2D Block yourself, but that would take just as much time as the other method if not more. I agree...it should be easier.

I could definitely show you how to do all that in a custom video. Again, just shoot me over an email if you're interested in discussing further. In short though, most all of that is done using CAD tools and their Line Style/Fill settings and is sped up by familiarizing yourself with some of the various CAD productivity tools such as... Auto Detail Polyline Union Polyline Intersection Polyline Subtraction Trim Extend Stretch CAD

You can't. Like I said in my post, Chief does not insert window symbols into walls as I believe they should. Instead, the symbols essentially attach to the surface of the wall. Because of this, there is no way to move the 2D Block. You have to place it manually. Try reading and following my instructions again. In Step 1 you are creating the block you will use to place in the wall. In Step 2 you are removing the automatically created block...the one that attaches itself to the wall. In Step 3 you are manually positioning your block. The last part (in red) is what I usually do myself. If you use something other than a Window Symbol (like the one you posted above...which again attaches TO the wall), then the 2D Block works fine because the object gets placed IN the wall instead. Only downside to the Fixture Symbol method is that the glass is not automatically transparent in Vector Views.

I’ve made boatloads of ‘em. I actually make custom tutorial videos on a regular basis. I throw one out from time to time for free here on the forum and have quite a few available on my YouTube channel (link in my signature), but I also provide them as a paid service. Shoot me over an email to alaskansons@gmail.com if you want to discuss further and we can take it from there.

Wall Specification>Roof>Roof Cuts Wall At Bottom. Read up on that setting.

Chief has always attached window symbols TO the wall rather than inserting them IN the wall as I believe they should. If you want to stick with the window symbol there are a few ways to deal with that, but here is one... Create a new CAD block with a solid fill. This could even be the same 2D Block automatically produced by the window symbol. Open the Window Symbol, click on the Plan View tab, and change the Plan View Sections to 2. This will Remove the CAD block being attached to the wall and replace it with a generic window Block. You can play with this Plan View display, adjusting the various dimensions in the dialog, etc. for some situations to get what you want, but for your example, I think you're just going to cover it anyway, so I would just leave it alone. Place your new block in the desired position and move it to the appropriate drawing group (in front of the automatically generated block).. What I typically do myself though is skip the Window Symbol entirely and just use a normal Fixture Symbol set to Inserts Into Wall (options tab).

I personally haven't seen Joey's plan/layout files, but when I create views like that, it's essentially done using Back Clipped Section views. Study and practice with the following tools and operations, and I think you'll figure it out: The Back Clip After setting for Cross Section/Elevation Cameras The Clip To Sides setting for Cross Section/Elevation Cameras Using Layer settings to control both what is displayed and what line styles/colors/weights are used for various items Using the Auto Detail tool and adjusting the automatically created filled polylines/boxes as may be necessary Adding your own Text, Dimension, and CAD objects to annotate and embellish as desired.

Best to post the plan, BUT, I'd say your lower stairs are just built too wide. It looks like they're encroaching into that wall is all.

In the overall defense of your case, I think this may be a bit of hyperbole. As you know, it's a lot more complicated than that. You obviously can't simultaneously implement conflicting requests and I would absolutely fault you for implementing requests that are obviously flawed in some way.

Yes. Or this...

Various methods. Try searching the Help files for things like "dropped ceiling" or "lowered ceiling" and read through the results to get a more precise answer, but there are several ways off the top... -Using multiple floors -Using ceiling planes -Using The Room Ceiling Finish -Using manual framing and solids

Ya, potato tomato

You should post the plan. Looks to me like you have manually positioned framing that just wasn't moved to suit changes to the model.

I agree. It's really not very intuitive. Having said that, a lot of things aren't though and I think it's out of necessity in order to keep the program manageable. We can't have a separate tool for every single little operation. I would argue that instead of users scouring the menus, scouring preferences, scouring defaults, scratching their heads and then finally posting on the forum, that they learn to use the program documentation properly instead. My question to you is why does it make more sense to scour all the menus than it does to search Help? And by the way, you say... ...so post a suggestion.

2 best options I can think of... 1. Paste without the borders into Rich Text Box and add your own afterward. 2. Better yet, paste into a standard text box and Display Grid Lines. You can then simply reuse the Text Box and/or manually created grids for future plans.

Yes. It does.

The devil is always in the details so there's no right or wrong way and it just comes down to what the extra buildings are for. Converting buildings to symbols is fine if you're only using them for a few basic 3D shots, but even then, I would consider those to be part of the "terrain stuff" and would still recommend moving those instead of the main building.

Select the schedule>Copy>Open Excel>Paste

This^^^^ is the main reason I recommended moving the terrain stuff instead. When you shift the building it typically messes with all your plan views, all your elevation views, and all your camera views whereas moving the terrain typically only affects the Plot Plan and maybe a couple other minor details.

Don't move the building. Just move the terrain stuff. Easiest to start by creating a layer set with only the desired layers turned on. Use Reference Display if you need snaps, and then (depending on the situation), you can either group select or use Edit Area Visible to move.

You betcha.

You can either combine views in layout, or...what I usually do... Cut/Paste Hold Position all the framing from one wall detail to the other. The downside to this is that you have to check Retain Wall Framing for those walls or turn Auto Framing off.