Joe_Carrick

Glenn's explanation of "Section Lines" is spot on. I set them in the Layer Set to be the line weight I want. It's also notable that anything cut in section (Beams, Joists, Plates, Deck Boards, etc) can be connected by an arrow with a text block containing a macro to get automatic annotation. Unfortunately, the Section Lines are only CAD Lines so they do not carry the same information but they can be edited to user defined layers and layer is an attribute that can be used to label the line. A macro that returns the "layer" of the referenced object can be useful for annotation.

Johnny, Layers and Floor Levels are two totally different things. Everything in Chief is assigned to a Floor Level (aka Floor Number) which can't be changed. This is the Floor Level that was active when the object was created. Everything in Chief is assigned to a Layer which can be displayed or not in any give Layer Set. The Layer of annotation objects can be controlled by how the Annosets (Active Defaults) are set up. Most items can be edited to be on whatever Layer you want - but they will then be on that Layer in all Layer Sets.

Johnny, That isn't really true. All 2D CAD (lines, arcs, text, dimensions, annotation) is drawn on the "Current CAD Layer". 3D Objects (walls, doors, windows, cabinets, appliances, framing, etc) are drawn automatically on their specific Default Layers. There are 2 basic ways to change the "Current CAD Layer" Click on the little dbl square icon with CAD in it (by default it's in the 2nd tool bar at the top of the screen). Set it up in your Annosets so that when you select the "Plot Plan Annoset" it will automatically select the "CAD, Plot Plan" layer. Annosets also allow you to specify the layer and other properties for dimensions and other annotation objects.

Adam, What do you mean by an "Elevation Callout"? Can you post a pic of what you would want? Maybe it's something new in X10 - I understand there are some things coming that might provide that sort of functionality.

It's hard for me to tell why based on what you said. I'm assuming that you just put a Callout in the Elevation View and want that to show the Layout Sheet where the view is located. That actually doesn't make much sense to me because it would only show up on that Layout Sheet anyway. IAE, Generally, macros are "Greyed Out" in a view because they would generate an error. OTOH, in the case of the "Global" macros it may be that CA has just decided that the macro isn't valid for that view. They may or may not be correct in that assumption. The only places the Global>Layout Macros are valid is on the Layout Page (Text Objects including Layout Box Labels) and in Camera Callouts in the Plan. They are not valid in most Plan views because the Plan doesn't know what Layout File or Page the view has been sent to.

Here's another version.

You have to adjust the depth of the sides. The attached pics show how it works. I set the back to have a "Left Door" and the Front to have just a "Blank Area". I also suppressed the "Toe Kick" and I would create a separate base for the "Toe Kick" using a PSolid.

Marshall, I don't think there are many users here that are still using version 10. Most are using X8 or X9. Your Plans would have to be converted and then you wouldn't be able to open them unless you upgraded. I think X9 can still open a version 10 Plan but I'm not sure.

Glenn, Check the Scale of your Plan. That should only happen if the scale is way off. btw, this only happens when decimal units are used. Since my Plans are Imperial using ft-in ('-") Chief converts internally and the Scientific E notation is irrelevant. With Metric Plans if the scale is "wonky" you could get that result. I'm not sure what the ratio would need to be, but a very large number of mm would cause Chief to return the Scientific E notation.

Another way to do it is to use an "Angle Front Cabinet and set the Back to match the Front. Then just turn the Cabinet around 180 degrees.

Decks are defined in Chief similarly to Wall Types. If you set them up in the Room Defaults for each "Deck Room Type" they will conform to the materials defined in the "Floor Structure Definition" for each Layer of the assembly. You can edit the individual Deck Rooms in the same way, but if the materials are set to "Use Default" then it it will pick up what you have in that default.

Nothing, Decks are just different. The Deck Planks are treated as individual pieces, not as just a material like other rooms.

Scott, Open the Deck Room dbx. Click on the Deck Tag Set the Deck Planking Material & Direction. Set the Joist Direction (not within 30 degrees of the Planking)

Scott, If you are trying to change the deck planking direction I think you need to change the deck joist direction. Typically Chief makes the planking 90 degrees to the Joists.

No, for that you should just create the geometry and textures and convert the whole thing to a Door Symbol.

I haven't opened your Plan but I suspect that the Fascia simply isn't big enough. The Soffits are applied to the bottom of the rafters. If the finished Fascia size isn't large enough, it won't cover the Soffit.

Johnny, I'm getting about the same results you are. Line Extensions just don't seem to exist in the PDF.

Sometimes Interior Elevations show some part of the Wall thru an opening (Doorway). Is there a way to control that other than using a Back Clipped Cross Section? Note: This usually happens when a 3D Molding is on a Wall beyond the Opening. I use such 3D Moldings for Wainscot vertical boards. IMO, since they are not in the Room, they shouldn't be visible in the Interior Elevation.

No Michael, I didn't miss it. Glenn had said to change that to 100, not -100. He also said to set it relative to the 1st Floor SubFloor vs the Grade Marker. This was in the Storey Pole Dimension Defaults for Locate Elevations.

I think you need to see post #20 in this thread. Why does Michael get a point for repeating what I had already said?

OK, I got this to work by setting the Subfloor Height Above Terrain to -114' (note the negative value) and specifying "Grade Level Marker" as the Elevation Reference. Now my Elevation Datum is relative to Sea Level. This is definitely not intuitive. It has taken far too many hours to get this to work correctly.

Hi Glenn, I can't get this to work. I have the Subfloor Height Above Terrain set at 114' (actual height above sea level) but my Storey Pole Dims still show the Elevations relative to the first floor at 0.00' I tried using Edit Area to move everything up 114' but that just made a mess of the Terrain, causing my structure to be on a 114' high pedestal. This is a 2 storey house and editing all the room elevations may be the only solution but it will take a lot of time, starting with the upper floor and working down. Do you have any other suggestions? ps: It would really be nice if Chief just had a setting in the Storey Pole Dims to add a value to the displayed Elevation Datum. Maybe they could add a First Floor Elevation Datum Marker (a Special Marker) that would work similar to how a North Arrow deals with Bearings and Sun Angles.

It depends on the size of the SSD, how it's partitioned as to what you want to put where. By Default, Chief will install everything on the C: drive. After that, you have a lot of flexibility. My SSD has a C: drive for the OS and programs plus a fairly large D: drive. I moved the Chief Data Folder and my Chief Projects Folders to the D: drive - then set those paths in Chief's Preferences. I use the HDD for archives, including older versions of the Chief Data Folder.

Generator works for me but only after downloading and installing the Home Essentials No.1 Emergency Supplies catalog.

Jerry, It's not a part of the Wall. It's a part of the Room Moldings. You can select a room and create a "Room Molding Polyline" that can be edited. I would suggest setting it as a "Chair Rail" molding at the elevation of the top of your Pony Wall. That will cause the molding to be suppressed at openings. You can also suppress any selected segment ("No Molding on Selected Edge".