Joe_Carrick

If a user can't recognize and follow good practices -------- You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. OTOH, It's possible that all 5 of those .plan files are actually in the same Folder as the Layout and then it's not a problem. This is the situation with Bernie as I understand it.

Michael, This is a perfectly safe way since there can only be one Layout File open. If the macro is inserted into only one Layout Box Label and that is from the main Plan File it will update the Global Variables when the Layout Box is displayed. I've been using this for several years without incident. It's far more reliable than manually entering (or even using copy/paste) simply because the Layout and the Plan are connected. Of course if you open another Plan that's not related it could be a problem - but only if you have macros in that Plan which use those Global variables. My workflow is to Open the Layout to the sheet with the Global Area macros Open the Main Project Plan (this will be the only Plan using those Globals) Open any auxiliary Plans (Details, As Builts, etc - non of which have any need for those Globals) When finished working on this project I close Chief and start a new session. That's just good practice.

AFAIK, Chief doesn't have a "Create Arrow Style" Tool. That should actually be a part of a good "Create Line Style" Tool. Maybe someday.... In the mean time, there are some very similar predefined Arrow Styles that can be used.

What do you mean by "Covered Deck"? Is this really a Porch or Balcony?

Thanks Dermot, It would be nice if the "Left and Right Curved" would work in "Click mode to replace a landing.

Sherry, If you put all that stuff in your Default Plan Template the new projects will have it as well. You only need to keep the Template up to date.

While I do have macros that work as Perry indicated, my preference is to use the Door and Window Schedules and Callouts for Labels. This is simply because I don't like too much text on my Plan Views. That means I have to use the Schedules to show what's New, Existing, etc. That's easy to do in X9 by adding that to the Description or Comments fields in the OIP. But.... sometimes I use the macros instead of the Callouts.

No, it's just called "Straight Stairs" now. Basically there are 3 "Click Stairs" now Straight Stairs L Shaped Stairs U Shaped Stairs

Sherry, You can simply copy the contents of the X8 Scripts folder to the X9 Scripts folder. In addition, make sure the Ruby Load Path in Preferences is set to your X9 Scripts Folder. Existing Plans brought forward from X8 will have the macros already in them.

Here's a macro that can be inserted into the Label of a Layout Box: referenced ? obj=referenced : obj=owner $Full_Plan_Filename = obj.referenced_full_filename $Plan_Filename = obj.referenced_filename $Plan_File_Path = $Full_Plan_Filename.gsub($Plan_Filename+".plan","").untaint result = "" It simply uses the file information of where the Layout Box came from to set up three $Global Variables: $Full_Plan_Filename (Includes drive letter and extension) $Plan_Filename (Filename without extension) $Plan_File_Path (FilePath ending with "/") that can be used by any macro in the Layout or in the Plan.

We had that in X8 and probably back as far as X4 or X5. I'm not sure how useful those will be.

Bernie, I will set up a macro for you to add to a Layout Box Label that will provide the full qualified path to your Plan as a $Global variable accessible from macros in the Plan or Layout. The attributes that have been added in X9 are: floor_number (all objects) layer_set (all objects) function (rooms) countertop_overhang_left, right, front, back (cabinets) There may be a couple more but I haven't found them yet. The Object Information Panel fields (Code, Comment, Description & Manufacturer) have been added to several Objects but not all. They correspond to the same fields that are in the Components dbx but are now persistent and can be edited in the Object dbx. They can no longer be edited in the Component dbx. This allows further customization of Labels by inserting key data in any of those fields that is not being used in a Schedule. I'm hoping there will be additional attributes in the final X9 release but I really don't know if that will be true or not.

Bernie, The Plan File path (Full File Name) is an attribute referenced_full_filename of each Layout Box. That's the only way to get that data. It can be saved in a Global variable by inserting a user macro in the Layout Box Label.

OK, This one will be an interesting discussion because there are a variety of ways to accomplish it - particularly for the room by room basis.

I think all you need to do is go into the CAD Defaults and check "Quadrant Bearing" or "Azimuth Bearing" - depending on the format you want.

Simply create a new Wall Type for the Glass. It needs to have a 1st layer ("Opening, No Material") with a thickness to offset the glass from the main layer of the Pony Wall.

If there are any changes between now and the final release, anything you are working on in the X9 Beta would still work. If CA has to change the Plan file format, they automatically update an existing Plan to the new format when opened and subsequently saved in the latest version.

For the GTM on Friday, it would be helpful if everyone could give a brief description of what you would like to see or have covered. Some of the macros that I can demo will only work in X9 because of some new attributes & features CA has made available. Door/Window Labels different for Floor Plans vs Framing Plans Automatic Plan Name depending on Floor and Plan Type Drawing Scale depending on Layer Set OTOH, there is a lot that doesn't require X9 Area Analysis using closed Polylines Roof Areas (Tables showing a variety of information for each Roof Plane) Living Areas (per Floor and Totals) Framing Labels (Plans and Wall Details) Ceiling Heights per Floor It will not be possible to go into a lot of detail for everything in just 1 hour but I will be able to show a lot of the above. If you have any specific questions beyond that I will be happy to answer as time permits.

Larry, Don't worry about it. This is a detail that I've never seen used in Southern California - so it's not something you should be concerned with.

Scott, 3:00 pm on Friday works for me.

Never mind, I think it was a part of the dreaded relationship between Layer Sets and Active Defaults. There are some sneaky things going on with Text, Dimensions, Callouts and Markers. Any of which will be created using the Text Style specified in Active Defaults, completely irrespective of the Text Style specified for the layer. OTOH, Labels will automatically match what is specified in the Layer. I am going to need to add a bunch of Layer Sets to get the results I want.

You are wrong my friend. If a Layer in the Layer Set has that in the "Text Style Column. It will use the "Active Default Text Style". In fact, if you change the "Active Default" any Text on that Layer will change instantly.

We can specify the Text Styles for Text, Dimensions, Markers & Callouts in the Annosets / Active Defaults. Then in the Layer Set we can set each Layer to "Default Text Style". The Layers will use whatever is specified in Active Defaults. This works well in terms of using the correct text style. However, when a Text Object is examined the attribute layer_text_style simply returns "Default Text Style" rather than the name of the Text Style. I name my Text Styles with a size and scale as follows: 1/8" Arial - 1/8" Scale 1/8" Arial - 1/4" Scale etc. There are some layers (specifically LABEL layers) that the Text Style may need to be different. Currently those need to be specified in the Layer Set since there are no settings available in the Annosets for Labels. I would like to be able to: Set a "Label Default Text Style" that could be used in the Layer Sets Be able to examine the Text Object attribute layer_text_style and get the underlying name vs "Default Text Style" or "Label Default Text Style". IOW: 1/8" Arial - 1/8" Scale as set in Active Defaults Have access in user Text Macros to the "Active Default Values"

In 2D it will just show like a Drawer.

Since we now have the ability to show Drawers open in Plan and 3D it would be a lot easier for them to do. I've also requested that Pullout Trays should look more realistic both in 3D and in Sections.