Joe_Carrick

Try to get a used 17" ASUS G74 SX. They are pretty heavy and you'll need an oversized Laptop bag - but they are very solid. I have one that I use when I travel and it's been running perfectly for over 5 years. I get it out every couple of weeks to let Dropbox update, make sure it has a full charge & get any Windows and Software updates.

Floor Structure is #1. Ceiling Structure only comes into play if there's a lowered Ceiling. (below the floor or roof structure).

A gaming laptop like an ASUS 17" GSX74 with a good Nvidea GPU (2 gb or better) should work fine. Don't even think about using an onboard GPU.

Barry, No, we don't have the ability to get the .plan file path directly. However, I can provide a macro that when TMM is opened will set the path for the current plan. You would need to edit that macro in each plan (it would be unique to each plan) by copy/pasting the full path name. Once done it would be a simple matter of opening TMM any time you are in a plan. The other option would be to have that macro embedded in a Label or Text Box on each Floor.

Scott, Doesn't this do it for you?

He is simply be using a different file name but the same path. I'm not sure why he is using 5 plan files - it would be simple enough to put the macro for each text file in a Text Box in different CAD Detail Windows, all in the same Plan File. IAE, we are way off subject in this Thread.

AFAIK, all of the "built-in global variables" are standard with "Ruby", not directly related to "Chief". There are a lot of them that don't change, have no valid purpose in Chief & we can't modify them.

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.