Joe_Carrick

I've know for a long time that I could insert the Global Room Info Macros in a Rich Text Box to create my own Room Labels formatted any way that I wanted. What I didn't realize is that they can be added to the Label of any object and when that Label is contained in a Room, that data will be displayed. I'm not sure exactly how I might use that but maybe for Furniture so that the Room Name for example would be reflected in the Furniture Schedule, etc. Even when inserted in a Roof Plane's Label, the Room Data will become a part of that Label. The same is true for Floor Material Regions, Cabinets, Ceiling Planes, Plumbing Fixtures, etc.

Within X8, select Help > Check for Updates. I think there's only one download - it's not a full install, just the program.

I set my sheet size to Arch-D before printing to PDF and I select "To Scale". If you have your Layout set up that way it should work fine. It's not a bad idea to have a full 24x36 outline boundary in the Layout on Page 0. Your Border can be inside that.

I use both of those - but I typically have several other sets of data that I read from text files in the Project Folder: Project Info Builder Info Geologist Info Structural Engineer Info Surveyor Info T24 Consultant Info Those are all read and displayed by a series of custom macros. I asked CA a couple of years ago to add those like the Client and Designer Info - but so far I haven't seen any indication that they are interested in doing so.

I had a 3D View that had some People Images - but they didn't show even though I had the "Images" Layer displayed. I spent a lot of time trying to get them to display - even reloaded the Library but nothing worked. Finally after a couple hours lost - I found that somehow "Textures" had gotten toggled off. So if your Image Files are not showing up in a 3D View - make sure that "Textures" are ON!

Curt, I have most of my details in my Layout Template(s). If I don't want a particular detail in a project I delete it in the Layout. OTOH, if I find I need to make a change to a detail I have 2 choices: 1. Modify the Detail and Save it (all instances of the Detail will change in all Projects) 2. Copy the Detail to a new CAD Window and modify that (creates a new Detail) I do not copy the Details to the Project Plan. I like to keep my Project Plan as trim as possible. When I open a Detail from the Layout it opens the "Detail Plan" (CAD Detail Window). ie: the location "Sent to Layout" I'm only using those Detail Plans that I listed. A lot of the "Boiler Plate" notes and NTS Details are in CAD Details in the Layout. Plan Notes, Schedules and Job Specific Notes are in the Main Plan CAD Detail Windows - most of which is in my Plan Template and already sent to specific Layout Pages in my Layout Template. I like this because it gives me the flexibility to locate them on the Layout Pages independent of the Plan View(s). IOW, separate Layout Boxes that can be easily moved. Typically my Detail Plans have only about 10-30 Details each and about 1/2 of those are specials that are only used on a few projects. IMO, there are 3 main areas of setting up the Templates: 1. Annosets, Layer Sets, Annotation Styles (Text, Dimensions, Callouts, etc) 2. Defaults in the Plan Template(s) - including predefined Labels for just about everything (text, macros or a combination) 3. Views already sent to the Layout Template from: a. Project Plan Template b. Detail Plans If you have all those done ahead of time, ConDocs are almost automatic. When you change something in a Plan, it's already in the Layout and is automatically updated. My Templates are not static. I have a system driven by a macro that can create a new project from an existing project, copying and renaming on the fly with a complete Project Folder setup. Any existing Project can be a set of "Templates" for a new Project. I try to pick an existing similar Project for this purpose so that most Defaults and Details are what I need.

The tool clearly states that "Transparent Background" doesn't apply when a "Backdrop" is present. Take a look at the small print next to that checkbox.

Robert, I don't think you misunderstood. It's just that the Chief "Export Image" doesn't know what area you want to be considered transparent. It simply allows for that. The "Backdrop" isn't exported - just left as a white area in the Image.

That option simply sets the export to be a png (which can have transparency). After importing the Image you have to open its dbx and select the color that you want to be transparent. Any color in the image can be selected as the one and you can adjust the "Tolerance" for how close a pixel needs to be to that color to be considered transparent. Note: Areas defined as "Transparent" in the Image originally (from PS, etc) will still be transparent. Images exported from Chief do not have any such areas, so you have to make adjustments.

Open the Image dbx and set the Transparency. The Image does need to be a png and you might need to adjust the "Tolerance".

Like Richard said, the key is to hold down the left mouse button while moving the mouse.

That's a whole lot different than changing from one Annoset to another. Changing a "Text Style" will change every Layer Set where that "Text Style" is used.

Note that changing the Annoset will only change new dimensions, text, callouts, etc. Anything that's existing will not be effected.

You just have to change the scale in "Drawing Sheet Setup". That's in the "File>Print" menu. Whatever you have there is what the default will be when sending to Layout. Just remember to use the correct Annoset so the annotations will be at the size you want.

There are no Defaults(that we can set) for Wall Elevation Callouts. It would be nice if there was - maybe a "Suggestion" is called for.

Uncheck the "Automatic" boxes.

It will be easier for me to just create a macro for you with the length in ft-in if that's what you want. If you want decimal feet instead - let me know. My complete Framing Labels Package (all member types and materials) I license for $50. That has macros with and without lengths and handles all 3 formats (inches, feet-inches, decimal feet) for member lengths. The macros can be used to Label Framing Plans and Wall Elevations simply by group selecting. They can also be used with leader lines.

I have X5 installed on my system. But it was there when I upgraded to Windows 10. I think your problem has to do with the "Install" program itself. Hopefully CA can help.

That's a bummer! Unfortunately there are a lot of poorly done models in the 3D Warehouse. Many are just cube shapes with a pic applied to each face. That's not the same as a detailed model with different materials.

I would guess that you're trying to install X5 on a Windows 10 Computer. It probably won't work. You could call CA Tech Support - they're probably the only source for answering your question.

You would need a custom user macro. I have a complete Framing Labels macro that provides a more comprehensive label. It can be modified to convert the length from inches to feet-inches or decimal feet.

Select a Foundation Wall, then the "Object Layers" icon on the Edit Toolbar. Change the Footings Color to whatever you want. It will change all the Footings, not just one. I don't know any way to selectively change just some Footings.

It's probably a missing texture. Sometimes the models imported from Sketchup just have a pic of the front of the fixture. If it isn't properly imported into the Library Chief can substitute what if thinks is "close".

Perry, It might be possible but it might not. I'll play with some possibilities but I really think CA should provide a "Roof Callout" for Elevations & Sections that would automatically display correctly with the pitch text. If I can do it as a Labeled CAD Polyline it would probably still require some careful editing by the user.

Why not just display a Framing Overview. That turns off the display of Doors automatically. As an alternative, you can just switch to the "Camera Framing Set". I really don't like modifying Layer Sets once I've got them set to a consistent appearance.