Joe_Carrick

See item #3 on my post above. Any Foundation above Level 0 has to be done manually. But you don't need to use a P-Solid. The Foundation Tools work fine - just not automatic.

Open the Symbol dbx (little chair on the Edit Toolbar) and select the rotate "x" (n degrees)

An easier solution is to use a Wall Material Region for the Beadboard.

Hi everyone, Sorry I couldn't attend the workshop but I was able to watch the video and have the following comments: 1. I currently use Level 1 for the lowest floor that has usable space 2. I use Level 0 for the foundation (slab or crawlspace) below Level 1 3. I sometimes draw additional manual Foundations below Level 2 a. This is because I am often working on a site where Level 1 is a partial Basement b. There are also times when a given "Level" encompasses a "Split Level Floor" 4. I don't consider "Level" to be the same as "Floor Name" 5. More flexibility in showing upper and lower walls (Pony Walls) would be a nice feature. 6. More flexibility in showing "Reference Layer Sets" would also be a nice feature. 7. The ability to rename "Levels" would probably eliminate a lot of confusion. Sometimes it's easier to create 3-4 blank Floors and start with the main floor on Level 3. You can then develop the floors below so walls align as needed. If you only need 1 floor below the main floor you can easily delete floor 1 and everything above will move down appropriately.

FWIW, Regulations don't cause good design. They can prevent unsafe construction and for the most part result in better buildings. That doesn't by any stretch of the imagination mean all regulations are good. Some regulations simply add to the cost without really providing any benefit. Even in covenant communities where there are design restrictions and review boards - sometimes the design is faulty even if the appearance is compatible with the community standards.

The "\n" (new line) and "\t" (tab) in macros are new in X8. This was a feature added per my request. I use these characters extensively in macros to formulate tables of data. I suppose it was Michael who clued you in to their use since I don't remember doing so.

1. Place the symbol in a blank plan and display a 3D view of it. 2. Then select "Convert to Symbol" and on the drop-down select "Electrical" and check "Advanced Options" 3. In the "Options Panel" check 110V and Light 4. In the "3D Panel" name the Symbol and click OK Note: If your imported is symbol already classified as a Light Fixture, you can skip the above 4 steps. 5. Right Click on the Symbol in the Library and open it (the little door icon) 6. Add the Light Data. Now your symbol will be a light and that will be carried with it whenever it's placed in a plan.

It needs to be classified as a Light Fixture. To do this you might need to just display it in Chief and then use "Convert to Symbol".

BTW Mike, You should have posted this in Q&A. Tips and Techniques is for posting "good ways to accomplish something" - not for asking how to do something.

Mike, Have you tried using the "Custom Muntins Tool" ?

Johnny, When you print, what dpi setting are you using? Normally I use 600 but you can use higher if necessary. Also, I see you are using Adobe PDF as the printer. I use Nuance as I believe it gives better quality - don't know why.

What was the result? I assume you just didn't get the "Live Elevations". If the Elevations were sent to Layout as "Plot Lines" it should work.

I don't know why not. Have you tried it?

Why not just create your own garage door symbol. You just need a single panel. Chief will use as many as needed for the height of the door.

The answer to this problem is to select the wall, open it and set the exterior wall material to use the Plan "Use Default" material. This get's you back to where you were before you "painted" the wall.

Group select - then use Transform/Replicate to move the exact x & y distance you want. Or as Jere suggested use Point to Point - but you'll need an object to select as the 2nd point of the move.

FWIW, you could add a transparent layer to the outside of the upper wall type to match the main layer of the lower wall and set it as the main layer of the upper wall........... But just aligning to the "Inner Surface" is much easier.

Johnny, Select the Radio Button next to "Inner Surface"

Richard, It would make it a little easier to answer your question if your could show some examples of what you've been doing and why. Since Chief is 3D Object based, much of the specification is already in dialogs - some with drop-downs and others with check-boxes & radio-buttons. Schedules pick up the data from the Objects so it's a similar thing to having MS Excel tables but they are dynamically linked to the 3D Model. If the Model is changed then the Schedules change simultaneously. It would be nice if we could change the data in the Schedules and have the Model change - that has been requested but is not currently available.

The macro language is fine - but the lack of attributes at the material level is not. BTW, Room Floor Finish is one of the few material attributes available but there's no "Room Context" which is sorely needed.

I spend a lot of time getting the Model correct (Wall Types, Materials, etc) but there's no way to transfer all that information to the ConDocs. For Elevation and Section Views I need the Wall and Roof Materials available for automatic annotation - preferably as "Elevation Labels". As it is now, the best I can do is manually type that data as notes. We have all this BIM data but we can't use it. We need the ability to annotate our Elevations and Sections with accuracy so that it matches what's in the model. Without having the attributes and separate Labels the only thing we get is pretty pictures. I need to be able to get my projects built and that requires a way to convey to the builder what the materials are supposed to be.

Latest method - thanks to Johnny for the idea. 1. Use Corner Boards 2. Use a Wall Material Region (don't cut Wall Surface layer) for the vertical Batts 3. Use Multi-Copy to copy them 4. For horizontal Batts just use additional Wall Material Regions or Molding Polylines. The beauty of this solution is that Doors and Windows will automatically cut the Wall Material Regions.

So I was thinking about Johnny's solution and came up with a way to make it even easier. 1. Do not change the thickness of the wall material 2. For the Wall Material Region a. Make it the thickness of the applied boards b. Do not have it cut the Surface Layer of the wall. 3. Use Corner Boards 4. If you need top and bottom boards (bands) you can use either a. Molding Polylines b. Additional Wall Material Regions

Open Symbol dbx Rotate (y) +90

Johnny, That's a super solution. I gave you a point.