Joe_Carrick

Ryan, As other users have stated: Chief doesn't know anything about engineering. It puts in the framing according to what you have specified in the Framing Defaults. You should study those and as previously mentioned - Consult with an Engineer or Architect.

Arnstein, You are correct that thinking like AutoCAD is not going to work in Chief. The key is realizing that Chief is Floor/Room based. Within a Floor Level you create Exterior Walls that encompass a set of Rooms. Each Floor Level has a height and various other Defaults. Rooms also have Defaults as do Walls, Doors, Windows, Cabinets, Roofs, etc. Almost any of these things can be modified for individual objects as you build the model. Just remember that you aren't drawing lines and arcs. You are building a structure that consists of spaces contained within the perimeter walls and the floors above and below. It's a different way of thinking - more like stacking boxes than drawing on a sheet of paper. All the paper output is done by sending any view of your model to Layout. That can be almost totally automatic - but it requires some initial setup of Plan and Layout Templates.

Start with the exterior walls and get those set to the correct distances. Then you can add interior walls, select each one and set it's distance from the exterior walls. This can be done very simply by just selecting the wall, then select the displayed dimension and enter the correct value. Do this for each interior wall starting from top to bottom and then from left to right.

Chief has a built-in "Ray Trace" capability. You simply display a "Standard Render" view and invoke the "Ray Trace Tool". You can let that run as long as needed to get the clarity needed. Usually 4-8 passes is sufficient for a good photo quality. Each pass will take more or less time depending on the model, the number of light sources, reflective materials, etc. Your system specs (CPU, Memory, etc) are also factors in the time it takes. It is also possible to use external programs like Lumion to do Ray Traces.

The pics you posted are "Ray Traces", which are not the same as "Renderings". Here's a sample "Ray Trace" I did in Chief. The same view displayed only as a "Rendering" would not be as crisp but could be done using a variety of techniques such as watercolor, watercolor with lines, vector, etc.

Scott, Tell us what you really think. BTW, I am in total agreement with you.

It's the 2D CAD Block for the Hood. You might have to expode the CAD Block, find the Polyline that has a fill and remove that. Then Block it and set the Symbol's 2D Block to your new version.

No, but you can use a Spherical Panoramic Backdrop Spherical Panoramic Backdrops Spherical Panoramic Backdrops are a special type of backdrop that wraps around the model in 3D views as though it were applied to a sphere surrounding it. It takes an image processing program or special camera to generate spherical panoramic backdrops. If you have such a file, you can specify it as your Backdrop image, then check Spherical Panoramic Backdrop in the 3D View Defaults dialog. The Use Generated Sky option in the 3D View Defaults dialog produces a special Spherical Panoramic Backdrop that simulates a daytime sky using the Generic Sun or active Sun Angle data. See Sun Angles and Shadows.

You should report this to customer support and be able to show/explain exactly how it occurs. That's the only way to make sure it gets fixed in the Library.

Just grab the Extension Lines and pull the end back.

Another option would be to use a "Railing Wall" (Post to Beam, Open with Middle Rail) and a second "Exterior Siding Wall". You would need to create "Millwork Symbols" for the Steel Columns (Newels) and Rails. Then a 3rd Wall Type for the Interior Furred condition.

If you can stay away from the "chain" and just have a "rod" or "cord" then a strategically placed stretch plane will work great. It's a lot easier.

BTW, you can also use Library Cabinet Doors.

This can be somewhat simplified by using a wall type that has the following layers: 1. Exterior Metal Siding 2. Insulation Layer (Air Gap) Steel Columns (Posts), Beams, etc can be positioned as needed. Separate Walls for Interior (Furred & Free Standing) The Roof can be done almost entirely with Roof Framing.

I might use a wall covering if I wasn't concerned with the materials list and the wainscot was on all walls of the room. The downside to using a wall covering is that you can't suppress it on a wall by wall basis.

Note: You might need to use a Molding Polyline for the Wall Cap since the Top Railing on the Wall will be interrupted by the posts. You will also need to add a 3d Molding Polyline as the Door Frame and use of a Door Symbol will make it possible to set the y origin offset.

1. Use a Solid Railing Wall 2. Set it as Post to Beam 3. Insert a Doorway 4. Modify the Doorway to a Hinged Door and change the Door Height. 5. Make whatever modifications you need to the Newells, Rails, etc.

i know there are "Wainscot Symbols" in the Library - but I find them pretty much worthless. Here's how I do it: 1. I use a Base Board Molding and a Chair Rail Molding for the bottom and top. a. The Base Board will be broken at Doors b. The Chair Rail will be broken at Doors and Windows 2. Then I add a Wall Material Region between those moldings. a. This will be broken at both Doors and Windows 3. Finally, I add Millwork Symbols or Cabinet Doors as embellishments. a. These can be repeated using Multi-Copy or Transform Replicate b. You can use many other symbol types, depending on what you want. c. You might not even need any Symbols depending on the wainscot design. This method provides a great deal of flexibility and avoids a lot of work.

Note, if you want just a single "Jamb" the full wall thickness you will need a custom wall type.

Johnny, Click the "Through" radio button. But if the walls are more than about 1" apart it won't work.

So then the next question is: Would you attempt to use the Auto-Dormer Tools or would you just create the Dormer Walls manually and Build the Roof? I find that the Auto-Dormer Tools are a bit difficult to control.

Dermot, I know this has been asked for many times, but would it be possible to have "User Defined Room Types"? Naturally, these would have their own "Defaults" such as floor finish, moldings, etc. As you know, only a select group of Room Types can have specific floor finishes and all rooms inherit their moldings from the "Floor Defaults". Since Rooms are such an integral part of Chief, it would be much easier if we could set the defaults for all room types individually - even Room Names, ceiling structure, ceiling and floor finishes, moldings, etc.

How would you create an Attic Floor? Assume a second floor that is basically like an attic (roof comes down to the floor) and you have dormers (both shed and gable) with the exterior walls aligned with the walls below. The roof is a 12:12 pitch. I see 2 ways of doing this: 1. Make the second floor just 1-1/2" tall. 2. Make the second floor a normal height and move the roof down to the floor elevation. Which method would you use and what are the pros/cons?

How can I get Windows and Doors to show the rough bucks needed in unframed (masonry, concrete, SIP) walls? Do I need to create a symbol for each of them with those as a part of the symbol? Basically, I just want to make sure the openings will be the right size, allowing for a rough buck and a shim space. I would also like the rough buck to show in a 3D view with the Windows and Doors suppressed.

1. CAD Details can be renamed in the Project Browser. They will appear in alphabetical order. 2. Plan Views from any folder can be sent to a Layout in any folder. The Layout Box has a Link to the location it was sent from. For the main Plan, it's a good idea to have the Layout in the same folder.