Joe_Carrick

Check your "Dimension Defaults" for what to snap to. Then make sure Object Snaps are "ON".

What are you really looking for in curtain walls? Do you want 3D Symbols that snap in place as walls or something else? There are ways to do this in Chief. Give me an example and I'll show you how.

I've used 2D CAD from 1980 to 2006. The last 20 years of that was AutoCAD. When I started using Chief (Version 9.5) I learned to use Chief's 2D Tools which don't work the same as AutoCAD but they actually provide all the functionality - but just differently. Learn how Chief's tools work - including the ability to generate 2D from the 3D. I do all details in Chief and I can do it faster than I ever could with AutoCAD.

That's the problem. Chief likes "Rooms" and it treats "Porches" as having a roof and a floor. It's time to go back and redo that area. If you close the Plan and zip it you should be able to upload.

Start off with just a few key contour lines. Then add a flat region for the house - assuming that you want a flat building pad. Add small flat regions at other locations to get smooth transitions from sloped to flat. Finally, add raised or lowered regions if needed. Play with this concept on a simple plan so you get the idea. It's really the easiest way to do terrain.

I found that I already had both of these catalogs downloaded in a prior version (X6) on at least 1 of my 3 computers. So I just exported imported them to X8. But that isn't the point. SSA is supposed to include all content, not just some.

So, FWIW - here's what I did: 1. I broke the railing wall right at the edge of the Door Opening 2. I selected that wall segment and used Transform/Replicate to move it in the y direction 1/2" That allowed the riser surface to show because the wall surface was no longer in front of it.

Better yet, ask if they have a 3DS File that you can import into Chief. Then you have it as an actual Symbol instead of just an Image. If not, as Johnny said - you'll get better at making 3D Symbols.

Another option for getting the top riser material to show would be to just move the railing wall about 1" at that location so the riser is visible.

I think Perry means the "Framing Schedule" is new in X8. Also in X8, the Schedules are multi-line capable so you can have longer notes that will wrap to the next line as needed.

Select the railing wall and apply a "Wall Covering" (10" high, -10" to bottom). -or- copy the "Wall Type" for that railing and add the riser material to the exterior surface. In reality, the riser is there but the Wall Surface material is over-riding it in the display. There's no way to specify a different material for the trim vs risers. We've asked for that but CA hasn't done it yet.

Not enough notice.

Oh, so you want your cake and get to eat it too?

I didn't purchase Chief just for residential design. No one ever said it was limited to those uses and I use it fairly regularly for commercial projects. You even advertise it for light commercial and most Medical and Dental Facilities are in small commercial buildings - usually not more than 2 stories. How does that figure in this decision?

I don't agree. The chimneys are aligned with the exterior wall below. the dormers are further out.

Likewise! Hourly only works if you've got a 8-5 job working for someone else.

Monty, How proficient are you with Chief? I would use a floor at that level with a wall out at the edge of the proposed dormers. Then I would move the roof planes inward so that they clip the walls. Depending on the construction, the roof planes may form the interior of that floor or there may be knee walls inside the perimeter walls. You just need to trick Chief into doing what you want.

Larry, FWIW, your client is at some point going to get really mad at you. Washing that window's going to be a PITB.

Larry, I would look at the Window dbx. There are a lot of options such as "Match Roof", etc. I don't think a custom Window Symbol would work.

Select a wall, open its dbx and edit the wall type. You will probably want to actually copy the wall type so you don't lose the existing.

Do it in Defaults>Floor

Joey, Go ahead and raise a door 1". Then take a Perspective Camera View. Maybe the threshold isn't there but there's a low wall under the door. It's not just raising the bottom of the door - it's raising the entire opening.

I don't think I ever downloaded the Medical and Dental but I'm pretty sure I did the Crime Scene and Fire Investigation catalog. The problem is that I don't remember which of my 3 computer systems and which version of Chief I did that on. It'll takes some searching.

Lets say a 7500 sq ft house, 2 stories + a full finished basement. Lots of custom millwork (wainscots, moldings & cabinets). Add Soffits, Tray Ceilings, Custom Stair and Balcony Railings and who knows what else. It can take a long time.

Chief X8 allows you to specify the elevation to be: "From Floor" "From Finish Floor" "Absolute Elevation" This is much better.