Joe_Carrick

Then save the PDF to your Desktop. It will always be available for quick reference and the index and search provide pretty quick access to any topic. Personally, I just select a tool and hit the F1 key for the "Help File". ps: I haven't used a printed reference or help file since X1

Brian, Without your Plan it's difficult to say exactly what's wrong with the Porch. However, there are some dependencies which need to be sequenced to get the best results: 1. Set the Room Types first. 2. Check the Floor Elevations in the Room dbx(s) to make sure everything is correct. 3. Build the Foundation - check that it looks like what you want and make any changes needed 4. Build the Framing. Done in that order everything should be correct. Otherwise, some things may be inconsistent. I like to leave the Framing to as late in the project as possible. In the actual construction #3 & 4 are the first things that happen but in Chief you need to follow the above sequence - or you will have to go back and go thru it again.

Eric's solution will work if you use a Full Wall - but not a "Railing Wall".

I'm not sure either of those solutions will work. Here's what I do: 1. Make the Handrail 5" wide x 54" tall (square/rectangular profile) This will make the handrail look like a solid wall. 2. Set the Newells as 42" tall This sets the top of the "Wall" to 42" above the nosings

Dermot, I appreciate you confirming what I said in Posts #14 & #15.

IAE, The problem is that the hole is only cut in the Counter Top. With a small cabinet the Counter Top is only as wide as the Cabinet unless you create a Custom Counter Top and stretch it to cover multiple Cabinets.

Adjust the front face elements of the wide cabinet by using the dbx. You can split the elements using "Split Vertical" Another way that works is to create a Custom Cabinet Top wide enough for the sink. You might have to adjust the sink location after inserting it in the custom top.

There are many good techniques shown in the videos. OTOH, these videos were done after the design had been completed previously. As a result, the dimensions and design decisions (floor plan layout including doors, windows, cabinets, etc) were already known and that made it much easier and faster to replicate the design in Chief. It's much more common to be starting almost from nothing but a general idea. As a result, there is often a lot of manipulating the wall locations, doors, windows,etc. I work with a very different set of procedures, often going thru several Plan versions before getting a finished project. I almost never know the exact length of a wall while doing the exterior layout. It's more a matter of knowing the basic shape (which will almost inevitably change) and then manipulating room sizes.

Brian, You can as Michael suggests "Lock the Existing" but you can't select anything that's locked. It's best to just be careful.

4" right of the center of the symbol. x=0 means the center. The origin of most symbols is "center, back, bottom".

x= 0 will set a "Stretch Plane" at that location so that the symbol will only stretch at that exact location. You don't actually need a "Stretch Zone" for the x direction in this case, a "Stretch Plane" is sufficient..

Automatic Dimensions don't work for Wall Details. They are specifically designed to be used on Floor Plans and Section/Elevations.

Between Greg and Mark you have exactly what you need. OTOH, Chief should automatically modify the 2D Block. Please everyone make this suggestion. I've asked and asked but I am only one voice.

Jerry, I and many others have requested "Learnable Drop Down Menus" for many items in Chief. It doesn't seem to be something that get's much traction.

No, but you can copy the items you want in the Library to a folder in your User Library. That way it's easy to find the ones you regularly use.

Yes, that's what you need to do in X5 and prior. You really should update to X7 or X8. The capability differences are well worth the cost.

Rashid, X5 doesn't provide saving Wall Types in the Library. That didn't happen until X6.

It won't work in X5, but in X6 and later you can add Wall Definitions to the Library. In X5 you would need to Export it (using the File Menu) and then Import into your Default Plan.

You need to: 1. Rebuild the Wall Framing 2. Move the "Header Label" a. There are 2 labels stacked on top of each other. b. The other option is to use custom macros to label the framing members.

Do you have favorite Kitchens, Baths, Closets, etc.? Most of us do. There are several possible ways of preserving these for future use - but the best IMO is to create a simple Room with material regions for the floor and walls. Place all the Cabinets, Fixtures, Accessories & Furnishings. Don't include Doors or Windows. Then, with the Wall Layers Locked Block everything and add the block to the Library. The next time you want that Room just place it in your Plan and draw walls around it. Add any Doors or Windows you need. You can bump the walls up to the Block and when you have everything exactly the way you want it you can unblock (or not). Naturally, all the original materials will be in your Plan along with any custom symbols, cabinets, etc. This is essentially what CA did in the Bonus Library for the various Rooms but they didn't include the Material Regions which define the room dimensions.

IAE, at the basement level click on the stairs and then click the button on the Edit Toolbar "Auto Stairwell".

IOW, the Defaults are Plan specific. So an existing Plan would not be effected by the Defaults in a Template - unless you start a new Plan using the Template. Once you modify a Door in the current Plan, you can set the Default by just selecting the little wrench in the Edit Toolbar. That will make all subsequent Doors use that new default in that Plan.

Please Post the Plan. We have no way of knowing without looking at the actual wall type definition.

No, but if you renew the SSA you will get the following version at no extra cost. BTW, since your SSA doesn't expire until next December you will get X8 (late January or early February).

Gerry, You don't know what I'm doing. There's no need to use the "Console" or to do any "Hook-Up" as you've used in the past. It was those things that you did to "Hook-Up" the data which turned me and several others off. I'm providing a simple solution that anyone can use very easily. Please don't knock what you don't know.