Joe_Carrick

Just use CAD boxes for the Window Headers.

Right-Click on any object to get a pop-up menu with a description of each tool. This is a pretty quick way to get to the available tools. I'm not very good with Hotkeys - too many to remember. The pop-up menu is basically the same as the "Edit Toolbar" but it's right there (at the object you selected) with the description so you don't have to look at the bottom of the screen or remember what the icons mean.

Most of the Cabinet Manufacturer's Catalogs have them.

Jerry, Chief doesn't have the ACAD "Offset" command. It would be nice if it did, but the tools listed by Michael will do the job. One way to get to those commands quickly is to "right-click" on the line which will pop-up a list of tools to select from.

Type "Valance" in the Library Search box. They will be found in the Manufacturer's Catalogs.

Terry, Chief X8 will automatically install in separate folders. The biggest thing to remember is that you want to have a separate folder/sub-folders for the X8 plans than for X7. Once you save a plan in X8 it can not be opened in X7. So you should make sure you save in X8 to your X8 folders. That way your X7 plans will still be available. Take a look at Preferences > New Plans > Open and Save As but remember when you open an X7 plan in X8 - immediately save it to your X8 folder. My standard procedure is to copy all the current X7 plan folders to the X8 folder. You will also need to relink your projects so that the Layouts and Plans are pointing to the correct version folders.

Will, Check Default Settings > Annotation Sets. There you can specify: Current CAD Layer Dimension Defaults Rich Text Defaults Text Defaults Callout Defaults Marker Defaults Arrow Defaults Layer Set All of which can be customized. When you select a specific Annoset everything is automatically changed to those settings. Once set up, it virtually eliminates having to worry about the appearance and layer that all the above are on. IOW, if you have a "Plumbing" Annoset with a corresponding "Plumbing" Layer Set then all you need to do to work on a Plumbing plan is select that Annoset. BINGO! Chief already has some OOB Anosets but you may need to modify them to suit your own needs. IAE, this is a huge time saver once you have it all set up in your Default Template(s)

I had this problem this morning. I restarted my computer and Win10 updated. That solved the problem.

I tried to do make the same adjustments in X7 (that I did in X8) without success. There seems to be a fix in X8 so that the 2D CAD Block origin offsets work properly. In X7 I can't get the outlets to snap to the cabinet and orient perpendicular to the cabinet faces. Evidently, this is a fix in X8 that isn't mentioned in the "What's new in X8".

When this happens, open the "Task Manager", find Chief Architect and "End Program".

Johnny, Do you mean the X in the Post? That can be suppressed in the Post dbx by unchecking "Show Cross".

BTW, If you need the outlet to be horizontal - just open the symbol dbx and rotate 90 degrees about the y axis. There's no need for a separate symbol in the Library unless you want it. If you do, just save it after rotating and rename the new saved copy.

Posts & Rafters can be Steel-Box (ie: Steel Tubes). Check the Defaults for Framing. You can specify the Type for Rafters in the Roof Structure Definition.

Download the Symbol from 3D Warehouse (SKP), then import in Chief using File->Import->Import 3D Symbol.

BTW, CA should make these changes to the Cabinet Mounted Outlets in their Core Library. Adrean, I know you must be at IBS/KBIS but when you get back to Idaho.... This needs to be fixed.

He can buy us both lunch - and a couple of drinks to boot.

Here's my solution: I set the height at 28" in the Object dbx I adjusted the 3D y-origin offset in the Symbol dbx I created a new 2D CAD Block and set it's insertion point y-offset. It snaps to the cabinet and orients correctly. I don't know if this is better than Michael's - but if so, I'm a lot closer to Scott and he can buy me lunch Duplex Cabinet Mounted.calibz

With X8, you can copy those to your user library and make the adjustments to the Symbol directly in the Library.

Please post the Plan. We can't tell what's going on without the Plan. Also, please refrain from using bad language - it's not called for.

Brain freeze..... I think I've been staring at the computer monitor to much.

Since this system only works in X8 (and is a bit more than just one macro) I've decided not to include it as a part of the Macro a Month Club. Some of the Club subscribers are still using X7 so I need to limit the monthly macros to those that will work in X7. However, I will be offering it as a stand-alone package with all the functionality shown in the video plus a few more calculation macros for just $25. For the Macro a Month Club the package will be priced at $15 as an addition. I need a few more days to put it all together with instructions. You can email me joe.carrick@dslextreme.com if interested.

The thicker wall occurs when there's a floor or ceiling height difference between the rooms. The it changes to the wall thickness above or below. Do a section cut thru that division wall and you'll understand.

This video shows how Area analysis can be easily done in X8 using Polyline Labels. Each Polyline simply needs to be on a distinctly named layer, and one of my macros being inserted in the Label. That takes care of collecting the areas and storing them in a Global Memory Hash Table. Secondary macros take care of displaying a variety of calculated results. The possibilities are basically unlimited as to what calculations can be performed. The video shows the use of 5 additional macros to calculate and display the various areas. Once this is set up, any modifications made to the Polylines is instantly updated to the displayed Labels and calculated results. http://screencast.com/t/HtOWWXv1

Scott, Why would anyone want to build that at all?

No need for a correction. X7 Libraries are compatible with X8. You just need to "Open with X8" when you download.