Joe_Carrick

Thanks Graeme. I really appreciate the info. I notice that all of those are mm which I believe is the standard for linear measurements but for areas it's m2. Is there a cut off point where area is cm2 or mm2?

I see on the web that Australian sheets of particle board are 1200x2400 (slightly smaller than North American). So that would match up with framing spacing, etc.

Some more questions: In the USA & Canada most building products are Imperial units (ie: 48"x 96" Sheet Goods, 2x4 (1.5" x 3.5") Lumber, etc. These are not round numbers in metric so I would assume that outside of North America those materials come in different sizes. What are the common sizes in Australia, Europe, etc?

Greg, AC is basically 2D. Chief is 3D so you have to look at what tools are available to build using 3D objects. You almost have to forget about CAD Lines, Circles, etc. Chief uses Walls to define Rooms and a variety of Symbols (which have a 2D Block associated with them). For example, a Round Post (Framing) can be placed in a Room and it will look like a circle in the Plan View. But when you display a Perspective Floor Overview, you will see that it is really a Post. We don't really draw much with Chief, it's more like "building" a 3D model and then sending various Views to Layout. In fact, done correctly with the proper setup of Plan and Layout Defaults the ConDocs practically complet themselves. BTW, you really should view the training videos. It'll give you a much better understanding of what a paradigm shift this is from AC.

Greg, Are you just using a CAD Circle as Robert thinks? If so, why not use a Round "Post" or a Column Symbol from the Library? Chief's a 3D program and using 2D CAD to do this is totally missing the boat.

The only difference IMO is that you can directly create a new Plan from a Template and save it in a new location with a new name. Basically ditto with the Layout. Otherwise the systems are pretty much identical.

That button is on the Edit Toolbar aftere you select the object. Many objects can be added to the library but some can't. Stairs, Rooms & Roof Planes for example are not available for adding to the Library. OTOH, some objects such as Solids can be Blocked and then the Block can be added.

A Balcony would usually have different framing as well but Chief doesn't have a separate default for Balcony Framing. This is one of those cases where the Floor Structure Default box would not be checked.

Perry's question is important since for any given room that Structure Default box may have been unchecked. You can't depend on it always being checked - and in some cases you wouldn't want it to be.

Edit the "Ceiling Finish" in the Room dbx Structure Panel - basically delete all Layers of that definition.

Interior Elevations are always unique to each Plan, so I don't have them in my Layout - but I do have reserved Sheets in the Sheet Index for them. The same is true for Wall Sections and any additional Cross Sections. Since most of my Details are linked to special Detail Plans I don't have to do too many details.

My Default Plan has the following: Floors: Foundation, 1st Floor, 2nd Floor, 3rd Floor, Attic Cameras: Full Overview, Floor Overview, Framing Overview CAD Details: Schedules: Appliance, Cabinets, Doors, Electrical, Plan Notes, Plumbing & HVAC, Roof, Room Finish, Vent, Window. CAD Details: Project Data, Miscellaneous Labels Cross Sections: Exterior Elevations, 2 Cross Sections Most of the above have already been sent to my Default Layout and the Sheet Schedule has been predefined. Naturally, the Floor & Roof Framing Plans, Electical Plans, etc have also been included in the Layout. I also have a predefined Site Plan with a Terrain Boundary, Property & Setback Lines which has been sent to Layout. This is very similar to Scott's SAM system - and yes, when I start a new project I have to strip a lot of the Plan, However, I do not delete the Cameras, CAD Details or Cross Sections. When I start a new Project, I copy my Default Project Folder Structure and name it. Then I copy the Default Layout & Plan into that new Project & rename them. Next, I open the Layout and relink to the Plan and strip it. Then as I work oin the Plan, all those things are being updated in the Layout and the ConDocs are almost totally finished. I still have to do some additional details and annotation but there's not really that much more to do. I use a lot of macros, many of which are embedded in Default Labels for Rooms, etc. When I work on any project, I open the Layout and cycle thru the pages - which causes all macros to be executed and the data displayed to be properly updated. Some of those macros are located in the Layout but most are located in the Plan. It doesn't matter - just cycling thru the Layout Pages will do the job of updating the data, ensuring that the annotation is correct. Also, when I open the Layout and want to Print the ConDocs - the macros are also executed so I don't have to worry about anything being missing or incorrect.

Interesting question. Here's my take: It isn't the actual riser height but the ratio of riser height to tread depth along the "Walk Line" that is most important. The typical comfortable ratio between risers and treads follows a formula of 2R+T = (24"-26") so when the depth of tread along the walk line is longer the riser height might be more comfortable if it's a bit less.

The problem basically is that Chief requires that the Floor/Ceiling Structure above must be in contact with the Room (Garage). The way to push the Bedroom Floor back up is to insert an air gap and ceiling framing in the "Ceiling Finish". That increases the Floor/Ceiling Structure - then set the Finish Ceiling Height in the Garage because it probably won't stay where it was. It's a bit wonky.

Hi Buzz, Try this one 2storey_over_garage - JC.zip

Can do.

Thanks Glenn, I have bee working on some Macro Packages for Area Analysis [building, Site, Openings (Doors & Windows), Vents] and also a basic structural member sizing package] which I want to make sure works for both Imperial and Metric. Based on your input, I will make most things in sq.m. Thanks

For the fence, I would use a Panel Railing Wall (no room definition & follow terrain). The panels can be modeled in Chief, you don't have to use SU.

For you metric users, I have a question about how areas are generally indicated on your projects for various components. 1. Site, Rooms, etc in Sq.Meters(sq.m.)? 2. Doors, Windows, Counter tops in Sq.Centimeters (sq.cm.)? 3. Other items ? 4. Is anything (such as cross sectional area of framing members, etc) in sq.mm. ? IOW, what are the standards? For Imperial projects we use a combination of Sq.Ft. and Sq.In. My guess is that metric would generally use Sq.M. ad Sq.Cm. but I really don't want to guess.

Have you suppressed the Casings and Frame of the Opening? You are probably snapping to the opening itself. I that case just use Transform/Replicate to move the thickness of the Frame.

OK, I think I see what you are trying to do -but you'r using the wrong object. Instead of using a Solid, use a Post (Framing) and set it to 7-3/16" square x 120" tall and 0" base height. This will give you "handles" and "snap points" which will allow you to position it to the opening. Same thing with the Beam, use a Beam instead of a Solid. If you absolutely have to work with Solids, Marquee Select and "Block". That will also give you "handles" and "snap points". IAE, you need to change your approach to using Chief. It works much better if you start by creating enclosing walls so that you have a "Floor Level" on which to create other objects.

What are these "things"? Post the Plan or an example. Please!!!!!

Johnny, What convoluted method did you use in Chief to get that result?

Why would you want to do that instead of using Chief's tools for those things? Chief can make those items so much faster. Let me give you an example: I do log homes and have a set of Log Symbols that i use to stack a wall just like it would be built in the real world. But Chief won't recognize those as a wall. So I created a single thickness (log size) wall type using a transparent material. I build the house using those transparent walls, insert all my doors and windows and then start placing my Log Symbols centered on those walls. I stretch them to the correct lengths and replicate as needed vertically. IOW, I build my Log Walls just like I would in the real world but the Transparent Walls are what Chief recognizes as the boudaries of my structure. You're a creative guy - don't fight Chief, use it to your advantage.

Johnny, Like Scott, I think you do some great presentation work with Vectorworks. But no, you can not take a shape created in SU and import it to a "Roof in Chief". But you can import it as a "Geometric Shape" and place it whereever you like in the model. If you do this you would need to delete the Chief Roof. Of course, this is not going to provide Roof Framing. This is what I'm talking about with Chief being "Intellegent" as a "Building Modeling System". It isn't Vectorworks and it isn't SU. If you learn to use Chief the way it works it will do almost anything you really n eed it to do. If you fight it and try to force it to work like one of your other tools you will just be frustrated. Instead of asking "Can I make a Roof in SU and import it into Chief as a Roof?" you should ask "How do I make the roof on this model look like the attached pic?" Then include your Plan and one or more of us will help you. That's how you'r going to learn.