Joe_Carrick

Larry, Here's what I do: I save the Plan to either my Default Template or as a new named Template. Then I open that Template and turn on my "Cleanup" Layer Set. It has "All Layers On" but "Cameras", "Property Lines", "Setback Lines", "Terrain Boundary", "North Arrow" & "Sun Angle" Layers are all LOCKED. Marque Select everything and Delete. Do that for each Floor. Select my Plot Plan Annoset. Close the Template. That's all it takes - the Template has all the Annosets, Layer Sets, Macros, etc. All the building elements and terrain objects have been deleted. Schedules are all empty but available in the CAD Details.

Nicely done "young jedi".

Absolutely correct. But you do not even have to designate it as the Default Template in order to use it as a Template.

Johnny, Use a Room Molding Polyline (Exterior Room). This will allow you to apply your Molding Profile to the entire perimeter and then "suppress" on selected edges.

Joey, I also thought I had seen some in the Library but I can't find them. However, you can take any pic on the web and import it into Chief as an Image or material.

Even more importantly, there are existing Symbols in Chief that can be used for almost anything. The attached pic shows a section of the Library with the kind of Columns you are talking about. There's no need to create them from scratch. If you do need to create such objects it's pretty easy to assemble the pieces, display in a 3D view and "Convert to a Symbol". An existing Symbol can also be placed in a blank plan, displayed in 3D, modified and converted to a new Symbol.

Note that this is all covered in Chief Help > "Template Files"

Any Plan can be used as a Template. It's just a matter of selecting "New Plan From Template" and navigating to the Plan you want to use. OTOH, if that Plan is set as the "Default Template" then you can just select "New Plan". You can also update your "Default Plan" by simply saving the most current Plan using "Save As" and using your "Default Plan" name and over-writing the existing file. Then you can open that "Default Plan" and do whatever cleanup that's needed. So, the SAM essentially becomes a Template and can be used as such.

Use the "Show on Floor Above" or "Show on Floor Below" icons on the Edit Toolbar

Perhaps the easiest way to explain it is: "New Plan from Template" should be renamed "New Plan from Existing Plan" "New Layout from Template" should be renamed "New Layout from Existing Layout" You can use any Plan or Layout as a Template. It's just a matter of navigating to the Plan or Layout you want.

Scott, See post #12 in this thread. Creating a new Template is just the SAM to the Template Folder. If you do that, you have all the advantage of both. You have just made your SAM Plan a Template. You can even set that File as your "Default" for new Plans. IOW, there is no difference other than where the Plan is saved and the fact that Chief normally selects a Plan from the "Templates" Folder and has a specific Plan File set as the "Default Template".

Any Plan or Layout can be saved as a Template. It's just a matter of saving to the "Templates" folder. Essentially, the SAM is the same but it isn't stored in the "Templates" folder. OTOH, any Plan can be used as a Template simply by using "New Plan from Template" and navigating to the location of the Plan you want to use. In summary: 1. Any Plan or Layout can be saved as a Template - just "Save As" to the Templates Folder 2. Any existing Plan or Layout can be used a Template - just use "New Plan from Template"

It's not a very complicated plan so there's not too much to strip and I have a Layer Set that has everything turned on that needs to be deleted. It only takes a few seconds. I do make modifications from time to time, including Macros and various Text Blocks, etc that I save in CAD Details which are then available to copy or send to Layout. Having a "Building" allows me to test those objects and then save the Template(s). Sometimes I will save a Plan as a Template so that I can use it as a starting point for a similar project (Architectural Style and/or Floor Plan). Note that the Layout Template is also being revised and updated with any new standard Layout Boxes.

-and make sure you turn on the "Electrical" Layer or whatever Layer your Lights are on.

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.