Joe_Carrick

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.

You can do this. Chief allows shapes to be created by working with Solids. Once the shape (or a set of shapes) have been put together they can be either Blocked or converted to Symbols and if desired added to the Library. At that point you have an Object. Am I missing something? BTW, if you prefer using SU for 3D modeling of shapes - just export to SKP and import into Chief as a Symbol. You don't have to use Chief for 3D shape modeling.

WOW, another case of a thread in Chieftalk getting totally turned to a different topic. This started out talking about 2D CAD and has morphed into a discussion of 3D space. How in the world did that happen?

Let me put this another way: Rooms are defined by enclosing Walls and a Floor Structure below and either a Floor Structure or Roof Structure above. That is as simple as I can say it, but you have to understand that the Floor Structure is always connected to the Room above

Johnny, The reality is that Chief has a different way of looking at Floor Structure, Roof Structure, Rooms and Walls. The first 3 are the basic controlling elements in the vertical dimension. The rules are: 1. The primary building blocks in Chief are Rooms and everything else is tied to those elements. 2. The Floor Structure or Roof Structure can not occupy the same vertical space as a Room 3. 2 Rooms can not occupy the same vertical space. 4. Rooms must be in contact with the Floor Structure above and below or the Roof Structure above- no exceptions. Walls normally are the height of the Room - but can be edited (railings, half walls, pony walls). Changing the height of a Wall will not effect the vertical positioning of the Floor Structure or the height of the Room. Having a "Manual Connection" scheme simply doesn't work with rule #1. If the Floor Structure and Roof Structure (PLATFORMS) were the primary and rooms were simply defined by connecting walls between those then it might work. There are 3D CAD Apps that work that way but Chief isn't one of them.

Ray, just try this: 1. Select the Core Library 2. Right Click and select copy 3. Select the User Library 4. Right Click and select paste shortcut You now have a duplicate folder structure in the User Library and a every item in that is simply a shortcut to the Symbols in the Core Library. You can add any additional Symbols that you have to those folders. Move your existing User Library Items to those folders or add addition folders within that folder structure. Interestingly, everything in the User Library (even those that are just shortcuts to the Core Library) have "Components" which can be edited. That's something you can't do directly in the Core Library. If you find one of those items has some settings (Stretch Planes, etc) that are not correct you can go to the Core Library and copy/paste to the User Library and then Left Click and Open the Symbol dbx to make changes.

Understood, I imagine that it's much less expensive to fabricate locally than to have semi-custom shipped to Alaska. Interestingly, my "Face Frame Editor" allows me to do totally "Custom Fronts".

A good place to start in organizing the User Library is to copy and then paste shortcut the Chief Core Library. This will set up a folder structure that not only has shortcuts to everything in the Core Library but also provides the folders where you can add additonal items. Then if you find one of the shortcut items that needs to be modified you can copy/paste it to the correct User Library Folder and modify it there. The shortcuts require almost no overhead and it's a great way to get everything in one place.

You can add them to your user Library (copy/paste or copy/paste shortcut) and organize them in folders there. By using copy/paste shortcut you don't duplicate the item it's just a pointer to the original. By using copy/paste you get a new item that can be edited in the Library. Note that you can copy not just individual items but entire Folders.

BTW, I do not consider creating Walls, placing Doors, Windows, Cabinets, Appliances, Fixtures, etc as 2D in Chief. It might look like 2D in the Plan View - but that's just the Plan View representation of the 3D Model. I generally have a 3D Perspective on one of my monitors and Sections and/or Elevations as well while I'm working in the Plan so I see everything happening in real time.

This is what I get with my supplier's software as a "Face Frame Editor". It will allow many different opening configurations, stacked, split, etc. Any of the dimensions can be modified to suit the design.

I agree with Scott. The thing about working with Chief in 3D is that while it might take a bit longer (not really sure about that) to design a project - you end up with all the Floor Plans, Elevations, Sections, Interior Elevations, Foundation Plan, Site Plan, Schedules, Framing Plans, Roof Plan, etc. Plus Renderings, Ray Traces, Walk Thrus, etc.