Joe_Carrick

Let me see if I can upload a fresh set. I have no idea why those were pointing to my computer.

Now, I challenge CA to make this work without having to unblock, just using a defined symbol - with the wall framing automatically adjusting to frame the hole. IOW, let's get a Symbol Option that makes it work totally.

So, I got to thinking (very dangerous) and I wondered if there was a way I could combine the "Hole" with a 3D Object and have it work together. Here's what I came up with: I made a Niche Shape and placed it in the wall. Then I put a hole in the wall at the same location and blocked the 2 things together. I added that block to the library. When I place it in the Plan and move it into the wall so that the "hole" is located at the wall surface - and then unblock - The hole magically appears in exactly the right location, size & shape. I've attached the Library for you to try. Wall Niche.calibz

Simple solution. For Camera View, turn of the Framing Layer.

If you do like Curt and save the modified material to the Library with your "Profile Plan" and save the "Profile Plan" then the material comes in "Transparent" with any "New Plan". This problem with items saved in the Library not adding the material to a Plan that doesn't already have it has been reported to CA and should be fixed in the next patch for X7.

Curt, There are now "Foam Inserts" that fit between the studs and can be tiled with thinset. The Foam material comes with a waterproofing so nothing else is needed. I saw several of these things at KBIS this year.

Dennis, Here are some options: 1. Frame the wall - Studs will show 2. Change the wall definition so that the Main Layer is "Insulation - Air Gap" - you will not have framing 3. Change the texture of the Framing Layer to Air Gap or some other transparent material - Studs will not show in Render but will probably show in Vector Views 4. Leave the Framing and just adjust the stud locations when they're in the wrong place 5. Lobby CA for "Surface Cutouts / Niche Symbol" inserts that the framing will recognize.

This is called a "Layout Page Table" In your Layout - normally on Page 0 - select Tools->Layout-Layout Page Table Insert that onto your Layout. There is a tutorial for doing this and for editing the Page Information to fill in the table.

OK Scott, Here's a short vid http://screencast.com/t/jbJxuYlcOqLP

Those of you who want to place a Niche in a wall - download the "Hole in the Wall" Library Object I posted. This will cut a hole in the surface of any wall and you can then place your niche, cabinet, or whatever in that hole. You will need to "Frame" the wall so that it appears hollow.

Note: I've found that sometimes when I use this with a new plan I have to edit the material definition. It should be a General Material with 100% transparency.

Not really.

Todd, I think you must export the Sketchup Model to Version 8. I don't think Chief can handle SKP 2015.

Post a pic of the Material dbx.

In Standard Render the "Texture" is what shows. In Vector Render the "Pattern is what shows. Your material must define both of these. You may also have "Painted" the Shower Pan - which covers the material texture.

YEP!!!!

Dennis, It's not a WMR. The "Hole in the Wall" is a "Custom Backsplash". One of the big advantages to this is that if can be selected in a 3D View, moved, resized or deleted.

This is maybe the best Library Object I've ever created. It will cut a hole in the surface layers of any wall. There are 2 ways to use it: 1: Click and Drag in a 3D View - creates a rectangular hole in the surface layers of that side of the wall. 2. Single Click in a 3D View - removes all surface layers of that side of the wall. Note: The Hole can be selected in a 3D View and edited basically like any Polyline. IOW, it can be reshaped, filleted, moved, broken and stretched, etc. It can of course also be deleted at any time. Hole in the Wall.calibz

I'm finding some problems with this approach that I didn't notice before. There are bugs (IMO) in how Wall Material Regions work so while I will report the problems to support, I'm revising how I do this. I will keep my many Wall Types for now. However, I have found a very easy way to cut a hole in the surface of a wall. The attached Library Object called "Hole in the Wall" will cut a hole in the Surface Layers of any wall to allow another object to be recessed into the wall. This is an X7 Library Object - if you're using X6 and can't import it I can create one for X6. Hole in the Wall.calibz

Select the Cabinet, then TAB. That should select the Cook Top. Basically, the Cook Top is a sub-object of the Cabinet

BTW, this system also eliminates the need to use Pony Walls in most cases. A Stone Veneer exterior "wainscot" becomes simply a Wall Material Region rather than a different Wall Type used as a Pony Wall.

Over time, I've built up so many Wall Types (particularly for framed walls) that it's gotten fairly complicated to put together a Plan. Different Exterior Layer combinations, Stud Sizes, Interior Layer combinations, etc has created a very long and complicated list - both in the "Wall Definitions List" and in my Library. So now, after experimenting with Material Regions a bit I'm revising the process I use. I'm cutting down my Framed Wall Types to just a few - most of which have no finish material layers. I don't mind having walls with no finish materials in the original model because it allows me to simply place any material definition I want on each wall surface instead of having to have so many more Wall Types and then perhaps having to reverse the layers, break walls so I can change the Type, etc. Basically I have just a couple of Framed Wall Types that are just the Main Layer (4" Stud, 6" Stud", etc.) and some Wall Material Regions (1/2" Drywall, 5/8" Drywall, 1/4" Tile-Thinset-Backerboard, etc). I can very quickly add the WMR I want to any wall surface - or part of a wall - and add holes for niches, etc very quickly. For my Drywall Mat.Regions I include in the definition a thin Layer of Paint which allows me to change the color without using the dreaded "Paint Tool". For Exterior Walls the same concept works. When I want several different finish materials on an Elevation, I simply select the WMR I need and place it on the Exterior Wall Surface. They can be accurately located and sized dimensionally in an Elevation View. Previously I had about 30-40 different framed Wall Types and struggled with getting them all correct so that I had the right materials everywhere. Now I can use just a few Wall Types and a few Wall Material Regions to get virtually any build up. It's a big change in the way I am working but it solves so many problems and makes the process much faster for me. If I need a new Wall Material Region definition it only takes a minute to define it and add it to my Library. As I'm building a Plan now, I get to see it as the Contractor does - Framed Walls, then Exterior and Interior Materials applied. It allows me to simply place any material definition I want on each wall surface instead of having to have so many more Wall Types and then perhaps having to reverse the layers, break walls so I can change the Type, etc. For Exterior Walls the same concept works. When I want several different finish materials on an Elevation, I simply select the WMR I need and place it on the Exterior Wall Surface. They can be accurately located and sized dimensionally in an Elevation View. If I need a new Wall Material Region definition it only takes a minute to define it and add it to my Library. For me, this is a fairly big change to the way I build a Plan - but it saves me a lot of time.

I don't mind having walls with no interior finish materials in the original model (Wall Types) because it allows me to simply place any material definition I want on each wall surface instead of having to have so many more Wall Types and then perhaps having to reverse the layers, break walls so I can change the Type, etc. Basically I have just a couple of Interior Wall Types that are just the Main Layer (4" Stud, 6" Stud", etc.) and some Wall Material Regions (1/2" Drywall, 5/8" Drywall, 1/4" Tile-Thinset-Backerboard, etc). I can very quickly add the WMR I want to any wall surface - or part of a wall - and add holes for niches, etc very quickly. For my Drywall Mat.Regions I include in the definition a thin Layer of Paint which allows me to change the color without using the dreaded "Paint Tool". For Exterior Walls the same concept works. When I want several different finish materials on an Elevation, I simply select the WMR I need and place it on the Exterior Wall Surface. They can be accurately located and sized dimensionally in an Elevation View. Previously I had about 30-40 different framed Wall Types and struggled with getting them all correct so that I had the right materials everywhere. Now I can use just a few Wall Types and a few Wall Material Regions to get virtually any build up. It's a big change in the way I am working but it solves so many problems and makes the process much faster for me. If I need a new Wall Material Region definition it only takes a minute to define it and add it to my Library. Now, as I'm building a Plan now, I get to see it as the Contractor does - Framed Walls, then Exterior and Interior Materials applied.

I found that the original wall must have no finish material on the side you want to put the niche in. Then you add the material region (drywall or whatever) Wall Material Region to that side of the wall. The hole can then be cut in the Material Region as Glenn said.

Bob, What's in Chief's Schedules is what is in the Model. You can't just edit the Schedule content - you need to make those edits to the model and the Schedules will automatically reflect that data. There are some additional capabilities to add custom components and columns to the schedules but that's a pretty advanced subject. If you want to ignore what Chief reports in the model and just do manual schedules then I would suggest MS Word or Excel - completely outside of Chief and then just import those into your Layout. Just remember that you are ignoring the model and some things may be inaccurate if you do that. You might have a 36" wide door in your Schedule in a space that in the model is only wide enough for a 32" door.