Joe_Carrick

No Wall Framing with a Glass Wall.

Graham, Take a look at this thread https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/4317-the-ultimate-almost-niche-solution/#entry37402 It works without the Glass, etc.

So here's the process: 1. Add a Wall Material Region (your normal wall finish materials) to the side of the Wall where you want to insert a Niche (a cabinet or any other symbol). 2. Add a "Hole" in that Wall Material Region. 3. Insert your Niche into that Hole - but no further than to the opposite wall finish materials. It works for just about any symbol, and the hole can be any shape you want. It appears correct from either side of the wall using any Rendering Technique. Why does the title of this thread say ALMOST ? Because this will not "frame" as a hole. You will have to edit the framing yourself.

Graham, This is an interesting concept. By replacing the Wall Finish Layers with a Wall Material Region (exactly the same definition) I can then cut a Hole in the Wall Material Region and insert an Object (cabinet, symbol, etc) into that hole without having a hole in the opposite side of the wall. Great solution to a Niche. Works in all Render Techniques.

Draw the shape in Plan, convert to a Polyline Solid and set the thickness. If you want to save it for future use, convert it to a Symbol (Geometric Shape should work but you could also use Millwork).

Dennis, I would create a Symbol. Probably the easiest way would be to start with a base cabinet. Make all the adjustments to get it to be exactly what you want and then convert that to a Symbol (Fixture, Interior, Appliance) and edit the components to get any special info like Manufacturer, etc. Then it will appear in your Appliance Schedule, Material List, etc and will be on the correct Layer just like any other appliance.

Rob, FWIW, this can all be done with Wall Material Regions. Same degree of accuracy with a lot less work.

For "Library Browser Icons" you can change the icon - without having to restart Chief - by dbl clicking on the icon in the toolbar and browsing to any image you want. It would be nice if there was a way to do the same thing with all the icons.

Graham, The problem basically has to do with the older HD Chipsets and the Drivers. I'm not privy to exactly what change was made in X7 that causes the problem with the older systems - but in the long run having a dedicated gaming video card with a couple of GB on-board memory is definitely worth the expense.

Graham, I had exactly the same problem. CA Support is trying to find a solution - but I couldn't wait so I just went to Frys and bought a $200 NVidea Card. Problem solved - no more crashes.

The Custom Backsplash and the Wall Material Region tools appear to be the same - but they are a bit different. 1. Each has it's own Layer 2. A Custom Backsplash can be applied over a Wall Material Region 3. A Cusotm Backsplash (single click) won't work if there is a Cabinet with Backsplash on the wall. 4. Wall Material Regions ignore Cabinets - Custom Backsplashes don't. Otherwise they perform very much the same. For Showers I prefer the Wall Material Region - just my personal preference.

In your other thread, there was a reply that suggested using a Door Panel from the Library. This is really a great way to put Panels on the end of a Cabinet. They can be sized completely independently and you can avoid some of these problems. Note: Cabinet Dimensions are usually "Box Dimensions", not overall including the Doors/Drawer Fronts.

For your Pony Wall, use a single Thickness Wall - Material = <tile of your choice> (Not Framing)

You should be able to place the Excel Spreadsheets into the Layout simply by using "Copy - Paste - Paste Special". IOW, Copy in Excel, Paste, Paste Special in the Layout. They will not be live with the model but that's what your client asked for.

My philosophy (and practice) is to create a spacial experience for my clients that meets their needs and desires while stimulating the mind. I don't automatically rule out any particular "Style" or "Idiom" but I also believe that a design has to fit the location. That in no way means it should look like every other structure in the area. There are nomadic cultures that have "standardized" structures and there are locations where available building materials pretty much dictate what can be built and be effective. Sometimes those cultures develop incredible variations on a theme - sometimes they don't.

Log into your CA acount and go to your Digital Locker. The download file should still be there.

I never dimension to Material Regions in Plan View. That's a finish assembly and I'm only interested in the distance from the wall to the edge(s) in Elevation.

Here's my method. It requires a little bit of organization within the Library but it makes it real easy to create - and editing is very easy as well http://screencast.com/t/kJvmrO1a2J

Perhaps I'm the only one that has noticed, but RT with macros connected with an Arrow to a Closed Polyline seems to be very persistent in X7. I have several such connections on my Default Plan and it seems that no matter how or where I move the Polyline ---- The connection is maintained properly. Maybe we now have the ability to reliably use macros for site area analysis. Can anyone verify my observation? Gerry, Perry, Scott, ....... Am I just seeing this in a unique case that's working or is it really fixed?

Call Support. This is not something that can be handled via this forum. You will probably have to use the Task Manager to close Chief. Sometimes this error is caused by something too complex in the 3D model - but only Chief Support can determine exactly what's wrong.

Bob, Go to your Layout, find the Elevation and Double Click on it. That should take you to your Elevation Camera. The Elevation View should also be listed in the Project Browser. If not, you didn't save it and you would need to redo.

Mick, You are totally correct. Chief's Plant Images have a Label assigned to them in the Library. There is no other Library Object that I know of that has a Label. For all the other Chief Library Objects, the Label defaults when placed in a Plan to the Symbol Name.

That's very interesting. It appears that Chief's Plants are a special type or Library Object - Plant Image that has the Label stored with it. I've been unable to find any way of creating such an item but I'll keep trying.

1. Do not "Paint" the walls (almost inevitably you will "Paint" the room instead of a single wall and the glass shower walls will get the same paint as the rest of the walls of the room. 2. Instead, use "Wall Material Regions" which you can fully control the extents of. The edges of such regions can even be "broken" and manipulated to be other than simple rectangles.

Todd, I have already submitted a request for "Auto Exterior Dimensions" to be completely revised. But for now, try the "NKBA Auto Elevation Dimensions". I think you'll find that tool much more in keeping with Architectural Standards.