Joe_Carrick

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.

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.