Joe_Carrick

23 minutes ago, HumbleChief said:

I went back to check if I posted about Style Palettes instead of Tool Palettes, could have gone either way  Stream Deck XL - looks pretty wild.

Only as wild as you set it up.  Most of the videos are of "Streamers" vs "Production use.

OK Larry,

I see that we are talking about 2 different things:

• Toolbars
• Style Pallets

Both have a place in my workflow.

I'm actually getting away from Toolbars for most cases.  I've gone almost entirely into using a Stream Deck XL to replace most of Chief's graphic access tools.  I prefer my mouse to be involved just in drawing.  I use a "Right Click" to get the "Edit Toolbar" when I really need it but even that is mostly available on my Stream Deck XL.

I have some Floating Toolbars 

• Paint Modes
• Edit Toolbar (Right Click)
• etc

The Stream Deck XL also provides Hotkeys for all my other Apps.  Basically I can't remember many Hotkeys and my eyes get strained trying to look for small icons with tooltips.  This setup works really well for me.

BTW; I have requested that the Door Categories be expanded to provide for the different Door Types.

You might want to also make that request/suggestion.

Style Pallets are great for making quick changes to an existing design.  It's really easy to over-ride defaults with a new set of visual characteristics.

One Style Pallet that's great to have is one that sets everything back to "defaults'.

I also dismissed Style Pallets for quite a while - changed my mind BIG TIME

Do those access the Library ?

A single Style Pallet can have:

• Room
• Exterior Door
• Interior Door
• Base Cabinet
• Full Cabinet
• Wall Cabinet
• Window
• Custom Countertop
• Custom Backsplash

and there is no limit on what attributes can be included or excluded for each.

Larry,

You can create folders in the Library Browser and organize that way.

Rene,

I assume there are going to be a lot more modular homes added to that project.  

Also check the Selected Defaults and Reference Display Tabs to fine tune.

No, Chief doesn't allow modifications of object in their Core, Bonus & Mfr Libraries.  You can however request the Content Team make modifications - but they have the final decision.

But you can copy Chief Libraries to your User Library.  You can then open symbols in the copies and edit them.  They won't however be changed in the Chief Libraries.  

Create a CAD Block. 

Multi-Copy over your Wall @ 16" o.c.

That's probably the easiest way.

Note that the Chief Core Library has some Detail Blocks for CMU but they are for vertical detail sections.  You would need to create CMU Plan View CAD Blocks:

• 8x8
• 8x8 Filled
• 8x16
• 8x16 Filled
• etc.

"Multi-Copy" and "Distribute along Line" are the tools I would use but it might also be possible to create a "Fill Pattern" to use as Wall Hatching.  AutoCAD Fill Patterns can be imported.

18 minutes ago, Alaskan_Son said:

For now, they can each be temporarily patched individually using the same approach I mentioned above.

Yes, but is it worth it?

IMO this is CA's mistake and it's CA that should fix it.

Michael,

It's more complicated because each different Pella Window Type has a different macro.  This is only going to be fixed by Chief - most likely by using some modification to Measurement vs Floating Point value comparisons.  

As you indicate, there may be a problem in the "Label" but I'm not sure of that.

IAE, this is a job for CA to solve.

I've reported it to support and I think we should just leave it to them to fix.

Gene,

These are parametric Windows and the Library has macros embedded for each Pella Window Type.  Each macro has the Standard Sizes for that Pella Type.

However, the macros are trying to compare a floating point value to Chief's Measurement Class.  This results in a mismatch so the macros always fail and leave the output as "Custom"

While I could create custom macros it would be a big job.  Chief actually would need to modify the existing macros internally to the Pella Library.  

As they currently exist it's never going to work.

7 minutes ago, GeneDavis said:

Or is the library really just a collection of symbols none of which have any connection to sizing?

I think that's the case.

Chief doesn't have much control over what the manufacturers supply in their libraries.  I would have to take a good look at the Pella Library and if those are actually Symbols vs Parametric values for Chief's Window Tool the macro implementation would be different.

2 minutes ago, GeneDavis said:

Can this be done with macros?

Yes, but a table of the standard sizes would need to be available.  

You could use "Style Pallets" to show different materials.  Thats much easier than having a bunch of different Layer Sets.

Here's the latest view of my Stream Deck Setup.  I've extensively modified the icons for the buttons to be as close to Chief's Toolbars as I could make them.

1 hour ago, Charles said:

 

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is a "stream deck"?

-Charles

Google "Elgato Stream Deck XL"

Basically it's the ultimate Backlit Hotkey Keyboard.  It was designed for "Streamers" but it can automate almost anything you want to do.  I use it to automatically load the Hotkeys for whatever App is currently active. 

• Chief Architect 
• Word
• Access
• Excell
• NotePad++
• Edge
• Thunderbird
• Pdf-Pro
• etc

For Chief I have hundreds of tools available with a maximum of 3 key strokes.  All the keys are assigned icons to indicate the tool.  There are only 32 keys but each of those can access 32 more and 32 more and ........

Take a look at some of the videos - you'll be amazed at the possibilities.  Each key can be assigned a variety of different actions and/or combinations of actions.

I don't know about HD, but in CA you can change the "Handle Fill" in Preferences.

Just now, Renerabbitt said:

well while we're at it, do you need to make any colors brighter like the chief blue? 

No, I'm happy just using what Chief has.

Just now, Renerabbitt said:

Yes I have an automated process, just batch convert to jpeg.
So I would just have you send me every icon you need

All the png's in the Chief X14 Program "resources/buttons" folder.  Make the background a medium gray.

2 hours ago, Renerabbitt said:

I could do that for you, shoot me an email with any specifics 

HI Rene,

Basically, all of the icons have transparent backgrounds - because they are used on the Toolbars and the Toolbar Background color works for that.  I'm wanting to use them for the Stream Deck so I have to make a separate set that has a background.  Otherwise, any black or dark lines are essentially invisible.

I've started making them all on a gray background with the icon only about 75% centered.  It's a time consuming process to do it one at a time so if you have some automated process that will do them all at the same time - go for it.

Thanks

If they didn't get transferred on the upgrade then you can do one of 2 things:

• Copy from the X12 "Chief Architect Premier X12 Data\Database Libraries\" Folder
• Import from Chief Architect Web Site

Actually, they are located in the "resources/buttons" folder.

Some of them have a transparent background.  It would be nice if there's an easy way to convert that to make a copy with a white background.  Suggestions?

Have you tried "Custom Muntins"?

There are a few things to consider.

1. Do you have a lot of 3D Symbols with large face counts?
2. Do you have automatic rebuild, framing, etc ON?
3. Do you have any macros that may be repeating during pan/zoom?

I've also found a combination of settings for Section/Elevation views that can cause almost 100% CPU utilization. 

I need to submit a case to support with an example.

Otherwise, you can post a link to your plan (Dropbox, OneDrive, etc)