Joe_Carrick

I would use a 3D Molding Symbol on a 3D Molding Polyline. The Symbol would be a single Brick + a grout space (soldier course) and the 3D Molding Polyline would be an arch drawn in the Elevation View. For the Material of the Brick, use a grainy brick red color/texture - don't use an actual brick texture. The other option would be just a 2D Molding Profile on the 3DMolding Polyline and a Brick Texture.

It seems like Wendy disappeared once Chief provided Shadow Boards. What happened to her?

So delete the offending Layout Box and then send the view to Layout again with the correct Layer Set.

Perry, The best solution I've found for the Apron Front Sinks is to use a Cabinet that's shorter (by the amount of the Sink Depth) and set the Counter Top thickness for that Cabinet to 0. That eliminates a lot of other problems - like the front panel of the Cabinet possibly protruding into the sink. Besides, that's how I specify the Cabinet. I do the same for commercial Cook Tops - they just sit on a shorter cabinet.

Mull the Door and Sidelights first. Then make sure the edges of the transom are aligned with the edges of the sidelights and mull those together. Chief simply requires that the heights match for side by side and that the widths match for vertical mulling.

I would seriously like to be able to specify all of these things according to the size I want them to be printed. Most of the computer world uses the Point Size but as draftsmen we think in terms of Ruler Size. Here are some examples: Text 1/8" Chief Blueprint 3/16" Arial 1/4" Chief Blueprint 1/2" Courier 1/2" Comic San Serif Arrows 1/8" Filled Slant 1/8" Barbed 3/16" Filled Barbed Callouts 3/8" diameter 1/2" diameter 5/8" diameter Dimension Setup 1" Initial Offset 3/8" Spacing etc. This is the way we were trained and how we think about annotation sizes. Chief currently provides us with a little built-in calculator so we can determine what real world size to specify so that we get the printed size we need depending on the desired scale of the final printed output. By having all of these things specified in the Text_Style dbx in printed size, Chief could then simply adjust according to the scale ratio. IOW, if the text size is specified as 1/8" then Chief would simply multiply that by: 24 for a 1/2"=1'-0" scale 48 for a 1/4"=1'-0" scale 96 for a 1/8"=1'-0" scale etc. The same factors would be used for Dimension Spacing, etc. Please let's get this part of the program back in line with how we think of these things.

Chief has some separate sidelights - I don't remember off hand if they'te in the Core, Bonus or Mfr Librarie - which can be place with the Door and a Window above an mulled together to form a single unit.

Doug, I disagree in this regard, Annosets don't set Defaults, they simply select a set of "Named Defaults". IOW, the user may have several "Named Dimension Defaults", several "Named Text Defaults", etc. An Annoset just selects which "Named Defaults" are made Active. It's the "Named Defaults" that actually define/specify the Default settings. This is why I suggest that Mark start a thread about Dimension Defaults.

Larry, Why not just a new Layer Set? Is it because you want to have a different CAD Layer or a different "Locate Object" setting in Dimensions that you need an Annoset to select everything at once?

Mark, Defaults are their own subject. It's really a separate topic from Annosets per se. Start another thread and I'll pitch in with whatever wisdom I can provide.

Now your talking. Put #1 in the Layerset and add the option for Annoset in the Layerset and you'll make me really happy.

1. It sets the Current CAD Layer 2. It sets the Plan Annotation Defaults to a set of "Named" Defaults which in turn set the "Named Text Styles" 3. It optionally selects the Active Layerset or leaves the Current Layerset as is. That's it in a nutshell.

Currently I use about 30. I would like to be using only about 10. Better yet, I would really like to just be using about 20 Layersets and no Annosets at all. With the current software I don't have either of my preferred options.

I disagree with Robert. Chief is better at making Details than AutoCAD - but you need to know how to use Chief's capabilities to get those results.

Doug, If you make it work a certain way then that's the way it's going to be used - even if you didn't intend it to be used that way. Currently, the quickest way to get the desired Layerset, Defaults & CAD Layer is to select an Annoset that has those settings. The unfortunate part is that it's too much control in the wrong spot. Consequently it results in a need for a Layerset for almost every Annoset. It also means that we have to have an Annoset for each scale. That's a lot of complexity and not really that easy to set up. Added to that is the fact that we have to have Defaults for the various annotation objects for each scale and Text Styles for each scale and you wind up with a very large matrix of possibilities. Naturally that leads to confusion and frustration.

Active Layerset is very simply what happens when the Layerset specified for the Current Annoset has been changed by the user. IOW, it's not the Default Layerset for that Annoset. We have the ability to change things on the fly. Annosets have made it easier to get everything with one click (actually 2 clicks) but the implementation has complicated things in other ways. It can be simpler.

Larry, If you could give a simple explanation of how you use them - I could be more specific in addressing your concerns. Without knowing how your use is unique, I can't agree or disagree with you.

It could work both ways. But IMNSHO Annosets are a silly way to deal with non-scale graphics (printed text size, etc.). With a fairly simple amount of programming the Defaults for these things could be changed to be specified in "Paper aka Print" size. Once that's done, there is absolutely no need for Annosets and also no need for separate Defaults for different scales. This is a classic case of LESS IS MORE! Wouldn't it be great if we could simply select a Layerset and have everything standardized. As an example: Select a Layerset - Just the Layers we want displayed and all Annotation Defaulted to 1/8" Chief Blueprint, etc. We would have only 1 set of Defaults for each type of Annotation Object, very few Layersets, no Annosets.

Scott, See the Poll I posted in the suggestions forum. FWIW, in the Annoset dbx there is the setting for Current CAD Layer which sets what layer CAD objects will be created on. I like this because it makes it possible to create basic CAD Objects (Lines, Arcs, Rectangles, etc) on a specific Layer depending on what type of drawing I'm working on. However, it's not a scale issue and as such I don't think it should be controled by Layerset vs Annoset. IAE, I agree with you that a modification of the system should be undertaken to make Layersets KING and in fact eliminate Annosets entirely.

As an alternative system, what about the following: 1. Move Current CAD Layer from the Annoset dbx to the Layerset dbx. 2. Move Dimension Defaults -> Locate Objects from the Annoset dbx to the Layerset dbx 3. Add Annoset to the Layerset dbx 4. Remove Layerset from the Annoset dbx So the Annoset would only set the Defaults for Dimensions, Ridh Text, Text, Callouts, Markers & Arrows. The Layerset would control everything related to the Display and the settings for CAD Layer and Locate Objects for Dimensioning. This would essentially eliminate the need for any Annoset other than those for different scales. It would mean that Layersets would be needed for each scale of each drawing type, but for most drawing types there are a maximum of 3-4 scales and in many cases only 1 scale. Then, if all those settings in Defaults were changed so that they were independent of scale (IOW - Paper Space Sizes) then the Annosets could be eliminated altogether. Maybe Doug would like to comment on the above

1. Did you select the option "Inserts into Countertop"? 2. Did you adjust the "Y" & "Z" Origins?

So, using your scenario you would: 1. Select a Layerset 2. Select a CAD Layer 3. Select a generic Scale Annoset (1:100) 4. Select the Dimension Defautls that go with your Layerset Current system option: 1. Select a generic Scale Annnoset (1:100) 2. Select a Layerset 3. Select a CAD Layer 4. Select the Dimension Defautls that go with your Layerset My method and what you are doing at this time: 1. Select a Scale and Discipline specific Annoset Current CAD Layer and Layerset and all Defaults are automatically as they should be. There are many possible ways of getting to the same point.

1GB onboad video memory is pretty low. I wouldn't accept anything less than 2GB - but if you look at my specs you'll see that I have 3GB on my system. Even my Laptop has 3GB.

Perry, 1. Do you use almost exclusively 1/4" scale? 2. Do you do much in the way of Interior Elevations? 3. Do you select the Annoset and then separately select the Layerset and Current CAD Layer? If you answered yes to #1 and no to #2 then I understand your lack of need for more annosets If you answered yes to #3 then I understand your lack of need for more annosets

Try turning off shadows. If your video card doesn't have enough onboard memory it will be a problem with them on.