Joe_Carrick

Rod, Taking this one level further - Detail Callouts tied to Schedule Fields. IOW, reference a detail and have that filled in on a column in the Door or Window Schedule (Head, Jamb, Sill) or in the Finish Schedule (Moldings - Crown, Chair Rail, Base), etc. I am already putting those references in the Schedules - always have even when doing manual drafting - but I still have to fill them in manually with Chief. It would be great if I could just pick a Door (either in Plan or Schedule - maybe select a Schedule field) and then click on the Layout Detail to fill in the Schedule data.

Perry, What's too many? I typically might have 120 Details in a Layout but only about 20 CAD Details in any single Plan File. I rarely open the Plan Files with the CAD Details in them other than to specifically add / modify / or send to layout. Once I'm thru with them I close the Plan File. I have the following Detail Plan Files: ..Door ..Window ..Roof ..Foundation ..Framing ..Roof ..Railings None of these has more than 20 CAD Details except Framing and it has about 35 CAD Details. I basically violate one of Chief's recommendations because these Detail Plan Files are not in the Project Folder. They are all in a separate common Folder so that they can be used on any and all projects. As soon as I open a layout file, the latest version of all the details is accessed.

While on the subject of Layout Layersets: Assume that I have many details to send to layout and I've created them all with the same Layerset in a single Plan File. Is there any advantage in "Copy Current Layerset" or is it just a way to clutter my Plan File with multiple Layersets? Wouldn't it be better in that case to uncheck that box so that all details have the same line weights, line styles and colors. Then if that Layerset is modified in the Plan File, the changes will be to all the details rather than having to edit multiple (20 +/-) layersets?

So here's my basic CAD Detail Plan. The Text above the line contains a macro that gets updated when the CAD Detail is named. I use the Plan (Floor 1) as the place to create a new detail. Then I copy it to a new CAD Detail which I name. The number or letter in the circle has to be manually edited - which I do after I send the detail to layout. If I need to create a new detail similar to an existing, I can simply copy paste into the Plan (Floor 1), modify that and copy it to a new CAD Detail. I use "Paste-Hold Position" a lot. BTW, the Framing members are CAD Blocks that can be sized for whatever lumber size I need. The perimeter is a heavier line than the cross lines and the box has a solid fill.

True enough. I might do that for some layout pages that will be standard sheets in the default layout, but it means setting each CAD Detail to the appropriate scale. With specific Detail Plan Files I just set that Plan to the scale I want and all new CAD Details inherit that scale.

I don't do it that way because I prefer to work to scale (most of my details are 1"=1'-0") and then I send to layout at the scale of the drawing.

FWIW, I have my screens setup as follows: Main Screen - 30" Hi Res: UL - Aerial View - Docked LL - Project Browser - Docked UR - Library Browser - Docked Center - Floor Plan Left Screen - 24" Monitor Perspective Views Right Screen - 24" Monitor Orthographic Views (Elevations, Details, etc.) I never have a problem with anything disappearing with this scheme. However, I find it disconcerting to have the dbx appear on a different screen than where I selected the object to open. I need to experiment with the settings to see if I can get them to appear on the same screen as the selected object. If that doesn't work then I'll submit a ticket to support.

Rod, I'm not sure what you are asking for. Do you want the name of the Layerset associated with a specific Layout Box? If you're looking for something like the attached pic, right click on the Layout Box, select "Layout Box Layers..." and use snippit to create a pic that you can save and then display with your favorite jpg viewer.

Let me try to explain. Layout Files reference to the Plan(s) based on relative location on Disk. If the Layout and Project Plan are in the same folder it's simple. OTOH, if a Plan such as a Detail Plan is located in the X5 path and the Layout and Project Plan are moved to the X6 path then the relative position is violated and things can get messy. The Layout doesn't know where to find the Detail Plan. That might not be the exact situation, but it's very likely something similar tht CA is trying to avoid.

I'm not sure that's really true. The problem is more likely one of the users not always copying everything when systems are upgraded.

I am tending to favor using CAD Details in separate Plan File(s) since they can be named. The Plan File can be set up at the desired Scale and with appropriate Anno and Layersets. That way I won't have to Block the Details and I can easily edit the CAD Detail to update any Layout with detail revisions. By having a set of secondary Plans, I can segregate the details (Door, Window, Foundation, Framing, etc) and AFAIK, there's no limit on the number of CAD Details in a Plan File. Using Floors to store details seems to be a problem because we can only have 30 floors and there's no way to name the Details something other than Floor 1, Floor 2, Floor 3, etc. So I'm voting for CAD Details in separate Plan Files. I used to work on much larger commercial projects and needed a Spec Book and a Detail Book. Since most of my projects are now fairly small, I'm going to just put the details on the standard layout pages. Initially, I was thinking the Library but making revisions is too cumbersome. Standard Details can obviously be in the Default Layout but they still need to be created someplace and sent to layout, so CAD Details seems to make sense at least as a starting point and as a way of being able to make revisions easily.

I'm planning on revising my detail management. What's your preference for handling details? There are obvious pros and cons to various methods and I'm trying to decide which system works best. If you have some other method that you like better than any of the poll choices - please explain what you do and why. Thanks

OTOH, we wouldn't draw each segment of a dentil molding either - probably just a few at the start and end on one section and then note that this is typical.

Yes, Perry has the answer - but CA should fix this. A repeated 3D Molding Symbol should not show the connections if the surfaces are coplanar. It's not how we would draw it so Chief shouldn't draw it that way either.

Oh, one more thing if nobody else has mentioned it............... Turn of Automatic Framing (Floor, Roof, Walls, etc) - it can make a hugh difference.

Hmmmm..... I updated and only have one copy of each. But I used the menubar/dropdown.

Adam, As a side note, if you create a Wall Type for the double wall, then the Jamb will behave as you want it to. OTOH, you'll only have one row of studs in the Framing Views. There's just no way to win with this................

Yes, and while they're at it they should give us control of the unsightly dark lines at the edge of the wall. I've never been able to figure out how to adjust the line weight and the fact that it extends to the outermost wall surfaces. OK, so the "Framed Opening" line is controlled by the setting for "Walls-Normal" (which is typically the "Main Layer Only"). But this "Framed Opening" doesn't stop at the "Main Layer" - it continues out to the outermost wall surface. CA, please fix this - at your leasure......

You can adjust the Jamb Size and offset to fix it? I tried and it almost works. (2) 4.5" walls, 9" Jamb that is inset -5" See pic

Ahhhhh..... The Rose called S.A.M. Way too dry (droll by the bridge troll)

Hey Scott, You shouldn't post anymore until you learn toy spell IAE, a Rose by any other name is still a Rose.

Perry's right. There are several other Plan Templates that can be used as starting points. Personally, I created a folder in which I save all my modified Plan Templates. One of those is my Default but all of them have been modified from time to time to match my standards, including CAD Details, Schedules, Camera Views, etc. Scott's Plan_1 really isn't any different. He uses it as a place to start his projects and so it's really his Default Template even if he doesn't think it is. Just because it isn't in the Chief Template folder doesn't mean it's not a Template.

Scott, You are absolutely correct - and normally you are right on and extremely helpful. In fact I gained some value from the response in the thread where I dinged you. The ding was for your negative comment of my solution to the arch. I think it's always valid to show another way of doing something but I try not to denigrate someone else's method of doing something. Helping is good, and you do it very well. Just remember that it's not a contest.

I throw a Curve, Fast Ball and a Slider - at least I used to. I'm not sure if I can throw a Fast Ball anymore.

I just want the Time Viewer Remote. I could just look at the Stock Report for tomorrow, next week, next month and invest accordingly. Then I wouldn't have to deal with clients, engineers, plan checkers, inspectors or programmers. I could devote almost all my time to Golf and my Wife - but I would have to do it in the reverse order.