Joe_Carrick

One thing that can help is the use of "Style Palettes". This allows a collection of object definitions to be used to quickly modify a single plan. However, this is currently limited to the following: Doors (exterior, interior, garage, etc style and materials) Windows (style and materials) Cabinets (style and materials) Rooms (structure, moldings, materials) Naturally, this can only change the appearance of the individual objects listed above. It can't change the shape of the structure itself. That's controlled by the individual plan - elevation design. IOW, if you want a different roof configuration or additional decks, balconies, etc you will need to take the approach I mentioned in my previous post.

Obviously it's possible. I might be a bit concerned about the rain water gushing off that point.

Since the Elevations and Structural Options are unique you would need to essentially use separate Plan Files. This can be done within a "Folder System" where the main folder is the specific Plan and the sub folders are the separate designs. The easiest way to set this up is to start with one design and then copy it to the (named) sub folders. Then make the appropriate modifications to each Plan. Here's an example of the folder system: Plan #1 (main folder for Plan - can have specs and general information) Elevation Design A (Contains the entire model for Design A) Elevation Design B (Contains the entire model for Design Elevation Design C (Contains the entire model for Design C) Plan #2 (main folder for Plan - can have specs and general information) Elevation Design A (Contains the entire model for Design A) Elevation Design B (Contains the entire model for Design Elevation Design C (Contains the entire model for Design C) etc. I would create the model (plan & layout) for Plan 1 - Design A Then I'd open the layout and plan and save them to the Plan 1- Design B & Plan 1 - Design C sub-folders. Then when you make changes to the models in those sub-folders they will be separate but based on the same floor plan. Details can be stored in separate plan files or in the user library. How you do this is up to you.

There are some in the Core Library>CAD Blocks>CAD Details. However, they don't cover all possible conditions. So you will probably need to modify and save your new versions to your User Library - or to CAD Details in one or more "Detail Plans" which is my preferred method.

Really? Maybe they don't see it as being "broken", but that doesn't mean it shouldn't be modified (fixed) so that it works the way we need it to.

There were no changes in X13 for stairs. I have no idea what might be coming in X14. Currently the only way to create a true "Wide-U" (3 flights) is to manually create 3 single flights and connect them with 2 landings.

That was about 15 years ago. There've been a lot of improvements in that time.

As I stated in your other thread - Cabinet Libraries don't actually include any cabinets - just the materials and colors. Cabinets in Chief and in HDP are parametric. IKEA would be all frameless. You could fairly easily configure IKEA's basics and add them to your User Library.

That's not correct. What's available to Chief Architect Products (with SSA) isn't available to HDP in most cases. IAE, the Cabinet Manufacturer Libraries don't contain any Cabinets - just Door Styles, Materials and Colors.

I use Nuance PDF Pro.

I have a Template that's saved/shared in a dropbox folder. On one of my computers the "Designer Info" is properly available. But on one of my other computers it shows as empty. Both computers are accessing the same template but for some reason the "Designer Info" isn't available. Does anyone know why/how this could happen?

I've used a custom sheet size. Normally I use 24"x36" (Arch D) but when the house is just a little too long: 24"x42" works. (Arch D2) custom size that I can print on my HP T120 30"x42" if the 24" isn't enough. (Arch E1) 36"x48" (Arch E) when absolutely necessary. It's not that hard to create custom sheet sizes and the print shops really don't care.

The commands that are available in the "Edit Toolbar" depend on what item has been selected. Obviously, the "Make Room Polyline" button will only appear if you've selected a Room. It can be an interior room or the exterior room (select within about 12" of the exterior wall) Note, you can also right click on an object to get the context menu (basically the same as the "Edit Toolbar"

Just draw a line, then select it and "Convert to a Molding Polyline".

Yes, change it in the Cabinet dbx for that door.

They can work, but they are essentially "windows" and their properties are not correct. ie: energy values, glazing, etc. In addition, there doesn't appear to be a single mesh "Eave Vent". There also doesn't appear to be an "Eye Brow" roof vent.

It would be great if there were more attic vents in the library. The only ones I've found are "Gable End" triangular. It should be possible to create schedules with the areas to verify the provided vents are adequate. In order to make that work for the code section Scott referenced there would need to custom fields to identify the positions. Scott; Note that the 1/150 requirement is the most stringent so it will always work, regardless to the positions.

It would be more useful to upload the plan file so we can see what your problem really is. Make sure you close Chief first.

You should go back to that post by Ridge_Runner and reverse your negative vote. It's just good form and will prevent any future antimosity.

Look at your Wall Type Definition. There are settings included in that dbx. BTW, Contractors will always calculate more area than is real. and then add 10-15%

One way of dealing with the detail is to use a separate wall type with 2 layers for the R-Zip that you use to draw the wall in the Detail. I regularly use wall types in my details to get all the layers automatically. Then I just need to add the other elements.

Living Area is measured to the main wall layer of the exterior walls. It only includes the rooms that are marked as "Include in Living Area". This is the "Real Estate Standard"

Doesn't always populate in the window attributes. It could be a result of bringing a plan forward from prior versions or how the room name is displayed in the plan. IAE, the "room_name" isn't really sufficient to verify which room a window is assigned to - unless all rooms have unique names.

Chief doesn't assign the "Room_Name" or "Type_Name" to Windows - but you could have a Custom Field for that. Like Michael says it can be done and there could even be a custom Text Box with the data displayed for each room. It would be a fairly complex macro system - but not impossible. The macros would need to be able to accumulate the room data as well as the window data and then perform the calculations and display the results. This is not unlike the Area Analysis macro systems.

Call Tech Support.