Joe_Carrick

I've assigned a value to a Custom Field percent = 5 How do I retrieve that value in a macro for use in calculations? I'm pretty sure someone posted the trick previously but I can't find it.

Yes, but such cabinets are not standard. They are custom and can be big problems to fabricate correctly. This is one of the cases where we have to do the work we get paid for.

How can I create a picture of my signature with a transparent background?

One thing that you can do is set "Auto Build Attic Walls" ON in the General Wall Defaults. That will often solve the problem.

That's how I do it. It's not ideal, but the program just seems to choke on doing this automatically.

But you may have inadvertently edited those particular windows to something other than the "Windows" layer. Open the plan view and check.

Check those windows in the plan view and make sure they are on the correct layer.

I think that may only be true if you use the "Copy Layer Set" option when sending to Layout. OTOH, a Saved Plan View will do it automatically.

Gene, Do you have a saved "Foundation Plan View".

+1

Note also that the Room Finishes, Moldings, etc are automatic depending on the Room Type Definition. This is really pretty handy for getting the right flooring and moldings in a Bedroom vs a Bathroom, Laundry, Garage, etc.

Material file would be great.

I'm really looking for something I can use for patio pavers. ie: a random shape stone paver varying from 10" to 27"

Open the Schedule you don't want it to show on and uncheck it in "Items to Include".

Most PDF programs have the capability to export to PNG which will work much better in Chief. OTOH, if you use a set of Detail Plans (generally at 1" scale - and named per the detail type) you can import your DWG's to individual named CAD Detail Windows. These will be editable as needed and the scale can be set as well. Since you can send to Layout from any Plan, using such Detail Plans provides an "Index" system for easy reuse from project to project.

Thanks Mark. I figured it out - just had trouble finding the setting in the PDF program.

When I print my layout sheets to PDF I am getting the grids in the PDF. How do I avoid that? There must be a setting someplace.

I will be incorporating the joists into the SIPs. Walls and Girders below supporting the panels. The maximum span I have is 16'. The problem I have is that the 2x12 splines at the edge of the panels don't show up in the framing. I guess I'll just have to add those elements manually. I'm considering just modeling a full panel and placing them without building the Floor Framing.

I'm working on a project where I want to use SIPs as the floor structure. How would you model this?

Either put the Cross Section Camera on the desired Floor - or set it to display on all floors.

I use Dropbox for the Chief Data Folder. Each compute has it's own Dropbox Folder linked to the Cloud Dropbox Folder. It works fine for me, keeping all libraries, etc synched.

I have no problem with Layout Page Templates not being at the end. You just have to make sure you specify which page template is to be used for each page of your Layout. Here's an example: ============================= Page 0 - Default Page Template - includes my Architects License Stamp Pages 1-6 - General Sheets use "Default Page Template"; Label = "G-#" Pages 7-20 - Architectural Sheets use "Default Page Template"; Label = "A-#" Page 21 - Structural Page Template Pages 22-28 - Structural Sheets use "Structural Page Template"; Label = "S-#" Pages 29-32 - Electrical Sheets use "Default Page Template"; Label = "E-#" Pages 33-35 - Mechanical Sheets use "Default Page Template"; Label = "M-#" Pages 36-38 - Plumbing Sheets use "Default Page Template"; Label = "P-#" ============================= Notice that the only difference between the 2 Page Templates is the existence of my License Stamp. The position of the "Structural Page Template" at page 21 doesn't effect pages 29-38 because those pages are specified to use the "Default Page Template". This is my standard Layout Template File and not all sheets are used on every project. When I elect to do my own structural engineering I simply change Pages 22-28 to use the "Default Page Template". and then my License stamp is included on those sheets as well.

For quality purposes I almost always use 5/8" gyp bd everywhere. It just makes a much more solid wall.and/or ceiling.

I would charge $300 for the macro system. Learning to create macros requires 3 things: Learning the Ruby scripting language Learning what object attributes are available in Chief. Determining how you should access and use the attributes.

This can be done - but it's a big job because you have to accumulate all the wall materials as well as the opening sizes (stored in a global variable) and then read that data to create the output totaled. In order for it to be accurate it would need to be updated at periodic intervals. IMO it's not worth the effort but I can provide you with a price if you want me to create the required macros.