Joe_Carrick

Please post your questions in the Q&A Forum. This is where you post Tips.

I really wish the City of San Diego would implement digital submittals. The last project I did required 7 sets: Planning Zoning Structural Historical Landscaping T-24 Engineering Then if there were corrections for any of the above in most cases they want a complete new set resubmitted. They also have a lot of specific formats for presentation of information - often not the way I like to present the data.

I love that. I've found that several different jurisdictions in my area have different (but complimentary) sets of things they want in the ConDocs. I'm getting a pretty good "Boiler Plate" Layout Template that saves me a lot of time and shortens the plan check drastically.

Yes, just save the Layout Template without any Plan specific information. Then set that as your default Template.

If you are careful, you can limit dimensions to 1/4" or 1/8". Framers should be able to hit those pretty closely but it will never be 100%. Note that Denver is 1 mile above Sea Level but from Denver to New Orleans is well over 1000 miles. That's only about 1/8" per foot which is the minimum code required slope for a garage floor. Generally a slab with 1/8" variance in 10' is considered level.

The compound miter problem is unfortunate. It results from the fact that the molding profile is always horizontal/vertical. If there was a way for Chief to know that the profile should be rotated to a specific angle on any given segment then compound miters could be done. If the profile is round and it's offset vertically & horizontally by -1/2 the diameter then they will miter very close to correctly. Actually they should miter exactly but there is evidently a miscalculation in the software so the miters don't quite meet. If the profile size is small enough it might be "close enough".

I might be able to create a text report with all of the above by using a macro in the default wall labels. However, I would really need for CA to provide an attribute containing the wall_type definition (materials & thicknesses) plus an "is_shear wall" attribute. If they just had a "Wall Schedule" and there was an OIP for walls then it would be really pretty easy.

Typically I have to provide "Wall Schedules" in my ConDocs for building departments. The information needs to show: Wall Type (construction) - Graphic Legend Lengths and Heights Shear Wall (Y/N) - Solid Hatch in Plan if "Y" Shear Wall Sheathing and Nailing if "Y" Demo Wall (Y/N) - Graphic indication and Lengths. I just spent an entire day meeting with the Planning Department and Inspectors - then manually revising such a schedule for California Coastal Zone requirements on a remodel project. Has anyone developed a means of automating any or all of the above? If so, please share your method.

It would be better if you could expand on your signature with system and chief version information. Take a look at what I'm showing.

For Finished Ends, you need to open the Cabinet dbx and select the side you want to modify. There's a drop-down that allows you to specify what sort of treatment that face of the cabinet gets. There's no easy way to specify inside colors different from outside colors. BTW, you should ask questions in the "Q&A Forum", not "Tips and Techniques".

You can select the Layout Box and open it. Then select "Plot Lines". There is also a "Plot Lines" option in the "Send to Layout" dbx.

If it's shown that way in the Plan View then it should be that way in the Layout. However, in order to make it stick you should be sending "Saved Plan Views" to Layout so that you aren't changing the Layout when you turn off the Referenced Floor as you are working.

The PDF is too grainy to accurately determine what the dimensions are. However, the way to create this model is to make it 2 stories and then designate the warehouse 2nd floor area as "Open Below". The brick on the pilasters will probably need to be done with a PSolid or Wall Material Region. There are several options to do this.

I think the key is to call it a ladder, not stairs, and make sure the loft is not livable floor area. I don't have access to the Alberta Building Code but the IRC/CRC allows Ship Ladders for areas where a means of egress is not required. Check carefully the definition of "Habitable Spaces" and the exceptions listed for low ceiling heights. If the loft is less than the minimum area or has a ceiling height that exempts it from being considered a "Habitable Space" then it doesn't need to have "stairs".

Flatten the PDF. It doesn't save that much in terms of file size - but it does eliminate or at least minimize the ability to edit.

Inserting works with the Insert Depth almost the entire depth of the Symbol. They display correctly in Cross Section Elevations and in Perspectives. But they don't display the symbol in "Room Elevations". The problem only occurs if the symbol is inserted more than 1/2 its depth. Try it for yourself.

So I found that when I created a symbol set to insert into a wall it displayed correctly in Perspectives & Section/Elevations. But in Room Elevations all I got was a hole in the wall. After talking with Nigel at CA I learned it was because the symbol wasn't in the Room and it was hard-coded in the program and nothing could be done about it. The problem with moving the symbol into the room so it would show in Interior Elevations meant that it was then wrong in the Plan view. So here's my solution: Offset the Y origin the amount you want the symbol to be inserted. Generally this would be the symbol depth (-) the amount you want it to project. Set the Insert Depth to 0 Set the Bounding Box Y value to just the desired projection Create and assign a new 2D Block for the plan view (just the projected amount) This works in all 3 view types. I've passed this on to Nigel with the suggestion that CA modify the "Create/Edit Symbol Dialog" so that the above is done automatically. Of course, like most things in Chief we probably won't see this fix for at least 3 more releases.

Try this Drawer Front Slab Drawer w J-Pull.calibz Note: You can also specify some drawer fronts as just slabs to minimize the number of horizontal pulls.

Dimensions in Layout are "Paper Size". You need to do all dimensioning in the Plan views (plan, section, elevations & CAD Details.

You might also need to move/offset the outlets to adjust for any backsplash and/or wall material regions. They normally only show relative to the finished wall surface and any wall finish applied may be obscuring the outlets.

Yep, I did that already. No Grilles - just Registers. I downloaded a Return Air Grille with plenum box from 3D Warehouse and modified to fit my duct chase.

I thought there were Return Air Grilles in the Core Library but all I can find now are Registers (supply). Any idea where these things went?

AFAIK, CA will not be a multi-user system in the way we would really want it to be. ie: It will not provide for simultaneous editing of a project by multiple users. If you can break the project down into separate plan files with a common background plan then it can work - but not with just one plan. In order for it to work within a single plan file; CA would need to devise a "Locking Scheme" based on users and "Layers" or "Layersets". The "Save Plan" system would need to be coordinated with that "Locking Scheme". It's not a trivial programming project so I doubt they are inclined to do it. Currently I don't know of anything in the Plan Database that identifies different users who have opened a plan file. That's a critical element in any multi-user system.

You can change the Default Wall Type to be used in the "Defaults": Edit > Default Settings > Walls > Interior Walls > Wall Type

Yes and the Steel Strong Walls are really good. I include their details as a PDF when using them.