CWdesign

Got it - finally! @Darwzilla - yep, that's exactly what I'd done (I think - different screens, different versions?). See below. Even minimizing and re-maximizing the screen caused the durn thing to "re-frame"... @DJP - that was the clue I needed. Call it what you like - I'd say "Auto Deck Framing" and "Automatic Deck Framing" are pretty synonymous. Regardless, that option WAS checked in the Room Definition dialog. Once turned off, the problem appears to be resolved. Many thanks to both of you for the assist - it's much appreciated!

Perhaps a clue? I made the alterations (again!), saved the project, and closed the program. When I re-opened it, it had reverted to "auto" configuration... This is getting to be more than just a little bit frustrating! <edit> THIS TIME - I'm going to get my elevation views done. Then if the durn thing decides to revert, I won't care. I hope... </edit>

On the one hand, I hear ya - at least as far as quantities are concerned. That'd make my life (as an estimator) a LOT easier. And there ARE standards for many such things - how many nails in a sheet or sidewall sheathing, for example. Trouble is twofold, at least. For starters, many of the "standards" (building code minimum requirements are a GREAT example) are set so low that NO reputable builder adheres strictly to them. Those requirements are just too lax. Nor do I design to them, for the same reason. I'll "over-design", thank you very much. My customers seem to agree... To top that off, there are as many ways to tackle a specific "building issue" as there are builders doing it. How do you "guesstimate" waste factors, for instance? A straight-forward simple roof is going to generate a lot less waste than a particularly cut-up one. That's why I said to enlist the help of a local estimator. A good one (I consider myself to be one such, and apparently my boss agrees, since I still have a job) will know the particular builders and their practices, and can estimate accordingly. The "science" just ain't that exact, there's a pretty big bit of "art" involved. Which is why the CA programmers (or anyone else) could never be expected to be able to cover all the bases. If they did/could, the program would become so complex that no one could use it! And that's just the "what to use" part of the equation. "How much does it cost" is even more unpredictable. Many building products - lumber & sheathing especially - are commodity items. Prices change DAILY, even hourly! The ONLY way I can lock your price, let's say for a project to begin in May, is to buy a futures contract on today's market. That'll be 2 rail-car loads of studs, and you don't begin to need that many. Same for lineal 2x materials. Same for sheet goods. How many houses are you gonna build??? Sure, the company I work for publishes item pricing. It'll be good until I have to buy the next batch. Then it WILL change. Same way gas prices change from day to day. Not saying you have to like it, but it is what it is, and it's not going to change regardless of whether you like it or not. Even "non-commodity" items - siding, windows, doors, trim, etc... change pricing periodically. A "typical" house has probably something on the order of 15,000+ different items. Oh, and they can be vastly different items, from house to house. Do YOU want to maintain that database of pricing?

Recently migrated from X1 to X5 - no surprise, much to like, some to dislike... Specifically, I'm working on a house with a walkout wall, deck above. Default, auto-deck-framing on. So, I don't like the post configuration generated by auto-framing. No big deal - edit it, turn auto-framing off (in the Default -> Room -> Deck menu). At least, that's what I thought... EVERY time I alter anything related to the exterior shell, the deck reverts to "auto-frame". I've had to re-configure this deck at least 5 times now - it's getting old, to say the least. The last time was after I changed the siding color (in the Wall Types Definitions dialog). Obviously, I'm missing something. Any ideas?

Not meaning to be a jerk about this, but hey Sam, if you're depending on CA (whatever version) to generate a materials list and cost for you, welp...sorry about that. That's not Chief's long suit - personally, I'd as soon they got rid of that "capability". For what it's worth, I've tried/used other software (Envisioneer comes immediately to mind), that claims to calculate such lists/costs as their strong point - they're no better. Or they take longer to "set up/maintain" than they're worth. As as a professional designer/estimator with 40+ yrs of experience, there's not a program out there that I'd trust to give anything more than a "budget" estimate. There's just too many variables. What are the code requirements (in your area)? What are the common framing/finishing practices (in your area)? What are your (specific) builder's practices? What are today's (not yesterday's, or last week's) commodity item prices? What finishes do you intend to use - and what are their costs? See what I mean? My definition of a Materials List, is "everything included in the construction of a project", down to the last nail, unless stated otherwise. My definition of "accurate" is "correct, dead-on, exact, precise, proper, spot-on, and true". Not gonna happen - period, end of story. Long story short - if you need an exact (or as close as possible) estimate, you need to enlist the aid of a local professional. To expect Chief's software writers to do that for you is just plain unrealistic.