TheKitchenAbode

A potential benefit of using the text box overlay is that you could, by using a text colour or box outline, differentiate this from the other dimensions. It would be a good reminder that the real dimension has been overridden. Graham

I agree, but if Chief does not allow this then what are the other choice do you have. Graham

Could you not just place a text box with a solid fill over the dimension in question? Graham

Here are the settings that I have found that have a majorl impact on Raytrace times. Enable Environment Light Photon Mapping Point Light with (Soft Shadows) On a simple plan with one light and these settings turned on a single pass took about 9 minutes. With them off a single pass took about 45 sec. That's more than a 10 fold increase in Raytrace time. I usually run about 10 passes, 90 minutes versus 7.5 minutes. Huge diff. Graham

I was having a similar problem a week or so ago, tool bars missing. I ended up uninstalling and reinstalled X7, everything is working fine now. Just a note my first reinstall did not solve the problem. Had to go into all of the folders to make sure everything had been removed from the uninstalled version so the reinstall was a true clean install. Keep in mind that most uninstall programs do not actually remove everything, can be a bit like using delete, the file is still there just the link (association) has been removed. Graham

Once I am satisfied with the placement of a CAD block I just explode it if I need to dimension the items within or use point markers. Here's another little trick if you need to have the CAD block intact after dimensioning. Explode the cad block, dimension, copy dimensions, use undo to get the CAD block back, then paste (hold position). The dimensions will show with point markers in the right location. Just did this in plan view with three cabinets, worked fine. Just make sure you keep your dimension steps so they are less than your undue limit. Graham

I think when it comes to tablets Apple rules, especially in North America. Phones are a different story. Graham

I think the comment about Doug Park off riding his bike is a bit of a giveaway. Graham

I use Microsoft OneDrive. Provides seamless background syncing/backup of all my files to the cloud. All of my other computers are connected to my account and therefore are automatically synced. You can also access any file from any other computer anywhere by logging into your account via your web browser. For collaborative work you can set-up file sharing. You should also consider an internal back-up system just in case, Buffalo & Iomega and many more companies have inexpensive network drive arrays for this. Graham

You could just make a filler with the attributes you want and save it to your user library.

In the cabinet DBX you can attach moldings to a cabinet. Set height from bottom. Should do the trick. Graham

MacBook Pros are great machines but there is a lot to consider when changing to a different OS. No doubt that their track pads are really nice, however many of the newer systems from Lenovo & Dell have finally addressed most of these issues. You will also need to consider the other programs you use besides Chief. If you are using purchased software then you will need to buy the Mac version if available. If you are using Freeware then many of these may not be available in Mac format. Mac keyboard layout & function keys are a bit different than PCs and the OS UI is also very different, I know of several associates that tried to switch and unfortunately ended up switching back as they could not or were not willing to accept these differences. Another consideration is the current and future Windows UI changes, especially the touch screen interface. Although this is not conducive to working within Chief I find this to be really great during client presentations. Swiping through my portfolio doesn't get any better, even clients can participate. Now that I have become familiar with the touch screen capabilities I would never go back. Its actually quite amusing but I just naturally try to swipe screens for certain functions even though they do not have this capability, very disappointing when nothing happens. Graham

Mark - Thanks for sharing. I can understand your approach. Fortunately in my region there is not much need for this style anymore. Most designs are going transitional, modern & contemporary. However in the New England states I can fully appreciate the demand. What I was working on before was almost there but one issue arose that would really limit its usefulness. Unfortunately there is only one element (a separation) in the cabinet configuration that I been able to find that its dimension (specifically it's width) is absolute. All other configuration components are relative to the cabinet width. For my beaded frame I used a 1/16" opening to simulate the recessed bead element, the other components frame & bead were defined as separations. Everything was fine until I increased or decreased the cabinet width, the separations remained as they should but the recessed bead element (opening) increased or decreased in width relative to the cabinets width change. A thought did cross my mind that maybe it would be useful if we could designate whether or not a cabinet component be treated as absolute or relative. Graham

Hi Mark, that's the way I do it. Just find a door/drawer style with an outer bead or make one up. Renders correctly and then just spec it out. We are just trying to find a way to make a frame that would allow us to just drop in any door style. I am getting close but not sure Chief will accommodate this and still allow you to resize the cabinet width without the frame changing its width automatically in proportion to the new cabinet width. Graham

Heres the above with the corner of the bead corrected. Graham

I am working on this a bit more. Doing it a bit different. Adding vertical separations to create the look. For example, left cabinet side vertical separation blank 1 1/4", right of that vertical separation opening 1/16" (creates bead groove), right of that vertical separation blank 1/4" (creates bead), right of that would be your door. Similar process needs to be done for the horizontal pieces. Just working on getting the bead to join properly in the corners. The vertical simulated beaded frame has to be split horizontally and the section heights adjusted to align the bead. The cabinet model will be fairly complex with all of the vertical & horizontal separations but once done it can be saved to the library for future use. Here's how it looks so far. White parts are the frame, door other colour. Maybe this would overcome the cabinet label issue. Graham

Just played with this for a few minutes. Take a cabinet, split it vertical two times. Make the left and right opening widths your frame width. Make a left & right door model with bead only on left & right side, assign to appropriate left & right openings. For top & bottom you will need to do the same type of thing for the horizontal separation. This might work. Could also play with the Accessories Pilaster option for the verticals & make a model for the horizontal separation (frame). Graham

Within Chief I believe currently this is the only way to do it. Create a custom door/drawer to simulate it. Would be great if the was an option for the cabinet frame when selecting "Inset" for plain or Beaded. The custom door/drawer is fine if you are only using this style once in a while but would be very time consuming if you require this frequently. Would not surprise me if for example the Gulfshore were not using something like 2020 which works using manufacturer catalogs. Graham

Thanks Mick. Just noticed that key. What was I thinking. No wonder no one was paying any attention to my posts. "X7" got it !!!

Just like to thank the tech support team. Been having problems with A7 in conjunction with Intel HD3000 graphics. They just released an update that has resolved this problem for me. Saved me $$$ as I do not have to purchase a discrete graphics card now. Owe you one. I know you probably had to dig deep to resolve this. "That's Technical Support". Would probably have taken MS or Apple a year or more to do the same thing.

Worked for me. A7 running fine now on Intel integrated HD 3000 chip. Many Thanks !!!

Just tried the new update. A7 working fine with my Intel integrated HD3000 chip. Many thanks!! Graham

Their was a post yesterday on Softpedia.com referring to the release of new Intel driver for their integrated graphics chip. Did not have time to try it out but maybe some can and let us know if this is the solution we have been looking for. Graham

I am a 100% Chief advocate. About 10 years ago when having to choose a software package Chief in my mind was the clear winner. This has been repeatedly confirmed each year as new features are added and tweaks implemented. Great Job for all involved. Keep up the work it truly is appreciated. Graham

A Quadro card will work but as Doug states in post #28 you will pay a high premium for features that Chief cannot take advantage of. Quadro cards are designed specifically for specialized engineering applications. They do not require shading & texturing. Gaming cards on the other hand are designed to be as efficient as possible to deal with this at as high a frame rate as possible. Chief users need this when panning with camera views with shadows, textures and smoothing turned on. The high price of the Quadro cards has little to do with the hardware and more to do with the specialized market they serve. Gaming cards are at a much lower price point due to the a the large & highly competitive market with gamers. Graham