Chopsaw

How does it fail ?  Did you get this far ?

Just now, dskogg said:

Is there a converter i can use, or do you have to have revit?

Revit or Archicad.

No way to have a visible snap grid unless you are ok with using screen shots.

I have done construction lines before but I think it is much easier to just use a polyline with a grid pattern fill style.

Sorry I don't think technology has come quite that far yet.  Have you checked the 3D Warehouse to see if someone has taken the time to model it ?

If the manufacture can't provide a 3D model in some format then you will need to find one similar or model it from scratch.

Perhaps post the image and manufacturer and model info and someone may be able to help.

Tools > Layout > Referenced Plan Files...

Also Angle Style is typically set to Quadrant Bearing for a Site Plan. 

8 minutes ago, Kbird1 said:

Oh I see, okay then I would use a Solid for the Ceiling Drywall and cut a hole in it where needed.....

Ouch....     "Hole in Ceiling Platform"    Scalpel not Dynamite.

Unless of course you have a second floor above as Chief does not seem to know the difference between a floor and a ceiling.

It has been a while since I did it but should be easier now with a modern version.  Place the light and make a ceiling hole that suits it then select both and make a new symbol maybe.

6 minutes ago, stephenbc said:

Yes, I agree, it would require the same behaviour as a sink cut-out in a countertop.  Perhaps that functionality just isn't there.

I don't have time to test it at the moment but I think you can block a hole to a symbol and then remake the symbol.  I have a terrain object that works that way so it may work for a ceiling mount as well.   Let us know if you can get it to work.

1 hour ago, skoz44 said:

If I use a wall, then I still have to make it a railing in order to make it a different height (ex. 40" tall, 48" tall, etc.)

Yes there is that problem.  I was just experimenting with a possible solution that I have not tried before but it seems all I have found is another irregularity with the software. 

Yes if you want to use a fence it is assumed that fences are made with wood or metal in a vertical orientation.  You might be better off  using a wall.

1 hour ago, RobUSMC said:

So what's the best way to ask the question or show a client.... I spent X amount of hours from Date Y to Date Z?    Pretty simple I thought.

This may not be exactly what you are asking but for instance if you are billing on a monthly or bi-weekly schedule then what I do is place the Total Duration total into the notes of the date you are billing so the the next time you bill you can just subtract that time from the new total.  You can also note that you have invoiced for the hours to date and even go back and mark it paid if you like.

I also have a system of doing it in excel that works but it is quite complicated and I rarely use it anymore because of the time involved.

2 hours ago, BlackDiamond said:

I'm not sure how you "reset dialog sizes". Would that allow me to keep my larger monitor as the main one?

Yes that would most likely work.  Just be aware that it resets position and size so you may have some tinkering to do to get things back the way you like them depending on how many adjustments you have made from the default setup.

Preferences > Reset Options > Reset Dialog Sizes.

I am not even sure if a toolbar reset would fix that but you could try if there is nothing to loose, but first I would maybe change your "Save Dialog Size and Position" to "Never" and do a restart to see if that works.

Is there any chance you last used that with a different display configuration ? 

Thanks DB  "I would bet that "reset dialog sizes" brings it back."   Not sure why I missed that.....  See Below

47 minutes ago, mrhoseindanesh said:

i updated the graphic drives but not solved

How about the Render Preference Settings ?  Did they make any difference ?

25 minutes ago, mrhoseindanesh said:

thanks sir...no it is pc.but i didnt buy new graphic card because prices are too high here.any way this problem never happened before  just happened in this project.think this pic is what you need

The 2 GB card should be adequate since you are running X7 so have a look through this trouble shooting article and see if any of the suggestions work for your setup.

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00106/troubleshooting-3d-camera-view-display-problems-in-chief-architect.html#RenderPref

Is this a more detailed plan than anything you have done previously ?

1 hour ago, mrhoseindanesh said:

16gb ram
2g asus graphic
i5 9600k

Would that possibly be a laptop setup ?  Check to see what graphics card chief is using.  Preferences > Render  > Video Card Status

Something may have caused that to change to using the integrated video driver rather than your 2 GB Video Card.

4 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

It shouldn't be an Issue as far as I know , but one thing I have found especially with Exteriors, is it's best NOT to use the AUTOMATIC (Default) Light Set.

Very interesting as I don't think it has always been that way but seems to work now in X14. 

19 minutes ago, johnny said:

i guess i don't understand why turning on the sun seems to automatically turn off the lights i've placed.

Unfortunately I think that is all hard coded Johnny.  Which makes it really difficult to set up a nice dusk or dawn rendering.  I had to go to the trouble of replacing the lightbulb material in my fixtures for a sunset rendering I did but I think you actually want some fill light ?  You may be able to turn the sun off and replace it with a manual light source even though that really should not be necessary.  I think the other option is to somehow trick the program to think the exterior rooms are interior rooms but that would most likely be a headache.

No sorry it does not work that way.  Technically you could delete the door using another more complex method but then you would be left with a hole in the side of container.  Not the same as using the program the way it was designed to build houses where if you delete a door then you have a wall that fills in the hole.

Try the 3D Warehouse...     https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search/?q=shipping container&searchTab=model

Also you will find answers specific to your software at the Home Designer forum...   https://hometalk.chiefarchitect.com/

However you can't do that in the Premier software so it certainly won't work with HD Pro.

Think of the material as simply the paint or wallpaper pattern and not the object.

I did not look the PDF over too carefully but one thing to watch out for is making sure all of the elevations you use are ground level as surveyors usually measure to the top of features but if you are familiar with the site and know the actual height of the feature that is called out you can subtract  that value from the measured elevation.  At first glance it looks like there should be almost enough information available if you work with it.   You might be right though as the surveyor would have likely done the contours if it was easy.

Window Specification > Options > Egress

Unfortunately I don't think you missed anything.  Send that in as a suggestion if you don't get an answer that works.

If you turn on the Border and Grid Lines it does not look quite so bad. 

The 3D viewer has limitations.  I have never been able to use if for a fully detailed model of any significant size. 

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-03044/optimizing-a-chief-architect-plan-for-export-to-the-3d-viewer.html

Not so easy.  You need to find a friend with Revit or ArchiCad that can convert for you.  Not sure there is another way unless your source has another format choice.

You could try posting here and someone may be able to help but there are a limited number of users here that use both programs.

Sorry I read that as a .rfa symbol and not a .rft plan file.