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Eric, That was unbelievably helpful. I have evidently always misunderstood setting wall heights, as i thought it was ceiling dependent in a vaulted ceiling type room as there was a need to use a rail solid wall to work around. Your video helped me fix every issue I was having. (The windows on the uploaded video had somehow reverted to some other size, so when changed to proper height, they work as well. That was only on front side. Thank you once again. Very helpful and learned a few things as well.

I see the wall disconnect, but detaching and reattaching did not work. See attached screen shot.

Thanks Eric. I just brought this license version up to X14 since it was paid for anyway. I've never been in a hurry to upgrade, but just send CA money every year. LOL As for the wall height issue, I'm not aware of any other way to control wall height where there is a vaulted ceiling, like in this case? In a normal flat ceiling room, ceiling heights dictate the height of the walls, you can't do that with vaulted, that I know of? The two bearing walls are different heights, and both roof/ceiling planes are also different, and nothing I've ever tried before, and not figuring it out yet. Is there another way to do specific wall heights?

Eric, You're right, as I have two licenses, one is at X13 and the other x14 right now. I lose track of which one I'm on. My SSA is current so I will just update the 13 which is easy enough. As for redrawing the problem walls, I've tried many times, with everything from better (closer) to really bad results. Essentially I'm trying to change the two bearing walls to railing so i can change their height to actual (70 front and 88 rear). That worked OK for the front, but really bad on the back. Not sure why yet. I think my roof planes are cutting siding (weird missing siding look between floors in 3D on front), but have not yet figured out exactly where and my manual experiments to correct that have not worked yet. Thanks

Tried again and it uploaded this time. House Plan Cove Experimental.plan

I'll correct but current X14 not 11

Preface this this post to say the plan I'm working on is my folks house. My dad has Parkinson's, and his mobility has declined to point he can not get to the upstairs anymore. For quality of life reasons, we plan to add an addition to front of house (two story section) and install an elevator as well as totally remodel the upstairs (doors, bath all to ADA standards) to allow him to continue to live in his house. This baseline plan will be used to discuss with contractors and find a suitable plan that works. The lower level is very accurately drawn, and no problem I'm aware of. The upstairs section is the issue I'm running into. It is stacked correctly, i think, but 3D views show a gap in front but look right on back of house. Also, I'm aware I'm not doing the walls correct upstairs, as they are none standard height (front and back both different) with vaulted ceilings and 2 different pitches on entire 2nd level. Front wall (top of drawing) of upper floor is 70" and rear (bottom of drawing) is 88". No idea why this was done long time ago, but something I'm not great at drawing correctly. Roofs mostly generated correct, but did have to "fix" a few issues manually (roofs on left side garage, kitchen, den) all depict right. Roofs over right side needed a few manual tweaks but pretty much are correct now. Obviously not working on second floor yet due to walls issue. Again, the only important part is the upper floor now as far as what we need it for. Any ideas or help is greatly appreciated. Regards, Keith Could not get .plan file to load here (only 7mb), so uploaded at link below https://www.dropbox.com/sh/k01dieoycqci76j/AADj42KOrO0lAlx-Rr1DJx6ca?dl=0 Regards, KeithHouse Plan Cove Experimental.plan

Wow, that's good to know Doug !! Looks like it's time for my every few version update. I will do that over the weekend. Also, suddenly last few responses on this thread have been VERY slow to post. Not sure if that is on CA or my end, but everything else seems to be working with my internet. Thanks !!

So tried to upload 3 of 4 files here, and forum after trying for a minute says "unknown error" and they turn red. So this didn't happen >>> Attached are 3 of 4 files I can upload without issue as they have no identifying information for my customer on them. The one I can't (shouldn't) upload is the baseline floor plan I have not done anything with, that contains their title block, which I immediately remove and use my own in Layout. I can email them, as a DM here does not seem to have an attachment option?? Thanks, Keith

Doug, Thanks but I don't have or use AutoCAD. I've found that for the most part CA has served my purposes, for commercial mechanical work we do. But changing the DWG floor plan files to use as a "base line" for my mechanical added layers has been problematic. Not with what I create, but the available CAD drawings they have, which beats redrawing the entire facility. So that part is good, but changing colors, or line weights of the blocks that come in with their DWG has never worked without first exploding their blocks.

You reminded me I had not updated my signature field in a while, so just did most of that.

I think, but not certain, it has to do mostly with the DWG base files I use of a bunch of medical facilities we serve. They use a LOT of CAD blocks, and I have never been able to change the line weights, or any attributes, within those CAD blocks without exploding them. My experiment with your method showed some, but not all, of the text also seems to have issues. Give me a minute and I'll upload the "original DWG" i use as the floorplan baseline, *plan file, with layers I add, as well as the PDF where I'm seeing some issues with method you advised on. Would love to figure this out, because it has been a monumental PITA for me for a long time. I'm even more than willing to pay for your time if you have a suggestion to avoid the tedious "exploding" of their CAD Blocks. I'm currently on X11 as I only update every few versions.

I think, but not certain, it has to do mostly with the DWG base files I use of a bunch of medical facilities we serve. They use a LOT of CAD blocks, and I have never been able to change the line weights, or any attributes, within those CAD blocks without exploding them. My experiment with your method showed some, but not all, of the text also seems to have issues. Give me a minute and I'll upload the "original DWG" i use as the floorplan baseline, *plan file, with layers I add, as well as the PDF where I'm seeing some issues with method you advised on. Would love to figure this out, because it has been a monumental PITA for me for a long time. I'm even more than willing to pay for your time if you have a suggestion to avoid the tedious "exploding" of their CAD Blocks. I'm currently on X11 as I only update every few versions.

Wow !! It had not dawned on me to use the Batch Plot option, but works great with my BlueBeam PDF (which I love and have been using now for decades). Only issue I see, and a common one for all PDF's in Chief, is line weights pretty much all need to be 1, or they are crazy looking in PDF version (way too "fat"). What works fine within Chief, or even DWG fails in PDF with any higher line weights. Never understood why that was, but with mechanical drawings I do all the time, on commercial projects, has always been that way. Otherwise, awesome to find your method and I thank you very much !!!!! Keith

I know this is an older thread, but of interest to me. I don't use AutoCad but do have TrueView. I've tried what Doug said, as well as more to what I have, Chopsaw's method. Easy enough to export out of Chief as DWG, but from TrueView I can't "export". Is there even an export option in TrueView, or is it just Plot? Thanks in advance. keith.

I bought these years ago. Was super skeptical if they would work but rolled the dice as they were cheap and I had Prime. The reviews were very good. I put a Full’s set in about a month ago for my Brother and works like a charm. Same single set for my printer is over $100 at staples. This was a set of 4 each bought 3 years ago. They sell for other printers too. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00KGHKXFY?psc=1&ref=yo_pop_mb_pd_title

Thanks Mark. A custom build and or modify like HIDe might be the way to go. I know their reputation is good but that piecemeal add stuff drives me nuts. Still might be a good way to go. I just need to hone my wants and ask them to tell me how wrong I am. Raid 0 ? Very familiar and possibly performance bump in most cases but I hate splitting the drives in a laptop where I’d only have up to two. Really like a clean Drive with OS/programs and other drive just files. I think SSD’s are plenty fast enough for CA and there really isn’t an excessive R/W going on. Curious your reasons. I like the possibility of a socket motherboard where it “might” be upgradable for cpu/gpu in future. That’s the biggest bonus to HIDe with a custom build. Thanks !!

Here is something close but not quite up there. No Thunderbolt. Otherwise this would be great. Hate scumming through all the gammer talk for these computers. https://www.adorama.com/asgl504gsxs7.html?gclid=CjwKCAjw2rjcBRBuEiwAheKeL8_Q5LyHgXU5MCtTOl_vQev6ae8qgxiG_PePgd9EELIIGWePYE-O4RoCS6oQAvD_BwE

Not sure. I think I e found a few sub $2K already but a big chuck of that. I can go higher but still need to shop it. Happy with any advice anyone cares to share. I can be persuaded on some but not all my requirements. Biggest thing is future proof for about 5 years. The Thunderbolt helps there a lot. What is contact information for Mark?

Thanks Mick. I did look at your links earlier and honestly had never actually heard of MSI. I will keep looking at those. My requirements, in part, are a laptop to be mobile. Thunderbolt 3 minimum 1 port but 2 would be nice. Dual drives,both SSD with 500 Gb OS ad 1 Tb data. That is nogotialble if laptop allows me to change them out. I really have had good luck with the Samsung EVO’s. 16 MB Ram with option to 32 or more. I like the NVIDIA GPUs and likely going with that at about 6gb. Still looking at these and not sure which series yet. Processor is still be looked at but i7 and fast minimum. I have had great luck on ASUS computers and looking hard at the ROG’s. Thats the start. Like to keep at or under $2000 but could go higher if I need to. The thunderbolt is a deal breaker. Must have for me.

Thanks Mick. I've never even heard of MSI Leopard computers? I'll take a look at the links you provided. I need to study up on what I want, but a lot of it I know would be required. Thanks again

Mick, Thanks and I had thought of that. I had not recently looked at the "minimum" requirements CA suggests though. I've already been considering a new computer. For me, it will always have to be a laptop as I can't (refuse to be) be tied to one location. I've thought about reviewing what laptops folks on here are using now, for X10, and how they have performed. I know that will be a big hit as gaming type computers are pricey.

Thanks again Eric. I probably will do so as getting too far behind with the software has other issues as well. Like seeing what others can see with their versions.

Eric, Thank you sir !! Clearly I had a lot of errors. Among many, it seems that the second floor and having the attic walls off were the biggest. The video was terrific and helped me see what you were finding and how to fix. The amount of time I can spend with CA, which I really enjoy using, is limited anymore with what I'm doing now. I need to force myself to draw more, to better utilize and understand it for the times I do use it. I have not updated the program in about 2-3 years. Do you think X10 is a worthwhile upgrade from X-7? I suspect there are some things that are improved, but uncertain if things that might matter to me. Thanks again Eric. Very informative and helpful !!!!

Thanks Eric, As I have no idea what you changed to make it work, I'm still where I was. The second floor was added as I was told/read somewhere to add that where there is a full, giant open attic over entire footprint of house. Has a box truss so very open up there. Is that wrong? Back years ago, when I was more active with CA, the word from many is to learn how to manually draw roofs. So I tried that. I have watched a variety of videos on the auto build, or combination of auto and manual, but often have more problems that way. I think I had the gables called correctly on walls and roof, but evidently not.