AvoyeDesign

Respectfully, I said it would be a nightmare for me. Other users may have different results.

I started with X1, and I can tell you that bringing even an X1 file into X9 would be a nightmare for me. So much has changed that it wouldn't even be worth the effort of using an existing plan file. I would likely just open it as a reference, and redraw everything. That way it is in my current template and using all my current defaults, wall styles, etc. etc. etc.

Or if the automatically generated handrail had edit handles and nodes, like a molding polyine, that we could grab and adjust. And then the ballusters would follow suit.

You probably should post this in the general forum. You might get more answers there. The suggestions forum is for suggesting new or improved features to chief architect.

I think we need an indicator in dimension fields that are rounded, that indicates that the number has been rounded up or down. If it read something like 6 15/16 (-), so that the (-) indicates the number has been rounded down. Then a user change will not show a rounding indicator, and will clue the user in to a possible problem like the one I describe above.

I've made it a habit to never accept a dimension as shown unless I have entered it myself, and this is a prime example as to why I do this. It's really odd to see this in a wall thickness. I've discovered why this happens, and I think it is a bug. I began with the OOB Siding-6 wall and changed it to a 2x4 wall by resizing it in the wall DBX. I changed the wall thickness from 6 15/16" to 4 15/16". I checked the wall thickness and it was 3.49". Noticing that the housewrap layer is actually 0.01", I then removed that layer form the Siding-6 wall before resizing it in the wall DBX. I checked the wall thickness and it was 3.5. So when you resize the wall from the wall DBX, chief takes this 0.01" away from the main layer. So the OOB wall has a housewrap layer that appears to be 0" when it is actually 0.01". I manually changed the housewrap layer to 0 and then changed the wall thickness in the wall DBX, and I got 3.5". This may not actually be a bug, as the program is doing proper math, and the wall thickness shown is actually 6 15/16" plus 0.01", but that 0.01 is lost to rounding and doesn't show to the user. And even changing one digit in the wall thickness field is read as a user entry, and that extra 0.01 that is hidden due to rounding is lost, thus it is taken from the framing layer. I'll report this to chief if I get time, but if you want to instead let me know. Chief should not package their OOB wall definitions like this if it causes accuracy problems and headache. I will also need to go over all my wall definitions to correct this.

I think it might be helpful to know what you would like them to do for you.

Hi Peter, I don't use the wall elevation tool very often, but opening your plan and the camera, that is exactly what I expected to see. I don't think chief is acting out of character, but perhaps you can create a post in the suggestion forum and describe what you would like to see.

I loaded the file and I don't see any issues. Can you be more specific? A screen image might help.

I do the same as you and find that it slows down to have a lot of cad details on the go. Not sure why that is.

I think I've had this issue in X9, it was copying text and CAD.

I think you might want to check "hang floor platform on wall above." This would have the effect of continuing the CMU wall from the floor below up to the one above, and the floor will butt into it. That sounds like the detail you are looking for in a firewall. I've attached the plan back to you with this feature selected, and I think it did the trick. MacDill RH-Unit Treetop Framing.zip

I'm pretty sure the problem is that my system specs and age are falling far behind X9's demand. I upgraded from X4 to X9 and I noticed quite a difference in performance and speed. X4 continues to run relatively smooth, while X9 is laggy and slow. I just wanted to make sure it wasn't what everyone was experiencing with X9 before I went out and bought a new system.

Yeah, I'm thinking it's my system then. Thanks for the NVIDIA tip. I'd never dream of doing integrated.

Thanks for the reply. I don't use the "always update" for layout views, namely elevations and cross sections, because I only use the "plot lines" setting. I honestly haven't found any use for the "always update" option. I'm open to ideas, but I really don't see how to find it useful, as it is only an image, not plot lines. I always have the layout view open, and I cannot imagine working without it open. This was never really a problem for me until X9. I work with plans ranging from small to very large, and I do notice the larger ones tend to lag more. Use standard chief symbols. Rarely do curved walls or railings. I don't have a specific plan that I consider problematic, so I don't think sending you a plan will help.

Since upgrading to X9, and after installing all the current updates, chief seems to run incredibly slow for me. I'm not sure if it is like that for you all or perhaps my aging system (5 years old.) System Specs: 64 bit system AMD PhenomII X4 955 @ 3.2 GHz 8GB Ram AMD Radeon HD 5700 Video Card When switching between open views and plans, I usually suffer a 2-5 second delay, sometimes up to 10 seconds. When the program has been running for a while, that delay can get to be 15 seconds or longer. Opening an object dialogue can take 2-3 seconds on average. This is becoming frustrating and time consuming, and is a drain on productivity for me. I am due for a new system, but just wanted to see if it is just me. Thanks.

Back in X4 I developed a system where I built my energy tables in an Excel spreadsheet, and used copy/past to insert the tables into rich text fields that were already sized and aligned in a cad block template. But when I load an X4 plan into X8 all the tables are compressed. It's like chief sees all the empty fields and decides not to show anything. Does anyone have any idea what causes this and what I can do as a simple fix? Thanks.

I am a small design firm located on Vancouver Island, BC in a housing market that has heated up considerably in the last 4 months, with work demands increasing in other markets as well. I am looking for a contract draftsman who can complete working drawings for me while I focus my time primarily with clients, design, review and revisions. Applicants will be required to work in X8 professional and transition to X9 upon release. I'm open to working in X9 Beta but that isn't a priority. I'm looking for someone with moderate to advanced working knowledge of Chief Architect's professional version, and moderate experience in the building industry. Please respond with 2 examples of your work and your rate per square foot to rod@kervinhomedesign.com. Applicants considered will be contacted by phone, so please include a number I can contact you and a best time to call. Thanks.

I just bought Room Planner, and am now looking into bluetooth laser measures. Can anyone recommend a decent one? I'm looking in the $80 to $150 price range, there seem to be a lot of brands to choose from. Thanks!

Having been in the business for 9 years, I am a small design firm located on Vancouver Island, BC in a housing market that has heated up considerably in the last 4 months. I am considering contracting with a draftsman to help with some of my workload. I need someone who can work to complete contract drawings for me while I focus my time primarily with clients, design, review and revisions. Applicants will be required to work in X4 professional as I have not kept up to date with upgrades. I am considering upgrading to X8 but I cannot say when that will happen. You will also be able to work with my established processes, and produce plans that are consistent to my standards. An ability to meet deadlines is also important. I'm looking for someone with moderate to advanced working knowledge of Chief Architect's professional version, and moderate experience in the building industry. Please respond with 2 examples of your work, a standard resume, and your rates, taking into account projects of various size will require anywhere from 4-12 hours to complete. Please forward applications to rod@kervinhomedesign.com. Applicants considered will be contacted by phone, so please include a number I can contact you and a best time to call. Thanks.

Haven't been on the forum for a while, but came back to browse and saw your videos. I watched the one where you add the garage, and you created a room label that had macros for floor and ceiling height, so that at a glance you could know if something was out of line. I can't believe I never thought of this. So now I have one set up as a cad block that I will be using all the time. THANKS!

Scott, you are a genius. Not really, but you led me in the right direction. Wall wasn't painted, but I had merged some materials and somehow the combined material did not "take" properly. I just reassigned the material and it is no longer copying the wall type. Thanks.

I have this problem where chief is copying a wall type when I copy a wall (I copy a wall with a wall type called "interior 4" and chief makes another wall type called "interior 4_2"). For example, if I select a wall in the plan and copy it, and drag the copy to the other side of a room, chief copies the wall type as well. This is a problem when I want to change wall attributes, because I now have more than one wall type that is doing the same thing that I have to change. It also makes a ton of walls types that I have to sort through to find the one I want. I don't remember there ever being a setting for this, and I have never seen this behavior before, so I am kind of at a loss. I'm still using X4 BTW. Any help you can offer would be appreciated. Thanks! Rod