DianeP

Perfect!!!! Just what I was wanting and looking in all the wrong places for...... Thanks Michael and Glenn!!!!!!  I can't tell you how many times I have been unnecessarily drawing these things in manually.

Thanks for you answer Glenn,  Unfortuately, I can't find this option.  I click on the wall and the dialog box gives me the option to make it a foundation wall under the General Tab.  Alternatively, on the Foundation tab I can make it a foundation wall with or without slab footing.  All options show up on the same level as the original wall (1st floor).  Any place else for me to look?

The problem I am having is that I have placed tree symbols and text in various places on the terrain.  When I move the terrain the trees etc do not stay in their place in relation to the terrain.  Wish there was a way to block it together.  

Is there a way to have the footing you can add on a wall dbx show on the foundation instead of the 1st floor.  This seems to have been something discussed in 2001-2003 in my google search but there weren't any answers that didn't require drawing it in manually.  Has there been any developments in Chief regarding this issue since then?  I am currently on X8.   Thanks

2 minutes ago, RL-inc said:

Diane-

One method that I have used when I have separate terrain and plan files is to make a symbol of the structure and then place it on the terrain.

It's very easy to move around in all 3 axis. 

The beauty is  that when your client wants to see what the house looks like in different locations- then she can move it herself instead of having you do it over and over until I ends up where she wants it.

Rob, what a great idea. How do you make a symbol of the house when it has so many objects?  I thought symbols were for single objects.  I don't see where I can make a block out of the house, either.  Thanks!

On 1/30/2017 at 2:04 PM, Kiwideziner said:

I almost always build the terrain last, mainly because it can slow the file up quite noticeably.

it is quite easy to move the terrain relative to the building.

Kiwideziner what is the easiest way to place the building in the correct position on the terrain when you add the terrain data later?

Good to know Kiwideziner,  thanks!

Will do.  Thanks for getting all the links together for me.

I have a client that has been designing her home in a lower end CA product.  She shared her design with me and wants me to place it accurately on the topographical land survey that she has provided and build the terrain.  This is out of the normal order I do things so I haven't attempted it just yet.  Have any of you done this before and can you let me know of any landmines I should be aware of or tips that could help me.  Thanks a bunch. 

never mind.  I deleted that layout box and brought it in again and it was fine.  

So that is fixed and working correctly.  Does anyone know why the labels on my cabinets, windows and doors are so large.  I sent them at 1/4" scale, same as I always do.  I really think something was turned off on preferences when I upgraded drivers/ windows.  Don't know what,though. Thanks!

Fantastic! Thanks so much.  Don't know how that was turned off as I never changed anything.  Perhaps some of the graphics driver updates. Anyways thanks for the quick response.

It isn't just the walls.  the cabinets can go past each other now as well.

The walls have started allowing cabinets and fixtures to go past them.  They used to stop at the edge of the fixture unless the control key was pushed.  Anyone had difficulty with this?  Any solutions? Thanks a bunch!  I am using x7

Thanks  Joe!

Is there anyway to have the window schedule output the width, height, and R/O in ft and inches instead of just inches.  Customer request. Thanks a bunch!

Hi All,

I have 2 dining room walls and a foyer wall that all have doorways creating as large as possible openings and leaving small rectangles of drywall for using as columns.  I am trying to wrap the bottom and top.  I have tried to do this using wall coverings. but the doorway side will not accept a wall covering.  Have any of you done this?  If so, what method did you use?  Thanks a bunch!

Before export create the a new wall and roof with surfaces that  do not have a pattern, then simply replace the existing walls and roofs.

Yes, I have done this before but the windows, columns etc still are single lines. It does make it easier, though.  

Any solutions so that .dwg exports on exterior elevations don't have individual lines for brick and shingles which would be hatch entities in AutoCAD ( all blocked and together).  Also would like windows to be blocked instead of individual lines. On floor plan the brick representation also comes out as small individual diagonal lines.along with windows, doors, cabinets etc.  However fixtures like toilets, washer, dryer, heat pump, sinks, stove (in other word things blocked and inserted from the library) come in as blocked. There is an option to create associative dimensions, so at least these aren't exploded lines, texts and arrows. Is there way to export to dwg other entities that seem as one block in Chief Architect (like doors and windows, brick and shingles) to remain as one block into a .dwg that I am missing?

Geez, I hate to sound like a broken record about multi-button mice, but thru button mapping I have taken a lot of the pain out of wiring a home.  (with the exception of the wild connect arcs)

 

Just like Alan I have created hot keys, assigned to my mouse - see the attached picture.  Unlike Alan I needlessly complicated the hot key combination - the final letter points to the function like c - for connect, t - for 220 o - for outlet, etc.   I also include 1 for break which I occasionally use to tame the arcs. 

Wow, looks like that would work well but there would be a learning curve for me.  I am such a creature of habit with my left and right click mouse that has a scroll wheel.  Did it take you long to adjust?

I have hot keys set up for the electrical item placement. E,S = switch   E,L = light  E,R = outlet (receptacle) E,C = connection

Great idea, I will look up how to set hot keys. Thanks!

Any other short cuts you use to make the tedious task of electrical layout page simpler.  If so, please share.  It is my least enjoyable part of a project.

I can't remember the key(s) to use to cycle forward on the last electrical components used. I know esc key goes backwards.  Can anyone help me remember the key to go forward?

Told you I was brain dead.  I matched the foundation to the wall above after I made the 6" wall type and it looks right now. 

Still can't recreate the 6" beam on top of the new railing.  I have newels, wall and foundation set to 6" but beam still is narrower.  Is there somewhere else I have to go to change this? 

Told you I was brain dead.  I matched the foundation to the wall above after I made the 6" wall type and it looks right now. 

Also,how did  you make the beam 6".  I am trying to recreate in x7 and my beam isn't 6" when I create the new 6" rail wall type.  Tha

 

Thanks for working this out for me.  It looks just like I imagined.  couple of questions:  

 

Can you show some screen shots by chance on how you increased the slab footings by 4". I am a bit confused as i show the before and after footing at 16 wide and 8" deep.  

 

Also,was it just making the new 6" railing wall that made tje foundation wide enough to let the posts sit on top and not overhang.  So tired right now, my brain is misfiring.  Might be able to get a better idea once I have some sleep.  Thanks again!!!