MickeyToo

It appears this feature worked in X7 at least.

In changing the scale of a CAD Detail, and using the above described method to control the appearance of text and dimensions, how do you get the dimension and text arrows to "automatically" resize when switching between Anno-sets? Thanks

Michael, Have you ever considered detective work?

Help me out, Michael. You said in regard to using the Break Wall tool in the corner: "Problem is that method doesn't really work when your trying to offset your footing in both directions from the corner like in the example though." But it does work, so what am I missing?

jimmyp (and Michael) After using the Wall Break Tool (anywhere along the wall - it doesn't have to be right in the corner), try separating the wall sections and then sizing the wall sections that make up the corner (by dragging or using dimensions) to where you want them, then reconnect the walls. As you can see in the pic, I could get them to within one foot of the corner before the walls snapped back together (don't know that you would want the footing to be any smaller). Anyway, the key I found is to separate the walls before trying to size the wall for the enlarged footing. Having temporary dimensions on and grid snaps off also helped. Hope this helps.

For anyone considering Archicad (and is put off by the up-front expense) you should know that the Solo version of this software has recently been introduced in the North American market. It is similar to Start version, but with at least one significant difference. You can read about it here: http://www.shoegnome.com/2016/03/27/archicad-solo-has-limitations-and-thats-great/ http://www.graphisoft.com/archicad/solo-edition/

Here is the Simpson library from an earlier version of Chief. Not a 3D library, but very good 3D representations of Simpson products that can be included in your plan details. Because it is an older library, not all of the products currently offered by Simpson will be found there, but many are. Simpson (From 9.5).calibz

Michael, here is the Chief Video on this topic. I could not find this video on Chief's website, but I had downloaded it way back, and due to file size constraints, have included only the relevant portion. Insertion Points.wmv

Michael, I never said that Glenn was "suggesting" the point be added to the block, only that if a Point Marker was used within a block to help locate the new insertion point (as he recommended), then it would become part of the block and it CANNOT be deleted (at least as he originally proposed using it). If that is what you want, fine. If not, then Place Point is the tool to use, which carries with it the additional benefit of being snappable when placing the new reference point within the block. You cannot "snap" to a point marker within a CAD block (at least I can't in X7). The fact that you cannot drag a temporary point around like you can a Point Marker usually does not come into play in most (though not all) of these situations, since accuracy is key and you would most likely be "snapping" to a particular point (the corner of a joist or a foundation, for example). And yes, the Point Marker can be used outside of the block (as Glenn pointed out too), but that is not the focus of Rashid's problem, nor my response.

Glenn, agreed the information I provided does not apply to the current version of Chief (X8) (which I had no way of knowing when I posted, of course), but it is important to point out in lieu of your response that it still "correct" for the many users who have yet to upgrade, since it produces the same result/resolves the same problem, at least in X7 (which you can not see in my signature).

Unless you want the Point Marker to be a part of your block, use the Place Point (temporary point) when doing this exercise. This is how Chief suggest doing it, at least in earlier version. Also, the reference point will not snap to the Point Marker when it is included in the block, again, at least in earlier versions.

Yup, Glenn, still using X7. You said , "...my suggestions are completely different than your interpretation." How so?

Just to add to what Glenn has said, be sure to check "Has Ceiling" and specify a "Thickness." And when he says to "specify a ceiling finish" that will be done on the Materials Panel of the Roof Plane dbx. From the Ref. Manual : • When Use Room Ceiling Finish is checked, the ceiling finish thickness and material on the undersides of roof planes are defined by the room below. Uncheck this box to enable the two settings that follow and define the ceiling finish as part of the roof planes instead. When this is unchecked, you can specify the Ceiling Surface material on the Materials Panel. Works very well. Thanks, Glenn.

Thank you, Eric. Very much appreciated!

But then we might be judged by how well we design rather than how well we are able to manipulate this or that particular piece of software. Which is probably why so many successful architects and designers are still using 2D or in the case of one local architect, paper even.

Good point, Michael. I usually use this method early on when setting up the model and before applying the finish details.

If it is less than the entire floor, try pulling back the walls between the rooms you want to change the height in a few inches (making it one large room) then simply reconnect them when done.

Yup. I, too, was setting them up in plan view before accessing/choosing them in Layout. So now we know you can set them up in Layout as well. Good to know.

Shoot! Right in front of my nose. Thanks, Michael (and Perry for pointing it out).

How so, Perry? I don't see how you have access to all of the Layer Sets in Layout, other than to specify which one to use for the Reference Set.

Scott, I am sure you already know this (you probably just forgot ), but it is not necessary to have the ref set on when sending a plan view to layout Any Reference Set (if you have more than one) for any floor can be toggled on in the Plan View panel of the Layout Box Specification of that plan view that was sent to Layout. Now I am not sure if the OP wants to see the reference set in the Layout or simply some of the items that are on another floor. He could follow DP's advice or he could set up a new reference set (while in plan view) and adjust the layers to show only those items he wants to see and how he wants to see them (reference set lines don't HAVE to be red).

That is because when you added it to the library the block's scaling factor reverted to what it was when the block was created (the block you sent to the library and the one you pasted back in the plan were different sizes). This is another way of doing what Michael suggested.

Johnny, Not sure what other suggestions may follow, but if you are working with an open polyline one way to accomplish this would be to temporarily break the polyline in a convenient place, and then use Edit Area to move the cluster of points and lines to where you want. After that you can then reconnect the polyline. Not that difficult, and as Michael suggested, Copy and Paste Hold Position into blank plan and back again if that makes it a bit easier to work on.

Michael, I have to take exception to your comment about the appropriateness of using the Slab Footing Tool in this situation. If I got it right, Johnny was simply looking to place strip footings inside a crawl space/stem wall foundation. He did not say so, but this footing will usually accommodate post and not a wall, although it can do that, too, of course. Again, he did not say, but when we do these around here, we do pour a slab, although a very rough one. Now if we go to the Help files we find this: Slab Footings are used to define Monolithic Slab foundations, garage curbs, and interior footings. So it should work in Johnny's situation. And as to whether to set the default to use a visible or invisible wall, I think it totally depends on your situation. Those who do a lot with monolithic slabs will probably like it the way it is (as Perry pointed out). Others, who do primarily stem wall foundations will find it useful to have it set to use an invisible wall (Johnny). This is not to take anything away from the options you (and Joey) presented, especially your the second one, since that Foundation Wall/footing can then be added to the library. Very helpful.

Michael, Are you aware that you can set this in Defaults? They have it under Walls. I changed the wall to "Room Divider" and made it Invisible. Now when you draw with it, it corresponds to the icon.