CADD16

Members
  • Posts

    97
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by CADD16

  1. ok,   So I was just using the new Saved Plan View feature and I can see that its the best way to save views and have everything work the right way.  But after experiencing the switch  from mac to Windows, in my opinion the layer sets, and annotation sets work a little differently in each operating system.  From my experience in the mac version When I switched to a different layer set it would automatically change to the correct annotation set associated with it.  It worked very much like the Saved Plan Views.  Interesting.  It's all good now, just wanted to share what I was experiencing.

  2. I'm in x10 (need to change that).  I didn't adopt the "Saved Plan Views"  I had always been switching Layer sets.  It probably wasn't the right way but it always seems to work well.  in the mac version when I switch the layer set, the Annotation set /Dimension default would change as well (to the correct set) and the cad default would be selected.  So in windows even if I select an annotation set first, the default cad layer isn't being switched as well.

  3. I used Revit for about 8 years on architectural and structural projects at another job.  I also used Chief during that same time period for a side business.  I’ve used Chief for about 16 years, since version 8 (not X8),  I think Chief is hands down a better program for residential projects. Overall Chief is an easier program to use for construction drawings as well as presentation renderings and concept drawings. Using Chief it’s much quicker to go from concept to construction drawings than Revit.   Revit has quite a few nice features that I wish Chief had, but after all the comparisons, Chief would be my choice.

  4. Does anyone know if there is a way to have the Room Labels change size (font size) automatically based on which layer you are working in.  The reason for this would be to have the room labels larger on a marketing plan and then have normal size on working drawings.

  5. I build my custom fixtures with Psolids as well, then just apply the a material to the front face.  After I get done creating it with psolids I export it to a .3ds and then reimport it as a fixture, this way when I reimport it I can set it to be a certain kind of fixture.  So the attached fireplace symbol is set to show up in my mechanical fixture schedule with the proper model number and description.

    Modern Fireplace.calibz

    Fireplace Fronts.calibz

  6. I am using the data in the material list to get the areas for the thermal envelope walls.  The problem that I'm having is the program is not counting the garage / house walls. (walls separating the garage and the house.)  I have made sure to check that the garage is counted as unconditioned space (in the dbx) which it is.  The materials list gives me a smaller area number than the other side of the house.  When I delete one of the garages outside walls and then do the material list from all floors it displays the correct number.  So for some reason even though the garage is set to unconditioned space it still doesn't count those walls.  I hope I am missing something very simple but I can't figure it out.  Does anyone work with these Thermal envelope number that could help.

    thanks

     

     

  7. Ya by Render I meant Chief's standard rendering views(not raytrace) When exporting a 360 Panoramic view with the standard render view the result is very clear.  When exporting a 360 Panoramic raytrace the result is a slightly blurry picture. The finished raytrace of a 360 before exporting looks fairly clear, but then through Chief's viewer it looks blurry.  My normal raytraces look pretty good but when using the same setting or even a higher resolution for the 360, it still comes out kind of blurry.  How do we get a similar result to the 360's done by Chief on their website?

  8. I have been experimenting with the 360 exports and all the Raytraces ones come out kind of blurry.  I've tried them at higher resolution and dpi but still not as clear as a render view.  Has anyone narrowed down the perfect setting for 360 Raytraces.  I have seen other topics with being discussed but no solid solution.

    thanks

     

     

  9. Thanks for the responses.  I do have template plans with all my settings in them, just didn't have the ray trace settings in it.  The second solutions is what I usually do with all my older plans to bring them up to current standards.  Chief really needs a way to import / export these ray trace configurations.  What is funny is you can edit these configuration defaults under the default dialog box. But when you choose to import defaults to a new plan the camera defaults don't show up.

  10. I have experienced this same problem and well when moving walls with arrow keys and/or clicking and dragging.  Very frustrating.  I'm also experiencing a complete computer crash/shutdown while working in Chief occasionally.  

  11. I wanted to share a breakthrough (at least for me) solution that I came up with for using keynote schedules.  Similar ideas have probably been discovered and are being used already but for me I had not been able to find something that would work like this up till now.  I used to work in the structural engineering field for about 10 yrs and I used keynotes on my plans extensively with a keynote schedule on the side of the plan with the description of the keynote on the plans.  For those who may not know the terminology a keynote is a little symbol usually a number that is used to bring attention to a specific part of the plan.  If we have to use text to describe everything in the plan then the plans would start to get really cluttered.  So to recap little numbers on the plan, then corresponding text on the side of the plan describing what is going on where the number is calling out. ...   Well in Chief I used to just use text with a box around it to make the keynote on the plan and then text entities on the side of the plan to describe.  This was time consuming having to reorganize the keynote schedule when a keynote was added or deleted.  So I discovered this way to help make things faster.  To start with I made a very small 1/32" x 1/32" polyline solid (something that could really not be seen on the plan), Then I exported it as a symbol file and then reimported it as an interior fixture (so it would be smart and have it own label).  I then added it to the library and copy and pasted its as many times as I needed for different keynotes.  I named each symbol in the library what I wanted the keynote description in the schedule to read. (see image)  Then I used the fixture schedule and set it to only include the indoor / outdoor items. By using the indoor /outdoor inclusion, the schedule won't include the fixtures I use for elec., havc, plumbing, or appliances.  ( I have schedules for elec., havc, plumbing, & appliances separately.)    When I place these keynotes on the plan the schedule now populates with the keynotes and numbers saving time.   Again this may have been thought of before by someone else but its great when you can discover things that can help make you faster.  Attached are some examples to help explain what I'm referring to.  If anybody has any ideas like this please share.  Thanks 

    post-600-0-41378400-1458088472_thumb.png

    post-600-0-41583700-1458088938_thumb.png

  12. Thanks for the responses, I called in to tech support and got the answers.  The number of anchor bolt designated in the material list or the components of the wall is hard coated into the program, (can't be changed by the user).  There is also no way of specifying the spacing of vertical footing dowels that tie into the wall reinforcing.  I asked that both of these be put in the feature request.  It's pretty standard in home building and construction to have vertical footing rebar that ties into  foundation rebar. Both of these items need to be added to the foundation defaults "options" tab.

    • Upvote 1
  13. Does anyone know where you can set the anchor bolt spacing for foundation walls, so it reports correctly in the material list?  Also is there a place where you can specify the vertical footing rebar that ties into the foundation wall rebar.  thanks