para-CAD

Okay.....thanks! I'll check it out. I'm betting that creatively is what I am doing. From the link: "Chief Architect is designed to allow you to quickly model conventionally framed structures. A pole structure, however, does not fall into the category of conventional framing, so when building a pole barn, we need to use the program's framing and CAD tools creatively."

The crazy thing for me is that I am completely a dark-mode autocad user. It's the only way to go IMO. Autocad had things pretty well worked out. But dark mode in chief just feels off for me. I stick with the Sage theme. If someone could post the CA settings to make it operate like autocad that would be sweeet. So, autocad can display colors one way on the model, another way in paper space (layout) and then print to a different color. That might be something more unique to them than CA.

Oooooh! Now there's an idea! Thank You!!!!

If I provide a 3D walk through it has to match reality or I'll create more questions than solutions. If it's beyond reasonable to have this style as a window option....I'll just set expectations for that when I do a walk through. This whole 3D modelling preview is not my strong suit. I like useful and accurate plans that get through permitting and can double as cut sheets if needed. This pretty stuff seems like more of a sales tool on the front end and require a bit of creativity....I am NOT a creative kind of man. Ha.

I added a p-line solid to get that look. I need the bottom frame to remain or the sill to be able to extend into the window frame face.

The finished window looks like this

I found somewhere here where to create things in 3D from scratch that you have to start in elevation mode. That's what I'm doing with this shop. I'm trying to take the ENG details and combine with how it will be framed. I haven't been able to configure CA to do this so I'm stuck with hand making every unique item and replicating/aligning, etc. Can CA do this in a more similar way that it builds a standard framed house? I can't have it "close enough" or "almost". I need complete control over girt spacing, wall alignments in between posts, ledgers etc. I like how this is looking, but this takes crazy hours and changes are no fun.

If it's not do-able....I'll live.

I'm not about to do a polyline solid "workaround" for each window, only to have to edit each one as the client makes changes

The sill needs to span the width of the opening and go from tight against the window and extend over the wall by no more than 1 1/2"

A 1x8 ripped piece of painted pine board sill with a small piece of trim under it.

This is exactly how a good company full of dedicated people responds to a customer's issue with their product or service. This attitude and prompt action will pay more than you realize over time. Thank you!

Drywall return. Got it. Adding a full painted sill.....not happening for me. See attached picture.

Thanks. The builder only wants a painted pine sill will a skirt piece under it to cover the rough cut end of the sheetrock.

...with no interior casing or frames and only have a 1x8 ripped sill and skirt? I'm not having any luck in the manual nor the tutorial PDFs. A builder likes to minimize the trim work on the windows to just a sill and skirt. I'm not finding the right options or settings to create this in chief architect X11. If this requires some polyline solid work around, can the p-line solid be grouped to the window types as a default so I can have this as a builder specific option? v/r, perpetual n00b

When I used to frame those for "cheap" builders, siding over brick, we would nail (trying to remember) 2x10 plate to the top of the exterior wall then gable up with 2x4s pushed out to where final sheathing was flush with future brick. Then we hung the first row of siding down a couple inches to make a brick frieze. I don't know how to do that in chief, but someone will come along with the skills....like Steve.

I graduated from LTCHS in Red Deer in................................1984............... Just thought I'd chime in and say "Hey". Hope your search is a success.

I shrunk this a bit smaller (maybe too much) but I'm on a WIN machine and its not as easy as on a mac.

jpeg will include the rectangular white background included with the signature. photoshop will create an alpha channel (clear) so that the white area can be masked out (non-destructive) or deleted (destructive). Then export to "PNG" and maintain transparency. jpeg will include the rectangular white background included with the signature. photoshop will create an alpha channel (clear) so that the white area can be masked out (non-destructive) or deleted (destructive). Then export to "PNG" and maintain transparency. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r3basuC0DE

I collaborate with a guy who uses join dot me. it works well. https://www.join.me/ I currently use Cisco WebX https://www.webex.com/ Screen sharing really cuts down the turn around time when I can have a builder see the model and make decisions "live".

ok wow

My 34" works great but I like your "bigger in Texas" attitude. I might be trying a second curved 34". The dell software makes a single monitor act like a multi-monitor with ZERO bezels. See attached screen capture.

I can't go there with you JCLDraft. I can do things in AutoCAD that CA seems either to not do or requires some secret society "work around" to accomplish. I wish you every success, though!

Update: i got new glasses designed for focus at arms length. And, a new more curved Dell 34” monitor......love it! Dell has some software that makes different screen windows so I can have different windows tiled in a snap.

I'm running X11. Chief is so clunky that I will probably never go 100% with it. I do some production work that I don't think many apps are built to handle. I drew this in AutoCAD and then import to CA. Total final CA exported PDF size is 54MB with all the details and other PDFs. It's not a problem so far. My level of experience with manipulating imported DWGs in CA is pretty low. It seems less capable than working natively in AutoCAD. What I lose in CA BIM I make up for in complete control over placement, alignments, text, precision, etc. Some things in CA are just plain frustrating. Much in autoCAD is intuitive and when I can't do the same in CA quickly or easily....it pains me. Thanks for your thoughts & input.