para-CAD

From the most humble of beginnings........it begins here with this. FOX BLOCKS - 8 Straight Form (125).calibz 4227-125.pdf

I thought export library would export the ENTIRE library. So I'm assuming I should have a totally blank plan with only one item in the library.......ahhhhh. making sense now.

I'm a total rookie at the 3D symbol skill. I've been plans for permit since X7. I don't really have a need but I have free evenings and this gets me smarter with chief. How do I export one single item to a sharable file? I see them all the time, as a recipient, but I've never created one to share. Any links to an appropriate thread or video would be great. Thanks.

I'm taking the 2D CAD details from an ICF block vendor and learning to make the blocks for 3D use. I followed the 2D details pretty closely and now the 3D symbol has 1404 faces for ONE block. I think adding the actual interlocking 2" extrusions didn't help and are probably not necessary.....but I was aiming for true realism. Should I just make the symbol a pair of 16" x 48" x 2 ⅝" rigid foam blocks set at the appropriate distance apart? The face count would definitely be much less. So the cool part is I can get an exact block count if I overlay the symbol in a row, following the exterior walls. Am I causing issues by having a custom wall and also several rows of ICF block symbols existing in the same space? When I learn how to create a shared symbol, I'll post it here.

At times your Chief journey will be amazing and then frustrating. And then amazing and frustrating. Over time you will have more good times than bad. Chief Architect is really quite amazing. CA has a huge library of videos that are very well organized by topic. People on this site are often pretty helpful but it helps them to see your computer specs and CA s/w version (in your signature block) so that they have more background info to go on when they jump in to help. There are huge PDF user manuals available if you like to academically search for answers. Most people are more social creatures so they ask their questions on this site. Some of the Chief veterans try hard to keep this site more aligned with being a useful and searchable reference, so asking one specific question per thread is useful (after you have searched the site to reduce the chance of duplicate threads) Once you get a handle on how you like to use Chief, maybe check out some of the people who have templates or macros for sale. There are many productivity tools that people have developed to make you faster and more efficient. I'm excited for you. Your adventure has begun!

I think there is a detailed thread on energy heel trusses somewhere. That might explain it better for you. Not sure if this is relevant, but it does expand ones understanding in this area.

I experience the exact same thing. I created a bunch of 3D solids and when using Point-to-Point move, it's as if it is trying to decide what to grab....to closest corner point or one farther away (z axis as viewed from the screen). I also found that zooming WAY in and then trying to select a P2P move point becomes easier. I have put up with the behavior because I thought it just is what it is.

Leica probably has a solution https://leica-geosystems.com/en-us/products/laser-scanners

If everyone just used help files, then this site would die....no one would interact. Where's the fun in that?

I would leave your question as it might be useful in the future to someone. I always like to see the problem and solution in anything. Watching an expert make a mistake and then HOW they solve it.....is the best way for me to learn.

I’ve never tried importing DWG to the layout file. I typically import it to a blank plan file and try to work with it there. Now you have me curious if I’ve been doing it wrong all these years

You all are great. Thanks much.

Hey everyone, I am working with someone who is looking to purchase home designer to review / edit the model that I create in premiere (X14). Is there a bulleted list of sequential steps for me to take, on the premiere export side, so that I can create a file that the home designer user can interact with? I won't be importing anything from back from the edited home designer file....just using redlined PDFs to update my premiere original file(s). I would like to share an exported model so he can view / edit the plans and show the model (3D) to his team. My site search didn't turn up anything relevant. I must have not used correct search terms because the return is bad.

Yeah.....they went back and forth (Builder - County) 2x8 plate, cost, ¾" void, 2x10 ripped. I just let them hash it out. In the end, the builder actually added a knee wall under the joists to the top of footer to ensure a solid system. All this to minimize the number of steps from garage into home.

I share dwgs using Dropbox all the time without issue. I will check around and see if my recipients have had issues or not. Typically they just download the file and work on it in some 2D app that uses DWG/DXF

This works in my area

We show tightline storm water drain from down spouts above the exterior perf foundation drain pipe. When I get to my computer I’ll upload what works here in WA state.

Clockify or Toggl work really well and can track time outside of chief-specific work

https://www.strongtie.com/search?v=%3Arelevance%3AdrawingFileType%3ASTL&tab=drawing Lots of .stl files

I work with a spec builder who wants flipped versions of plans all the time (-L or -R) in the file name. I get one model complete and then use the reverse plan tool without issue, then Save As to the correct name

….finding quite a few threads that are more Q & A. Is it even possible for the original posters to move their Question threads to Q & A? Tips & Techniques should be like going to Chief user Disneyland…lots to see and learn.

I can frame this but I too am interested how to make chief do this. Great question. Smart chief users will be along soon...... I frame it like in the image using RPN and an HP50g to do the math.

Confirmed. I have been bringing forward a modified Dan Baumann / Rene Rabbit hybrid plan template from X12 and X14, it has differences from pure X14. Thanks M.

I will go back and investigate further. I tried the underscore version first and it did nothing. When I drilled down the macro tree, the other version was the only non-grayed out option.

Mac might be different...... I had to use %ObjectProperties% to make it work. No underscore.