CARMELHILL

I see everyone's points here. I've also seen it explained the other way. An architect's forum I read, said more detailed spec's yield better quality work, with less variation in bids, and less liability to us. But I agree, all too often these sheets get thrown in the trash. My specs have turned more into code references that the one local town, only one specifically, is asking for more and more detail. Everytime they send their plans examiners for a code training day, I get a wave of new rejection comments and more stuff that needs to be added to the drawings. I have started doing this too, with the specific section of the code referenced on the drawing, but I do it via keynotes. The keynote system is the only way I can conceivably keep drawings readable, without getting too busy. And it's standard practice in commercial. Thank you all for your input. I'm going to cut some of the "fat", and through some specific notes into the drawings with keynotes.

With localities asking for more and more code info on drawings, and in an effort to reduce liability, I have steadily been adding to our drawing specifications. Someday I might just buy a copy of the code book and staple it to every drawing. What's the general consensus here? Other than very basic code reference notes that need to be on the cover sheet near the Climatic Data chart, where are you putting your specs? Are you adding two or three extra sheets of notes to your projects or are you printing a dedicated 8-1/2" x 11" spec book? I've seen it both ways but it seems silly to print 3 full size sheets of prints, just for the contractor and subcontractors to basically look at it once during bidding, then never again.

No. I would prefer checkboxes in the database that sends items directly to the created spec book document. But it doesn't look like I'll easily be ableto get somethign like this. That's what I've been doing for 19 years, but it feels clunky and tedious.

Yes. A construction specification. I'm not thrilled with having everything in a single column of text that I subtract from. For the past 15 years I've had all my spec's fit on one sheet of 24 x 36, but I'm starting to get more detailed. I might be heading to a spec book rubber banded to all my plans. Only the very basic bldg code notes will still be put on the plans. I've thought about Masterspec, Spectext, and others, but those are overkill at this point. I'd rather just like to be able to organize my own notes better.

Thanks guys. Those might be too complicated for the rookies in my office. I did some searching and will look further into: MSWord Autotext, Autocorrect, Quickpart Gallery, Building Blocks Organizer Phrase Expander , Text Expander and Autotext Software Clipmate Ditto Clipboard Fusion Spartan Acetext I'll let you know if I find something useful.

Can anyone recommend a good program, or technique, of creating a database of specifications, and then adding individual specs to a word document via simple clicking of checkboxes? Then drag and drop that created document into Chief. I want to enhance and customize my specificatikns but i need a better way. Can thks be done within ms word, or with ms excel, filemaker pro, etc...?

I've looked all over the net tonight and can't find an answer to this one. Anyone know....... I was on the Epic Games website today and downloaded a bunch of free texture libraries and a few plugins for the Unreal Engine. Can Twinmotion access these additional downloaded libraries? Or do you have to import each texture individually? I don't see a link between the texture libraries of the two programs. Does TM only use the rendering engine and not really use the textures? If not, then it seems you might have to start your Chief import to Unreal Engine, apply textures, then export/import to Twinmotion?

I've noticed when I do a demonstration video for clients, I have two monitors open. I change the main 43" monitor resolution to 1080p just for the Screencast movie so the resolution on Youtube isn't crazy and it's easier for the client to view the movie. My second 43" screen remains at 2160p. If I click on an object in my 1080p screen and the dialogue box pops up on the other 2160p screen, it makes Chief crash. The program gets stuck trying to display the dialogue box at a different resolution on the other screen. I tested it by changing the pop up location of the dialogue box to appear on my 1080 screen and it doesn't crash, so it's definitely a bug. Not a big one. Anyone else notice this? Video: https://youtu.be/3v7bVWPJRT4

During my last upgrade in 2014 I noticed a bigger jump in performance. On this upgrade, not as much. But there is a difference in my office usage that affects the apparent performance..... I don't do the design work as much as I did in 2013. I don't use the 3d rendered views as much. Now I spend half my day redlining my employees work, trying to search out new clients, and balancing the financial books. I REALLY needed this recent upgrade because one of my two new employees I hired in April was using an old off the shelf (B.J's Wholesalers I think) Dell XPS 8400. It was SOOOO SLOWWWW. I promised him a new computer very soon. So when the 3900X came out, it was time. It probably would have been much easier to give him the new rig (drivers and office sensitive files are a pain in the ass to move/reinstall), but what fun would that be? My other new employee uses a rig identical to my 2014 build (built 3 months apart).

Without being a computer engineer, this is the best I could think up...... The faster read write should theoretically not be a bottle neck for the programs undo feature anymore. I was told a few years ago that Chief saves a copy of the plan for every undo. One of the older undo settings had an undo save feature that you setup Chief to save a backup at your preset time frame, in microseconds. Setting it for anything useful slowed the program down tremendously. So I set up my system to have my core programs like Chief, Photoshop, and video editing on the Sabrent Rocket 4.0 SDD. I keep all my client folders on the old style spinning HDD. Whenever I work on a project I copy that client folder into a specific folder on the SDD. I have my Preferences set up so all the backup, autosave, and plan/layout template folders are on the Rocket PCI 4.0 SSD. The extra Samsung Evo SDD was a screw up. I was buying the parts for the computer and didn't think I'd be able to get my hands on a newer PCI 4 SDD in time to do the build, so I bought the Samsung. Then the Sabrent popped up on Amazon. So I'll use the Samsung for commonly used stuff like some symbols, macros, Sketchup symbols, textures, etc...

Some new food for thought. Disk drive tests of the read/write from the 2 drives in the new Ryzen 9 build that use PCI 4.0. The Samsung is last years model and not maximumized for PCI 4, but the Sabrent Rocket uses the PCI 4 to it's fullest extent. The remaining test is my Samsung SSD drive from my 2014 build that uses PCI 3.0. EDS RYZEN CRYSTAL MARK E SAMSUNG EVO DRIVE.pdf 2014 build i7-4960 DISK MARK.pdf EDS RYZEN CRYSTAL MARK C DRIVE.pdf

Just for kicks, and to revive this thread, my new rig is complete. I still need to tweak the RAM settings because they aren't running at fill 3200 mghz speed yet. I'm goign to setup the undo file on the Rocket SSD to see how much faster the read/write is, and see if there is still a lag. Cooler Master Mastercase H500M, AMD Ryzen 9 3900x, Asus ROG Strix X570-E Gaming, Sabrent Rocket PCIe 4.0 1TB SSD, Samsung 970 Evo Plus 500 gb M.2-2280 SSD, Western Digitial Caviar Black 1tb 7200rpm HD, G.Skill Sniper X 32gb DDR4-3200 ram, MSI GeForce RTX 2070 8 GB Video Card, Corsair 750w power, Dual Hisense 43" 4k monitors

It has something to do with having the templates autoload in the Preferences settings for new layouts and new plan files. If I leave the defaults as Profile.plan and Proifile.Layout instead of my templates, the problem doesn't happen.

I noticed this problem in a version a few years ago, but it has reappeared. Whenever I update some of my templates and resave with new names, and relink the referenced files, the program clears my Client and Design Information. Is anyone else experiencing this? Or did I corrupt my templates a few versions ago? Something is forcing a clearing of the fields.

These are the specs on my next rig at PCPartpicker.com. But I'm waiting the new 3rd gen Threadripper due out in August. I'm going to add that m.2 type slot on the motherboard onto my list.

My 2 cents.....this X11 release, and all the tweaks they have made during the beta based on all our comments, have been AMAZING. I just noticed that I now have the ability to update/revise/change layer settings etc.. for keynotes that are saved in the User Library, DIRECTLY in the Library Browser! AWESOME!!! No more insertion, updated, tweak, reinsert back into the library, delete old note. HUGE HUGE HUGE time saver. Thank you for listening......

just curious. Does the PBR use the CPU or the video card? I'm upgrading to a new rig when the new AMD Threadripper comes out this fall.

I still wonder why Chief hasn't addressed this. Seems like referenced section marks in elevations would be easy to program, just like the referenced section marks in the floor plans. Then again, I suck at programming.

Is it possible to get more areas included in the Finish Schedule, similar to the floor area square footage. This seems like a no brainer and I'm puzzled why Chief doesn't have it as an option. Wall areas for quick painting or wallpaper bids would be nice. And maybe linear base, crown, and casing lengths for each room too. I know we can get it from material take offs, but it would be nice to have it automatically populate. Or am I just fuzzy on the ability of macros. Joe, Michael, chime in.

I don't bother. When I get tunnel vision and get lost down a rabbit hole, I spend too much time on interior renderings that aren't sufficiently reimbursed with client fees. It's nice to provide this eye candy, and even nicer to hear this particular client say "could that look ANY better", and "that looks awesome", but it still doesn't get me anymore money. So I don't get stuck on details. Going off on a tangent..... At the recommendation of a successful attorney, I have started giving clients three "services" options. Level one is an outrageously expensive construction monitoring and GC price and I tell clients that only 5% of people choose it. Level two is my main aim which includes renderings and permit filing and I tell clients 90% choose it. Level 3 is a bare bones builders set with no permit filing, which the remaining 5% choose. The book "Influence - The Psychology of Persuasion" by Robert Cialdini (should be required reading for anyone that is self employed), he says it's a mental mind game. 90% of people chose the middle option, no matter the price. People want to do what everybody else does "part of the herd mentality". There is a secondary mind game that after you show people the crazy expensive option #1, the second option that your truly trying to sell them doesn't seem so bad, and actually seems pretty reasonable. And no one wants option 3 because they don't want to appear they are getting "no frills" service. It's exactly why people buy a car for $40g, but then don't mind later when they add all the silly little options for $1,000 a piece that slowly add up, and eventually that car costs $55g I tell ya, it's changed my business. I've increased my per project fees by 40%.

We're not in Alberta, so not a problem here as long as the pipe is wrapped and wall is insulated. Although we have moved to 2" x 6" stud walls to comply with prescriptive requirements. This is an existing wall that we'll likely fur out.

Thanks Mick. I know it looks messed up. That was an early version from x10 and I switched to x11 beta but didn't want to post the x11 plan here because of the NDA. It's not a bug specific to the X11 version so I didn't think it was appropriate to send to the beta forum. I'll send it over there with the more recent plan. In 9 years with Chief I've never come across this. It's something specific to that plan.

Thanks. That works for the renderings, but won't work when I do the electrical plan later. I have a ticket in to tech support.

It seems the only way to get the lights automatically on the ceiling is to change the rough ceiling height to a high number. There is some imaginary ceiling being drawn, but not shown. Very weird.

I'm working on some design revisions and I just noticed my lights are not installing on he cathedral ceiling, but rather floating at the 8" ceiling height, even though there is no ceiling in the room. I've never seen this before and I can't duplicate the issue on a new plan, just this one. Any idea what is causing this? HONOR_DESIGN_1.plan