SHCanada2

custom schedules, using object information panel and macros is another way. There is a thread on it.

Both alaskan son and rene rabbit have a polished version for sale I believe

2 hours ago, gravattedesign said:

There isn't an option in X16 to delete the old files in the Project browser by right click menu.

sorry thought you were on X17.

Are you saying that when the only open file in CA is your layout file, that the project browser shows these other .plan files?

If so, yes the layout is referencing other files. I'm not at my CA computer, but I think from the menu for layout it is click tools->Referenced files

what does it show?

2 hours ago, gravattedesign said:

My posted image shows that the referenced (unused plans = Intial-Jessee & REV3-Jessee) show up in the Reference Plan List and the Project Browser

I think I see where you are going. you do not like to see the old plans in the browser, or in the drop down list when selecting a reference plan.

You could just delete the plan by right clicking on it in the browser? Might want to export it first so you had a backup.

BTW I sort mine by date so the newest is always at the top

Interesting that it happened with the build foundation tool. ,might want to turn on all layers to see if anything is there and take a 3d look at it. You could try the wall intersection tool.

I have seen some funny things with walls. You could try deleting both walls and redrawing using the handle from the left wall

show in the broswer or are in the plan as a reference?. plan is below.

There can be many plans in the browser. it does not mean they are linked/referenced. I keep backup copies there that are not linked to anything(other than being part of the project as an un referenced file)

1 hour ago, agorres said:

What happened to the photo realistic rendering capabilities? I just signed up again, the last time I used Chief was X13. I'm baffled as to why they wouldn't have photo realistic ray tracing; am I to buy some AI service now? 

You need a graphics card that supports realtime ray tracing.

IF you have that, then yes you will get rendering like X13, except better now

20 hours ago, Renerabbitt said:

The pro 3 camera is very accurate since it mixes photogrammetry and a professional grade lidar sensor. Lidar from your phone will be very poor.
Lidar on exterior is ok for somet things, though I personally don't see a ton of need there.
I will say it only takes me 2-4 hours with a helper to measure an entire place directly into chief and take photos and do a phone lidar scan for backup. 

Lidar on the phone is only good for ~15 ft, so exteriors do not work that I have tried

I do similar workflow, but I use a photogrammery app as a back up. Which lidar app is your preference?

I'm currently doing elevations from photos, and attempting to measure eave heights from ground, and then discerning a heel height and peak height. It works for "simple houses" but not those with upper roof lines which are back from the front facade. Have you found any better technique?

you might want to post the plan

6 hours ago, chrismac said:

Have you used it for exteriors as well?

I'm always looking for a good exterior scan option. 

But FARO seems like a pretty penny. I've tried a bunch of photogrammery apps, but none worked that well.  Do you know of other options other than FARO

you can paste screenshots directly into the comment.

I cannot see your pngs. But there are two ways to have parralel walls which are right next to each other. Make the inside wall "no room definition" in its properties, or ii) make a wall that has both walls in in it. Check the help or this forum for "furred wall"

6 hours ago, Michael_Gia said:

You're over thinking and working.

 

@DBCooper gave the correct answer.

@DBCooper says it is then manual. I assume then if I change a wall, I need to go do it again?

If so, to avoid the rinse repeat over and over again, I'll leave it on floor 0. if it is automatic then yes floor 1 sounds like the better option

On 9/5/2025 at 6:15 AM, Evolution said:

or if by choosing a different page for example, may SD on layout page SK-4 and remaining SD on SK-5, then just drag the handle of the transfer until only what is needed, is left to show on the layout page

Thats what I would do, split it up across pages, by sending it twice to layout, on different pages, and cropping the layout box differently on the pages to reflect the portions of the block plan

On 9/5/2025 at 6:15 AM, Evolution said:

1. He wants me to add a "Civil" scale (Map Scale with Bar Graph) to verify lot widths, road and block lengths. I thought a cad block / symbol (if I can figure out how to get it to proper scale) any thoughts on this?

I've seen this posted on the forum in the past, but I do not remember the answer (other than of course create your own). you may wish to search the forum on this one for a predone one, or scale a predone one

On 9/5/2025 at 6:15 AM, Evolution said:

am now also missing my lower tool bar that has always been at the bottom of the drawing sheet that has the open object, replicate, parallel, center, point to point, convert polyline etc., tools

I lose the bottom tool bar when the window changes size. A double click on the CA window title bar brings it back to properly fill the screen. This typically happens when my computer resumes from sleep mode///for some unknown reason

yes. each version of CA is a seperate instance, but you should double check with CA sales

On 9/5/2025 at 9:19 AM, Gary-Doski said:

Yeah, that's how I get it done, then copy it as a cad line to the 1st floor, but seems like it should figure this out automatically

I use floor 0 as well for this exact reason, If I am lazy I will copy the CAD line to floor 1 for certain terrain features, but I also have a saved plan view that references terrain items (from floor 0) to show on floor 1

the other way to narrow down the offending wall is to just draw a new wall bisecting the room, and then click on either side to see if you can select a room. rinse, repeat.

I assume you have ceiling planes? you could pull them back to see if the wall builds.

9 hours ago, decorators3 said:

Build an in-law suite  16' x 24' above the garage with 8' ceiling 

 

- Exterior entrance to in law suite

 

I'm pretty sure in order to do this I have to have the exterior walls of the 16' x 24' room extend through the roof on one side in order to have an exterior entrance.  but I'm thinking this will be off center

 

Attached is an exterior image example from google search ( only interested in the attic area )  of how I think it will look will work unless you have other suggestions which would be greatly appreciated..

You may not need the attic/turned into living space concept. the image posted appears to me to just be a second storey as the second storey walls look to be bearing on the first storey walls. if they want 16x24 on top of a 24x24 garage, I would just put a first storey roof over the back 8' and align the three walls to the garage walls at the front, and if they want a vaulted ceiling starting at 5' on the sides(maybe to meet height restrictions?), then draw in ceiling planes to give you the roof trusses. The front gable does not look like a real gable, it looks like an eave drawn to look like a gable.

But if I were them, I would build 24x24 on top and if they want the back 8ft to be nothing then just make it storage. You  can dress upt the roofs how you would like

As you are in canada, beware the outside stairs, if conditioned, you will need to pipe heat in there,  or you can put a door at the top and leave unconditioned.

In alberta, the outside stairs are a "tall wall" and will require engineering.

Also, not sure how your jurisdiction treats limiting distance. Here I have to draw an imaginary property line between the garage suite and the house and then calculate unprotected openings and ensure the aggregate is less than the table in the NBC

23 minutes ago, mthd97 said:

have you made any suggestions on how Chief could be improved to stop this sudden change to a different height

Good suggestion. I did add onto jkedmos suggestion last week where you could specify a floor region similar to a terrain region.  Which after thinking about it that is probably the simplest way from the user perspective. The other way I've thought is to be able to lock the absolute elevation of the floor

3 hours ago, cougars32 said:

I will keep your inventive suggestions in mind as I work my way up from the basement! 

btw, check multiple cross sections frequently

I also look at the framing overwiew to see where top plates suddenly change to a different height

4 hours ago, Veteranhands said:

That was basically my question.  When I right click on the main folder it gives me the option to create a new plan, create a new folder or to make a copy.  Let's say I want to create a separate folder for the kitchen, how would I create that while maintaining only the shell of the kitchen to work from?

if you are using project manegment mode, click on the plan file, right click for the shortcut menu and then click make a copy

11 hours ago, semiller said:

created a Macro using this code. gives an eval error... explain it to a 5 year ol

the text box with the macro must be placed in the room on the floor plan (and see Alaskan son's comment that it must be wrapped in %). or if using are using the TMM (text macro management) to run it, you must have previously selected the room on the floor plan view

4 hours ago, Veteranhands said:

-5th is sort of a file/project management question-under your main project heading you have the different plan views and there's a kitchen and bath-in the project management seminar Scott shows how you can create new folders and he has several additional Kitchen folders-why would i need to do this? How would i do this? I understand that i right click, select new and then name it but then what?  Do i select new plan from there?  If I selected new plan how would i get my kitchen shell and dimensions to work from?

I'm not sure I fully understand the question, but one reason for a new plan under the same project, is to create different options. Typically I will do the current as built condition, save that, and then make copies of that for different floor plan options. I do not see why one would want to create a brand new plan for an existing project