skoz44

I'm looking for some suggestions in a more efficient method of creating/entering Keynotes and general notes. I currently have a Word Document which contains a large collection of notes I've used over the past years. When I'm creating my Floor Plan Keynotes schedule, I go through all the notes in in my Word Doc and copy and paste to the Note Specification box. I then do the same multiple more times, opening the spec box, copy/paste, close, etc. Does anybody have a suggestion to make this process more efficient? Ideally, would be a way to create a Floor Plan Keynote schedule along with all the numbered markers, then add all of this to the Library. I then simply grab that library object and place it, move the numbered callouts around and delete the items that are not relevant. That all sounds great; however, the many iterations I've tried for this, do not work. Thanks for any suggestions.

@GeneDavis Thanks for the reference. He's got some good stuff on his website.

Sure. Here is my Excel template, which I take a screenshot and place into CA. Ideally, I could paste this directly into a text field, so I could then edit it. I'd settle for something not as "pretty", but could be edited.

@solver Found it. Thanks

I'm trying to create a spreadsheet showing all my layers and associated settings (color, line weight, etc.) Any suggestions?

Rene, What is the "Polyline Schedule Capabilities" you are referring to? I have not been able to find an tutorials or youtubes on it?

Anybody have a suggestion to create electrical panel schedules? If so, would you mind sharing a screen shot of how you do it? For years, I've been creating them in Excel, then pasting a screen shot of it in the plan; however, I'd prefer to be able to make one through the Rich Text or Text tool. Or even better, just copy my Excel spreadsheet and paste it into Rich Text or Text (this always messes up the formatting).

Chopsaw, If I use a wall, then I still have to make it a railing in order to make it a different height (ex. 40" tall, 48" tall, etc.)

I like the idea of creating different colors for different line weights; however, the way CA has it organized by default doesn't make sense to me. There are so many colors and they don't seem to represent anything specific. I've turned everything to black or grey so I know what is being printed. I will change colors to differentiate different items (ex. water lines, vs gas lines); however, change them back to black before printing.

I've got an annoyance that I've just put up with for a while; however, hoping someone here can shed some light on it. When I create block walls to wrap a back yard, I've always used fencing, then adjusted the Newels/Balusters to the block wall height and width, changed the panel width and to solid, then applied whatever material. The issue I have is the material is always applied 90 degrees from what it should (which I then have to create a custom material turned 90 degrees). I attached a screenshot here. The slump block material is the same on the house walls, and both block fences. What am I doing wrong here that is creating this? Thanks

I'm curious as to why colored line styles are used, when the drawings are printed in black and white? For example, all of the CAD detail blocks that come with Chief are in multiple colors? I also seem to see it a lot in users of AutoCad. The drawing contains many different line colors and they the finished .pdf file is all in black and white? Any thoughts to this?

Hi, I'm in the process of creating a CAD standards manual for a new employee to utilize (line weights, fonts, notes, wall shading, procedure of evernts, etc). I've been using Chief for over 12 years and most of my standards are all in my head. Would anybody have any resources as to how to do this? A template possibly, or outline of what should be in it. Thanks

Hi, In the past few months, I've found a number of layouts that are displaying Rich Text like the box shrunk. I tend to find it most often on my electrical circuit numbers. For example, I will have a number of circuits numbers "55", send to layout and everything looks fine. I then open it and all you see is "5", like the actual box was too small. If I open and then hit OK, the text goes back to what it should. I've attached a screenshot where you can see the ones I fixed and the ones that are truncated. If it matters, I have Auto Height and Auto Width checked, CAD Style Font Sizing, and Rotate with Plan all selected. Any suggestions as to how to correct this?

Well that's good to know. So you guys don't run into delays or slow movement when you show the project in 3D? I assumed I was going to have to have something with high RAM like my desktop.

I have a 15’ x 15’ conference room that I’d like to setup with a large TV I can display CA. The purpose is to use some rendering samples to WOW an initial prospect and to have existing clients come to my office for design reviews (no rendering, just floor plans). And of course for large Zoom meetings as well. I imagine the system would only be used for these events and not for normal drafting. Can anybody recommend a micro computer or suggested specs for one? Due to the limited use, Im not sure if the high ram and video card are needed. Any suggestions for other equipment and TV size would also be appreciated.

Hi, I'm trying to organize my materials and material list and have run into a few items I'm hoping can be resolved. Insulation - the default insulation in CA shows you the number of 12 x 16 x 48" batts. I'd like to know the total SF of the insulation. I copied the CA insulation to my own folder and changed the Materials List Calculation to Area. It nows give me the SF that I want, but the insulation is no longer listed under Insulation in the Material List, it is listed under Wallboard. Anybody know how to correct this? For that matter, most of my drywall shows up under Wallboard like it should, but I have a small amount that shows up under Siding. How do I control what heading/ID a material will fall under? Cabinets and Countertops - I'd like to list all my cabinets individually, but then my total countertop to SF. Is there a way to separate the two? Eliminate From Categories - how to prevent CA from showing Sub Category - what is this column??? Thanks

Back to Working Sets. How are you guys using them? I realize its a plan set that never goes to layout, but what specifically are you using it for if it never goes to layout? @joey_martin I agree it is somewhat complicated. I guess I'd like to fully understand it before I ditche it. The anno's and layers have worked fine for me so far.

Thanks Humble Chief. So it appears that I don't even need to mess with my Annotation Sets any longer. Set the defaults for them, then use Plan Views to control the views, what layers text goes to, etc. Is this correct?

SNestor, If I don't assign an Annotation set to every Plan View then my arrows, text, callouts, etc won't go to the right layer. Which means to turn on the text for the electrical plan will also turn on text for the Floor Plan. What am I not understanding? MarkMC What do you mean that you use it for a working set and never send to layout. What exactly do you do on your Working Set?

I love it Joey

For the past number of years, I have been using Layer Sets and Annotation Sets to control the views being sent to Layout. Now I've been introduced to Plan Views and am getting a little confused over them all. From what I now understand, it's somewhat of a hierarchy: 1. Plan Views - control annotation sets, layer sets, and a few other items that layer/annotation do not control (reference display, floor, etc.) 2. Annotation Sets - control dimensions, text, etc. for that specific annotation set. They also control Layer Sets. 3. Layer Sets - control what "layer" is turned on in the view and what is turned off In light of this recent knowledge, It now seems that I should predominantly be using Plan Views to control what is being seen in the plan window, for it controls the annotation set, which controls the layer sets. So if I want to switch from the floor plan to the electrical plan, simply change the Plan View to Electrical Plan. Is all of this correct? If I am understanding this correctly, then it seems that I should have a common set of views/layers/annotations. For example if I have a layer called "Framing 2 Layer Set", then I should have an annotation set called "Framing 2 Annotations" and a Plan View called "Framing 2 Plan View", which of course all tie together. Is all of this correct? Finally, how are Working Plan View and Working Layer Sets utilized? It's only one view, so can't understand how it is helpful. Thanks How is the Working Plan ust

I have routine keynotes that I use on every plan. Ex. my Foundation Plan always has a keynote indicating control joints, depressed shower pans, etc. etc. Is there a way to save these so that I can simply call up that Keynote Schedule that is pre-populated and I then place the symbols in the corresponding places. I realize I can create this manually; however, I'd like it to auto-add in new keynotes I ad. Thanks

lol l She's already done that. Working on getting her into the digital world now.

I have a client that wants to manipulate some floor plan ideas I've put together to try some of her own ideas. Does anybody have a recommendation for the easiest way for her to do this? Does CA make something for the client-side that will do this (I believe the "viewer" is only for viewing and not manipulating)? Or is there other software out there anybody has used?

I'm actually the GC. I've been in residential remodeling for 15+ years and have been doing all the design work in CA for about 8. We do use PM software and have a pretty good system in place. The issue is that some of our subs do fantastic work; however, are not that great at anything except the physical work. Due to, we do a lot of things to try and help them out with it, hence my questions here. I was hoping that someone has used or seen a creative method of ensuring everyone is using the correct drawings. We can tell them, email them, remove the old drawings from the system, stomp our feet and everything else. But if the system doesn't work for them, then it's not going to get done.