TomBiggs

OK. Are you able to edit items in reference display? I think I tried once but wasn't successful.

I wish there was a type of reference that viewed stuff below the current level. Even better it would be neat if you could toggle a setting that would allow editing the items in the referenced layer. This would enable you to edit items like stairs and site elements, without having to switch to the level where they are hosted.

So I wanted to revisit this topic. I've now done quite a few project in Chief and still wish the phasing was automated like in ArchiCAD or Revit. In ArchiCAD, I believe the earlier versions required two separate plans for existing versus proposed. And then they came out with the Renovation Filter tool. If Chief had this , then it truely would be a game changer, becuase you could roughly and quickly layout the building, start working, and if you need to correct existing later, it's not an issue, becuase it's coordinated by the software, much like other things like walls to roofs, framing, or cabinet tools are coordinated. You don't have to worry about Existing/ Proposed wall types and Layer Sets, Proper Layer Filters or Saved Views. The probably for errors due to this is all but eliminated, so we can worry more about design and not have to constantly be on the look out for errors from misteps within this workflow. This isn't to say we can't work like this, as we have no choice, but I'm just saying it could be better with automation. It's time for Chief to get its own Renovation filter tool!

Interesting discussion that I'm late to join in on. I have two words that sums up why Archicad is better : Renovation filter. I've been hoping that someday CA would incorporate this feature. Interestingly, AC used to make it's users have an "existing" plan and a "new" plan, just as we now have to do in CA.

This is very useful. Thank you!

Hey All, thanks for your feedback. I think I'm getting it. Mostly I think I can ignore the plan hours, unless I open the plan file outside of the layout. I think timekeeping happens when the window is open. So if you have two windows one for plan and one for layout, then there should be duplicate time, and that's what I observed by comparing timelogs for each. I see from comparing time entries for layout and plan files that the layout file does seem to capture much of the plan file. However I do see time entries in the layout not in the plan file, and also time entries in the plan file that are not in the layout. My assumption on this is that you have to actually have a window open for each. Here's the spreadsheet that shows the non overlapping times. For the way I work, I do a lot of renovations, so the new plan file naturally includes the existing time, and it gets started as a template. Then the layout starts as a template too, and I start with updating all the text and project info on the cover sheet first, before linking in the plan files. That would explain why the layout starts with time entries not included in the plan file since it hasn't been linked in. I guess my takeaway, is to just go with Layout's hours and don't do work outside of the layout just to keep all the time captured in one place. 2156 - layout versus plan.csv

A comparator function would be a great thing to have baked in to the CA tool. I would need to do some research to figure out how to make one in Excel. I did manually compare in Excel and see enough time in the layout file, to warrant capturing it. Probably as you could figure it as a percentage of the time in the plan file. I'd think for projects of similar scope, it would be nearly the same. Thanks for replying, fellow Oaklander!

Hey, thanks for everybody's input. I saw this comparision at the link below and it definately makes a strong arguement in support of going Mac. I think the current architecture with the M1 max or pro chip, plus the way the system is cooled, coupled with the non-shiny screen, are a few. Granted there are other laptop designs that might offer the side cooling. Why would you want the cooling via the bottom as you might have it on your lap or on a pillow which is how I would sometimes want to work. Also, citing the above comment, "built like a tank", I think that's also says a lot. I've also heard they are quiet. Oh yeah, and you can plug 3 monitors into it.

I'm just trying to clarify how to interpret the timetracker data. I normally have the layout file and plan file open. I'm trying to figure the total time spent by looking at the time tracker logs for each file. In settings I have it set to stop the logging if idle for 5 minutes (I could make it less I suppose). Here's my question: If I switch windows to the plan file does it become idle if I don't go back to that window? Also, are there any best practice recommendations for using this tool that would make it more useful?

I know this might be hard for some to answer, but in general, with realtime ratracing aside (which I don't use becuase I can't afford the bleeding edge of graphics cards), what's CA better on : Mac or PC? I'm just curious since I'm looking for a laptop. I want a capable laptop that's doesn't end up sounding like a jet engine while working.

This is a strange anomaly. II'm looking at your computer specs, and they seem on par with what I have with exception of the 5k display, and the video card which is less memory than mine. Maybe running on a Mac the program works better. I picked up on this from another Mac user, who seemed to have a more fluid time dong things that were lagging on my rig. X12 OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. System Model Gaming B8 Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7600 CPU @ 3.50GHz, 3501 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s) Adapter Type GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, NVIDIA compatible Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB

DOH! You have to clear the terrain, because if you don't the program tries to render it even in views where you dont' see it. This ends up seriously killing the speed as you try to make changes to your plan. My version of Chief is X12, and I too noticed a delay/lag and then I found this thread. I'm a little late to the discussion, but obviously Chief Architect has not successfully fixed this problem. It's provided other improvements since x9 and for those, Thanks! The workarounds people are mentioning are about cutting functionality of the program in order to have a pleasant drafting experience. At some point, I think we need to just go ahead and troubleshoot why the program does not appear to be able to handle the functionality when all the bells and whistles are running at the same time. This seems like an Engineering problem that users should not have to deal with....but are. One strategy the competitor, ArchiCAD touts, is how they manage memory is by a streaming approach, where you don't see everything at the same time. In my case, I was having an issue with lag, when on a very simple Interior Plan view. The model file has the terrain modeled for a decently sloping site, and moved vertically so that it reflects real-world contours. I discovered that the rendering of the terrain was taking up so much processing and software memory, that this caused the process associated with computing moving the wall object to be placed second. Thus, as you would imagine, I clicked the Clear Terrain button, the problem was solved. Why do you have this button anyway? Maybe it should just be an internal process. Why do I care about rendering the terrain object when I'm in an interior plan view anyways? Answer: I don't. My wish list to make the program much better (because illogical and stupid delays in the program, requiring "workarounds" really suck) Better memory management, prioritizing processing for only items you can see in a view. Perhaps also try streaming parts of the view if possible for views that do have complex geometries to render. Introduce phasing so we don't have to overlay in an entirely separate as-built model. Make drawing tags smart so that the number of detail if updated on a sheet, gets updated wherever the tag occurs in plan or other details. I'm running X12 on the following: OS Name Microsoft Windows 10 Home System Manufacturer Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. System Model Gaming B8 Processor Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-7600 CPU @ 3.50GHz, 3501 Mhz, 4 Core(s), 4 Logical Processor(s) Adapter Type GeForce GTX 1060 6GB, NVIDIA compatible Installed Physical Memory (RAM) 16.0 GB

Many thanks, Mark. I took a look at the file .plan file you took the time to make. Really appreciate it. I now see where in the DBX you need to input that you want a hamper behind a cabinet door. It is the magical library button below the Manual Shelf Selection. I agree the 1925 wont fit, but will be sizing the cabinet for the 15" wide hampers. I also noted that in your cabinet with the 19" hamper unit, the inserted unit was stretched to fit, which means that for this workflow you need to double-check the placement of cabinet box verticals. Easy enough however. Perhaps dragging and dropping the hamper from library would be a way to double check cabinet size as the hamper wouldn't be resized to fit. Thanks again for the reply. I consider this case closed!

I was able to just place the pull out hamper within a cabinet with a door face. I don't see a way to do it from within the cabinet dialog. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.