joey_martin

As someone that came to Chief Architect from AutoCAD, I can guess that the issues you are having is that you expect/want Chief to operate the same way as AutoCAD and thus, the headaches. My breakthrough came when I 100% abandoned AutoCAD and took a week to completely immerse myself into Chief Architect. Things vastly improved, and now it's the only software I use. As Richard stated already. You can bring CAD files into Chief. Either into a plan view or CAD view, or directly into the layout, though that generally requires some work on the scale.

If you mean this button...then you are looking in the wrong software. It's in SketchUp

Delete that wall and use the half-wall tool and set the height as you want it. You can also use a railing, and turn it into a wall as needed. Also, set the wall to "no room definition" so that it doesn't try to compete with the room specs.

AMEN +1,000,000

What exactly is the question?

Once you send that to layout, does the extra line still show, or is it just in vector view? If it does still show in layout, simply choose the edit layout tool and delete it.

You can't put a door there, there is a wall in the way. Calling it a pony wall with the bottom half invisible doesn't not make it a wall. You probably need to delete that wall and draw the clearstorey wall on the upper/attic level.

I prefer the dashed. "hidden" line, as that method is pretty standard. And while I agree that it should be automated, I would put this down the list of items that I would want priority given to.

Re-draw is your option. There is no bringing it back to a functioning .plan file.

I had honestly forgotten there was a bay window tool. I see by this post that it is still as useless as the last time I tried to use it. I use walls for all bay situations, there simply is not enough freedom with that "tool" for it to be useful. I'm glad Shane pointed you in the right direction.

You can make a custom reference set that shown ONLY the exterior staircase. That custom ref set is what you would turn on in layout to show that.

Same...had to make my own. Only used it once.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/majdi-darwish-aia-pmp-leed-ap-7a686219

Don't use those connections. Just use a CAD spline to have greater control. Have the current CAD layer set to Connections, Electrical.

I'm sure someone has answered you already, but honestly as soon as I read the words..."in AutoCAD"...I stopped reading. If you are going to use Chief, you need to forget AutoCAD. Once I came to that realization my life with Chief became very harmonious.

I do this a lot for a few fellow designers and architects that use CAD only. Will HD Pro 18 read X8 files? I am still using X8 but can whip it out pretty quickly if you can use my file. Do you have a PDF or just CAD files?

Draw the round house, raise the ceiling height to just below the peak, Chief will do the rest.

If you place the notes in the plan file then send them, they will be to scale.

Bearing lines always snap to center of beams and walls. I didn't read through all this, but I do A LOT of framing in my models...A LOT...and the only time this issue occurs is when auto framing is turned off. Turn auto framing back on and make sure all the defaults are set correctly and the beam will automatically do what you want to do, even with the beam at the exact same level as the joists. And BTW...I never use the bearing line unless I need joists to break over a bearing wall. Using the Floor/Ceiling Beam tool will do what you need it to do.

Look through the windows of the garage door. No room definition, no garage slab....a lot of things going on here that need to be addressed before even calling that room a garage. Placing 3 overhead doors in the wall, does not a garage make.

I'm a little confused. Those framing members you see running through your garage door are sill plates. Re-build the framing to get those to go away. As far as moving the garage door forward, the garage door will be mounted on tracks at the back of the framing.....no moving it forwards. Raise your exterior apron to the same level as the garage slab.

Open the symbol and reset the position. There are a few that are scewed and will need reset. It's a simple 2 click fix.

The problem will be, and it will happen, is that the builder asks you to reverse plan #2 in your string of 6. The effort to change that one floor plan, and the effects...if any..it will have on the other 5. Better off with a base plan, and then make your 5 copies (variations) and collect them all on one layout.

The answer, as you have found, is no. There are a couple different options to get close....but no can do with a plan view. I keep hoping though. That option, along with an actual stair tool and a few other things are why I am still using X8. Not going to upgrade until I get what I want.

I no longer carry a license here in Indiana, but without it I/others can produce plans for, and file a State Design Release for commercial projects up to 30,000 cuft, or build-out projects as long as there are no structural changes. Having said all of that, my guess is the requirements for what I put on plans here in Indiana is different that what you need in Virginia. Coastal Virginia is probably even vastly different than the Western part of the state. You need to do a lot of research, legally and professionally, before you simply jump into commercial design and plan prep.