joey_martin

As you and I discussed on Saturday, I think it would speed things up for you to have a slab template separate from a crawl template. The only reason I don't have a different template for crawl vs. basement is because they are so similar. If I did more slab homes, I would have a template for them.

Alright. This is what I get when I am working on an elevation. Like I said, I marked it up to a video card (Intel HD Graphics) and moved on.

My pattern lines are always in my standard gray scale, and are always at the same line weight from plan view to layout page. I'm sure it has to do with the video card, or maybe a setting. I just haven't had the time, or frankly just didn't care since it doesn't affect my construction documents. I don't have my laptop with me this morning but will check the settings this afternoon.

Mine are that way as well. Can't see patterns on my laptop, but they show on my desktop. I marked it up to a video card issue and moved on about a year ago. It doesn't affect the layout, or render view so I stopped fighting the software.

Name the room in the attic and check the structure tab to ensure that ceiling is checked. By default, when you name a room ATTIC there is no ceiling.

Place a point on the screen and use the transform/replicate tool to move the marker to 0,0. I have a point saved on my profile plan.

Thank you Steve, it was my pleasure! You know where to find me if you need anything else.

I'm in north central Indiana if I can help. joeymdp@gmail.com, and some of my work can be found on my Facebook page (facebook.com/martindesignplanning)

Or just create a room with invisible walls as the exterior.

It happens a lot. I generally ignore it until my final "punchlist" and about 80% of the time it fixes itself, the other 20% I select it and uncheck the box that says "no molding on this line".

I believe he is up in the greater Chicago area..Indiana side.

It would save time...but using SHIFT SELECT makes it pretty quick to turn those gray, and I only do it when I'm ready to create the PDF, not every version.

We have been able to do this in the past by using the EDIT LAYOUT tool and select what you wanted "faded" and changing the color to gray. I use this method when doing sections and I want the building behind to "fade".

If you want to leave them on the doors but delete them from the sidelight, use the EDIT LAYOUT tool and delete them while in layout view.

Here is what the fill looks like in construction documents.

It is accomplished with layer sets. These are for a project I sell online. Took about 2 mins to create a layer set called "Marketing" and send it to a 8.5"x11" layout page. You are over thinking it. I use this dark gray fill in my construction documents, so there is no need to mess with that at all.

I always start with real paper and pencil. I can't sit at a computer and "design". I'm too old school I guess. Every plan I have designed..ever..began on a piece of paper, was developed, and then goes to the computer. I think you will find it easier to develop a really good template plan to start with. Drawing walls in with no layers and no real definition means you will have to go back at some point and re-do them. As for speed, that comes with practice. You are still thinking like a 2D designer. You have to "get with the program" so to speak. Chief Architect is first and foremost a 3D program. There is no way around that, and there are no shortcuts. You need to stop thinking like a CAD user, or you are always going to be in your own way.

I see this a lot when getting plans from others to fix. Most of the time the foundation is off by a little, and with AUTO ATTIC WALLS on, the software is trying to reach the roof from the foundation to place the attic wall. I have not opened this plan...but as I said, I see it a lot and can almost always be traced to the foundation wall.

Change of scenery from this bitter cold Midwest sounds pretty good right about now!

Perry, while I hesitate to get into this at all, I am sure you are missing the point that Richard is trying to make. During my time in arch school, I was taught what good design was. It doesn't really matter what you, I, or anyone else thinks of it (per say). but are the proportions correct? Does the design have proper massing, scale, balance....etc. Textbook design, when done with these things in mind, doesn't care what you think is aesthetically pleasing, it is simply proper design.

I will now be offering online training sessions for construction document production. I am going to keep the sessions to one on one, or maybe two on one. I am going to keep the sessions to a 2 hour max for now, if more in-depth training is needed, we can talk about that. It may take a couple of sessions to get a set of plans completed. These sessions will be on Sundays, either in the morning or early afternoon, depends on the participant. Please email me at joeymdp@gmail.com for information and costs. I will add that this will also cover modeling as it pertains to construction documents. My models are pretty accurate, so there will be some tips in modeling as well. I plan to cover (and will share) my template plan and defaults as I use them in production. We will start with a basic small home sketch that I will send you so that I can train you in my method, and you can adjust from there. We will do; - Initial Set Up - Setting of Defaults - Modeling - Plan Views - Framing Views - Elevations - Details & Sections The plan will be for a small home, 1 floor w/ crawl space, attached garage. Probably similar to something like this, https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/13283257/Bungalow%20Proof%20Set%2012_9_13.pdf

It cant be done automatically, but can be accomplished by adding a simple CAD box to the layout page and "send to back" so that the box is below the layout view. It is not ideal...but not all that difficult to accomplish.

I don't get it either....well, I do...I just don't know why it's important to preselect the line type, color, and weight or if you draw the line and then assign those items. They still have to be assigned or re-assigned as it were. Unless you have a layer already set up to handle it.

Robert I think thats where you are missing the point we are trying to make. You have your DEFAULTS set wrong somewhere!! When I do your 3 line test, my results are vastly different than yours. When I change a layer, all of the associated items you go back and change, change for me. I drew a line Copied that line and simply changed the layer ONLY. All the line weights, color, type...etc...change for me. Line 3 is a copy of line on and use the layer eyedropper...poof...everything like it is suppose to be. Judging by what you are saying, I think Chief has got AutoCAD by a mile on this.....if your defaults are set up right.

I just drew a line to see what I was missing. I want for it to be a centerline, but it's not. I right click to open the contextual menu, and make the needed layer change. I think it's the same thing you are describing in auto cad...just a different technique.