BenPalmer

Or within Chief, just click open and navigate to the file and open it, it will find/list the .pl1 file. Or drag the file into chief from explorer. Or try Lewis suggestion. All of them should work. .pl1 = first floor; .pl0 = foundation plan; .pl2 = second floor, etc. Open the .pl1 file and Chief will automatically combine them into one. But you can really open any of the .pl files and they will still combine. If any of the .pl files are missing, then that floor will not be present in the file. Even older files have .ca files which are the CAD files. And there are also .pb and .cb files, and those are the backups. Hope that helps.

Would definitely like a fix on this soon. This and another bug that effects how plans look visually are hindering my progress. However, I realize this is 'beta', and therefore will be risks involved with going totally X8.

If confirmed, perhaps the Beta Testers can submit a report through there process to ensure it gets taken care of before the next release.

3d view styles are definitely faster. Very nice. Still want even more speed if possible, but still better.. really like the opaque window glass option.

yes, i think same problem i'm seeing?? I can copy a new wall and make changes, but I can't rename it no matter what I do. But i can still function with the wall, just can't rename it. i just sent a support request in on that and another item I found.

My initial guess is the layer is off due to layer sets or other. make sure that layer is on in 3d view.

If I'm reading it right, that pricing is on 'Upgrades', not 'renewals'. So, no additional discount for current/active SSA subscriptions. Let me know if I'm reading it wrong.

Thanks for all the Beta Testers do. Much appreciated.

Per your picture, you have the grid, so as long as 'grid snaps' are on (Ctrl + F9), then the new cad lines will draw on grid even though you won't see any snapping visual aids. If it isn't on grid, then there is a setting wrong, or something that is snapping off the grid forcing the line to move. Just stay away from anything else for the cad lines to snap to. The new cad lines don't even have to be close to the corner. If you want to be sure, upload your plan, and someone can take a look at it. Beyond that, we can only give you are best guess based on the information provided. It works perfectly for me every time. Never had a problem getting things back on grid. Staying on grid in the first place or how people prefer to use it is a different discussion.

Use to be on multiple beta teams many versions ago and enjoyed it very much. Just too busy now to commit the kind of time that I would need to be responsive and helpful. It would be more of a feature and function input then bug input. Perhaps X9.

Keep 'em coming!

To answer the original question: I occasionally get a plan off grid due to autocad import, rotating a plan via edit area, etc. New plans are automatically on grid if set up correctly, but for those rare times it is off, here is what I do: I draw two intersection cad lines on grid, somewhat close to the corner of two walls (like in your pic), then 'edit area all' and then do a 'point to point' move from the wall intersection, to the cad line intersection. Should be good to go after that, regardless of what your preferred grid settings are. Hope that helps.

Shadows in elevations that can send to layout live, very nice!

Foundations have certainly become more temperamental in recent releases. Especially when I bring an old Chief version plan forward. Support doesn't agree, and I don' have the time to change there mind.

The problem is the different molding lines are on different levels and so they aren't snapped together. I like to draw these in floor plan view to avoid this issue. one is on the 2nd floor, and the other is on the attic floor. simply delete one of them, and go to the floor plan view, and select the molding line (turn on molding layer) the lines are thin, so if you can't find them, use the 'all off' layer set and turn on moldings, and you will see them. then simply select the line, then select the diamond handle at the end, and extend it in the direction you want and they will be joined. if you want the straight ones that aren't on the corners to have a return, then do the same thing, pull new line with the diamond handler 90 degrees towards the interior of the building an inch or two and adjust length for desired look. Hope that helps.

There are lots of things in the code that are not enforced that could be. I find that as new plan reviewers come in, or reviewers take a training, or start reading things more, that is when you start seeing them enforce things they didn't before. I'd say that definition seals it pretty good.

I see where you are going. I concede that it isn't specific, but I think it's vague by design so that each municipality can determine what "the line used to determine the fire separation distance" is, however, throughout section 302 including exceptions, the 'lot line' is sprinkled into the wording. So most places define or interpret that line to be the lot line. Incorrectly or not. Good luck fighting them on it. Hope you win. --- R302.1 Exterior walls. Construction, projections, openings and penetrations of exterior walls of dwellings and accessory buildings shall comply with Table R302.1(1); or dwellings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with Section P2904 shall comply with Table R302.1(2). Exceptions: 1. Walls, projections, openings or penetrations in walls perpendicular to the line used to determine the fire separation distance. 2. Walls of dwellings and accessory structures located on the same lot. 3. Detached tool sheds and storage sheds, playhouses and similar structures exempted from permits are not required to provide wall protection based on location on the lot. Projections beyond the exterior wall shall not extend over the lot line. 4. Detached garages accessory to a dwelling located within 2 feet (610 mm) of a lot line are permitted to have roof eave projections not exceeding 4 inches (102 mm). 5. Foundation vents installed in compliance with this code are permitted.

1 hour required in phoenix 2012 IRC

Yes, printing of the typical items are much faster, and no issues. However, somewhat off topic, would love to see the printing of 'rendering techniques' speed up dramatically. That is just as painful as the time frames listed above. Seems like it renders 3 times before it will finally print instead a screen grab which is what 'print image' does, doesn't it?

Using this post for the opportunity to repeat the feature request to have functional spreadsheet capabilities that can do basic mathematics. Not even looking for complex functions, but simply mathematics would be great.

But why not just use your new layouts with the existing plan, you could save that 30 minutes. What am i missing? For me, the existing building, elevations, dimensions, foundation, dimensions, annotations are done and easy to show 'as-built' and 'demo' conditions, and simply update/change the existing plan to what is needed. Then I would just use my new layouts for the latest codes. My number of pages have also increased significantly from that long ago, but it's still worth keeping the original model that is done, and use new layouts. Just curious your process, thanks if there is a better way.

I use old plans all the time for stock and reuse, etc. My experience is that the time it takes to update some items to the latest version is much faster then working on the old plan and definitely faster then starting over. This is due to all the new and great tools of X7 compared to the old version, and many of my templates including latest codes and details are in the new version as well, and even just losing time in remember how the old version does things. With importing layer sets and defaults, it is usually just some line weight and some other defaults that need updated. Maybe 30 minutes of getting it up and going to the latest version. Hope that helps.

Larry, the idea referenced was for a new feature to be able to use the 'change line/arc' tool at the top of the wall. We could add to that a feature to be able to add a profiled cap...perhaps using railing wall cap could work? I like the roof on top as well. However, if the situation warrants and I decide a polyline would be better and want it to show as a wall in floor plan view, I simply put it on the wall layer (I use 2 lines for my walls and not all the other layers). It's good for us to have multiple ways to achieve something since there are so many situations and some work better then others depending on the specific situation. But the ability to edit a wall in 3d the same way we would any CAD makes sense or it's 'intuitive'.

The feature request (or magic button) would be the ability to curve the tops of walls...seems like the 'change line/arc' tool would be great here. Select the top of wall, 'change line/arc' and edit as needed. Nice and quick...faster then polyline solid in this case.

I usually do that out of polyline solids. Bill's curved roof cap idea is good to. Definitely needs to be a feature in chief.