johnny

38 minutes ago, Richard_Morrison said:

 There always will be features that another program does better. 

This is very true.  I find myself often wishing one package had a feature the other has and vice-versa.  It would be fun to pick and choose what features you liked from each to make your own....lol  

2 hours ago, Richard_Morrison said:

I've used both Chief and Archicad for over twenty years. For the type of work you have displayed, I'd say Archicad is the best. It handles slanted walls like a dream and easily allows you to put doors and windows in them, and you can create your own very complex walls with any profile. I'm a big fan of Chief for mainstream projects, but what you are indicating goes way beyond Chief's capabilities. Revit might be okay, but I don't really know the program, and couldn't stand the UI when I tried it. 

Fully agree.  Chief actually doesn't do modern homes well IMO.

On 2/11/2021 at 10:33 AM, cjanderson66 said:

Nice work Jonny!  If you have Vectorworks then why are you on Chief?  Do you use Chief as well.  Love the way Concepts looks with your Design and wish I could have that same with Chief.  Not going to get started on another program though.

Thanks!

I do use Chief as well right now, but I am transitioning away from it.  My team will be on Chief for the next year or so until we're finally moved over - but we'll still keep a couple copies for accessing older files etc.

Chief is great for many people, but their speed of development was becoming a serious concern for us.

Are you sure they print "corrupted"?  I've seen elevation and section glitches before but when I made the PDF it didn't translate to that document so I didn't really care.

In fact, here is a project I am working on right now where i used Vectorworks and Concepts with the Wacom to create some conceptual elevations.

lot_54_concepts.pdf

I use a 27" Wacom Cintiq for both drawing, sketching, modeling, and a second monitor.  I've come to like a top/bottom config for 2 monitor setup better than side-to-side....especially since i can start drawing on the lower monitor anytime I want.

I don't use Chief a lot with the Wacom, but I have.  However, I LOVE using it with Vectorworks and other drawing apps like Concepts.  I use it a LOT and found it helps to have an architectural drafting height table.

Large Northwest Home Builder looking for an interior designer working in Chief.  Looking for someone beyond just a "color and material picker" someone that can work with our existing suppliers and developed tier options with design collections....and then take our existing models to show selection options.

Please PM me with resume/portfolio.

1 hour ago, raltd9245 said:

a great solution for a MATURE Program!!!!!!!!

lol...well, just remember in X13 Chief gave us a way to make quick copies of texture files so we can have 4+ version of the same texture type in different directions....because that is a smart way to handle this sort of thing.  When I design a custom timber truss (visual) its wonderful having this problem only to learn you have to adjust its size again and start over.

(yes, i am salty)

2 hours ago, Hammer7 said:

Does anyone know of a concrete bolt on stair detail source?

 

Respectfully, that is a very incomplete question.

12 minutes ago, Jesse28636 said:

Ok. I used the home pro software to design “plans” for a home I am about to build.   I sent the files over to the architect that the builder recommended and he is saying that the plans created are garbage.  They are not compatible with any cad software. It is not exporting layers. Only jumbled blocks.  Is there any NC licensed architects and or structural engineers that can take plan files from this software and easily convert them to actual plans.  I sent everything to him to do the layout pages.  Set up floor trusses and set up roof trusses Bc I did not have that option with home designer pro. 

What version of Chief are you using?  I do this all day long and I have to say the DWG export in Chief is pretty good.  If you can post the file here and I'll try and import into Autocad.

3 minutes ago, parkwest said:

The closest CAD I know of to do what you want is SoftPlan.  You can load the software on as many computers as you need to get the job done and then transfer your USB hardware key to the machine you want to work on... or buy multiple keys. 

Out of curiosity how is that any different than Chief Architect?

Edit - I guess reading your post again you're actually looking for something like Dropbox or Onedrive. There isn't collaboration tools in Chief like other apps.

My team services a multi-state large home builder in the Northwest.  We have drafters, architects, and engineers.  We'd like to hire a part or full time drafter who has a strong background in knowing how US homes are built.  We aren't primarily looking for pretty pictures...we are looking for ConDocs working with our engineers. 

We work completely in the cloud and have a refined communication system. We do have physical offices (though most people are able to work from home due to COVID), but in this case we don't need you to live close to any of our offices - we can teach you our process through MS Teams or Zoom and you can work from any location.

To special individuals who are seeking an internship with architectural licensing options in the future, we do offer NCARB Intern Development Program (IDP).  Initially we want to hire as a subcontractor, but over time if things work we can offer direct employment with benefits.

If interested, please PM me through ChiefTalk and include your email and i'll respond that way.  I'll give you far more details through that secondary communication.

I find it a bit odd they seem to skip 2018 in this list.

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On 12/5/2020 at 4:04 PM, Seafield said:

I have never been able to take a Collada file directly into Sketchup with materials attached correctly to the geometry

(as per image). 

However, when I translate the collada file to fbx, it attaches the materials. It embeds media properly.

But the reason for fbx is to be able to use Transmutr. It brings my model cleanly into SKP. Equally important, it can make any

model I bring in as a proxy for Vray before I open it up. I have not tried it just yet, but the potential to import a whole slew of houses or trees, etc. as proxies

(and reduce file size) so as to not grind SKP to a halt is something I want to be able to do, for sure.

You are absolutely right about using Vray in Blender. Collada into Blender works very well, of course. So that could be the ideal solution, but in truth,

I am reasonably comfortable in SKP and just do not have the heart to learn one more program right now.

 

BTW, Vray 5 for Sketchup on a PC can produce real-time renderings. Unfortunately, it is not yet available for a Mac (nor sure when).

That is interesting...i've tried several models into Sketchup with collada and the textures come in just fine....so just FYI maybe there is some subtle issue - but if the whole system works for you then I guess it works.

2 hours ago, Seafield said:

Best for me is to export from Chief as DAE (no vertex limit as in 3ds), convert to FBX (with FBX converter from AC),

then import into Sketchup (via TRANSMUTR)----and only then render in Vray for photorealistic results.

 

Just learning to put in 3D grass. Next is to start using LAUBWERK to put in trees and bushes.

 

It has taken me a long to figure this pipeline out, but the results from Vray are taking me to the quality of light/rendering I want.

 

Chief geometry is superb to work with. Attached are a couple of draft renders as per time of day in SKP/Vray.

 

 

 

 

I'm curious why you're trying to get to an FBX file in your process?  You can export from Chief to Collada (as you do now) and then import that right into Sketchup and its a pretty clean file without the 3DS issues.  I do wish Chief exported FBX directly for other reasons, but unless you plan to use the file in Unreal Engine or other gaming software I don't see the point of adding that step....but i'd love to hear your reason.  Perhaps there is some other advantage I'm not aware of.

Another thing i'm trying is using Vray with Blender which I find is WAY WAY better to organically shape terrains.  Not only that but Blender is free and very robust.

6 minutes ago, buildinthevoid said:

Hey so I’m trying to find a way to make my projects look as photo realistic as possible. Ray tracings improve my projects a lot, but I was wondering if there are any other techniques or compatible softwares with Chief Architect to enhance how a project looks in terms of realism?

Do a search on PBR inside Chief....if you're talking actual photo grade where you can't tell the difference of a real photo vs rendering you will need to supplement with 3rd party software.

Lumion or Twinmotion

Ultra real = VRay

21 hours ago, yusuf-333 said:

Hey Johnny here is a relatively big commercial building I did using CA. X10 runnibg on mac book pro.Actually not an easy task for chief to run smooth when when plans get bigger.

Nice work Yusuf.  I'll always admit that Chief is a good tool to make pretty pictures - and I'm sure with tons of 2D work on the plan side it can work for ConDocs.  What I will say is having used other apps for commercial work where the BIM model is also of a quality where you can cut sections and details that are representative of the actual assembly method, the idea of drafting 2D details in Chief sounds arduous....let alone the lag issues with such a file.

I've completed some conceptual work for Commercial projects in Chief and it wasn't fun (compared with apps designed for commercial).

You used Chief for a large government building?...and "they" have their own copy of Chief to mess with the file?  That alone is interesting.

I think the OP is talking about getting points snapped back into other points to delete extra point/nodes.  If he just hits the new "simplify polyline" on the secondary toolbar (sometimes docked on the bottom of the Chief UI) shown in my pic it might help you.  The tool is designed so you can get close enough and it will delete those "close" extra point/nodes.

...but yes, Chief has hordes of snapping problems.

22 minutes ago, StephenGreene said:

seriously considering it.

So is my firm.  

My firm runs 100% on the cloud - 16 team members including 3rd party engineers - and its the best thing we've done.  You can easily slave a local drive location so files you're currently using are accessed from your own HD but it uploads back to the cloud as you work - with no interruption. 

If i wasn't working with a team I'm not sure the advantages of working on the cloud other than an auto-versioning and backup (which is nice).

I feel for you - I don't have one for CA but I can tell you i've put more time in certain projects on the site/storm plan than the actual house plan.  Where I am its nuts too.

12 minutes ago, HumbleChief said:

 67 going on 68 years old and would never even consider another software package at this point in my life/career. 

That is a good point..and if I was in my 60's looking at retirement soon it probably wouldn't make sense.  I'm in my low 40's so i have some time to go...lol

42 minutes ago, glennw said:

Johnny,

Can you explain in a bit more detail why you can't copy/paste into a new plan?

Why do you need to block walls or other elements to do a copy/paste? 

 

Hi Glenn - 

Let me make a video to explain - i will post.

JP