johnny

I think Michael does a great job showing the fastest possible way in Chief - but make no mistake, Chief's 2D and communal function with basic 3D isn't nearly as fast or intuitive as Autocad or many other apps....but Chief does so many other key things better its why we are here. Although, you really wouldn't think 2D tools would be too hard to improve....who knows though.

Chief has some very specific paradigm methods which makes it not nearly as easy free form model or draw like other apps feature. Its not very easy to place modeling items in a basic form to then plan on coming back and model more specifically later. I do think if you spend more time in the "concept" stage in Chief and end up going to completion you are much further along than other apps.

1. Traditional Conceptual Home Design I dont think Chief is particularly strong at "conceptual design". You can save a lot of time using Chief going from concept to construction drawings, but if you had to rate Chief just on conceptual design I would say its poor. 2. Custom Complicated Modern Home Design Chief doesn't have good solid tools to do a lot of "complicated" modern homes. I'd have to rate Chief the weakest of any software i've used for this specific type. I'm sure someone is going to show off some modern home they've done in Chief, but the reality is you are asking for "Custom Complicated" modern homes - which is fairly popular style today. Revit and Sketchup is way better than Chief for this type of work. 3. Detailed Construction Home Drawings I think Chief does a decent job here - but Chief's 2D tools are very much lacking. That said, if you model your home well you can get a lot from the model that keeps you from drawing in 2D much. I still dont see that as a "time-saver" but it is the best approach. Even though I would rate Chief poor at #1 and #2, it doesn't mean I think its a bad app. Like Michael said its probably the best rounded BIM app for typical residential projects.

Is there any way to make the lower section of a "pony" wall config an invisible wall? I'm wanting to use a certain detail on a lower wall section I can only really get from using a molding poly (as i see it), and if I could set the lower wall invisible at a certain height it would serve my needs there.

To me it looks like a version of "Flux Architect" - but has double effect for old pen plotters. Its not much different than Graphite, but there are a couple subtle differences. https://www.fontsquirrel.com/fonts/flux

I've had better success posting the plan when I can....

I've flipped a couple plans in Chief and its not "perfect". Then again, nearly every app i've used has about the same amount of clean-up for mirroring a plan. In fact, Chief might do it a little better IMO.

If we are talking about the gutter section (assuming) then I was able to (1) block and (2) place into library. Was it something different? (added) I didnt see the new posts by hamilnBC...looks like you guys got it.

As it is now there is no "real" reason a pilot has to sit in a plane - except people want to know there is another human on the line between them and a system they dont understand, and have an equal stake in the risk. Perhaps WAY in the future things will be different and everyone on earth will be dedicated to a space program of sorts while computers and robotics run everyday necessities. However, I can promise you there will be nostalgia longing for times we humans did most the mundane work....so we should appropriate what we have now. I think the recent show "Westworld" is an interesting sci-fi depiction of that possible reality.

Except there is no mandatory schooling or training prerequisite to getting a marriage license - such as courses on being a better husband or wife. Perhaps if there were things would be different in many marriages. When I say people should be licensed I am also suggesting there be training or schooling associated to reinforce the process. Even training under a "master" for some time would be enough for many people.

Yes, Premier allows you to do what you are looking for - but I didn't mean to imply I knew HomeDesigner doesn't. HomeDesigner may do that too, I just dont know. David is a good forum contributor for both apps and hopefuly he sees this thread and can comment. If you plan to do serious modeling and construction doc work then you should get Premier - its well worth it, and on sale right now. Chief also has a "rent to own" program available as well, but I think the sale they have going is probably the best deal.

...and speed limits and laws dont stop everyone from breaking them while hurting others. Doesn't mean we should abandon laws altogether. It just seems a little nuts to me that home appraisers and realtors have to go through a process to get licensed (with continuing education) and yet the most potential dangerous and impactful aspect of structural home design can be done by anyone with CAD (in many states). A bad designer can effect the value of someone's investment more than a bad appraiser or realtor, not to mention down right dangerous. To be perfectly clear, I don't think every home designer needs to be an architect. However, I do think there should be some requirements and licensing involved.

Just FYI there is a specific forum for your version of Chief. Premier has a specific tool that allows freely placed footings with a post but unsure what your version has. I'd post the same question over there and get a response based on your version. https://hometalk.chiefarchitect.com/

For what it's worth, part of me likes how much detail is being required to pull permits now-a-days. Its a bit of a reality check for those who think the software is going to do all the work. Id even like to see licensing requirements for residential design - perhaps AIBD. I am not saying someone would have to be an architect, but some sort of standard that makes "self-entitlement" a thing of the past for our field.

Great idea... David fixed the issue but your solution would have easier. I didn't see that door, but will look again for future refence.

Hey Glenn - I PM'd you a link to the file. Thanks!

Has anyone run into the shadows doing funny things with siding lines? I've seen this before but didnt bother exploring further - now in prep of some presentation drawings effecting my work. This is an export of an image right from the plan file - not a screen shot.

100% agree - but since a grid tool has little use for a DIY version Chief has said these ideas may not receive the same attention a feature that benefits all its versions would. This is exactly why we get so many updates heavy with eye candy, and will likely continue that way for the foreseeable future. X10 may be my last Chief version (i hope its not)...but I see very clearly whats shaped Chief to this point, and I believe I might be better severed with a "pro" only app. As Richard pointed to that is a decision we all have to make....there is no way to force Chief to change.

Thanks David! Did you get the SU file to work or model a new door? I am curious since I am wondering if next time I should just move on to modeling the door.

I thought id post a problem I am having with a simple garage door I downloaded from Sketchup's Warehouse. There are strange gaps between the panels which are clearly not there in the SU file. I even opened the SU file to verify there weren't issues there, so this appears to be a Chief error perhaps. I've attached all the files. garage_door_issue.plan gar4_1.skp

Perhaps i'm by myself in realization that DIY versions of the app is most likely to blame for holding Chief Premier back (my perspective as a pro-user) from using the majority of the yearly resources to invest in "pro-only" tools (expansion or new). Its not even as if Chief is developing separate products for each market - its generally the SAME product with feature differences. I also recognize Chief has benefited from this development viewpoint, but Id say it feels like they are languishing now. X8 was great, but really this app hasn't had a lot major improvements since I started using it. Lots of eye-candy, which is cool but Chief is really falling behind in the modeling of the structure/details. When I first was viewing Chief 5 years ago they wow-ed me with the details....and now, its actually awful compared to other BIM apps that are getting very detailed in their structure sections.

Chief has found some success by making otherwise complex modeling easy - primary ...since their goal was to have products that severed both DIY and professionals. I believe what is holding CA premier back at this point is the same thing that made it successful before, and Chief is investing too much time now in eye candy that can help sell its DIY packages. That, and the fact they dont have a "Chief" architect in the development team for a product called "Chief Architect". Imagine a company that specilized in medical software not having doctors as part of the decision making? Vectorworks, Archicad, Allplan, Revit, etc etc all have architects as integral development team members and it ends up showing up in their products. I run a group that just added its 8th Chief license (plus more 3rd party support with their own licenses). The owners of the company ask me every so often if we should change to Revit or some other main-stream CAD package and i've resisted the move. However, I will reassess after X10, and if Chief still gets hampered by DIY product offerings then we will need to look at a change. ....but I hope the best for Chief, since we have a lot invested.

I've watched several videos with copy attributes commands but can't exactly see how (if its possible) to apply all the framing settings i've applied to a roof plane to another roof plane made from the default settings. Is there a way to do that, or do I have to change the defaults to have it apply to other planes?

I might be the naysayer here, but id personally recommend someone start by being a draftsman in an operational firm before starting out on their own. There is so much to learn in the way of process its hard for me to imagine someone picking up that all on their own quickly to be a full service operation. Doing a layout in Chief is such a small % of what the job entails - and unless you are dealing with an architect or engineer (review your work) a mistake could be pretty big.

You forgot someone.