johnny

So what i've done before is to make a layer system in SU on an object that matches the "material" delineation you want. Even if materials are the same, if you want a different direction than in Chief it has to be a different material listing. If you just isolate the surfaces into different layers before you export it should resolve all of this. I've been able to import files into CA without doing all this, but when i've had issues I revert to the method above to resolve issues.

I've seen some make custom toolbar buttons, but I was curious if it was possible to create "select similar" commands and assign to a custom button? For instance I often select all the roof planes, and there are a couple ways to select all the roof planes at once...but would love a custom button for that. Also, I like to draw profile lines over my elevations and sections and would love a method to quickly select all the lines with a certain thickness (one that i use often). So that I dont cause confusion, I realize I can do a "match properties" operation but some specific things I repeat often and would love to assign that operation (with ore-defined criteria) in a single button.

Very nice!

I have say Chief is a mixed bag. Some otherwise complicated modeling they've made incredibly simple and easy - but the flip side they've also made otherwise very simple things either overly difficult or flat out impossible. I think when comparing Softplan, Chief is superior in many, many ways.

I've seen -1 rep points on certain people's posts which had nothing wrong with them whatsoever, so I am convinced it happens by error occasionally.

There may be some here who will want to show you settings on how to get this done, but I personally just jump in and start manually editing things the way you want. Physically move the rim joist over to the edge of the lower wall, delete the "criples" it placed on the edge, and then extend the joists over to match in with the rim. You dont have to always use the auto-frame-features, you can get in there and just move or create the framing you need.

For anyone looking to go to Softplan over Chief or vice-versa at this stage is somewhat a silly idea at this point IMO. When I bought CA 4-5 years ago it wowed me what the app could do with simplicity over the "big BIM" boys. If I was looking to make a change today, I wouldn't switch to Chief. The other apps have made 2-3x the strides year over year than Chief in the same time period. Though I think that right now Chief still does traditional/standard residential better that other apps, that lead is shrinking very quickly. Going forward if Chief still tries to connect the DIY app with their "pro" version this will hold the app back from implementing the tools we professionals are asking for. I dont see this changing in the years to come, and now all the big BIM applications are getting closer to what Chief is doing while also flying past Chief in many key areas.

I think the OP has a valid point and complaint - and I am afraid there is no good solution with Chief right now. Point-to-point works better than dragging elements around, but there are still countless connection issues that develop depending on the task and number of items.

I was thinking more that I bet you could do this as a roof plane, and probably would be the best solution ...a solid glass plane with poly solids etc for the structure/mullions. Joe modeled an A-frame home in CA that had a roof which extended through to the 1st floor like this and it looked like that might be a solid idea to do this "atrium" curtain wall.

Personally, I would model in Sketchup or other app (i use Vectorworks) and then import the wall as a symbol. You can leave an invisible wall in the Chief file to close your structure. The only other things i can think of would be to use poly solids for the mullions and then thin poly for the glass, or you may be able to make a roof plane from glass and then just use poly solids for the mullions.

Can I adjust the text formatting in Window/Door schedules? Say I want to place a space in the reporting for header sizes so that it doesn't look like: 5 1/2X7 1/2X52 1/2", but rather 5 1/2 X 7 1/2 X 52 1/2". Also, if I set a Glu-lam the sizes only show as nominal and around here we typically show actual sizes. I see I can set to "engineered lumber" to get actual size, but is there a way to get Glu-Lam to show actual?

You guys should keep in mind that Dropbox simply sync's the files to your local drive. In the background it is just creating a copy on their server, which then allows other computers to sync with the updated files. Its basically an expanded version of Microsoft's old "briefcase". So you aren't working "on" Dropbox and so its just a set of local files like anything else....so it should work perfectly fine. There are some settings where you can change this, but I bet 99% of people who use dropbox keep the settings default.

I believe you simply change your default layout files text - same way as plan file essentially.

I've had these small anomalies as well, and 90% of the time they go away with some wall adjustment back and forth.

You need a cloud server that also stores a copy of the files on your local drive - more of a sync service. My office setup Sharepoint and it was a real hassle until we started using the corresponding Onedrive module since Chief's Layout files need to access "plan" files freely. Most other modern apps I use allow linking of file data through the web, but Chief doesn't do this at all....it must be local. You should be able to use just the "plan" files though.

Scott - thanks for the info...i downloaded MS Expression and LOVE it. This is going to help me a lot with all sorts of things.

Thanks Michael - I bought that macro and a couple others I was going to get from you. Sent you paypal...

Is there any way to have the display type vary from CAD objects? If I wanted the terrain to show a certain dimension type can I then have a "box" show another way?...or is it one or other for entire plan?

Not possible to block those items...chief doesn't allow blocks of walls and other things.

If the OP's issue is a "screened deck" then using the "deck railing" tool for the perimeter would be the most practical, and then the terrain won't cut under the "room".

I have to say, i've gone down the path of trying to import complex topo's into Chief and each time I think time better served just drawing Chief's elevation splines over top. You'd have a more more efficient and manageable topo if you just recreated the lines IMO.

I took the OP's question as wanting to combine multiple lines at once....like many other apps do. Doesn't the tool you show only combine 2 lines at a time?

I dont think there is a tool or command that connects touching line segments in Chief. You can click each line end-node and move it slightly for a "snap-join" operation, and do that for each instance..... but that is about it as far as I know. In your situation, I just import the file and set the lines to a layer (background) to then "sketch" over with Chief's terrain tools. Chief's terrains are tricky enough on their own without trying more complicated imports.

I think the OP has found an area where Chief is broken. I've used multiple settings with virtually no change in what gets exported. This can't be working correctly so should be reported as bug based on my tests that confirm what the OP is experiencing.

Very clever Yusuf...