johnny

Good question on adding more windows than 3. I will try when I am at the office tomorrow, but I found this video if you want to see how to edit the windows that are there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spoHkzjOQS4

There is a nice little button on the side (toolbar) you can toggle color/b&w....

If you use the box window tool that does seem to work... You need to add your freeze board detail but that should be easy. Inside the visual is a nice clean line.

I have these types of issues often with CA. CA is trying to save us time and auto-heal finish layers like this, and I find anything out of out-norm can result in needing some kind of work-around. I personally feel that it would actually save me time if I set the connections manually and not have CA try and automate this process. ...that said, there are ticks that many on the forums know in cleaning this up.

Yeah I have issues sometimes posting CA files - zipping it has helped me before...

This link may help you... http://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00547/creating-stairs-in-sloping-terrain.html However, this is more for visual and layout planning. If you are looking for actual concrete steps that can be detailed and sectioned from your plan and actually have a back-slope to the risers it may be best creating a profile of the stairs and then extruding. Im in no way a chief expert, but that is how i've done it. Also - found this video from David.

Wow - that seems like a big deal. Some of those numbers are used to charge clients, and often aren't hand-checked - etc.

Are you wanting visual decorative truss or just typical structural web truss in the attic space?

I use Outlook a lot - a lot. I will email myself meeting and schedules etc, and then use Dropbox for file coordination. I've worked for larger companies in the past that have complicated and sophisticated project management software, but what you see on these forums is mainly small business or sole proprietor type operations. I've had a project manager before (pre-down-turn years when we had 32 employees) use a notebook of paper and he just kept making non-stop lists and notes...and he was the most organized person i've been around, and his method was basic. I guess in the end its not what you use, but the constancy of its use. If you choose something more complex, you may end up skipping it all too often and the tool doesn't work. If paper notes is easy and you use it all the time, that may be the best bet.

Here is a quick concept I did in CA to demonstrate where I think you want to go with the model - maybe I am wrong. I just show a line drawing render since I didn't want to mess with textures etc. The slight error in the picture house is the fact I think they were trying to have the "wrap" come around and then at the porch the wall "notch" be as if that portion of roof was twisted/flipped up to form that roof section - but the size of that cutout doesn't match the area of roof they show (its much larger). I think that could be fixed.... but I may be too picky.

Are you saying the wall there is a roof?....its a wall with treatment to look like the roof extends over the edge (ie battens), but its not a roof in "design" or real life. The fascia board is being used as an edge detail for the roof down the side of that wall is making an illusion/representation of sorts. Its hard to tell from the pic, but the other side may be the face/edge of a gamble roof if that is what you are talking about? Again, its hard to tell from the pic, if there is an angle to that other wall - but it doesn't look like there is an angle to the foreground wall. Anyway, they have cleverly designed the elements of the home to appear as if the roof wraps the house, but its more a detailed illusion than actual roof that wraps around the home.

Can I ask a question - why doesn't the wall i set to balloon past ceiling height not do exactly that when I place a manual ceiling plane?...isn't that the point?

I guess there is some terminology differences - as in if I produce a 2d plan with varying degrees of heights I would call-out a "plate height" and a "finish ceiling height" on the floor plan and section, but on the roof plan I would indicate ceiling joists framed down (soffit label can be used), but I actually wouldn't call it out as a soffit as I use for varying heights of finish ceilings adjacent to each other. I would take the "rough" ceiling as being the plate height - but perhaps I am wrong. So what is "rough ceiling" in CA?

If you can't change the finish ceiling height or the floor level above without changing everything else - what is the point of even allowing this input?

Finish Ceiling and Rough Ceiling hgts should not be connected - that makes little sense really. You should be able to set both independent of each-other. I swear I thought i've seen a Scott video on this issue, and making ceiling joists inside the wall framing.

I'm honestly petitioning for more non-automated ways/tools to get things done like you are saying. The app can't possibility have a Dbx solution for every field condition. CA is amazing at so many things other apps dont support well for residential, but then when it comes to the details I feel its lacking. Dont get me wrong, there are people like Joe and Scott (and others) who can get these Dbx's to work well for them.

Just from a design standpoint, Steeple's typically are the same dimension each side so the roof-lines meet all in the same point. You may have some other plan, but I wanted to at least mention this in case you've not deigned one before. You dont need it to be the shape of your vestibule, as you can simply over-frame the perimeter into the roof area behind...in fact it would look better this way.

Just tried and yeah, its not there.

Thanks Joe! that worked.

Thanks for the info - so I can't just freely control what object "cuts" and what object stays in the operation? I ended up just drawing the piece I needed in the section/elevation view.

I am trying to clip the edge of a rafter look-out detail using primitive solids. When I use the "solid intersection" I can't seem to control which section cuts which. Is there a way to control this? Here is a pic to illustrate. I set the cut piece to glass.

I realize some can make the Dbx system work, but I would much prefer if CA allowed us to specifically "set" connections and in some cases turn off all automation.

Any possibility to just listen in?

I appreciate your time in creating these videos Larry. It helps to know others have similar issues like this trying to us Dbx's for automated results. I also got a nice tidbit of info on the "similar properties" match Dbx, but I agree with you overall - some of this is "spooky action at a distance". "In physics, action at a distance is the concept that an object can be moved, changed, or otherwise affected without being physically touched (as in mechanical contact) by another object. That is, it is the nonlocal interaction of objects that are separated in space."

I really think this is a good example of what I am talking about. I run into this sort of thing all the time - and if Larry has a hard time with it, I know I won't get it. What makes you want to get an automated result from the Dbx - why not just model the foundation/slab using poly-solids etc?