johnny

"with Chief endeavouring to make changes to the platforms to compensate for the users input that causes conflicts in the model." CA should really have a feature where you can turn off automation and manually create floor elevations and connections between walls and roofs, walls and walls, and walls and objects. In Vectorworks we have a "story" editor, but only through operation do major items connect. I really think having a solid non-automated way to model in CA (the professional version) would be useful.

Overall I think Chief's format is fine. What I dont like about Chief is how reliant it is on Dbx, and the "correct" view. What I want to see improved is the generic 3D shape modeling tools, and the "grouping" mechanics. We should be able to model shapes in lieu of "objects", and then set the "shape" as a "object". If you took Sketchup (which is very basic app), and merged that with CA - it may be the perfect result. From CA's own mouth it sounds like they are greatly improving the 3D shape experience. Scot Harris said: "Johnny: thanks for the thread. 3D shape modeling is in our product strategy"

I wonder if you can create a shortcut folder from a location inside Dropbox, and then manually place that in the same location as where CA looks for the user files? Here is the article I found https://www.dropbox.com/en/help/12

Yes, you are very correct. Here is a project I was dusting off from 2008 (at the real estate crisis when projects were put on hold) and having to start to bring forward again, and that is exactly why the coloring of the background is what it is - the yellowish tracing paper. ...but i have to say, ideas brought forward this way - the process is developed through the doodling...and can be very fast. Here is a block 2d model where we started planning for a hotel/condo project where most the terraces needed to be substantial and not have overhead covering as most projects have. Here in the NW we have light issues, and our client wanted to do a modern replication of a "hanging gardens". Anyway, this shows the process evolving. (obviously we had tons of these types of drawings but just showing a few to relate the story)

If you are using DropBox through your file browser on each machine, doesn't that happen anyways? I can't speak to CA, but with my "shared" files I have shortcuts to the directories in Dropbox so anything that happens on one or the other is mutually affecting both.

Thanks Scott - yeah, I do use multiple apps well, but they all have strong similarities in getting things done. Modeling in Vectorworks is now very similar to Sketchup except more accurate and better "publishing" tools. Vectorworks is very similar to applications like Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop in many ways. Chief has been, without a doubt, the most difficult software i've tried to learn - yet I see the power of truly mastering it. At first everything looks so easy, and I wondered why the heck more architects/designers weren't using this application.....well, then I found out. CA in many ways is amazing. It handles things other apps don't even try to. I'll admit the resent DAE file format support from CA has made things nice in import/export of 3D models.

Also, that detail often has the sill/stool being all the way to the outside edge of the wall/brick. You may need to just use a poly-solid or something. (added) below is just a reference to what I mean, not the design of stool/sill I would use.

I've used mostly Sketchup and some Vectorworks up to now with 3D work. Here is a "Main Street" shopping area addition done in Sketchup, and you can say CA can do this work, but larger projects need better grouping and components than what I think CA offers. (added) To clarify, I think CA could model this scene just fine, but the organization of the file would be challenging IMO.

True, there is no question you end up with more if you invest more time in 3d. If everything goes correctly it may be a time-saver over the entire project. However, i've also had many clients want to go completely different directions - and having only 2D investments was much easier to digest that change than 3D models etc.

Yeah, I am trying to nail CA down - I really am. Perhaps in the future it will be faster for presentation work - however, my 2d process is so "experimental" I feel 3D modeling I often have to invest too much time into a direction I wont go. I've show this project before, but its a good example of what I mean. Below is the floor plan of a waterfront home for a client. The husband wanted a rustic stucco home resembling a "french country" design, and the wife wanted a "beachy" Cape Cod (Nantucket) influenced home. I feel to model both styles in CA would have taken much longer, whereas a simple 2D elevation of the different ideas was very quick - especially since I was changing details of the frame I already had. Perhaps I will find 3D work as effective - and I am working on that.

This was a recent video from CA which will help you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3xW1dipAXZo

Vectorworks. I have "blocks" (really groups) of all sorts of library items. In fact, here is an example of an elevation I did using elements of the above drawing. I was able to do this for the client as a concept in about 20-30 min. Notice the elements I reused.

I really dont know what you are asking - but is this drawing similar to what you want?

Aren't you talking about finish trim? Otherwise, yes as Alan says, that can come from the manufacture - - but i've never in my life been asked by an HOA for the window frame details - say apart from the general type (wood/clad/vinyl etc).

Joe, I would love to see screenshots or something of your process. Perhaps you have a good system I dont know about. Personally - I really have no idea how people design thru 3D modeling in CA and end up with well thought out projects, in a reasonable amount of time. I feel I could model a home with no concept work, but it wouldn't come out like a project where I took the added step of 2D drawings. I'd even suggest the 2D concept workflow can be faster than trying to design-3d-model. (edit) I changed my example to a residential project, since that is mostly what you guys are taking about here. So below is an example where I could produce this for a client in 1-3 hrs to make sure (a) the floor plan would generally meet the clients need, and ( elevation concept was in line with the motif/style the client wanted, and © rough shot estimates could be made for the estimated budget. What can you do in 1-3 hrs in CA to give such a rough overview of a project in concept stage?

Making the area a balcony doesn't solve the issue on my end.....odd.

Can someone link to this older discussion - i would like to see it. Thanks

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?