robdyck

More examples to add fuel to fiery conversation! Awhile back I used google street view to create a backdrop so I could illustrate a home in situ. This process was basic, but it prevented the homeowner from having to make changes to their home because the architectural control board was satisfied with the variation from adjacent homes. Today, I asked Gemini to improve it. Here's the original image I created in Chief: Here's my prompt and the result from Gemini (Nano Banana): In the attached image, I used a google street view to illustrate my project house ( the white house in the middle) in situ. I'd like you to improve this into a realistic scene by improving the landscaping and lighting. The architecture of all homes in the image cannot be changed. If you ask me, that's almost unbelievable! That took about 1 minute to prompt and generate. I agree with Chris on this one...if Chief needs to make improvements, they can focus on bringing speed and increased intelligent tools to help with tools related to con docs.

Nope. I can't replicate that.

No, I don't send any AI altered renderings...ever. They can do that themselves, right?

I'm not sure Chief really needs a whole lot 'built-in' from a rendering standpoint...not while there are so many other options. D5 has some very interesting features like using AI to build out landscaping using the models and tools. The soft plan examples looked to be pretty heavily modeled prior to rendering enhancements and I find that creating landscapes is quite time consuming. Now, I can send basic renders to any client and they no longer need me to provide great renderings:(. Here's an example that CoPilot generated. My prompts were minimal. I can't do that in Chief in 2 minutes! And yes, it still changed parts of the building.

Are you using Saved Plan Views?

You need to divide the foundation into rooms that align with the different floor levels on the main floor. Without this separation, it will continually change. Alternatively, you can delete the foundation entirely...if you have no specific need for it. The Media Room is marked as Floor supplied...by below. Make this floor structure the same as all other rooms at floor elevation 0". The easiest way to divide the foundation into rooms is to select the dividing walls from the main floor and the copy-paste-in-place to the foundation level. The go back to the main floor and check all floor elevations and floor structure conditions. I have the blue highlighted rooms at 0". After doing the tasks I mentioned, the result works out as expected.

If you can post the plan file or send me a download link, I'll take a look and see if I can help.

Here's the problem: the small room divider walls that separate the wall types at the window wells. Delete this and it works correctly. Of course, you'll need to figure out another method to control those walls. rober-08-02-2026-08-24-21.mp4

Here's the problem: the small room divider walls that separate the wall types at the window wells. Delete this and it works correctly. Of course, you'll need to figure out another method to control those walls.

Try this

The gap is the rough opening...because your brick layer is checked as 'framing'. Open the wall definition and make sure that only the framing layers is checked as framing.

No, that type of window is not available in X17.

Try opening the room dialog and uncheck the default for the room Ceiling Finish.

In the picture you've posted, the casing is illustrated backwards. The thin portion should be at the jamb. When reviewing casing molding profiles from the library, the molding profile must appear 'upside down' in the library browser in order for casing to not be installed backwards. I doubt there are many (any) casing manufacturers who illustrate their casing products with the thicker portion at the top, although the 'flat' portion may be at the right or the left. In Chief's library, there are many different orientations for casing profiles and the main variation from the expected results is in manufacturer content. And, if a person wanted to make a corrected version of the Brosco casing profiles, each molding profile would need to be placed and then oriented correctly (for Chief), and then added to the Library and renamed. Chief allows molding rotations of user library items, but not a reflection of the profile.

The key to control what is included on a partial material list (like for an addition) is Layers! If the plan itself is complete, this can be simplest to do in a copy of the plan file used specifically for the material list purpose (to avoid creating drawing errors on your plan set). Ensure that everything that is existing OR new is on separate layer so that you can exclude all existing items from the material list. You'll do that by unchecking those layers from the layer set being used for your materials list. Another thing that can be helpful is to go through the Plan Materials dialog and rename materials for simpler identification. In the end, the time taken to modify the materials list will probably be the same or more than the time required for an experienced estimator to use their own methods.

Hi Terry, I'll attempt to answer although I may not address exactly what you have in mind. The numbering is automatic on a per-page basis so it's not necessarily something you need to keep track of in order to enter new revisions...unless you're using the Label category or which isn't automatic. A simple way to visually identify the numbering ahead of time is to enter the revisions using the 'Edit Page Information' tool instead of the 'Add Layout Revision' tool. That way, all existing revisions will be visible for the page you are currently viewing, with simple and quick scrollable selection to all other pages. The obvious other tool that quickly identifies this is the Revision Table, assuming it is present on each page (for visibility regardless of which page you are viewing).

Callout / Main Text Style ...ensure Rotate with Plan is unchecked. You can edit the text style being used, or use a custom text style.

Actually, what works best is to place the framing schedule in the wall framing detail view. You will need to make sure that no other framing schedule is identifying the framing components used in the wall details. I suggest creating a cad template to help you place the framing schedules in the exact same relative location for each wall detail. Make sure this box is checked:

You can attach a download link to the plan file here along with a list of adjustments needed or Message the link to me (hover over my profile image to bring up the Message option). I'll take a look and let you know what it'll cost. I can do it right away.

It would be great if Chief provided separate reveal settings for lintels and sills, both interior and exterior. This would be a great suggestion for Chief and would make for a very practical new feature.