robdyck

Chief will never get there. My original post was to solve that one problem and that one problem only. It wasn't intended as some sort of magic setting that fixes all the stair / railing problems. I was prioritizing based on the configuration of the stairs, the style of railing and the type of drawing provided. Obviously Chief can't build that type of railing in the stair dbx anyhow...

Railing is completely different than just stairs despite the fact that they can be defined within stairs. A handrail-to-post connection is based on a lot more than just how the stairs are mounted. Like, the thickness of the post, for example of which there are hundreds of styles. Or a rail-to-rail connection which also can vary greatly (in real, not in Chief). And then there's the configuration of how the stair connects to the upper floor. I could go on for days here. My original post only applies to situations where it applies. Not to situations where it doesn't. For certain projects, I go just a wee bit further than what Chief's dbx tools will allow so we're probably not talking about the same things.

I was also showing that with interior stairs. Your example was deck stairs. In my example, I didn't 'move the stairs" away 1"; they butt up against the wall layer. I'm just using a 1" thick wall to allow for finish materials.

I hear what you're saying but it does seem to work well. That's how most guys do it around here and I have to say I've built hundreds of stairs like that without any issues. Glued and screwed to each stringer, and the rough tread, and to added blocking between the stringers, under the rough tread.

Here's a life changing earth shattering tip for new users to Chief. Have you ever wondered if there was a logical way to start drawing a floor plan? Well, there is. It's called the 'Reference Grid'. Unfortunately, Chief's out-of-the-box settings have this grid set so light that it's hardly visible. Let's take a look at those settings: Next, let's see what a working screen looks like using a typical plan started from a Chief template: The whole building... A closeup: Notice that neither the Reference Grid, nor the Snap Grid are clearly visible. Let's change those colors so we can see them better. I've turned on 'Walls, Main Layer Only' in order to help see the wall drawing process. Notice in the view above that none of the walls align with either Grid. This should be addressed before you start drawing anything. 1. Change the Grid colors so you can see them. 2. Using the Input Point tool, place a CAD Point as shown below: This new point would be a great spot to: 1. Place a Marker and specify it as Framing Reference 2. Start drawing the floor plan in a clock-wise fashion. This will place your project in the positive portion of the x and y axis and help you have an intuitive grasp as to the buildings location as well as object locations. Everything will flow much easier, and I'm pretty sure both Chief and your computer will want to give you a hug.

I'm not entirely following your description Doug. Could you be more specific and maybe provide a pic or two?

I'm chucklin' but...it seems like a bit of a stretch. Maybe we need to be at that bar!

I feel like there's a super funny double entendre somewhere in there but it's over my head. What'd I say?

I can manually do anything...

I hate to say it, but I think attic walls might have been the least of your troubles...There's too much wrong to even begin a list. I cleaned some of it up and have attached the plan. I highly recommend watching every tutorial video and reading at least most of the manual. 1110_Jackson_St_B.plan

Are your framing specs the same for sliding doors as they are for hinged or bifold doors?

For those of us who like the stairs to be in the actual right position...this requires that the top of the stair does not directly make contact with the platform framing line. There will of course be some type of finish material added to the risers. This usually includes the top riser, and yes, it's thicker than Chief's 'zero' thickness 'riser surface at top landing'. For this exercise we'll say that material is 1/2" thick. And depending on your regional construction methods, there may be some structural material at the top of the stairs. In Alberta, and probably most of Canada, there is a stair 'hanger' which is plywood that extends vertically from the underside of the stringer to the top of the upper nosing. For this exercise we'll say that plywood is 1/2" thick. This means that the stairs need to be set 1" away from the platform framing line. The question is: what invisible wall type would you use that will properly define the platform framing edge and not produce a gap in the floor between the stairs, or a gap in the drywall? A typical 2x4 wall, drywall both sides: A Room Divider, 1/2" thickness: So my solution: An invisible wall, 1" thickness, material drywall. Hopefully someone else finds this useful.

If you don't mind, I'll jump in. If you'd like a new schedule that has the same properties, then select the existing schedule, use the SET AS DEFAULT tool, then delete it, and place a new one. It is a pointless exercise, however as the new one will be the same as the one it replaced.

Awesome! How did you figure that out?

Or send the drawing to layout at that scale. If it's 1:50 it's metric right? Can you settle for 1m = 50m? Here's my layout box labels:

Somebody's paying you to work for them, right? It's their job to get you the necessary info to start or at least provide you with the contact info of whomever has the full lot survey drawings. If this is your first such project, don't forget to check and confirm that you have the most recent land-use-bylaw or zoning requirements!

Good Catch Eric. This also won't be a problem if the window(s) is selected in the schedule using the Open Row Object tool.

So I'm checking with tech support about this, and I'll post the results. But I think I'll be able to 'fix' this by taking one of Chief's templates, and importing all my settings. Essentially building a new plan template. At first, I thought I may be able to import some setting from one of Chief's templates to my own, but this isn't a setting issue...there's something deeper and I think it's because my template has evolved over so many years from older Chief versions. I double checked this by copying an entire model from a 'Chief' plan (where the grain auto shows correctly) and copying it to my default plan. In my default plan the grain all runs based on the material angle setting, even though it's the exact same material! I don't mind making materials where I have to to get the right angle, but if you compare the different pictures closely, you'll see that in a 'Chief' plan, the grain is correct at studs, plates, headers, and truss members, whereas in my plan, they all run either vertical or horizontal, again, depending on the material setting. I'm working on another timber plan now, and it's really handy to be able to draw a rafter and use as a rafter or symbol instead of constantly making solids. Plus the framing looks so much better when it's right!

Did you see where and how you need to add your comments to get them in the schedule?

I agree with Michael, @Hammer7 seems unaware that the Comment field will populate from the Object Information Panel of the Window Specification dialog box.

I don't know...I think we need another cabinet manufacturer library instead. I've only got a choice of about 97 different shaker style cabinet doors. But yes, I'll add to the suggestions.

That's what I was showing in my earlier post. For stairs at a landing, If you open the stair dbx and check the clip top function, it shows them clipped. But when you close the dbx, alas, they do not clip:( And nice of @SNestor to post his video again, but how come (by now) we can't actually tell the stairs to: -clip the top (for real, honestly, just do it if I tell you to) -extend the stringer beyond the bottom nosing a specified distnace -add a molding to the stringer / trim against wall (with edge control) I realize I'm asking pointless questions.

Please post the plan. I'll take a look right away.

Here's an image from Chief's 'Residential Template'. The grain direction is correct, even if I paint the framing with my own framing materials. So the question is, how do I get those settings into my template?