robdyck

I design walk-out foundations all the time, and I prefer to keep the basement at the default level, Floor '0'. I find it simpler to keep the main floor at the elevation of 0'-0" and subtract for the lower level. If you're using pony walls for some of the foundation walls, the display options for pony walls work well and provide plenty of options for plan view.

I've made plenty of feature requests that deal with the actual "drafting" of plans. I don't like to complain, but there's a lot of functionality missing on the drafting end, but there's around 50 cabinet libraries?? And not being REVIT compatible is becoming a bit of a problem. I'm worried that while at one point I was ahead of the curve (compared to others in my market), I'm going to be left behind where my 3D software is too dumb to play nicely with others who have true BIM capabilities.

Portions of text; that makes sense. I've alway just used polylines, but I've never 'highlighted' any text in plan view. I typically do this when identifying a particular portion from a table or schedule.

That's an interesting idea, for sure, but just curious, why wouldn't you just use the text fill style for something like that? At any rate, I wasn't specific enough in my OP. I was referring to section details, and the idea of adding a transparent line, as opposed to a dashed line, to 'highlight' a thin layer without needing to explode the layers to create the drawing space to identify membranes, films, etc. like in the example below. This would also require the ability to truncate an individual line separate from the default settings

At one time, wasn't there an option to add transparency to a line? Is there any way to do this now without drawing a polyline? A heavy line with transparency essentially acts like a highlighter and is a great way to identify 'zero' thickness layers in wall assemblies, like vapor barrier, for instance.

You can replicate your stairs and change materials and settings to get the desired end result. I've made complex spiral stairs (but not quite as complex as yours) that way using multiples of the "same" stairs, one stairs just for treads, one just for the stringer, one just for the railing, and so on. They can be group selected and converted to a fixture if needed. The spiral stair makes nicer curved than the 3D molding IMO.

You can "save" a plan view, and you can "save as" for a plan view. If you don't have the tool on your tool bar already, just look for it in customize toolbars.

I certainly debated that option. I used p-solids for timber lookouts with a profiled end-cut. I've also got rafters, posts, beams, architectural blocks of timber trusses, an so on. Of course if I convert to fixtures, I can't edit the end cut and there could be changes to the design. I'm currently using a customized note schedule. It's laborious, but I feel like I'm forced to pick between the two, and I guess I've made my choice. Simply accessing more properties from p-solids would be nice.

Is there way to make a schedule of polyline solids? For example, several exterior trim objects created using p-solids and on their own layer. It would be handy to be able to create a schedule of items on a particular layer set.

I just completed some renderings with B&B on every wall. The correct look requires slightly different spacings to achieve correct centering at windows, doors, gable ends etc. I used the material region technique mentioned, and did every wall separately, provided 8 different versions to the client all in about 7 hours. I needed the shadows to look correct which means a 3D object as opposed to a flat pattern. It's quick if you want it to be. In this case, the budget for my work was predetermined so I had to deliver acceptable results while still making $. Below is 1 of 40 renderings (8 versions of 5 saved cameras, each with different solar angles and lighting).

I know how to make them perfectly using Chief's tools but it's way too complicated to describe in a post. I'd jump all over Joe's offer, unless you work for under $10/hour:) and don't mind spending a whole day on it! You'd feel like a genius when all you have to do is import a perfectly fitting symbol!

That too. In my area, I need to show percentages for several items: -building area (as defined by our building code) -building footprint (as defined by local zoning bylaws) -impervious site coverage -glass to wall area ratios on certain elevations (relating to fire codes) -percentages of finish materials (as required by architectural review boards) and more...

In the walls dbx, General Tab, check "foundation wall". Structure Tab, check "bearing wall"

Does anyone know of a way to get an automatic percentage calculation for something like site coverage? I have macros to display the area of the site and footprints of the structures (using polylines), but I also need to show the percentage of coverage. I hate doing this manually because I'm human and I occasionally enter a typo. The same thing applies to other parts of a plan, like displaying the percentage of windows on the elevation of a home, or the percentage of cladding types. These are just a few examples of where percentages need to be shown for permitting authorities.

use a ramp to make the railing. You can manipulate all of its settings to get the rail where you'd like and keep the actual ramp invisible.

They're nothing special. Just CAD lines that you'd assign to their own layer with their own layer style. You'd use them to establish a story-pole of often and consistently used dimensions. Example (for cabinet elevations): start with a line at your finished floor, copy at the height of the toe kick, the countertop, underside of wall cabinets, or light rail, underside of range hood, top of wall cabinet, top of crown moulding, underside of finished ceiling. You can build it once, with dimensions or elevation markers and copy and paste it into each cabinet elevation. Then add supplementary dimensions as needed in each elevation (ie: the underside of a vanity desk). Using the drawing order tool you can choose to have these lines on top of, or behind the elevation drawing. I typically keep them behind and use a medium light gray dashed line with a heavy line weight. I like to make sure the lines are visible on the left and right side of the elevation view.

Absolutely. Ever since saved plan views became available. Really helps to focus your work to the actual drawings you'll be showing in layout as opposed to messing with things in the model that ultimately will never be seen by anyone. And each time that you make an improvement, then export and save those layer / anno sets to a folder to add to your templates.

I figured I'd show the difference between Chief's handrail placement versus a code compliant handrail placement. I've put a request in to Chief to allow us to specify the offset of the handrail. In the screenshot, the 'y' bracket I placed is the minimum distance from the wall according to the National Building Code of Canada. If we could specify the offset, that would simplify the process and allow the visualization tools to match real world requirements. Curious if anyone knows how to get Chief to connect these handrails? It can't be easy because Chief currently doesn't draw handrails on walls following stairs correctly. Chief holds the handrails' height as the specified distance in the 'z' axis meaning a 2" rail doesn't measure 2" perpendicular to its direction, but holds it as 2" vertically. Hopefully this also gets corrected soon.

I've been there as well, Doug. I pushed back as far as showing brackets in all views at least in a residential project (and luckily, they conceded). I manually place brackets and I show them in the stair section view only and I always include a 'stair section' drawing that is clipped; No structural detail in this section, stair info only. On commercial plans, I include a large scale plan view drawing for the stairs and that's what I'd do for a residential plan if / when I had to. I've used some of the library brackets which look close enough when shrunk to the correct size, but for metal handrail brackets that might be used on an exterior rail, I've made my own. Also made my own 'cat's paw' wood handrail brackets. Keep in mind that if you're actually providing a stair detail which includes hand / guard rail details, Chief's auto rail is too close to the wall for Canada's codes. I always draw my own rails whenever I need to include details to ensure my rail profile and placement is code compliant. And I find it faster to build the model accurately, and then just 'take pictures' whether it's a section view or a 3D detail. I find it easier to update my drawings (that way) when my clients make changes after the drawings are complete.

I'll use whichever tool Chief has that works the best for me to get real accuracy. If I'm drawing a custom tile shower and I choose to use a p-solid or molding or 3D molding etc, I'll also model in every construction layer, especially if I'm including a detail on the plans. Depending on who I'm drawing for, I find accurate illustrated details are more relevant than CAD details. You probably wouldn't need me to dimension something like a shower but illustrated can be helpful to you or your employees and trades. Example: A builder I work for likes 3 treated 2X4s's glued and screwed for a shower curb. I'll show that, as well as cement board, waterproofing membranes, thinset, tile and tile trims and I'll model it with layer setbacks so each layer is visible and labeled. The illustration above was modeled using Chief and it's typical of how I model (not draw) details.

I've got 8 of my own edge profiles just sitting there in "My Moldings" library! Time to dust them off.

Geez, of course. I opened up an older file and I have it set in those cabinet defaults. Not quite sure why I've removed it? I've got a few different cabinet style default sets saved and somehow my go-to set has evolved without a countertop edge. After a few years of that, I'd forgotten and thought that an edge would follow the cabinet box, and not the countertop. This is why it's good to talk about things.

I haven't decided yet, modern though. I've got a really modern home I'm completing and I'll probably try to grab one from the warehouse, edit it if needed, assign materials and lighting and then save it as a symbol and an arch block. Quick question on your PBR video: you had edges on your countertops; you did that manually correct? I'm still assuming we can't automatically add a countertop edge molding.

You can move a roof plan to any floor for editing. In your case, if you've built one roof plane on the main floor and one on the 2nd, pick one and move it up or down so you can easily connect them. They'll still be 2 roof planes.

Nice demo of the match properties tool! I'll be using that more often!