robdyck

I already have the cameras I mentioned in my template plan so they exist in every project. I believe I'd access this view type with less clicks assuming my project browser and your library are already opened. I also have a library of frequent room fills and I'd recommend other users do the same. Without going on too long on this subject, one of the nice things about the camera view is being able to edit patterns / textures simultaneously, including making copies of materials to adjust direction & orientation, which can have a spin-off benefit for all other camera views.

Ahh, yes, I wasn't thinking of it as a use for Con docs, more along the lines of a marketing plan is what I had in my mind.

Something worth looking at is an orthographic floor overview / top direction. This will display the materials and their patterns. Quicker than using room fill.

You could add a terrain feature, about 1/8" thick. That should get consistent lines to generate.

Could you try the fill pattern: 191-SIDG_Stucco

From Help: By default, only one header for a given opening displays a label while the other(s) are suppressed.

Not without creating multiple openings in the same place. You could make a symbol, but it's probably not worth the effort.

No, everything in that particular plan is automatic, with headers calculated by width.

I think what a person needs is the ability to place layout boxes on layers. Then you could simple place unused items on their own layer and turn them off if they won't be used. In the meantime, maybe you could place those items in a layout CAD detail, using cut / paste. That'd be really quick to do and really quick to add back into layout if needed.

Would this also be similar to how the plan display of pony walls / windows can change in an SVP unpredictably? This does not get 'reset' by re-opening the SVP, rather a wall dbx must be opened then closed. INCORRECT CORRECT

Yes, however keep in mind that the headers need to be displayed in plan view along with their labels. In the example below, I have the window label to the exterior and the header label to the interior. The header label below uses macros, plus the brackets, the dash, and the letters HDR.

I'd gladly give out CAD files of an unfinished floor plan, and at no cost! What's anyone gonna do with them, they'll be complete crap, right? Would you have any use for someone else's unfinished plans in dwg format? Heck no! Emails: they'd already have their email communications with you. It would be a privacy no-no to send them copies of your communications with someone else, unless they want to pay for your time to get signed release from all other parties (and they will not want to pay you for that). Renderings: I'd gladly send them 4 exterior renderings (from each corner) in vector or standard technique. I would not give out a Chief file, nor would I even mention a Chief file.

For a little experiment, try this in your beam label (Note: UNCHECK "Use Default Formatting"), then try changing the width from 3.5 to 5.25. (%width/1.75%)-1 3/4"x%depth%" %type_name% %name%

This is the same type of glitch that's created by having multiple SVP's open and toggling between views. SVP's will regain their functionality simply by double clicking on the SVP in the project browser, even if it is already open. It resets the SVP.

Is the wall niche layer turned on in that camera view?

If you want separate tread / riser material like in your picture, then you will need to use landings. If you're ok with 1 material, then it can be done by using no stringers, tread overhang of about 18", and tread thickness equal to the unit rise. That would get you pretty close.

It hasn't been happening lately. I made a couple of workflow changes: Turned off preview panel in library browser change default camera views to vector view (which has never caused a crash)

I would use a polyline solid. If framing needed to be shown in a plan set, I'd handle that using CAD in a section view.

When blocking a cad detail for use in other plans, it can be a good idea to make sure that all items do not follow any layer settings. This way, when unblocking, there will be no unintended display changes if one plan has different layer properties than the original plan from which the cad block was formed. Another good practice when exploding a cad block is to open 'Object Properties' immediately after exploding and review the layer properties to make sure they are all displayed.

Just moving cad boxes / polylines / blocks apart in the camera (like the lapped siding cad block for example). No touching the model! Lap siding, SDS Screws, sealant, WRB, VB, and my 2x6 / 2x4 lumber cross boxes. The rest is Chief Auto detail, then touched up all the fill patterns. A colored section view saves a lot of fill and provides great context...if you have affordable color printing available. Those 2x4's are nailers, one to support the drywall (because the wall is framed to u/s of floor sheathing, and the other nailer, flat-wise is for crown molding.

It can be especially simple if you make an electrical schedule including only the columns "description" and "quantity". Then a couple of simple formulas, and a bit of copy/paste.

Generally, I'd move that major roof plan back at least 2'-0" (but only if it would work out with the rest of the house, ie the part we can't see to the left of your image)

Glad to hear you're doing well Joe! A 'simple' way would be to complete your electrical plan, then create an electrical schedule, then copy that schedule into a spreadsheet and assign values to each items. You could of course assign values to each item in Chief, but I'm not sure it would be faster. That being said, it could be worth doing if you're interested in creating your own library of electrical items and reuse them. To accomplish this you could use the OIP or Components.

Generally, if the model's layers are very close to real, then it's quite easy to move them apart a bit to allow space for thin items. When and if they need to stay in place, then membranes items can be shown in place with a heavier dashed line and flashings can be shown in place with a heavier weight. This is really only effective for detail scale, not so much for general sections at 1/4" scale or less.

Tip for newbies: If hatch patterns already exist in the camera view, then this also turns them into a dog's breakfast of different lines, which makes working with that cad detail a bit of a nuisance. The method Joe describes is generally how I draw details for complex projects that need to stay live. A couple of other tips: back clip about 24" as a rule of thumb create a white line border template to aid with cropping so all details remain the same size. include a white line offset from the view to aid with text leader line snapping turn off connections for both ends of text leader lines. Ensure the detail camera label is titled exactly how you'd like it to appear in layout, and use this automatic label for the layout box.. This will greatly improve drawing coordination. Once layout boxes are positioned in layout, then all details can have their drawing number set in the project browser without opening each view. Avoid redundant specifications (i.e.) there's no need to callout the spec of a steel beam in a detail if it is called out in the plan. Rather callout the connections, or install dimensions, etc. You may be surprised how little cad work is necessary in a detail like this.