robdyck

Dimension Defaults > Text Style > Options...

You can use a 3d model of a tile and distribute along your roof planes. It's a manual process, but it can be faster than you might think. If you have your camera views set up and determined in advance, then you can reduce the amount of area that requires accurate modelling.

Just to give you an idea, this took only a couple of minutes.

1 minute ago, builtright3 said:

You guys are awesome, thank you!!!

Open the Glass Wall defintion dialog and under Wall Properties make sure Partition Wall is checked.

Library search 'Oriel'

Always a good idea to post the plan. If it's too large, use google drive or dropbox!

50 minutes ago, M-Reed said:

Now 2024, some 29 years later.... Brick Window Sills?

Sometimes.

Your rooms should ALL use the default floor structure (which should be defined). This will allow the floor framing to build uniformly. Currently the framing is being separated because there are different types.

1. Select all rooms on each floor and ensure Floor Structure - Default is checked.
2. Open Default Settings and edit the Floor/ Ceiling Platform defaults. Ensure the framing layer is set to trusses (or whatever you prefer).
3. Rebuild floor framing.

Post your plan using Google Drive / Dropbox.

18 hours ago, JKEdmo said:

 

 

Hi Jim, there are a couple of issues here that are very easy to solve.

1. The elevation regions are too close to each other. Resize the lower elevation region to butt against the low side of the retaining walls. This will provide some space for the terrain to adjust between the two regions.
2. You have (2) terrain breaks buried along the center of the retaining walls. These terrain breaks still have the default transition distance of 120". Lower that value to 1".

That should take care of the issue:)

4 hours ago, JKEdmo said:

If not, does anyone just skip the terrain tools and use 3D solids?  I'd be interested if this is a passable technique.

There are times where this is suitable. If a solid is the simplest, then yeah, use it.

16 hours ago, MN_JohnH said:

I can't load the plan, it is way to big, but you hopefully get the idea.

Dropbox? Google Drive? The plan file is essential to get others to dig into your issue and join the conversation to find specific solutions.

When you send a drawing to layout, you will have the opportunity to add the scale factor of the drawing in the drawing's label. This can be set as a default for layout box labels so that each drawing always displays the correct drawing scale. 

The following video may help you and if I understand your question accurately, the most helpful information starts around the 20 minute mark of the video.

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/48/creating-layouts-and-construction-documents.html

6 hours ago, QualicoreHomes said:

Hello Rob, 

Sorry, I did not see your reply till now.  Yes I agree and I was hoping to get something as simple as just showing whether the wall, in which the window is installed, is a 2x4, 2x6 or 2x8 wall for the same reason as you indicated.  Would there be a possibility to report the wall thickness like that?

 

If your walls are named very nicely, then a simple macro to include in the OIP would be: %containing_wall.automatic_description%

2 hours ago, Chrisb222 said:

Please attach samples.

The byte limit of this forum is preventing uploading

For those who are interested, the 3d file for this furniture and (other models) can be found on the manufacturer's website. You will need to create an account in order to download, which I did not do. Might be worth reaching out to the manufacturer to see if they have a different model type that could be made available and if they'd be interested in creating a Chief library of their products.

https://www.kellex.com/products/tranquility-senior-living-furniture/t-removable_seating/HC09313-05RS_SCARLET_LOUNGE_CHAIR_W__REMOVABLE_SEAT_DECK/

May I recommend to the OP or other's who are requesting file specific help...post some files, please!  It'll be more fun and much more helpful!

Example...could someone tell me if I should I serve these cookies to family over the holidays?

If you want to send me a PM with a link to download your plan file, I'll see what I can come up and get back to you with suggestions. I can sign an NDA if that helps.

I'm sure there are others who can answer more eloquently than me, however the short answer is no, you can't do the editing you'd like within the Define Material dialog.

When making improvements to material textures, it's usually best to go 'all-in'. For me, this means identifying specifically what I'm trying to replicate and then taking the best approach possible. Usually that means creating my own material using an edited resource from within Chief or from an alternative source. For this particular material, I'd suggest that there's not a whole lot about it that looks realistic. In Western Canada, for example, there are 2 main types of treated lumber: incised green treated lumber suitable for below grade foundations and smooth brown treated lumber suitable for above grade use, like deck framing. I have created my own realistic looking materials to replicate the materials that are regionally available.

Can you provide a real world image of the product you'd like to replicate? That can be a great starting point to provide some better advice on how I'd handle this material for use within Chief.

I was just typing all of that ↑↑

31 minutes ago, Ed_Orum said:

window labels so they are parallel, not perpendicular to the Windows

Check the window defaults...are the labels set to absolute angle or relative angle? I believe you want 'relative angle'. This will need to be adjusted on all windows already in plan view...defaults for this won't update to windows already in the plan.

29 minutes ago, Ed_Orum said:

Do I need to create a new wall for that section

No, just open that wall's dialog (double click it), go to the Foundation tab, and you can spec the sill plate for that wall.

Gerard, if you're using a typical PVC or Aluminum window with a nailing flange, the frame depth or wall thickness may provide slightly confusing information to a supplier.

I could see my phone ringing with questions about why I'm specifying a 7" jamb instead of a 6 9/16" jamb.

Seeing as in our region, jamb depth is measured inward from the nailing flange, the frame depth or wall thickness could have the exterior layers removed from the reported value. 

This is simply done using a manual calculation added to the macro, but it does mean that you'll need to know the exterior wall cladding layer thickness and subtract those from your reported value. Perhaps @solver knows a way to include a macro that automatically reports the wall thickness, minus the exterior cladding thickness, plus 1/16" for construction tolerance.

@Ed_OrumHi  Ed, while we all need to work in the most efficient manner for our own skill sets, I can tell you that Chief is remarkable for all aspects of residential design. I NEVER use a cad detail for exterior elevation views and 99% of the time I don't have a single errant line produced in those views. In other words, Chief is producing the drawing and the model perfectly!

That being said, I have over 20 years of experience with Chief! I also use almost no CAD drawing or detailing in plan view. 

If you wanted to find improvements within Chief, you could frequently contact Tech Support with a specific issue or immerse yourself in the Help section. Better yet would be to hire a mentor who could virtually meet with you and show you exactly how to address a specific issue. I can tell you that to learn the software, (a very long time ago) I have read several versions of the manual cover to cover .After 20+ years, I still refer to Help and watch Chief's videos to refresh my skills and look for pointers or methods that I may have forgotten, overlooked, or rarely used. If you're ever interested in some assistance, I'd be happy to discuss what you need and how I could help.

Did you check the box for 'Attic Wall'?

11 hours ago, Renerabbitt said:

Make sure your light sources are not inside of the geometry of the light itself.

That's a good point! I thought about that and 'thought' I had checked that but I didn't realize that Gene has a separation set to 1.5" so his vertical lights were partially buried inside the front cabinet frame!  After relocating them, I opened the camera and they still don't show up when the cabinet door glass material is Glass Standard (straight from the Library).

I can get the lights to show through the cabinet doors with Glass Standard as the material but only if I uncheck 'Refraction' in Technique Options. 

It's worth noting that Gene's door style has 2 panes of glass whereas Chief's default glass door has only 1 pane of glass, however I tested that and it made no difference.

Here's a nighttime view: All vertical rope lights are on and only 1 UC rope light is on.