ComputerMaster86

If I am understanding things correctly, stretch planes have no effect on the 2D CAD block portion of a 3D symbol. I kept thinking I was doing something wrong and not understanding how stretch planes work. Can someone confirm for me if this is true? Is there a way of knowing where 0,0,0 is in reference to the 3D symbol and it's stretch planes?

Ahh, Thank You all so very very much.

Is there a way to take a single polyline I have drawn and turn it into a CAD block that I can then add to the library? I have 2D polylines that represent steel trim pieces that I often use in conjunction with 2D detail drawings and cross sections.

I know Chief has a lot on it's plate right now but, I would really like to see more in the way of dimension and text format capabilities and settings. There are a lot of little things, some I have suggested and some I have not suggested, that for me personally would go a long way.

I figured it out with your guys help. Thank you so much.

I was for some reason thinking that exported the whole entire user library? I must of missed something. Thank you for your help.

Is there an option to export an individual folder as opposed exporting the whole entire user library?

I have personally used Chief Architect Premier X8, X9 and X10 to draw up plans in Michigan for post-framed buildings. Some of these projects were light commercial. Our engineer we often deal with has reviewed plans I drew up in Chief Architect and sealed them on more than one occasion. In Michigan we use the Michigan Building Code for our commercial building code, which is derived from the International Building Code. That document has become my new best friend along with the "A117.1 Accessible and Usable Buildings" when it comes to building codes that regulate commercial buildings. Commercial projects can be a whole another ball game. It's probably a good idea to have a copy of your jurisdictions commercial building code to reference.

I did the rent-to-own program when I started out with Chief Architect X7. I highly recommend the rent-to-own program. Under the rent-to-own you get SSA, Support and Software Assurance for the whole time you are doing the rental program. If a new version comes out while your doing the rental, you gain access to it at no additional cost.

I don't think it can be done but, is there anyway to have a watermark that has two lines of text? This should probably be in the suggestion forum. I like that chief has this watermark feature but, it just seems so limiting. My PDF editor just allows me so much more flexibility, when it comes to adding watermarks and even multiple watermarks. I wish I could easily add a watermark inside Chief Architect that says... Not for Plans or Permits For Review Only Seems simple enough.

I started putting my working project files on Dropbox. That gives me flexibility to access them on my laptop at home or my work computer at work.

Blue Theme Icons. Chief Architect Premier X10_IDI_0CHIEFARC_BLUE.ico Chief Architect Premier X10_IDI_1PLANFILE_BLUE.ico Chief Architect Premier X10_IDI_2LAYOUTFILE_BLUE.ico Chief Architect Premier X10_IDI_3LIBRARYFILE_BLUE.ico

I figured it out. I just had to replace the .ini file with my back-up copy and I got my settings back.

Once a person has their program preferences tweaked to the way they want them, what CA system file is those settings stored in? Ideally, you should be able to back-up those settings in the event that something gets goofed up and those settings need to be re-adjusted.

Unless I am missing something, the object eye dropper does not appear to copy polyline fill information. Ideally you would be able to copy those properties from one polyline and apply them to another polyline. This is all in reference to working with a 2D CAD detail that has been opened from the "Cad Detail Management" window.

There used to be an option to pay for SSA monthly but, I see Chief Architect has now done away with that.

Chief Architect X7 in October of 2015. With my drafting background, I should have invested in CA sooner around the time of X1 or X2.

The company I work for builds a lot of post-framed buildings. These buildings typically have a 4" or 6" concrete slab sub-floor. If a project has a second-story, it is almost always wood I-joists with a 3/4" O.S.B. sub-floor. That is if the second story is not a "Room-In-The-Attic". This is how I have set up my template file to accomplish what I need it to do. Step 1. - Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults If I was to set up my "Floor Structure" under the "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults" with a concrete sub-floor, I would get a concrete sub-floor everytime I added a second story. I want Chief to default to wood I-joists with a 3/4" O.S.B. sub-floor. This is why I set up my "Floor Structure" under the "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults" with wood I-joists and a 3/4" O.S.B. sub-floor. Now if I add a second-story, it will default to wood I-joists with a 3/4" O.S.B. sub-floor. Step 2. - Floor 1 Defaults "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 1 Since I want a 4" concrete sub-floor for my first floor only, I set that up under the "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 1. I can have my "Floor Structure" for "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 1 override my "Floor Structure" under the "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults". That is if I make sure the check mark box for "Floor Structure" under the "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 1 is unchecked. That means it is going to deviate from the "Floor Structure" under the "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults". PLEASE NOTE! My "Floor Structure" for all rooms on the first floor will only match the "Floor Structure" under the "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 1, if all room types are set to use the defaults. Step 3. - Save the Template. I have saved my file as a template so I can reuse this floor platform set-up. I did not bother adding a second story or level in my template file. I can always add a second story later on when I start a new plan file based on my saved template. Step 4. - Add New Floor / Floor 2 Defaults "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 2 If I need a second story I add one.by clicking on the appropriate icon. This will take me into my "Current Floor Defaults" for Floor 2. Since I have already set my "Floor Structure" under the "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults" with wood I-joists and a 3/4" O.S.B. sub-floor in my template file, I just make sure the check mark boxes are check marked to use the defaults. With floor and ceiling platforms, you have a hierarchy of settings and you must pay attention to what is check-marked to use the defaults. You can specify floor and ceiling platform information in about four locations... 1. "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults" 2. "Current Floor Defaults" Please Note : Each floor of your plan file has "Current Floor Defaults". 3. "Room Type Defaults" Please Note : If a room type definition is not check-marked to use the defaults, it will override the "Current Floor Defaults" and "Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults" 4. "Currently Selected Room" Please Note : When changing platform settings for let's say a room that has a room type of "Bath", clicking on the room labeled "Bath" with only change platform settings for that one instance of the room with a room type of "Bath". To change platform settings for all rooms on all floors selected to have a room type of "Bath", we have to go into the "Room Type Defaults" and change the platform settings for "Bath" there.

I am just curious, has the X10 Private Beta testing started yet? I seem to recall about this time last year e-mails were sent out inviting people to join in on the Private Beta testing of Chief Architect X9.

Coming from a AutoCAD / TurboCAD background I struggled with software, when I first started using it. A really big part of my problem was just learning the way Chief Architect does things. And yes they sometimes do things different. There were a lot of features I honestly thought the software didn't have but, then was pleasantly surprised to learn the software did have the feature I wanted. I have been using the software for about two years and have yet to personally experience any major bug with the software. If there is one Chief Architect would really like to know about it. I can tell you from personal experience that if something goes wonky on me, 99 out the 100 times I am not doing something right or fully understanding how Chief Architect does something. If a person can overcome the learning curve and learn the way the software likes to do things, I firmly believe the software can be worth the money. They have a rent-to-own program, which is how I invested in the software. You might say I was learning the software while I was paying for the software.

Unless I am missing something, this seems to be the way things are working for me. I have been playing around with these floor and ceiling defaults. Which this means if I have a multi-story building and have a floor and ceiling platform that is common to several floors, I would set that up under the Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults. Any floor or level that has floor and ceiling platform settings that deviates from the Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults would be configured under the Current Floor Defaults.

I have started watching Scott Hall's YouTube video on floor and ceiling defaults. I am wondering if I am understanding this correctly... Any settings not check marked to use defaults take precedence in this order... 1. Room Specification (Currently Selected Room) : Structure Tab 2. Room Type Defaults : Structure Tab 3. Current Floor Defaults 4. Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults Anything under the "Room Specification (Currently Selected Room) : Structure Tab" that is check marked to use the defaults will look for settings in this order.... 1. Room Type Defaults : Structure Tab - If something is check marked to use the default, next 2. Current Floor Defaults - If something is check marked to use the default, next 3. Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults Likewise, anything under the "Room Type Defaults : Structure Tab" that is check marked to use the defaults will look for settings in this order.... 1. Current Floor Defaults - If something is check marked to use the default, next 2. Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults Likewise, anything under the "Current Floor Defaults" that is check marked to use the defaults will look for settings in this order.... 1. Floor/Ceiling Platform Defaults Either I am on to something or I have completely the wrong idea.

The company I work for builds a lot of post frame buildings. These have all sorts of various uses. I perform a lot of Construction / Material cost estimating for the different projects my employer takes on. Often times when the customer finds out the cost of the project, it will make or break a project. Or cause the project to get downsized. Project cost and material estimating can be pretty time consuming. Especially if your generating a really accurate material list and project cost based on the construction materials your customer is going with for the project.

Thank you all so much. I feel like my next steel re-roof job is going to be ten times easier once I set up all of my macros.