ComputerMaster86

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.

I just been going into a section view, adding a molding polyline to out side edge of the door casing or window casing.  Then in plan view moving the polyline into position.

I can't seam to get area.round(2) to work.  I wonder if I need to name the macro a special name?

Well I am trying to round the area two to decimal places.

Would some be willing to tell me what the ruby code is for working with area of a polyline?

internal_area <-- I don't believe this is it.

Thank you all in advanced.

I am working on a computer build that has the 7700K.  It's rated at 4.2 ghz. with a max turbo of 4.5 ghz.  I can't wait to get the system up and running and try Chief out with i7-7700K.

I am working on a project where our customer is wanting LP SmartSide Trim around doors and windows with steel J-mold around the SmartSide Trim to except the G-rib steel exterior wall panels.  I am trying to figure out an easy way to add moldings around doors and windows at the very outside edge of the door and window casings.  I don't know of any very easy way to do this.  Do any of you guys know?  I am accomplishing what I am wanting to accomplish but, it's been painfully slow.

I am thinking about investing in a monitor that has a 21:9 aspect ratio.  I think that would be great for my workflow.

On 9/23/2016 at 0:52 PM, Chopsaw said:

Has anyone tried a 21:9 ultrawide?   For someone with only one monitor this seems like it could be a sweet solution.  You could have a split screen or always keep your Active Layer Display Options and Library Open with all that extra real estate.

 

LG has one and others have them to, check this out here : http://www.lg.com/us/monitors/lg-34UM58-P-ultrawide-monitor

 

What do you think?

Working on a recent basement remodel project I have come to notice something kind of peculiar.  Whenever you have a pony wall and then a furred wall on the inside of that, the default auto-generated room base molding follows the edge of the pony wall instead of the furred wall.  When the outer wall is a single wall as opposed to a pony wall, the the default auto-generated room base molding follows the edge of the furred wall.  Notice whether you have a half height furred wall or full height furred wall has no affect on the room molding.  The pony wall / furred wall combination causes the quirk.  See the pictures below...

Basement Walls

Basement Walls with a Furred Wall

Basement Walls with a Basement Pony Wall & Half Furred Wall

Basement Walls with a Half Furred Wall

Basement Walls with a Furred Wall

On 2/3/2017 at 0:46 PM, DRAWZILLA said:

Does anyone know where they keep those normal and bump maps at.

I have wondered about bump maps and normal maps myself.  Do all the materials have them or just some?  Does a person have to create them or are they already tied to the appropriate materials that have them?  I was probably under the wrong impression that CA was redoing a bunch of their materials to include both bump and normal maps.  I need to find some information on bump and normal maps and educate myself on what they are and how they work.  I guess I am confused because now a texture has the Texture Source, option to use Bump Map and specify source of bump map and option to use Normal Map and specify source of normal map.  I am going to check CA's web site for more info on these normal and bump maps.

Oh, Good!  Thank you so much.  I have looked for some setting or check box that might let me do this but could not find anything.  I am probably not looking in the right place.

I know you all may wonder why I would want to do this.  Anyway, is there any easy way to have the bottom edge of the fascia boards be flush with the bottom edge of the soffit?  I have never figured out an easy way to accomplish this.  I know I can change the size of fascia boards and the soffit so that everything is real close to what I am trying to achieve.  I just wish there was an easier way to accomplish what I am trying to do  The look I am trying to achieve would look something like the flush eaves in the second picture but, they would still be boxed eaves.  If that makes any sense.