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here is an interesting article https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Blueprints try to find a vendor that can create blueprints from CAD google found this one: https://www.onestopblueprinting.com/reprographics-cad-services/ google on blueprint vellum cad Lew

check your wall connections are "tight" sometimes it helps to "slam" a wall into the other wall to get a good connection Lew

Jim: I doubt if CA offers training on anything besides Room Planner the Leica 910 is fairly expensive - you may be able to get by with a much cheaper unit you could hire a firm to use point cloud dimensioning but not sure it would be able to import into Chief "properly" it might be worth hiring someone to do the "big stuff" then use a Leica that costs $100-$200 to do the rest yourself Lew

looks pretty good I would get a 17" screen if you plan to go to client sites Lew

buy laptop with at least a 17" screen so you can go to client's homes/sites at home I use a 38" tv/monitor for my daily use I have it set for 720P resolution for my "bad eyes" 1080P is way too small for me it's great when clients come as they don't have to crowd shoulder to shoulder trying to see a small laptop screen Lew

Chief X9 can make the edits and send back the plan unlocked If you really need an HD PRO user to help then you should post your request on the Hometalk forum as there are very few HD PRO users that follow this forum Lew

I always navigate to the project folder then right click on the .plan and use "open with" Lew

I watched the s810 video and it "requires" being centered that is not always possible I would save the money and get the $100 Disto I bought a $700 Disto in 2005 with lots of features (for then) I ended up using it in "simple" mode buy the s810 and try it - if you can return it Lew

I would recommend a $100 Disto that is good for 1/4" at 100' that should be sufficient for measuring houses I agree with Tommy - not sure the tech is there yet on doing auto-measuring unless you do point-cloud and that is $$$$ Lew

I really think you would need to be using the same software as they are so you can work directly in and with their files. Someday - maybe someday - Chief will allow bi-directional interdependent BIM that will allows plans to be worked on across software platforms something the "big boys" can do already Lew

The convert CAD to walls did bring in version of the model but it required too much reworking to make it worth while. (In all honesty I have only tried it a few times and those with more experience with it may get better results. I very rarely see someone mention success with the CTW tool My attempts were always unsuccessful and tech support couldn't do any better If anyone has tips/methods on how to use CTW successfully please share at this point I'm convince that the tool is not worth the effort Lew

which version of HD Arch do you have ? the Chiefer who creates the symbol has to use the equivalent version of Chief earlier versions of Chief may work too - but not later versions I think .... Lew

My contracts listed four price levels : bronze, silver, gold, platinum each level specified the level of detail to be applied to the "decorating" etc bronze was out of the box lights, window furnishings doors cabinets etc maybe 1 or 2 custom symbols that were charged extra silver - a little more custom gold - a lot more custom platinum - just about everything was custom translation $ - $$$$ we were newbies so we charged $50/hr and collected a retainer for 8 hrs then as we worked that down we sent pics and a running balance to the client then collect another retainer if they are satisfied $50 was reasonable in 2006 era and the Wash DC metro area with experience/reputation we could have grown to $100/hr so it depends on your location - what are licensed plumbers/electricians etc getting in your area Lew

Try Chief Experts https://www.chiefexpertsacademy.com/p/chief-architect-and-design-build-services or Gray Tech - they cover Utah http://www.gray-tech.com/ Lew

Ok, I got confused with stairs A flight of stairs shall not have a vertical rise greater than 12 feet (3658 mm) between floor levels or landings. Lew

Michael: I stand corrected not sure where the 12' came from - bad memory or did requirements change since 2006-2008 ? anyways - the runs can be 30' or 40' way longer than I thought they could be I thought they required every 12' in case the person got tired ??? If the slope of a ramp is between 1:12 and 1:16, the maximum rise shall be 30 inches (760 mm) and the maximum horizontal run shall be 30 feet (9 m). If the slope of the ramp is between 1:16 and 1:20, the maximum rise shall be 30 inches (760 mm) and the maximum horizontal run shall be 40 feet (12 m). Lew

I think there needs to be a landing every 12' also but best to verify specs from ADA website Lew

Michael: thanks for the clarification Scott: never said I was right .... Lew

Hmmm, just for clarity If the basement had been built on floor 1 and a deck built on floor2 (main floor) and another in the same area on floor 3 (second story) the framing would still have been "combined" either on floor 2 (main floor) or floor 0 do I understand this right ? Lew

Sam: you will get offers of help I will mention that the Chieftalk forum is aimed at Chief Premier users The Hometalk forum is aimed at HD product line yet HD PRO users can benefit from following Chieftalk also as HD PRO has many manual tools such as roofs.framing,cabinets etc just be aware of PRO's limitations Lew

I'm contrarian I create the remodel plan first as that is what the clients want to see when that is "stable" I do "save as" for the as-built plan and take out remodel stuff and tinker as necessary to get to as-built sometimes doing non-remodel areas as "rough" and not showing unnecessary details various methods for showing demo walls etc Lew

Josh: Yet, HD PRO users can benefit from following ChiefTalk as well as PRO has manual roof,framing,cabinets etc tools just remember the limitations that PRO has Lew

for just a bit more you can have X10 which introduces plansets to save money I would suggest trying to find X4 or later X4 introduced Annosets stay away from X3 - horrible library system that required subscriptions etc each release offers many new features and it is worth staying current CA offers a rent to own package - so that might make X10 affordable Lew

I believe you are not understanding what Graham and the others are saying probably best if you discuss with CA's customer service directly Lew

the 14 day check-in has been around for many versions now probably when SSA was introduced with X2 I still prefer the hardware locks for many reasons if CA's HQ burns down how would the software activation/deactivation work then ? Lew