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8' ??? seriously ??? no way that is enough to build something Lew

there are some consumer Chief versions out there I just noticed. Will any of these import my V8 files? JH: probably best to ask CA's customer service but I think the answer is yes getting HD PRO will bring you into the 21st century and probably be light years ahead of ver 8 I started with ver 9.5 and it is an "antique" Lew

one of the recommendations I have seen is to always import "unkown" stuff into a new plan, cleanup as needed then copy to the desired plan or save to the library sometimes these .dwg files (or .skp or ???) can have a zillion layers Lew

If X8 wasn't "cooked" you would be hearing the screams and snarls on this forum big time I remember when ver 10 and X1 were released - they did not go well since I wasn't in a hurry I waited until the forum complaints settled down before installing and trying to do projects since X2 CA has been proactive about the releases not being "unstable" for use Lew

Rob: I'll let you know when I have X8 installed and running with the hardware lock at that point I won't need X6 my partner/friend needs to do the same so he can continue to work on my projects I can also send you the backup DVD no need for pay - just cover the mailing cost Lew

I agree with Joey you have to have a management plan that works on a single plan file I suppose you could create a model with all the rooms then use edit area tool to separate each room into a separate plan file at the end then use the edit are tool with hold position to recombine the rooms into one plan somehow I think that would be a PITA to recombine to keep track of who last worked on a plan I use _LBX8 in the plan and layout names and my partner used JKX8 Lew

Lew ,please look at "Case law" not what someone has told you. Perry: I have .... besides, I am simply stating what the law says what you do with that info is up to you Lew

separate folder for each project - even if same builder 123_OAK_MODEL_LBX8.plan (same for .layout) this keeps plan and layout in sync 123_OAK_REMOD_LBX8.plan for remods 123_OAK_ALT01_LBX8 for alternative LBX8 for me and version - JK for my partner 123_OAK_MODEL_160420_1430_LBX8.plan etc for backups when needed I do "save as" with date/time then do another without date/time to keep plan and layout in sync backups as often as every 5 minutes when making lots of changes especially if one I'd rather not do again Lew

I was told "change 20-25% of the plan...it won't be the same Jacquilla: all depends on the judge as to whether it is derivative Lew

Rob: it is illegal to sell versions that have been upgraded also, if you have a software lock for X6 now, I don't think you can switch unless CA does it for you assuming you have a valid X6 license someone could donate their X6 hardware lock to you but the donor should verify your license status with CA's customer service I may be able to donate soon I'm still using X6, never bothered to use X7 even though I have it installed I just ordered the X8 hardware lock and when it arrives I plan to start using X8 at that point I will no longer need my X6 lock Lew

Perry/David: sorry but read the copyright law derivations of a copyright are still covered by the copyright given that understanding we did take the left side of one plan and merge it with the right side of another we did take a plan and enlarge it from 4000' sgft to 8000' sqft and also reduced another plan from 10,000 sqft to 7,000 sqft could we have been sued - maybe so I'm not saying you will be sued but that you could be sued so we added a disclaimer to our contracts with the builder that he had the rights to the plans how were we too know if he did our didn't ??? hopefully the disclaimer would have held in court but maybe it wouldn't we were never sued so we will never know Lew

Perry: Alan is correct derivations of a copyright are still protected by the copyright can someone copyright a cape code model - probably not the model has to be "unique" to be copyrightable probably best to assume a set of plans are protected by copyright Lew

why is post #5 a clone of post #1 ??? is this a valid query ??? if yes, then download the trial version of Chief and give it a test drive then contact CA's sales dept to discuss your needs Lew

yes, I have it along with lots of other ver 10 material I will send you an email Lew

Chief will not allow redirect of certain files This has been a PITA with Chief since I started in 2004 For Chief 9.5 and ver 10 I fought the fight and tried having Chief installed on a portable USB harddrive yet, everytime I had an issue of any kind tech support whined and cried and blamed me for using an external HD I had all my other software on the external and working fine but CA considered it "taboo" with X1 I gave up the fight and let chief install where it wants to user choice of installation location became "standard" back in the 90's but not Chief Lew

Scott: disclaimers can hold in court IF they are among parties of equal stature in knowledge, experience etc IOW, while your disclaimer might as signed between designer and builder it may not hold between homeowner and designer (or builder) as the "pros" would be seen as taking advantage of the lowly homeowner probably best to have any contracts reviewed by an attorney versed in construction law to ensure the "strongest" disclaimer protection I had very similar disclaimers between me and the builders the builders had their own contracts with the homeowners that I was not a party to the few times I worked directly with homeowners, especially those who were acting as their own GC's my contract stated that I was providing "training" only and the homeowner signed and submitted the permits also because as designers we were not allowed to sign or submit permit sets had to be done by either homeowner or licensed builder Lew

Note: ver 8 is much better than ver 7 having added some very nice features bite the bullet and do what it takes to be able to run ver 8 Lew

I can't draw a straight line with a ruler Chief and other software makes it possible for me to function as a designer my partner/friend has a degree in art and he is working on doing "paintings" digitally for anyone who likes to do renderings by hand I would suggest contacting homeowners that live in high-end historical houses that can afford to pay for an individualized "painting" Lew

Chief 9.5 is an antique download the trial version of X8 and join the 21st century I mean that seriously - no comparison between chief 9.5 and any X version let alone X4-X8 Lew

Todd: you can use rotate about a line tool maybe with the "edit area" tool but either one floor or all floors Lew

also, probably best to contact CA's tech support as they can advise best Lew

try this for changing drive letters so they are all the same http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-add-remove-drive-letter#1TC=windows-7 Lew

there have been other recent theads about Linux and the gist is that since Linux has less than 2% market share it is unlikely to get support from CA but this is the opinion of we users (particularly windows users) so you should contact CA's sales dept directly to inform them of your wants Lew

the plan is done 1:1 scale in your case the layout paper size should 24 x 36 this is the paper to be printed on when you send the 2D views of the floorplan(s) or details you choose what scale to send: usually 1/4" or any scale as needed Lew

yeah, it wasn't intuitive since I was used to using regular text and changing "character height" Lew