lbuttery

my Disto is accurate to 1/16" @ 300' I wouldn't settle for less than 1/4" @ 100' Lew

10'x12' is a bedroom - not a closet Lew

Terry: I have been recommending that Chief enter the BIM world for almost a decade CA has indicated they are not interested in moving in that direction Lew

Terry: I did about 5 min of google to find these http://www.cad-addict.com/2010/03/list-of-bim-software-providers.html http://utahashrae.org/wp-content/links/Revolution%20of%20BIM.pdf http://www.4msa.com/FineHvacENG.html http://www.magicad.com/en look for webinars either live or recorded and attend/watch I have never had a need to use this type of software but having watched/attended webinars a few years ago I was impressed with what BIM could do for analysis, calcs and collision detection etc Lew BIM_FOR_HVAC.pdf

Perry: yep, but there is also many BIM oriented programs that are dedicated to doing HVAC analysis that Chief can't communicate with since Chief doesn't do industry standard BIM Lew

Bob: some architects welcome "a starting point" others feel it impedes their "creativity" and won't even look at designs by others if yours won't work with you - find one that will Lew

Terry: Chief doesn't do BIM interfacing very well I have never heard of any HVAC pairing with Chief plans check out the various file formats Chief can export maybe one of those would work probably best to discuss with CA's sales staff Lew

a good gaming video card - preferably by Nvidia Lew

Tim: BTW: I have tons of ver 10 and 9.5 training material and cad collections and library collections if you live anywhere near driving distance of Buffalo NY way too much stuff to mail Lew

Tim: you will need someone to volunteer to import the autocad 2011 file and then save it to a version of autocad that Chief ver 10 can use - probably around 2004/5 you might be able to do a google search and find a free utility that can convert an autocad file to an older version Lew

I think that in most cases they look at it from a standpoint of "Can you get there with the available tools?" Hmmm, software should be "user-friendly" if it causes head-banging frustration then customers may move on to other software a user shouldn't have to know the super secret methods ... Lew

I have suggested that we be able to place an edit area marquee and the "build roof" would only apply there but ??? Lew

Perry: thanks for the clarification Lew

unless I missed something in recent upgrades it's impossible to have two walls occupy the same space even if they are on different layers so it has always been necessary to have two plans Lew

I've never heard of plan comparisons being made probably best to contact CA's tech support they may have tool/suggestions for doing comparisons Lew

I paid the additional upgrade price, which was very fair IMO, and didn't regret that either But you pay for upgrades anyways that you never got to use I suppose if its a matter of food or SSA, then .... I like Alan's test Lew

You can always be a beta tester, and then you'd know what was overhauled before anyone else SSA has to be current during Beta period Lew

but only if X8 arrives before SSA is due CA rarely gives hints - so what is coming ??? as for skipping a cycle or two or three if you do finally join back in it will cost more than the amounts you skipped so you would miss the benefits of X8 and X9 for example and yet pay for them (and more) anyways there is no benefit to skipping unless you plan to never upgrade again Lew

probably lighting ??? light/shadows can be different on same wall Lew

I voted no as I haven't had a need If I had a need I probably would use it - maybe ??? Lew

George: see this thread: https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/7102-takeoffs-via-pdf/ Lew

it's my understanding that the trial version is a complete set with only a few limitations like saving and printing with a watermark and maybe a couple of others Lew

it is just software the Architect/ designers still have to pull in the right expertise and do the coordination. absolutely agree Lew

Terry: yes, if Chief could model the electrical plumbing and HVAC runs with all the associated elements and then use BIM inter-operability to communicate with dedicated software for handling the loads and collision detection etc unfortunately, Chief is not capable of doing this yet Lew

here is a 2004 thread from the old forum on doing 3D plumbing http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread.php?8836-Plumbing-for-Dummies&highlight=plumbing+hvac+lew here's a thread from 2007 http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread.php?27044-MEP-Configuration&highlight=plumbing+hvac+randall here's another thread from 2014 http://www.chieftalk.com/showthread.php?65802-Integration-of-Chief-with-Other-HVAC-Software&highlight=plumbing+hvac+randall Lew