MarkMc

Dennis- I oversee them all, they are not in house though. Like most things I do it for self preservation, on site 6-10 times, even do layout with them. Thing is I'm not there all the time. Gets so I have to add more and more information, simply amazes me what happens if it is not both drawn and written down. The pdf I posted is what we send for cabinets, for the contractor there is always at least another page often more. Even includes the obvious-install plumb and level, adjust all doors and drawers, all fillers or extended stiles to be scribed, dimensions listed for fillers are nominal VIF...it's gotten silly. Michael -I too have been looking for something "live" with no joy. I had a thought and just did a quick test. It's not live but provides a way to check the CAD against a live elevation. I set the undo preference temporarily really high (though help says up to 10 so not sure) Then: Went to an elevation and changed each door and drawer to opening (individually of course) I already had defaults set for no shelves and no countertops (otherwise the schedule shows 36" high cabinets-whatthe...) Did detail from view. Selected all of that and copied it. Then used undo until all the cabinets where back to where they should be. Created a new blank cad detail and "paste hold position" Changed all the lines to red-set at front of front group Added dimensions and set both-set that at front of front group (probably should change the color there too but those are on a seperate layer) All this is on a layer I use for such things so can be turned off. Copied the entire detail and went back to the elevation used "past hold position" I now have an overlay on a layer that can be turned on/off/locked to check against the live model before ordering. If it has to be altered slightly the model layers can be locked and lines moved. If it is way off at some point it becomes a complete redo Not the best solution for sure but only slightly more work than what I was already doing and I'm thinking it is safer...until we get a change to snaps and showing doors (X???) I'm going to make a few adjustments to annosets and try this out on a job or two to see if it's worth the hassle. A note- I mentioned that 2020 will snap to rails and stiles BUT it will not show the cabinets without doors. Nothing that I know of does that, (maybe CabinetVision?)

Pretty much. I'd like doors and drawers on one layer, shelves on another, accessories ...well Chief doesn't really do those so I'm already putting them on a layer of their own. I understand you are using local custom. I wanted to emphasize what is gotten to be available in semi-custom to show the need for this kind of thing. Looking through your drawings only a few things I couldn't get SWP to do- P-42 Details 5 and 6 -112-3/4" is larger than they will do a combined and they wouldn't do a 45" opening (pocket hole construction so I wouldn't ask for it anyway), the stainless shelves we'd aftermarket and the false bottom would be field done. But if I went up a line to a brand that I consider upper semi (or sorta almost custom) they would do all that. In recent years several semi custom companies (Shiloh, Showplace, Brookhaven, Elmwood, Holiday, Ultracraft, Bertch, Cabico, Jay Rambo, Wellborn...) have or added enormous capability. Many of the upper semi-almost custom and some full custom brands (Dura Supreme, Crystal, even Rutt) have added lower priced lines to get back market share. Since they already had the capabilities for modifications those are often included and trickle down into the lower priced line with consumer pressure. Most of the KD's I know are not very technically inclined ("CAD? what? kill a chicken, whirl around in a circle, then set it on fire just to get a drawing for an order...where's my pencil) Chief looking to snag market share in the kitchen cabinet world this will be increasingly needed. As it stands now it would give them an edge, especially with the better brands and full custom-local or otherwise. A number of the upper end custom cabinet brands (QCCI, Signature to name two) have completely stopped offering catalogs for 2020. Most brands at that level require full set of plans, elevations and details to process an order. In another thread someone said "Chief isn't cabinet design software"- I disagree. Unless you are building them yourself and need cut sheets it is the best thing out there, it is so close to being THE solution- just a few tweaks. The pervasive move to online ordering can only help it (so long as they grab share before online systems incorporate non 2020 design software as one brand I work with is attempting)

Dennis, PNG is a page from a set in Showplace Wood Products- call themselves a semi-custom brand. Red text added to drawings that would be require. We always send them a set of drawings (pdf attached), that is not required but is encouraged just to help keep things clear. I know you can't do this with some of the conglomerate semi-custom brands...yet. There are quite a few brands in that price range like SWP though.

I do exactly what you do, on the majority of jobs. (At least that is what I do since I upgraded from Interiors- back then I was exporting to CAD to do the dimensions) Even my basic semi-custom brands will relocate rails or stiles; do appliance cutouts; and offer combined cabinets. Drawings are required by them at order submission for those things. I've never worked with a brand that does appliance cutouts who did not require a drawing for that. Now all still require calling out dimensions and all say that the written order overrides any drawings (cool huh?) The issue for me is keeping it "live" to avoid ordering errors. I'd asked for the ability to snap to frame members in the past and would gladly support it. I know it is possible at some level, 2020 will do it but it is harder to adjust the openings- one of the reasons I use Chief.

I saw someone asking for Hafele items. While I use lots of RAS and Hafele items in designs I rarely place them in the plan since. Now if I could get them into the schedule under the correct cabinets that is another story. I got these by placing freestanding in 2020 and export to CAD. I didn't bother to mess with the materials on them. Library has Hafele Lemans closed and the same open, along with a Rev-A-Shelf chrome tray divider set at 5 1/2" off the floor. Placing them requires ctrl key override. To show the lemans change cabinet door to opening and place a loose door. You still have to get hold of the specs to check clearances and fit these are NOT automatic.

Welcome Richard. I'm not an architect but do have some similar PM issues. I use a program called Intellect another version is Time and Chaos (love the name) T & C is the same but without email. I find the integration of email very useful. ( I wish it would integrate texts). Can be very simple to use, great at linking between contacts, email (automatic), appts and tasks (optional), other contatcts, and an overall project. For accessing or sharing between multiple users in the same office I've never found anything easier I've gone through spurts between using all of the features and only some. It can be very powerful even in the simplest forms. With any of the software that does PM I've found that using full features can get to take more time than it saves but YMMV. They have a trial version of each and a free version of an older T & C. I also subscribe to their hosting service so I can sync to my phone. (contacts, calendar, and tasks only) Worth a look at http://www.chaossoftware.com/

Bluebeam PDF Revu will export to tif, you can get a trial version from them. Like Larry I've not run into this every print/copy shop around here can work from PDF. Might try Staples, UPS, ...

Thanks David that's what I ended up with.

Is there a setting or just not available? When I try I get almost everything that's not nailed down.

Assembled this for an acquaintance (and myself Zip file has: library with one door symbol as pictured, a plan file that is a kit. The kit can be used to change rail and stile width,framing beads and the profiles of the mullions. Also possible to delete the mullions and just create a door symbol. The door shown in the kit plan is made of: 2 rails, 2 stiles (so the grain is correct), a psolid for the panel, 3d molding line for framing bead, and two separate 3d molding lines for the mullions. I included the profiles so you can see the correct orientation if you want to change them. When I have to adjust depths for any of these I open a back clipped section through the door, a front elevation, and a 3d view or two. Then use transform replicate to shift positions. Tedious but get what I want. 4 pane mullion kit.zip

I know we are a little different than most of you but slammed-doubled last year already. Wasn't in such good shape in January, but ever since I've been saying I'll be caught up next week for months, doesn't happen. I can't say we are anything of an indicator. My work depends on contractors, ID's, and architects; very few walk ins. Just happens that my contacts are in a cycle now. No doubt about it-next week will level out. then hope to find a way to maintain.

It's in the reference manual but takes a little looking-won't find it under plines, it's in editing objects/rotating. I don't quite get why there is so much more in the RM than help since I like F1 too.

I only added the move to make it easier to see- worked fine for me without.

Odd, here is what I got- with Transform replicate set to: copy, move 60ft, and reflect all at once. Have not idea what would cause it to rotate?

Transform replicate-reflect

Not necessary to convert the schedule. just select it, once highlighted copy, paste into excel.

Jon has it pretty much- Place a 21 deep cabinet next to a 24 with a 3" clip and the clip goes away. You can change either the clip depth or the cabinet depth by 1/16" and the clip returns. OTOH-If you need to place 24" deep clipped cabinets on each side of a range you will get the clip next to the range where it is unwanted. To remove clip on the range side add a 1/16" wide by 24" deep cabinet between the range and the clipped cabinet to make the clip dissappear- of course that mucks up your dimension and the schedule. I have yet to find a work around for the dimension issue.

Asked my associate- he has a 2 or 3 yo 13" MAC book pro, didn't know specs but likely lower than new stuff. Says it's pretty comparable in performance to the Dell he uses here (listed in my sig) He runs it with a second monitor but usually just has a spreadsheet or web browser on that (with 2-3 tabs open) He's pretty conservative with how many views he keeps open in CA.

I use Levi's PIP for first roughs with kitchens, usually give them 3 or 4 options. I PIP both plans and elevations, then relink to the other Save As options. Once in a final I Save As the layout, dump extra elevations and change some plan views the way Scott said. Shouldhave said Paste and hold not PIP...

Guy that is working for me sometimes runs on a 13" Mac- I'll ask him tomorrow to see what he says. In the studio he is using the Dell I have listed with a second monitor at home he uses the Mac but solo. He's just learning so I'm not sure he is as hard on it all as I am. I find the Dell slow in comparison to my Sager I think due to the video card. To your other choices- I looked into the Razers- got the impression that throttling from heat can be an issue. I don't know if CA can cause that or just games? Biggest attraction for me was the little power supply, found more bang for the buck elsewhere. Retina display- not sure but someone had a 5k Mac and was having issues because of the demands of the resolution. Realize that if you add monitors onto the video card they take resources. Passmark also linked on the Chief site gives relative ratings for cards. And I need to correct what I said about the Broadwell chips- recently read that there had been delays in delivering those. It appears more likely that the newer generation after them will be what is showing up in gaming machines- after some big gaming hooddoo this summer.

Well there is a way but may not suit your needs. You can stretch a cabinet to whatever width you want, then divide the front into however many sections you need, then use the equalize button -all in the dbx. I'd add fillers to both sides going wall to wall, and trim at the top when going to the ceiling. The question remains whether or not that will be representative of how it will be built. If you are looking for multiple cabinets then what David said.

Joey- Display link makes adapters that allow standard monitors to use a USB port. I have never used one of these so can't say how good or not they are. If it works as well as the monitors that gives you your third. I think there is a wireless one out there but whichever it was didn't appear that good. I just picked up an HDMI WiDi adapter for wireless mirroring but I haven't tried yet. For managing multiple montiors I use UltraMon-which makes mirroring only one monitor easy. There are two other programs like it and from what I can tell all are pretty similar.

Besides budget what is the intended use- primary machine/desktop replacement or occasional trips to job site or client? And what else are you running, how demanding are you on resources? I can't get away without a dedicated GPU- primary machine and use lots of stuff. My assistant manages with the Dell listed in signature but is less demanding and still learning the program. (FWIW that appears to run on a par with his Mac Book Pro 13") More and bigger monitors, higher resolution use up video resources as do lots of views, tabs etc ..means dedicated GPU. GPU and CPU both use power cost battery life and create heat. My Sager is 2-1/2 y.o. I've been looking around for the near future- will pass this one down and was hoping to save weight since I travel a lot. I"d seen a number of newer "thin/light" gaming machines out there but have read that they get hot and the heat causes them to throttle the resources back. Now those comments are from gamers so I'm not sure if that will happen with what I use the machine for but I don't really want to find out. I know that I keep my fans set to max cooling and they go off quite a bit. I also know I have no problems with loading the C$^$&^@ out of this thing. Apparently Intels Broadwell processors are beginning to make it into the mainstream (they are in some Macs, and some gaming machines) Supposedly a little better with heat and battery (but I keep setting to about 2 mpg) I'm personally waiting for some more of those to surface before I move on a new machine- likely take into then end of the year. A good place to compare a lot of gaming machines is xoticpc.com. No macs but most of what is out there is listed- you have to decide if your a Chevy or a Ford or whatever. Joey-You can run two extra monitors now. I do, a 24"Dell, and a 15" Asus Displaylink monitor same as the laptop -plugs into usb port and uses the CPU instead of the GPU. Once in a while there is a quirk like a shortuct key doesn't work and have to sling it to another monitor, but overall no sweat- been using a smaller Toshiba one for several years now and just upgraded. When the US Open was on I hooked that up too so was running 4 screens total:) I do a lot of meetings at clients and they are a joy -light simple and work.

I checked one I had done before posting. What she is running into is there are no appliances that "insert into a wall cabinet" I stand corrected- found one in the library that does go into a wall cabinet using the DBX- in the cheif core catalog- did not use to be that way- Wonder if OP is on X6 or 5? Attached plan with two solutions. I copied the one I had already- has a free standing micro in it Then just to see I placed a built in onto the floor- said ok when program complained-move it up, opened symbol and changed origin, then moved into the cabinet- using either point to point or transform replicate. I have yet to find another way. micro in wall.zip

Make an opening in the wall cabinet- place the micro freestanding in the plan-move to position in the cabinet.