MarkMc

I'd be looking over the forums at http://forum.notebookreview.com/ then talking to the folks at https://www.hidevolution.com/ (yes talk to a human-used to be if you mentioned the above forum you could get a discount too) I switched from Precisions to gaming laptops a year after starting with Chief. Unless your video work uses the Quadro card you'll be better off with GeoForce RTX. I like Clevo laptops (Sager, Evoc, others). They'll have more ports than most, the better ones are customizable beyond Dell or others, and completely upgadeable though that is rarely worth it. I'm on 5 years with the Sager (2nd one- the other still running) This time I'm likely getting a desktop but still toy with a laptop. If I were I'd be waiting just a little while until either the 10th gen Intel desktop chips were available (not the H series now out) or a Ryzen desktop chip shows up in a 17" machine. Though I will say that there is almost not enough usable difference in screen between a 15 and a 17 since I use external monitors.

Trust me on this- You DON'T want to make a custom cabinet out of pline, custom symbol, most anything. Don't know what settings you could have that won't allow you to rotate the cabinet or place it- Rotate it on the floor away from wall, then place-EZ. It's possible to build a car out of a cabinet. Check back stuff on the forum-lots already available about cabinets.

Change one window to what you want, create a style palette from it. When creating (or in library) open the settings for the style palette and just select those things you want-interior materials etc. You can apply that by room and it works.

Well, good practice for real life, won't be the last time things get done more than once. Here's a tip- open you spreadsheet either on second monitor or on right side of the screen, lock the sheet, open Chief on the other side. (Any custom fields you made in the OIP should be persistent in the plan) select the new symbol in the library, open object, go to the OIP tab, you can now drag and drop from your spreadsheet into the OIP filed. Once you have your info in the symbols start using replace from library. (if you were in X12 you could set it up as a style palette). Should be pretty quick.

What Eric suggested. Prior to X12 what schedule an item appears in is determined by the symbol type not the layer-in your case that would be a fixture schedule. The only ways around that: shift select each item and make an architectural block which you can then specify which schedule it appears in. One downside is that dimension read based on the global Cartesian coordinates instead of the object so width and length can be reversed. You can create a schedule by room and specify what objects appear but you would still be selecting fixtures One at a time, select object, convert to symbol, make the type furniture. Then select another of the same, replace from library-replace identical objects on floor. This may not get them all but usually gets most. Just use a fixture schedule assuming you don't need one of those Do it manually Personally I'd upgrade to X12 but I insist on staying current always since to me every upgrade since X8 has been worth it and I stay on SSA.

Well you said you had the data in Excel so that's how I answered. You can create a table in Chief with a text box if need be.

As Chop said-I use a Chief schedule based on the objects in plan. Besides pasting excel into RT box, you can also save the excel file as a csv; copy and paste into a regular text box. That can have a link to the CSV file. It won't update live but does provide quick access to make changes to the csv, copy and re-paste.

You can mess with the symbol bounding box and/or origin-takes trial and error but if you need multiples easier than floating them in.

You can turn options on/off in the library but you can't change the spec itself. Only what is turned on will be applied to the object, all other settings are taken from the object as it is. Even if you don't select something when you define the palette it can be turned on later and will apply. So yes the best way would be to change the separation or the door style, yes you need to do that in plan and then can replace the the palette in the library. Few things I found along the way - specify label is not copied from any objects. My solution is: to set a custom OIP field to place the label in place a macro that reads that field into specify label in the items default settings. Include "custom fields" in the palette. Result is the label reads from the custom OIP field for items placed in plan OR painted with the palette, useful for cabinets and windows (so far) Palettes work nicely for complicated windows and doors BUT will not work for mulled units which is too bad. It will copy fixtures included in cabinet faces but does not include sinks-at least I can't figure out how yet?

Nice, I didn't expect the wide separation between the drawers?. A note (since I've been playing with these lately)- May want to edit your Style Palette to include "Copy Face Configuration" ? I'd also initially set the door symbol main material to "use default" and leave the handle as chrome, then don't include drawer finish in the style palette. As it is now the handle finish comes out blue like the rest when using the SP. Changing it allows the handles will stay chrome when using the SP. I'd also set the box finish to use default. If just the finish for the room needs to be other than the default you can still spray by room and handles will stay chrome.

Make the pull part of a cabinet door/drawer symbol, specify the material for the pull in the symbol and the drawer separately. From the looks of what you have offset the Y axis of the symbol to set it back a bit.

IS it also enabled in preferences as well as Edit, Snap Settings? are you able to bump but not push?

Those that are not showing are likely on a layer that is not displayed in the LAYERSET that is associated with that PLAN VIEW. You can open the object to see what layer it is on and change it there. OR you can check the ALDO (active layer display) which will show the layer something is on when you click on it. The ALDO can also show what layerset is being used. Once you have sorted this out it might be a good idea to read up on layers, layersets, plan views, default sets. Having a good grasp of those things prevents lots of problems. One thing to keep in mind-once an object is placed in a plan it is ALWAYS there even if you can't see it in a specific view. Conversely once deleted it's gone from everywhere.

I took a class at the start, then immediately came down with a bad case of the flu and was down for a month so didn't manage to follow up immediately. I had a large project that I managed to get out the door the month after that though it was challenging and a bit messy. Followed up with a second class and was off and running. In my retail business I trained 3 assistants and had each take the intro class to start with regardless of what skills they brought to the table. Two of the three did fine, the other simply balked at working in 3D (came from AutoCAD). Nowadays I do spot training; just tech support really for my drafting clients. One thing I see often is a lack of understanding of the fundamental foundations-defaults, dynamic defaults, layers, layersets, plan views, and default sets. The intro class covers those, pay attention. The classes tend to focus on what you CAN do, "the program will do this". There is a bit less about what you may do wrong, how you can mess things up or the program can fool you. I would second what David says about follow up. The class won't make you an expert IT IS a good foundation, build on it. Use all the help resources they are excellent-F1 for context sensitive help, the reference manual (my favorite), the free training videos (I don't use the vids as much as some folks though), and this forum (learn how to search it!!). I've read this forum every day since I started. Read anything that looks interesting, challenging, or just MAY be useful someday. Take some time to try to solve someone else's problem for practice. I copy and store some things from here though rarely go through those files. The act of copying them helps in a way similar to taking notes, tucks it into my brain somewhere. Then it depends on where you want to go with it, how you intend to use it, which is different discussion.

I've been using desktop replacements for years now. The ones I favor are not exactly portable but I do take them on the road, just not to job sites much (use the Spectre for that but gave to my daughter to use during Covid) I run two externals, an extra keyboard and a number pad. Have run 4 externals off it. I'm at the point of upgrading and have been thinking of a desktop only because if I build it I can save a good bit of money for what I want. Was going to upgrade last year but moving changed plans. Now am anxiously awaiting the RTX 3000 series to drop and likely the next gen AMDs. Lately I've had a few plans that have me wanting something sooner but I'm torn, likely will wait the next few months though the new laptops out there look tasty, better cooling than ever (key for laptops under heavy use), and a bit more rea$onable than they were. To the OP. You are running a low level mobile CPU, the "U" series. Likely with integrated graphics. For a laptop moving up to the "H" series will show great improvement and getting something with a dedicated GPU. From what I was told at IBS this year the next version of Chief will support RTX cards so I'd seriously look at that if you do much rendering ( it may very well help other aspects though I don't know).

Thought about this last night. Might want to just size the vase, turn into symbol fixture interior-options none and lock the size, alter the origin and use it as a shelf. The tricky part is how you do the cabinet, which would depend on how often you need the parts again. Just a note-life will be simpler working the program if you don't use ever so slightly off angle walls (for just half a degree). Note them, draw a colored cad line if you need a reminder but leave the walls square. Quick 2.plan

Just place the object(s) in plan, select them all, convert to symbol. If you are in X11 or 12 (maybe 10 but don't remembger-prior versions you need to place in a blank plan and shoot a 3D view) To make appliance make symbol type fixture interior, then options inserts into a cabinet. I'd personally make it a cabinet door in this case but that would take a little more fiddling with origins and such. You'll want to read up on custom symbols, origins, bounding boxes, stretch zones and planes. THEN you will have to mess with the cabinet to get the side open like that-OR use multiple cabinets-or use psolids-AND you have to decide how you want to deal with the side panel. Can use solids, another cabinet, bunch of custom doors. Will be a bit fussy. Here's is a real quick version that still needs the origin set. Quickie.plan

Yeah they're nice but for a layout box you need a referenced macro and arrow. Have one client that wants them, not a big deal except she has a habit of adding a couple of dozen elevations midway into the layout-lot of fussy copy, paste and such. Wish there was another way for them to work.

Invisible walls, build main roof first, add roof plane above garage with auto roof off, 2nd floor balcony room has no floor. Then just details and finishes.

A few thoughts: I use the method of multiple plans linked to a layout instead of reference sets unless it is only a single slight option. Using the multiple plans to layout you send the first to layout, then in the project browser duplicate the page, open the layout boxes one at a time on the copied page and change the referenced plan, all very fast. The advantages are you can include elevations and/or 3D along as well as the plan and it prints. When it comes to finals just delete the unwanted pages in project browser. You're student could get a trial version. You can't print but may be able to take screen shots (though I whole hardheartedly believe in learning to work with pencil and paper :) I've had clients that don't have enough seats for everyone to use. Folks who don't need as much access to the program can download the free viewer. Link here They can't make changes but I think they can add notes? don't remember as has been a while and have CRS.

Changing snap units in plan defaults changes how far an object moves with the arrow key but has no effect on the slider in the DBX. Might be possible to alter with a programmable keyboard? I had a quick play at this with a trackball lowering the DPI setting and making the slider DBX length equal to a little less than the distance a single rotation of my thumb worked fairly well. If I had to do this much I'd pull out my Elecom Huge with a bigger ball. Tested with a mouse but can't alter the DPI on the one I grabbed. Found smoothest for me was pulling the mouse with my forearm flat on the surface. Fun game

That has to be done with separate plans using save as. There are two ways to use those to get what you want. Most common would be to link each plan to different pages on a single layout. The other way is to use reference display set to show the second plan. Combine that with a plan view to show alternate options with a click. NOTE that both plans need to be open to set this up and make it work. Quick example here. It will also work in 3D views though that gets a little trickier and doesn't save the reference display as readily. I more often use that to show the relationship of an addition. Sent you a PM about showing this live for you or the class.

There is one on this forum posted May 2016; search of this forum for:curved mullion, mullion or curved. (stretch zones need to be added) https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/9754-curved-mullion-plan-and-symbol/?do=findComment&comment=85137

I did what you did-only I copied and pasted windows and doors after building roof and foundation. Have had luck in the past cutting openings, moving wall then paste in place, didn't need to here. That was on the first one, attatched is yours returned. Cut openings on right, pulled interior wall away, point to point interior wall then pulled the other end back in place; paste and hold. Left side was a bit harder, didn't mess up the exterior wall but interior wall did cut into the exteriors. This worked though-cut openings, pulled wall away, rebuild walls etc, pull wall back, paste and hold. walls align(1).plan