MarkMc

Yes, same as getting a basket of fruit into the schedule. Bit of a work around but not all that bad (this stuff is posted back some time in tips or symbols-plan attached) Then again one of these days Chief will make it easier and the cobble won't be needed. Molding sticks are more of a challenge and don't work as well but also doable. Corbel in schedule.zip

What Mick said but you'll have to re-enter all the price data. Price and some other fields in the components can't be accessed with Ruby, they only show up in a Material List. I had done some work on macros to lookup from an external file to get pricing but got waylaid so not ready for use. You could ask Joe or Michael about a custom macro for that but it is not a small order. Why do you need the cost to come directly from Chief? are you showing prices in schedules on docs? It's just that I've found looking up in a PDF catalog or using an on line ordering system fast enough that getting pricing in Chief is not that important to me. I'd only been working on the macro lookup thing as 1-an exercise to learn Ruby 2-because people seam to think they need it and I wanted to help Chief out. To make it work you need to generate a csv file with the pricing AND labels must match exactly. It's not so bad for brands that have a single price with upcharges for species, finish, and door/drawer charges. The csv file and the lookup get a lot more complicated for brands that price in groups instead. Trying to both in one system is even worse (that's where I ran off the road)

Drop downs from a list are pretty easy in spreadsheet-you either specify the list (Data, validity in open or libre office) OR using the same tool have the data on a separate sheet and use LOOKUP. That works for any single cell and can be copied and pasted down a column or elsewhere. IF you need the drop downs to be conditional-that is if you want what can be available in a drop down list to be limited by previous choices it gets complicated. Then the data must be on separate sheets and use need an Array formula with horizontal or vertical lookups in it. I have done that but many years ago so don't remember how. IF it helps I have a template in Open Office with arrays built in. Can get it to you to look over. It will only show you what can be done. It will not work in Excel and won't really show you how to make an array just part of what the formula looks like. Let me know. A straight single file database will work a lot like the first option in spreadsheets. A relational database will do the second though I'm not sure it is any easier than learning arrays. (I've done that but even longer ago than arrays so no help) FWIW both Open Office and Libra Office have a database in the suites. Not as powerful as Filemaker or Access but free.

2D or 3D file? dwg version? file size? size of file you're importing into? your specs-computer and chief version? all are factors, how long have you waited? (dwg files can take a while) tried opening the dwg in another program to make sure it's not corrupt?

I use billboards wider than the window(s) and slam them right up to it, as noted sometimes with decks they are on separate layer. In any case never have seams to deal with. Would breaking it be slower-dunno.

Should mention that billboards are also good for interior reno/addition where other rooms are nicely done to begin with.. Take a shot at the door way to other room, place billboard outside doorway (or pass through...) Eliminates the need to detail spaces where no work is being done.

That's how I use billboards. An image across a window or two, three... at most one leg of a building (but rarely) If there is a deck often need a different one beyond the deck. I don't have Gimp loaded but (might get xNview MP-free) most often just click and drag a box then select crop OR select crop and click and drag a box-then save as, undo repeat on another area.

I use "billboards" placed outside of windows for interior shots-bit of a PIA but more control. No color bleed in PBR though.

Had a thought so finished it-grabbed a handle, set stretch zone and resized, convert to symbol. Place on cabinet, conver that to symbol-fixture interior, set stretch zone to be just at the door, resize depth-presto thicker doors. Convert to symbol again, save it all for future reference/use. Replaced the first plan here. Fridge.plan

Made from a cabinet-already had the grill so it took a couple of minutes (had hacked grill off another symbol using delete surface) Didn't bother to make the doors thicker but quite doable in a few more minutes. Might want to change the handles Fridge.plan

Few in MEP No 6 specialty electric bonus catalog

Better post a plan-I'm not getting that in X11 and checked in X9 and not there either.

Most you can easily get is a 1-1/8" recess (I use 3/4 myself) recess bottom.plan

I've been using a Leica and the Spectre laptop for about 2 yrs now. Started with a Disto X3 then moved to a 7500i. Mostly I use X9 for site measures so I don't have to switch license. When I have needed to swap license it's EZ, and if I forgot before leaving I just do it on my phone. Leica Disto Transfer app works with Chief on Windows but could be a pain to switch Chief versions. New version of the app appears easier but only used it once so far and that was with upper version of Chief and may just stick with that and transfer as needed, like I said it's ez.

I should mention an alternative that I've used with a brand that does not support 2020 and doesn't have an online ordering system. I first used this method when I was using 2020 for a brand that had an awful online system and where I could not trust 2020's pricing. Set up a spreadsheet template to look like the companies order form-include formulas to multiply price per quantity and to total columns across sheets. Then just uUse the schedule, copy, paste special method to enter into that sheet (or drag and drop if you can't figure out paste special) Get all info into the spreadsheet template then just look up prices in the brands PDF catalog. It helps if either that catalog has really good bookmarks or you have a way to add your own. There is a variation where you paste into a blank spreadsheet as an intermediate-sort by label, look up pricing and enter it into an appropriate column then sort by number and copy and paste into the spreadsheet order form. This allows you to look up prices by group-base, wall etc. but I rarely bothered using it. I used this for the brand that I sold the most over the last few years, was quick enough to keep me happy-30-60 minutes per order with LOTS of mods. With any of these multiple monitors helps.

@Gravity58 When I used 2020 for pricing, which was pretty rare- In Chief: have a library of cabinets for each brand that used the correct nomenclature. I would design with the generic cabinets from the build menu to get sizes only. Then used "replace B 16 1/2from library" to place the brand specific cabinets. You could also use drag and drop from the library if you prefer, just a bit more time consuming (I use hotkeys for the generic cabinets. Your library of cabinets does not need to include every size if you set the labels to read the cabinet sizes with built in macros. Nor does it need to include the entire catalog. Just the most common and time consuming to configure-drawer bases, trash PO, other PO, micro cabinet, oven, fridge cabinet, side & end panels, oven cabinets, pantries, sink bases.... I set many at 15" wide since I rarely use anything narrower. Ovens, large drawer bases with mods, etc are set to the narrowest size I commonly use. For those cabinets where I typically have modifications I include those in Custom Object Information fields. For any mods that are common to ANY cabinet those are also in the OIP field and deleted if not needed. For instance I always use Flush Finished sides on exposed ends. So every cabinet in my library includes that mod for BOTH sides of the cabinet. I just go around and delete it where not needed. (Better to have an extra than to miss one, faster to delete than type) Use a cabinet schedule kept in a CAD detail (not in the plan) with appropriate columns to be printed. When it comes time to use the info in 2020: Go to the schedule and remove all the columns that are not needed. Typically you end up with number, label, mod, side finish (use a custom OIP for that), sometimes hinge though I rarely use that. After removing un-needed fields select the schedule, copy. Go to a spreadsheet and use paste special. Go back to Chief and Undo to restore all fields. It will take a bit of fiddling to figure out how best to use paste special in the spread sheet-there are posts by me back a ways in either Tips or Symbols on how to set that up. NOTE you can use a simpler version and just grab the labels without the mods-that makes pasting a no brainer. Now in 2020 Open an "Item list" (having set all your design pricing parameters already) Lock (protect) the spreadsheet page Place the spreadsheet either on a separate monitor or on right side of your screen, and 2020 on the primary monitor or the Left side of the screen. Click a cell in the spreadsheet to highlight the label, drag over to the item list- Not the plan view-2020 will look up the price if you have the correct nomenclature IF it is off it won't. Extra spaces and such create problems. If you have mods in columns you can crag those onto the selected cabinet. Editing quantities in the item list is easy enough so do that there rather than trying to move it over Some things you just have to add manually or go through some other hoops -i.e modlings don't appear in schedules in a format that works (solution is a longer story-for now figure it out and add them) In at least one of the posts I made in the past there is a video on doing this. Few years ago and I'm not much for doing vids so YMMV but worth a look. Finally- I said that I rarely used 2020 for pricing. IF your brand has an online ordering system AND that system supports drag and drop (most do) you can use the same method to enter into that which is far more accurate and saves a step in the long run. All this may sound a bit daunting but to encourage you. I can design faster, better, more accurately, with far better finished drawings and renderings in Chief than in 2020. Once you have cabinet libraries set up getting the pricing is very quick I could move a typical kitchen from Chief to an on line ordering system in between 15 minutes and half an hour. I had one hi-end brand who's on line system was more complicated where this did not work as well but then again they stopped supporting 2020 years ago.

Not the best example IMO. So far I've never had a counter guy using a computer and laser get it right when install came-never. The best templates I get are from the guy who shows up with sheets of foam core and a matte knife-perfect every time. But hey- I use a laser and laptop for field measures now and get it to work fine and fast.

You can make a 1" door symbol and use it no problem. Set the depth stretch outside the symbol or it will change to 3/4" The sides are a different matter. You need symbols specific to the sides. Samples included of two methods- Likely fastest is using auto panels- full depth, full overlay BUT make a door symbol the correct depth-say 25", offset the X axis by 1/4" (I never remember which direction) and lock the width by setting stretch plane outside symbol. Looks as if you get away needing only one per depth. I had typically been doing these with side panel applied in which case I needed a left and a right and for every depth. 1in sample.plan

LOL-I only know maybe 6 of those :) IRL-in real life; YMMV your mileage may vary-my favorite is DAMHIKT-don't ask me how I know this:)

This helps a bit. The part that makes the biggest difference is the light adjustment. I alter rope lights to spots and adjust. I didn't drag mine out, just had a quick play with yours and microwave light. Fiddled more with the stove area where rope lights are placed at front of cabinet which is what I have done IRL. I also purged and merged plan materials-only matters a little just good housekeeping IMO. I'd likely be starting from a clean template and importing what is needed to avoid all the extra odd materials listed there. YMMV Adjusted.zip ADDED- if you don't want to mess with spots for rope lights you can also increase the spacing between to say 6" and bump lumens to 2.5, then move light to front of cabinet. Easier to control the lights and improves performance.

Using Tommy's suggestion build your own per your manufacturer and your typically used cabinets. It's a good learning experience though time consuming at first. With CA you will not need as many cabinets as you would find in a 2020 catalog since resizing in CA is faster than drag and drop. Few tips- build your library cabinets in a single file and save it keep a folder somewhere that you will save library and symbols items plans you create for future use make use of the object information fields in the cabinets to speed up creating schedules, simplify ordering and cut down on typing. I work under the principal that it is faster to delete text than to add it so every library cabinet created will have whatever common modes it "might" end up with (like both sides are finished and delete what is not later) Set anything possible to "use default" before adding to the library (materials, doors, drawers) so you can change defaults instead of each cabinet.v (exception to #5 would be things like a 3 drawer base where you want the lower drawers framed but the top a slab. Then set top to use default and specify the lower) Once you make a library for one brand/box construction you can usually adapt it to another to save some time. Don't try to build everything the mfg offers-look at what you use often and stick to that. In time you can add special cabinets either to that library or a general one for oddities. I design with just the cabinets from the Build menu (using keyboard shortcuts) as place holders. Once I have an idea where everything goes and what sizes are THEN and only then ...I use replace from library to access my cabinet library replacing what needs be with those I've made. Attached is plan with just a few sample cabinets (note I normally place the cabinet schedule in a CAD detail not in the plan as done here) screen shot of a basic library builder plan. Sample cabinets.plan

You can change how labels show based on what layerset is used. Macro placed in "specify label" field, custom OIP field "status" in this case is either blank or existing, then the automatic label is read from the comment field. There are other ways at it and likely some more advanced methods but this works. Attached plan two couches- label shows for one in all layersets BUT one called "existing", label for the other only shows in the "existing" layerset. Open em up and examine, macro attached for import. label for existing.plan label change.json

Multiple cabinets for each custom countertop. Can also be done with custom curved doors but won't look correct in plan. (sample included in plan) Ogee cabinet.plan

Go to plan defaults, set reference grid to 1/2", turn off grid snaps. Trace and let it snap to the framing, use the arrow keys to move it the 1/2" for the sheet rock.