MarkMc

Thanks to all for being so kind and special thanks to our host, Scott, for keeping things lively Did me some good since have been trying to update stuff and that put a fire under my but. I received a couple of questions and there were a few loose ends. I posted a zip file with a plan and layout, a bit rough around the edges but that might be worth digging through, a forensic investigation. It's in the tips and techniques section here.

I received a couple of question from folks at and after yesterdays GTM I'm attaching a plan and a layout in a zip file. Consider this something for forensic examination-to use to figure out how you want ot go about things. There are very likely mistakes, I'm certain that some of the label macros need work and in the course of putting this together some unwanted ones may have dropped in from the library.. There was a request at the meeting for annosets. I agree with Perry and Scott that you need to put together what works for you but this may help get you going. The annosets here are a recent update to mine and may have mistakes yet. Started with something, a year or so later updated it, learned some more, fudged it as I went, now going working on a new and improved revised set. No you do NOT need to change annosets with every release. Yes you can use the same annosets for multiple templates (reference manual). OR you can use different ones. It's a good idea to export them somewhere (like the CA data file) with a date associated for when you muck them up or need to go back or want them somewhere else. I keep a second set that is less used for new construction that is different than my everyday remodel set. Just cuts down on the clutter. Label macros included- the principal I'm working with is to use one macro while I work so I know what is going on, then to change all the cabinets on the primary layers to have another macro that works for ordering nomenclature (3 inch increments for example) To get any of the macros out you open the macro management dbx pick it and export- then do the reverse in another plan and import (HIT F1) There was a question about the molding warehouse- included some in one room with a note. Don't forget to play with the new drag a profile from the library feature. Countertops-no chief will not automatically label finished edges- see the plan, keep some text int there and copy and paste. (maybe someone from the dark side can write a macro for that but I'm not going there.) A few ways to get millwork and other things into a schedule- included one arch block turned sideways to show the problem from using them. couple of odd symbols thingies for the schedules. Included-an architectural block with a wood hood and a blower insert inside it. The blower insert is currently set so you can't really resize it without going into the symnbol DBX and changing things (look in the reference manual and play with it -best way to learn) You can use this to see if the blower you want will fit in the hood the client wants. Glass house view, cross section slider, backclipped elevations. Odds and ends-if you have not seen Scott Harris method of globally changing kitchen cabinets you should check it out. Basically he keeps a couple of cabinets on the side in different door/color/construction. Then picks one and sets as default (one reason I ONLY use cabinets that respect the defaults even though some things don't AND naturally changing from overlay to inset requires some heavy redesign) There was a mention that 2020 will underline a label if you alter the size of a cabinet from the default. Chief won't. Thing is that 2020 will also underline the label if you add an accessory or a modification to the cabinet so it is NOT saving you from yourself (unless you do those last) File and layout attached, neither is complete, but worth fooling with I think.

Attached PDF with Hafele-surface in a drawer and some folding supports. Some other options can be found at Richelieu here

I use Chief for design, 3d Views, generating order listing, and details as necessary. I stopped building cabinets 20 years ago (no CNC). So I don't need to generate cut lists. Two of the makers I work with use CabinetVision. I send in PDF's which simply guarantees I get what I'm supposed to and makes everybody's life simpler. They don't really need DWG. I also deal with a semi custom outfit that allows fairly heavy modification. They actually look at drawings sent in so again it simplifies things. All I am interested in is making accurate dimensioned drawings (easily) and accompanying schedules that match what the makers want to see for nomenclature so I get what I want. X9 has made the schedule part easier. Partial sample attached (was done in X8) Sample.pdf

Are we allowed to upload that? I have a pdf copy that is correct. Link must have changed since then.

I've never been able to make that work-not that I haven't tried.

Chopsaw- Are you trying to do this with an "architectural block" or a "symbol"? This only works for symbols. I can't find 2 1/4" Regal Railing Linepost in my library so used another post symbol in the attached. -To get a CAD block into management you name it after blocking it. Once named it should be there. -Some symbol's CAD blocks are stacked one on top of another (or I've placed it more than once dunno), in any case I move the first one after exploding it to see if there is something under it-then explode that. It is the CAD block that gets exploded, not possible to explode a symbol. (it is of course possible to explode and Arch block) Attached plan has original column that started at 2-1/2" and an adjusted one that will dimension to the post itself at 2" AND place correctly in plan. The new CAD block matches the desired size-IF it doesn't match the new size (bounding box size) it will NOT work properly. Forgot to include screenshotss Block example.plan

Yes-reset the bounding box as Michael indicates (I assume). Then in CAD block management find the original block and insert. Explode, then move that, will be more parts under it, explode and move until there are no more blocks. Resize each, Block one, center the next on it, block...etc. Name it. Open symbol, chose the new block. OFFSET any axis needed (usually the Y axis as the X is almost always centered correctly) Save.

I pasted the pass through in-the problem is where it meets the other wall, used a psolid for that. Don't think there is another way around that. Then made room molding polyline.

Look at that -name in lights-getting stage fright :)))) I plan on dealing accurate and complete cabinet schedules. That entails a combination of : cabinet label macro (I’ve been working on not quite done) combined template, replace and/or drag from library, and drag/drop mods into OIP. Few custom symbols I use for millwork will come up but don’t want to do a symbol workshop. Then getting the schedule info someplace else for use ordering. For the many of you that don’t have to deal with ordering kitchens but do end up sending work on to kitchen folks I can show orders, catalogs etc..so you know what we deal with. It may help with communication making it easier to get what you need (and maybe things you didn’t know you could have Will also go over what I do for kitchen dimensions using annosets instead of automatic or NKBA I’d guess a few odd things I keep hanging around will come up. Love to hear what other folks are doing or want to cover.

Matt, Scott set up a GTM see thread

Not familiar with the home designer products but you can likely do the kind of thing we used to have to do. Float doors in place, or make shallow cabinet and force those to overlpa each other (transform replicate or point to point move overrides collision.) IOW you build it.

I'll contact a couple of people and see where that goes. Scott,lets post this as a seperate thread to see if we can't get some kitchen folks? Since you host and collect emails why don't you do that?

Sounds good Scott-I'm good to go and you're always a pleasant host:) so GTM it is. I'd hoped that some other kitchen folks might have some input too. I know you can swap presenters if need be. If anyone else is attending and has some good ideas for kitchen specific drawings please don't be shy.

No since there were no takers. How's Friday the 17th at 2 pm Eastern? I'm just waiting on a counter install date but they rarely do Friday. Maybe will post it over in the user group once we settle time. I use Zoom for multiple folks but if it ends up just the two of us Skype can work too. If anyone use GTM and wants to take over I'm ok with that too.

Till you get what you want I posted what I have for them in symbols. https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/12839-wolf-sub-stuff/

Saw someone asking for us to pester Wolf/Sub for a catalog. Here is what I have on my machine currently. Some are better than others. Don't know if textures end up missing? (let me know) These were either gotten from the 3d warehouse or as dwg from Wolf Sub that I messed with. (depends and can't remember) Enjoy till you get what your after.

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/3d-viewer/

I had a thought so tried defining trash pullout as an appliance in the hopes I could get the label to read it. It only works if it is the full height of a cabinet in which case it becomes the automatic label. Add a drawer to the cabinet and the automatic label reverts.CA does not provide any other way to access the information. So here is what I was able to come up with that works (and what doesn't) First two show the problem. The second two each use a different macro that collects info from the OIP. (which is why we place them in the library). This is NOT a preview of the macro I'm working on but the macro does include a way to add to the label reading from the OIP for very specific things. In this case you would change the code to whatever you use (RAS has roughly 125 different trash codes not counting mountings and lids making that up to you), change the comment to what you need as well -double trash, rev-a-motion, ...You can grab the macros out of the plan.

Then someone wants the sink base, the microwave base, the cute woven baskets, for the brand they have....Hey, I've been dealing with these issues since I switched to CA from 2020. I know Joe C is trying to write some sort of universal covers anything macro for cabinet labels. He handles Conestoga RTA cabinets so that may work out for you...or when I post mine you can adapt it. Sounds like what you supply is a lot like what I need to supply. Mine are not just for ordering, they are critical to installation even though I don't do RTA. Instead I'm telling the cabinet brand what I want, often specifying RAS/Hafele instead of what is listed in the catalog. They are also important for the customer who does not understand anyone's CODES, we supply a second floor plan with comments in plain English.

Gene-trash bin pullouts-we keep cabinets in the library with the correct order code for the most used of those that we have. NOTE that the code for those varies by brand AND that most brands offer several choices per catalog (brand for order I'm writing now has 4 in catalog and we use two not there, another brand has 5 for framed construction and 4 more for frameless). I never show them in plan, and until X9 I've never bothered to place a trash pullout into a cabinet. I only made the one I posted since I needed to show it open in 3D for an ADA kitchen. Almost all other interior accessories are line items on orders-when they are not the same issues of labels per brand as trash come into play. We list them as modifications placing the codes code field of OIP (used to be a headache in the components list) and in many cases something descriptive in the comments section. Again for many of the most common configurations we keep them in the library and use "replace from". I keep between 1 and 2 dozen cabinets in a brand folder in the user library. FWIW should someone give me a set of plans with just cabinet, accessory or modification codes and no ocmments AND the codes do not match brands that I carry (have in the past) those codes are useless. I've been working on learning Ruby to write a label macro for each of my brands that addresses the any "simple" cabinet configuration changes. (with a big thanks to Gerry T and a bit of discussion with Joe C who is trying to write something more comprehensive) The goal is that once done it someone could change it to suit another brand relatively easily without learning Ruby. For the modification codes we've worked out a system to drag and drop the codes from a separate document into the OIP field. Again per brand (each brand uses different codes and can number to 200 once all accessories are accounted for) Once this is all done, likely after final release, I'll post something into the tips section. I even think I'll break down and do a video (watch out for flying pigs:)

To cut the symbol in half -add a stretch zone that goes from then back to the center of the object, resize the depth to half what it was. Almost forgot- once done open the symbol again, block tab, generate block so it shows correctly in plan.

Bob- plan attached with both those options and a third with loose valances and the cabinet blocked. If you need to get the valances into a cabinet schedule that is a different issue. I just found a new way to do that which makes me happy-posted over in the tips section.

Updated 2/28-added cabinet doors into schedule-one on it's own floating and example of it on a cabinet. Changed the corbel procedure-instead of specifying the symbol should be "inside" the cabinet I now embed the "holding cabinet" into where the corbel goes. This allows proper vector and watercolor views. Revised plan attached I finally found a way to get millwork into the cabinet schedule without using architectural blocks. Problem with blocks is the dimensions read based on orientation in the space and not on the object. It's a bit of a futz at first but I'm happy. Once set up the stuff can live in the library. Place the millwork in a new plan, convert to symbol _CABINET DOOR instead of millwork. You will have to work with the origin and stretch zones. Origin will vary if it is going in as inset or trad overlay. Then place a cabinet, futx with the dbx (most need to have opening for back and both sides) In 3d vector view I change the sides of the cabinet to "opening no material" Once cabinet is done save to library- can later add a different millwork door to it to save work. Plan shows a schedule, two millwork "doors" and a couple of cabinets using them for reference. Open all dbxs to get the idea. (no not doing a video) I also placed at the bottom of the plan what I've been doing to get moldings, loose accessories, touch up kits, toe kick etc into the cabinet schedule. These are also saved to the library for reuse. The Text callout is placed once and copied. Dimensions can be adjust to read properly but the quantities are off so I put that into the label. Bracket sch.plan

You can use feet as William has done and then add a molding to tie them together-bit of a pain to line everything up (vanity on left) Creates extra lines in vector views. Easiest is to grab a valance (Huntwood has a good selection)-copy to user library and add in stretch plane. Then drop them in the plan. (vanity on right)