djhplanning

I'm having trouble with the new X13 version of layout.  I used to be able to resize a jpeg image box by holding the corner of the layout box, holding down the option key on Mac, and was able to resize the box and it would stay in proportion.  Now the option key does not seam to work the same way.  When holding down the corner of the box, the rectangle scews into a trapezoid and doesn't resize the image.  I can't seam to find anything about this.  Did something change with this process to resize in proportion???

I sure hope that they increase the speed of the program.  It is so slow on moderate and especially bigger projects.  I also hope that they have improved stairways.  I also think for future updates, they should look at adding some addition drawing styles like Sketchup has.

20 minutes ago, LevisL said:

 

It does on a Mac too, but just not if you print from the Preview app (and certain others I guess). That's where there's a bug and any image with a transparent background with come out with a black background on the printout instead. 

Thanks again guys.  I will continue to work on solving this.

55 minutes ago, Rpadge said:

your pdf appears normal to me, I use Adobe.

That's the problem.  The PDF looks normal on the screen, but when printed on my home printer, the solid black background appears.

On 4/13/2020 at 10:27 AM, LevisL said:

 

Dan, that’s a Mac issue. I’ve seen it lots. Print from Adobe instead of Preview and it should solve your problem. Preview has a bug where png images with a transparent background will print with a black background. I just had the same thing happen printing school work for my daughter last week. It’s very annoying.

Hi LevisL, I'm finally playing around with this again.  I did download a PDF reader pro lite app and tried printing.  Still getting the same thing happening.  I was just wondering what adobe app you were using?  I know there are some other app options available.  

Does anyone know if it is possible to show an exterior deck stairway on both a lower level and a main level?  Am I missing a setting or something or doesn't chief do this?

I didn't even know this was a feature of Chief.  This may be a great option and I will explore this.  Is this something that you use?  Thanks Eric

I'm wondering about strategies to organize and find past home designs.  I'm wanting to be able to search for potential plans that I've done in the past that may be options for future projects based on certain criteria.  Similar to how you would reach for house plans on a house plan website.  Search options would include the number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, rambler or two story, slab or basement, architectural style, etc.  I use a Mac computer and have experimented with tagging past project files but have only been able to figure out how to search using just one tag at a time.  Like all the 2 bedroom designs, or all the farmhouse style plans.  I would want to search for 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, rambler with a slab and farmhouse style.  Anybody doing this type of thing?  I also need to research more if it is possible to use multiple tags on Mac instead of just one at a time because this would be a great way to go. 

Thanks everyone.  I may have to contact Tech support just to notify them again about this problem for their Mac users.

18 hours ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Might be due to the iMac and the zoom level.  I am using a Windows Desktop machine with multiple monitors but I seem to remember that working on a laptop with a just a single monitor results in those sort of problems sometimes.

Ok, thanks Joe.  it just started happening about 2 weeks ago and has never been a problem with the iMac before this.

1 hour ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Might be due to the iMac and the zoom level.  I am using a Windows Desktop machine with multiple monitors but I seem to remember that working on a laptop with a just a single monitor results in those sort of problems sometimes.

Ok, thanks Joe.  it just started happening about 2 weeks ago and has never been a problem with the iMac before this.

Just now, djhplanning said:

Sorry Eric, I mean the icon toolbars, and I've also noticed the width of my library blower window changes from time to time as well.

Opps, library browser

19 minutes ago, solver said:

 

Chief has a single Menu Bar, located at the top of the window -- File, Edit, Build ...

 

Maybe you are asking about Toolbars?

Sorry Eric, I mean the icon toolbars, and I've also noticed the width of my library blower window changes from time to time as well.

21 minutes ago, Joe_Carrick said:

Dan,

Can you be more specific?

• Toolbars ?
• Arrangement of Icons ?

 

Sorry Joe, I mean the icon toolbars

Anyone know what may cause the program to change the arrangement of my menus?  It seams like every other time I am opening a plan to work in Chief I will have one of my menus in a different place than when I left it last.  Then I have to move the menu to the normal place.  It's happened in more than one of my plan files.  Anyone have this ever happen to them and know what the problem may be or is this a technical issue that I should contact Chief technical support on?

Does anyone do work in Wisconsin?  Just completed a project design in Wisconsin for a new residence.  I normally work in Minnesota and have designed the project using the 2020 Minnesota Residential Code which is based of course on the standard International Residential Code.  It appears from some google searching that Wisconsin has not even adopted the IRC?  It also appears that they use the old Uniform Dwelling Code that originally came out in 1980?  I don't seam to be able to find anything about building or construction on the state or county websites.  Any information or websites anyone could share about this would be appreciated.  I am wondering if there are any big factors I should be considering for this Wisconsin residence.  

I use ray trace for mainly exterior views.  Chief changed something with the last update and now the interior ray trace doesn't work as well as it used to before the update.  I don't use physically based style because of the poor quality image.

How would I go about having a box bay window with a 2 wide window vs. a 1 wide window?  I can use the box bay window tool and get everything I want but I am limited to only having a single wide window in the middle section of the bay. I want to have 2 36"x60" double hungs vs. 1.  See photo with 1 window only.  Don't seam to be able to copy and paste the window in the bay like you can with a regular wall. 

10 minutes ago, LevisL said:

 

No problem! I’m actually shocked this is the first time you’ve encountered this issue! I’ve had this issue since X10 and Mojave!!!

I don't do a lot of printing.  For this project, the client requested something he could print at home and I was just testing how big the text would look for him when printing on 8 1/2x11 and noticed this happening.  

4 minutes ago, LevisL said:

 

Dan, that’s a Mac issue. I’ve seen it lots. Print from Adobe instead of Preview and it should solve your problem. Preview has a bug where png images with a transparent background will print with a black background. I just had the same thing happen printing school work for my daughter last week. It’s very annoying.

Thank you for this.  I will check into it more.

2 minutes ago, DavidJPotter said:

You seem too "Attached" to your problems to see solutions for what they are:)  The rules of 2D CAD are not missing or suspended in CAD details so your comment about "pattern line defaults" makes no sense to me, sorry.

 

DJP

If I convert the elevation to a CAD detail, and want to make them look the same as my other 2 drawings in the drawing set, I would have to manually select all of the pattern lines and convert them to a lighter gray color.  That will take a lot of time.  I am good with it the way it is now.  

11 minutes ago, DavidJPotter said:

 

Thank you for that answer.

 

That is why I rarely use PDF's in my layouts: they bloat the size in Mb's of the layout, are often pix-elated being copy's of the original vector view material and thus not as crisp looking. 

If I require multiple instances of elevations or cross sections I use vector views that have a white background with no problem.

 

My question still remains, what exactly are you trying to solve using PDF's of the model being graphically communicated instead of vector view generated views (you could also make a view to CAD and then send those altered-edited copy's to layout)?

 

DJP

Sorry for the confusion.  Not using a pdf in the layout itself.  I am printing TO a pdf from layout, and then printing that pdf to my printer.  Maybe it is a printer setting or something.  This has never happened before.  

18 minutes ago, robdyck said:

Do those elevation view layout boxes have any sort of fill? Even a light solid fill can print black depending on print settings.

Nope, no fill in the layout box.

34 minutes ago, DavidJPotter said:

You can take an active elevation view and then using "View to CAD Detail", then send that to layout and it will be rotatable, check it out.

 

DJP

Here is the final PDF drawing set.  It shows a little more of why I was trying to rotate the 2 elevations on page 3.  Seamed like they would fit the page better if I rotate them.  I did convert the original elevations to a CAD detail but at the expense of not having control over the pattern line defaults.  I like to show my materials in a lighter shade of gray (see page 2), and also at the expense of if a change is made, I will have to convert it again to have it update.

Shultz Shed-Final Plan Set 4-13-20.pdf

28 minutes ago, HumbleChief said:

Looks like elevation views can't be rotated?

Appears that way.  Unless I am totally missing something.  You would think this would be a standard feature just like how you can rotate other things.