Archnot-Boltz

And as I've said at least once before, Softplan and Chief should have an affair (without wearing dongle protection) and the offspring would benefit all of us. User definable wall heights, floor platforms and ceiling hgts that don't readjust because you've moved a wall etc. Learning curve wise, I self learned Softplan 8/9 while working for a builder through a temp agency during a 5 month span. At some point during that time period, I purchased a Chief '97 demo cd and manual for $25.00 (a terrific value and marketing device) and started playing with the program on my home computer. Compared to AutoCad (tried ACad 10, DOS version beginner's course at our community college and hated the interface), and DataCad (good price, promising 3d but very difficult to learn and use) both Softplan and Chief were the only two that drew walls in an intuitive, user friendly manor. Both programs allow a person to be self taught and become real world usable, fairly quickly. At first, Chief seemed a bit "Micky Mouse", like one of those $50 homeowner CAD programs (and it kind of was: re: identical interface as 3d Home Architect). Unfortunately, to a degree, all of Chief's current shortcomings are related to it's "Homeowner CAD" roots but it continues to improve (grow up). In my short stint using Softplan, I never got the hang of their cryptic roof tool (sort of like Chief's cryptic Terrain Tools). Softplan did have a killer roof dialogue box graphic which showed your birds mouth seat cut and HAP (height above plate) which you could adjust on the fly, which I would like to see implemented in Chief. Each program had good things to offer and Chief always had a slightly more user friendly intuitive feel that allowed the interface to get out of the way and allow me to draw. Lately, since the X-versions, I've been fighting the the loss of some of that intuitive feel. When I purchased Chief "97 I paid $599.00 or 699.00 on sale. At the time Softplan 9 or 10 was about $2 Grand, or I would probably bought Softplan because of it's material list (gives wall framing lumber count versus lumber lengths and had a good wall framing detail per wall section, similar to what Chief now has). Not having any real CAD background using AutoCad etc, I found Chief and Softplan to have much less intense learning curves compared to any other software I've tried to learn since. I started learning ArchiCad one summer in an architect's office a few years ago and my brain could not wrap around the drawing interface (having been spoiled by Chief's for over ten years). After 3 months, there was no way I could attempt to do a project in ArchiCad. I did see and use some CAD tools in ArchiCad that would be nice to have in Chief but I would expect Chief's developers to be continuously reviewing their competitor's software and user interfaces. Lately, I've been contemplating purchasing Sketch-Up Pro because I'm having a lot of difficulties with Chief's framing tools (inconsistant floor and roof truss behavior- I don't understand why Chief does roof trusses so cryptically).I've read about an architect that uses Sketchup to create complete sets of construction drawings (I wouldn't mind seeing Chief merger with SketchUp). I also hate the default automation of Chief's deck framing tool. I would like to just draw a closed polygon (still don't understand why Chief calls a polygon, a poly-line?) and set the framing parameters (joist size, spacing etc) and manually add my beams (boxed or dropped) and add a railing later. I don't like defining my deck perimeter using a railing (glorified wall tool). Chief's roof tool is the most versatile and creates the most stable areas of a drawing (roof doesn't automatically change hgts when you move walls or adjust floor hgts etc.). I wish they would stabilize or provide floor platform thickness and floor elevation locks so that a floor platform remains as drawn when moving interior partitions. Nuff said. I too have heard that Softplan's management is no where near as accessible and friendly as Chief's regarding issues and program suggestions. For now, Chief works best for me but I'm constantly looking over the fences to see if Softplan's grass has gotten any greener. Would like to hear more from current Softplan users regarding roof creation tools, wall heights and floor platform stability, oh yeah and do they allow you to draw a foundation wall that doesn't incorporate the sill plate in the calculation (eg" 97.5" for an 8' high cmu or poured wall in Chief)? Better yet, I'd like to hope some of those improvements are in X9-BB

Let's take it up a notch with a request to Chief. I've been doing this for many years. The only issue with it, is once you've created a "Non-Cased Opening", the opening is virtually impossible to select while in 3d or elevation view mode. I usually have to go to plan view in order to select the "uncased opening". Any one else have this same issue?-BB

I thought that the suggestion forum was for suggestions on how to improve Chief? I didn't think this was an area to promote work-a-arounds, though anyone kind enough to suggest a work a round is welcome to suggest. In regards to the original post, I'm in full agreement. Why can't I draw a circular house with one continuous radiused wall? Chief says to draw two halfs and join them, which is a sanctioned work-a-round. Has that ever been fixed? Will have to try to draw a Silo and see if x8 allows it without the "work-a-round". I have been helped by power users several times in the other part of the forum and do appreciate their willingness to help folks find a solution. But the Lord of the Flies analogy does hold some truth.-Brad

Is anyone able to put radial muntins in a 1/4 round fixed window using the window DBX? It doesn't work with ray count or concentric. Seems like something Chief should address. If they can do it with 1/2 circle, why not 1/4 circle fixed unit with radial muntins? Also, not sure why they don't give us a round window option without using the reflect vertical radio button which is a cleaver find/use by Yusef.

"Job Name"-As-Is-Date; "Job Name"-Schm1-Date; "Job Name"-Schm2-Date etc and finally "Job Name"-Permits-Date. Usually covers the As-Is thru schematic design to Permit submittal drawings.-BB

I do almost all of my projects (mostly additions and even whole house renovations) on 11x17 and sometimes Super B (13x19) in color. Carpenter's can read them easier, the sheets are easier to handle and 11x17 folds in half & fits in a standard file folder. I miss my HP 1120 CSE (still works but no decent driver support for Windows 7) and am currently making due with a cheap ($99 on sale at Staples several yrs ago) HP Officejet 7000 Wide Format and inexpensive paper from DataPrint. If I have to go to 24x36, I send color pdfs to the print house and have them printed grey scale. I send pdfs to clients and only print color renderings on our laser printer on 8.5x11.-BB

Thanks Scott, "more reply options" was the ticket. You would think that the attachment option would be more obvious without digging. Drew my simulated "wrought iron" "posts" with 3d polyline boxes and a scrollie piece from the symbols library. Guess I should save it to My Library. Here attached is a photo of what I was looking for and what I ultimately created. Sure would have been easier if it were in the column and post library. Seems there's no rhyme or reason for useful versus useless crap in the current Chief Libraries. I also noticed that Scott's reply to my post did not show up in an email notification like it always did in the old Chief Talk. I guess I'll have to find the setting for that too? But thanks for the help.-BB

Here attached is a photo image of what I'm asking for. Well I guess it won't be attached. Where the heck is the attachment icon or option. I tried the My Media but not aware of how to set up. Thanks for making it difficult and alien. -BB

I can't seem to find any "wrought iron" type porch columns, rails etc in the Chief X5 library. Am I just missing it or what? I kind of remember faking them with polyline solids just to represent the typical two vertical post 9" to 12" wide with the ugly scroll work between the two 1 3/4" square vertical members. Thought I would ask before re-creating the wheel.-thanks, Brad Haven't loaded x6 yet but getting scared of the slower than x5 comments (I found x5 to be faster than x2,3 & 4) but having lots of crash & freeze issues with x5 anyway. My Dell xps i7 is running at 3.4 ghz , has 8meg ram and has a 1 gig ATI(yeah, I'm waiting to get the 2gig Nividia gtx 660 installed by Geeksquad). Screen freezes in vector elevation or section views when editing text or cad lines . Typically during a right click operation.-sorry off topic bin away for awhile.-Brad