rlackore

The problem is with the fill definition for the sand layers beneath your concrete slab: ...reduce the line weight to a reasonable number, say 6.

I don't believe you can specify the default in degrees, only in in/ft. However, simple math (or a construction calculator) can convert a pitch in degrees to a pitch in in/ft. Otherwise you're stuck with modifying the pitch within each individual Roof Specification dbx.

Is this possibly related to Edge Smoothing while Idle?

Post the plan.

I reduced the file size to 13mb just by purging all the unused materials. The lights are definitely "on" - so maybe it's just a matter of adjusting them:

That's correct. The white space in the layout shows the sheet size - the portion that will print. The blue border is the print margin. Copy/paste your titleblock from Page 1 to Page 0, then scale/re-arrange the titleblock to fit within the sheet size (the white space); this isn't absolutely required, but anything placed on Page 0 will appear on every other page, so it's a good place to put your titleblock. Then go back to Page 1, switch to the plan file and Send to Layout with a scale of 1:100. Now you're ready to print. n.b.: I use Chief Premier, not Home Designer, which may work a bit differently.

Short answer: no. Long answer: Octane's primary import format is OBJ, which Chief doesn't support. However, Chief will export the DAE and 3DS file formats that other software programs can import and then send to Octane via a plugin or direct export to the OBJ format. A quick review of Octane's FAQ will probably answer the rest of your questions.

Here are some symbols I use lot, from left to right: coaxial (single drop), UTP (single drop), fiber (single drop), coax/UTP (TIA Class 1), coax/UTP/fiber (TIA Class 2). outlets.calibz

Yep, good point. Most changes made within the dialog box will automatically save the camera. Probably the easiest thing to ensure the camera is saved is to simply change the name:

Find them in the Project Browser, then double click them to open them.

You can find the setting Chopsaw is referring to by selecting the wall and opening the Wall Specification dialog box and looking under the Structure tab:

Use a Wall Covering for the wallpaper border: ...a Material Region for the logo: ...should be pretty easy if you can find images of the wallpaper border and the logo:

Check this topic I started a while back: ...at the bottom of the post Chief acknowledged the issue exists.

I can't imagine a large survey, probably done in AutoCAD Civil3D, not having Z-values assigned to the topo lines. Then you can use the Import Drawing Assistant to convert the lines on the relevant layers to Elevation Data: It's been my experience that when importing very large terrains that the small breaks in the elevation lines from the text has very little affect on Chief's terrain generation, though that's not to say that there isn't some cleanup necessary. If you upload the dwg I can check it for Z-values.

Yes. But, that makes sense to me, because the roof framing plan usually reflects the roof plan.

You can also move all the roof planes to the same level by selecting each plane and using the Display on Floor Above and Display on Floor Below tools.

A topo survey will give you elevations. Richard's points are all good. So much depends on what you're planning to do with the property. Here's a list of possible stuff you may need, in no particular order: 1. Property boundaries, including any found benchmarks, rods, stakes, monuments, etc. 2. Boundaries of all existing pavement, walkways, buildings, sheds, etc. Basically, everything built on the site should be located. 3. Utilities, manholes, culverts, pedestals, poles, wells, septic vents and drain fields, etc., including invert elevations. 4. Trees that are significant, or that you know you want to keep. Don't bother with scrub trees or crap you know will be grubbed when the site is cleared/excavated. 5. Setbacks, adjacent right-of-ways, flood plain boundary, easements, ordinary high water mark (if you're on the water) etc.. Any legal encumbrances should be included. 6. Parcel data, including adjacent lots. 7. Spot elevations of grade at building corners and first floor elevation (if it's a building you plan on keeping/remodeling). If it will be torn down or left alone, don't bother with this. As Richard mentioned, it depends on the local jurisdiction, the lot characteristics (substandard, waterfront, zoning district, etc.), and what you're project involves. Sometimes a title search is required, or a check with your local Register of Deeds. I recommend talking to a local professional who is familiar with the process in your area.

So, if it's showing up in both PDF and hard-copy, do we assume it's strictly how Chief is generating print output? I don't know. Wish I was smarter about this stuff.

It's not the hard-copy printer that's breaking it down into pieces - it's the PDF print engine. I did some Googling, and it seems this is a common issue for all PDF print engines. The skewing may be less obvious when the PDF is output at to hard copy at different scales (page sizes) or resolutions.

I believe different PDF print engines will give different results. I believe Chief layout boxes are basically treated as images, and when printed to PDF the print engine decides how to break up the image into discrete chunks. For example, I created a Plot Lines view, and a Live view in the following example. Plot Lines resulted in a single panel for the entire layout box: Live view resulted in four separate panels: When I plotted the same Layout using NitroPDF, the Live view had 16 panels of varying dimensions.

Yes, that can also work well, and may be a better solution for most circumstances. Changing the temporary dimension defaults can have a few advantages, but Glen's solution may give you all you need.

For the temporary dimensions, set the With Wall Selected to Locate Wall Surface: For manual dimensions, within you're Dimension Defaults, set Locate Objects>Walls to Surfaces:

I believe Michael gave you the answer. Determine the scale you want to use for the lot plan, then define a text style to print at the size you want for that scale.

This might get you part way there: Create walls and make them attic, no locate, no room def: ...then add an opening: ...shoot an elevation and adjust the opening as needed: ...check it in ortho: I think you could use this technique to get you pretty close to what you want.