rlackore

Scaled according to what space I have available on the drawing sheet.

Here are three examples of cartoon schematics from a recent job - stuck in the corner of the page with specific information that is easy to read and reduces clutter on the main plan.

Yes. I often create a not-to-scale schematic and stick it in a corner of the plan sheet. Things I've used it for: Indicating match-lines. Braced wall lines. Location of the plan display in relation to the building footprint. etc. I don't see any reason you couldn't use this method as your propose.

Well, to be honest, Wisconsin is a dinosaur when it comes to 1- and 2-family dwelling design. Our dwelling code is archaic and cobbled together from bits and pieces of old code and the IRC. However, the big cities, like Madison and Milwuakee, have some pretty meticulous (to be polite) plan reviewers - everyone gets hammered, regardless of professional status or certifications.

Daydream, Get a copy of your local building code. Understand the plan submittal process. Get a copy of an approved plan set to study.

My tech school degree program was "Associate of Applied Science in Architectural Technology." In Wisconsin you can't call yourself an Architect, Professional Engineer, Landscape Architect, Interior Designer, Land Surveyor, etc. without having the license (education, job experience, exams, permit fees, continuing education, etc.). Just like doctors, lawyers, master plumbers, journeymen, et. al. You really need to check your local statutes which describe what you can call yourself, how you can market/advertise yourself, and the scope of the work you can perform. In Wisconsin ANYONE can "design" a one- or two-family home - an Architect or PE stamp isn't required.

1. It depends on what you mean by design. You may want to start by browsing the bookshelves at the library. Have you checked with your local technical college for courses they may offer? Lots of draftsmen/designers start with a two-year technical degree. 2. Depending on where you live it may be a legal definition of what you are permitted to call yourself, depending on the professional licenses or certificates you hold. 3. Lots of independent draftsmen/designers charge by the square foot. Around my area, it can be as cheap as $1/sf. Of course, I've never been very impressed with their production documents. 4. It takes a lot of time and effort to tailor this sort of thing to the clients you are courting. Give us an idea of your anticipated project scope.

See Alan's answer, or open the room dialog box and check the structure tab.

In X6 you can achieve a greyscale shading, but without transparency. Example.pdf

Use Room Dividers to create the Open Below area. This introduces some other issues, but it will create your section correctly.

I'm still on X6, but there is a checkbox in DEFAULTS>PLAN>GENERAL SETTINGS>IGNORE CASING FOR OPENING RESIZE that can aid in getting doors really close to walls.

I apologize for my post. I'm not sure why I addressed the walls when you were clearly talking about the ceiling. My mistake.

Check this part of the room dbx to see what material is assigned to the wall, I'll bet it's Bone:

Plop an electrical outlet in the floor. Then change its options:

Joe gave you the best, easiest answer. If you want to create your own appliance, this can be done also. Model the appliance in Chief (or another program, then import into Chief). Then create the appropriate type of symbol from the model. The Reference Manual covers how to create a symbol.

Why not? Do you have an ethical objection? It's an accepted, published standard within that industry. And I'd be willing to bet it's how your city assessor figures your property taxes.

Around here the realtors and marketing types want measurements to the exterior face of the most exterior finish material per the ANSI standard; it allows them to use larger (though deceptive) values for square footage.

Works fine for me: I'm on X6. Maybe something got broken in X7.

You may be referring to temporary dimensions. You can turn them on/off using the menu VIEW>TEMPORARY DIMENSIONS.

Works. I was able to download and open in X6.

From the Chief Reference Manual (I'm still on X6): Rooms, Standard Area is measured from the center of interior walls to either the outside surface of exterior walls or exterior wall framing, depending on the Living Area to setting in the General Plan Defaults dialog. So, with the scenario originally posted by the OP, it makes perfect sense that the Living room displays a smaller Standard Area than the Garage, because the interior dimensions are different: The math confirms this: 20' 0" x 19' 10" = 396.66 sqft, and 20' 0" x 20' 2" = 403.33 sqft. Chief does the rounding for you.

I don't believe it's possible using Chief windows. However, if you would post a picture of exactly what you're trying to do (eg direct set window, commercial glass partition, etc) we could probably propose some work-arounds.

I think the OP realizes this - the issue is, as illustrated in the first post, why the Garage displays a Standard Area that is less than it should, eg 400+393<800.

This is as much a design issue as a technical issue, if I'm interpreting your OP correctly. I would also consider cove lighting within the trays for ambience and some well-positioned floor lamps.

This might actually be the better option when you factor in the view out the windows - I'm sure you don't want to see the pyramid floating outside; though I guess you could use some rectangular solids and boolean operations to shave the pyramid down to size.