Chrisb222

Huh that's strange, it works for me. My template has been brought forward over many versions and still has master bed and bath, and the rooms show up in the Room Finish schedule when starting a new X17 plan. I also opened an old plan in X17 and added a room finish schedule and it populated master. Not sure why it didn't work for you.

The "finish" at the floor framing is determined by the Exterior and Interior Layers of the railing wall specification. These layers will extend down to cover the exposed floor thickness but the Main Layer will not. If you only have a main layer, then only your framing will show in 3D views (or nothing, if you haven't built the floor framing) because the main layer does not extend below the floor level. On a railing wall these layers do not appear at the railing level, but you need them to finish the face of the opening. It can be any material: It works the same way on exterior walls. If your finish material or wall cladding is in the Main Layer section, and you don't have it in the Exterior Layer, the "finish" won't extend down and cover the floor framing.

There are tons of instructional videos on this website, from getting started all the way to advanced techniques (caveat, many of the videos are from older versions): https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/ The Knowledge Base is also very helpful: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/search/?default_tab=support&page=1 My number one advice is to learn and use Saved Plan Views immediately. In my opinion running and learning this software for over a decade, it's the single most efficient, powerful, useful feature of the program: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/2421/saved-plan-views.html https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/2433/developing-saved-plan-views.html https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/10199/productivity-tips-saved-plan-views.html Finally, almost every dialog box has a "Help" button which launches the Help program and links you directly to that particular topic. It's also accessed through the main menu bar. Very useful for learning as you go.

Each dimension default now has settings for Temporary Dimensions. That way you can have multiple settings for temporary dimensions, not just one. Open one of your dimension defaults and you'll see the temporary panel.

Temporary Dimensions use the settings in the currently active dimension default. Change your currently active dimension to one with settings that work better for details. It's helpful to add the Active Dimension Defaults Control drop-down tool to your toolbar for easy switching: Note: If your Saved Plan Views are set to Always Save, and you don't change back to the regular Dimension Default that SPV uses, changing your Active Dimension Default using the drop-down could cause unwanted results.

Why not use the Material List? To get it to calculate by Area, go into the Define Material > Materials List panel, and change it from Count to Area:

Do you have "Soffits" unchecked? Soffits cut the lower tip of the rafter tail. If you don't want a soffit, use Insulation Air Gap as its material.

You're seeing the warning because your currently selected dimension default has auto dimensions turned off. You need the change which dimension default is currently active to the one that has auto dimensions turned on. To use this method you'll need to change your current Active Dimension Default to the dimension you want to generate, then back to your normal drawing dimension default to resume normal drawing. Set everything up like Michael described Add the Active Dimension Default Control drop-down menu to your toolbar (see screenshot) Before generating auto dimensions, go to the drop-down and select the dimension default for the auto dimension you want to generate Generate the dimensions Go back to the drop-down and select your normal dimension default Add the Active Dimension Default Control tool to your toolbar:

Check out some YouTube reviews. Yes, ray tracing has improved vastly.

Jim, I copied your Brick-6 and deleted the drywall, and made the framing layer 2.75", then wrapped it three sides. It's a quick cheesy workaround, and I don't like the lines showing in the plan view, but it took about 2 minutes and they key word is "works": WALL END PROBLEM - CB.plan.zip PS I like the way your file opened to the problem area with a cloud.

@para-CADthanks. Been considering M4 Max Studio but this made me check and... think I'll wait. The Mac Studio with M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips is expected to launch in the middle of 2026.

You can also just double-click on the browser's title bar, at least on the Mac.

You might play around with the method described here: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01142/creating-an-image-for-use-in-a-brochure-flyer-or-website.html It uses a Top View 3D Ortho to give you a "flyer" type of look to the design, then overlays the floor plan for annotations. I've also done something similar, but used the cross section slider to display doors and windows in the 3D Ortho view without having to overlay the floor plan. I like that look better, and then you could add a plan view with just the room names and dimensions, instead of the entire plan which doesn't always look right with the 3D ortho.

Haha, I have a Chief .plan that is nothing but reminders on how to do obscure or complex techniques that I don't use often enough to commit to memory. And sure, it could be a word document but I'm in chief so why not access my tips without leaving the program.

Saved that to my tips and tricks file, thanks Robert.