Temporary Dimensions AGAIN!

[Radius1]

This tool that should be the go-to quick adjustment tools. However, it is not reliable, and I find myself turning it off more that i like and from the sounds of it a lot of others are too. Overall I'm questioning my choice to migrate to this software after using Revit. Nice cabinets and interiors and starts off quick and pretty picture, devil is in the details.

 

My first problem Is with the multi-selected items, such as windows or switches, Temporary dims are only producing a temp dimension from one of the items and not treat all the selected items as one. you need to do each one by one making it nearly useless.

 

all 4 windows are selected. however there is no outside to outside.

 

Second thing is this... really how many setting are needed to control this? Looking it up i tried all the different setting areas and control panels.

 

Selecting one item give you 3 different text styles. i went nuclear and changed every text style to the same in the entre plan and every setting i can think of. this is the result.

 

Haven forbid your selecting a small item like a light switch..

 

Is this what everyone is dealing with? or can someone show me an example for the setting to defeat this?

 

I'm really hoping that something clicks with this software, it looks pretty, but its killing my production.

 

 

X17
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-14700K 
RAM: 64.0 GB
Graphics: Radeon RX7900XT
 

[DBCooper]

My guess is that 90% of your problems are because you expect Chief to work like Revit.  Chief is different.  Although I think it is "easy to use", it is also pretty "hard to master".  Give yourself lots of time to get over the learning curve.  Try to forget everything you thought you knew about cad software and start from the beginning with the training videos:  https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/  There are also a bunch of other training resources available, including personal tutors.

 

Here are some thoughts and suggestions that might help you for now though.

 

- Temporary dimensions don't always work the same in plan views as they do in elevation views.  They have been "evolving" over the last couple of versions and I think they are getting more powerful but I still don't think they have all of the glitches worked out.  When you run into problems you should report them to Chief, either as a bug report or as a feature request depending on the type of problem you are having.

 

- Group selecting windows in an elevation view won't give you the distance from the next object like they do in plan view.  This is exactly the kind of thing you should ask Chief to add.  For now, I would probably just position them in a plan view.

 

- Temporary dimensions will normally be different depending on which side of an object you select.  I don't think this works when group selecting though.  Would be nice if we had the same ability or even a different way of controlling this.  This also is the kind of thing you should ask Chief to add. 

 

- I think the normal size of the temporary dimensions is going to be the same size as a manual dimension in whatever view you are working in.  This means that if your temporary dimensions are too big, then your manual dimensions are probably going to be too big as well.  That can also be a problem with the arrows.  The defaults can be setup a lot of different ways but chances are your temporary dimensions are getting the text size from the text style that the layer is using.  The arrows are going to be controlled by your current dimension defaults.

 

-  Temporary dimensions can automatically shrink to try and fit better on the screen.  Normally, this isn't really a problem since they are not going to be printed.  If they are getting too small to read on the screen, you can change the "minimum display size" for them in your preferences.

 

- When all else fails, just draw a manual dimension and when you are done with it you can delete it.  You can also keep it around and put it on a layer to manage your own "working" dimensions.

 

- There are lots of other tools that can sometimes work better then the temporary dimensions.  For example, align/distribute, transform/replicate, multiple copy, point-to-point move, etc.  Sometimes there is a much better way to move things than just using temporary dimensions.  When working with the sizes of objects, and not just the positions, it can sometimes be easier to just use the dialog. 

 

-  I see you have angle snaps turned off.  This can lead to all kinds of problems when you have things on strange angles.  Do yourself a favor and keep them turned on.  You can change the angle increments in your general plan defaults if you don't like the default 15 degrees.

 

Hopefully, this info helps.  Keep asking questions as you run into problems.  People on this forum are almost always around to help.

 

[Radius1]

Thank you for the tips.

 

30 years of drafting with CAD and Revit and 1.5 years of CA i thought i would be able to pick this up without too much frustration. Not there yet...

 

 

 

[PitMan71]

Try 37 years of CAD. I can totally relate. Though I have come to love using Chief. Started using it at the beginning of the year. Between the forums and videos I have learned that once you learn how CA works the learning curve while steep becomes easier. Hang in there. I still work with CAD occasionally.