CurraheeWW Posted Sunday at 04:22 PM Share Posted Sunday at 04:22 PM This program is the biggest piece of crap...WHY Why would ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE BUY THIS POS!!!!!!!!!! I have been trying to put a roof over this proch for two days. I have watched videos, went step-by-step thru the tutorial, but the software wants to fight me. I had to manually (Like I build in Revit) put on this roof because it would twist this simple roof into a pretzle......WHY,N WHYT,WHY,WHY,WY,WHY.. In my 29 years as a engineer IHAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A PIECE OF **** FOR SOFTWARE THAT WANTS TO FREAGIN FIGHT YOU EVERY GODBLESSED TIME YOU DRAW SOMETHING. GODDAQM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THIS SOFTWARE TO FIGHT YOU LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i HAVE LOCKED PLANES, Told it to ignore manually roofs.................................................................it just builds on top of it....POS software!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 20 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco2017 Posted Sunday at 05:17 PM Share Posted Sunday at 05:17 PM I've used this software for over 22 years, starting when I was 15. I've been running my own company for 14 of those years, and I would hardly consider this software a 'piece of crap.' It took a while to learn the ins and outs, and whenever I was unsure of how something worked or felt I was doing something wrong, I’d ask for help. In 22 years of using Chief products, I don’t think I’ve ever thought, 'Damn, why is this software not working correctly?' I’d say it works correctly about 96% of the time. The software does what YOU tell it to do; if it’s not working the way you’d like, try asking this amazing community for assistance. Hell, you can even call Chief for help. Have you tried any of these options? I’d honestly delete this thread and repost requesting help, because I highly doubt anyone will help you after reading this. Good luck! 1 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlesVolz Posted Sunday at 08:00 PM Share Posted Sunday at 08:00 PM Howdy there! We were all new to CA at some point and have the battle scars to prove it. I admire anyone who is tackling this software. It is powerful but challenging. It becomes more complicated each year as features and tools are added. Also, transitioning from other design software can make it even more difficult to learn. CA’s steep learning curve hits you after you get past the initial phase of placing "walls, windows and doors". It is like traversing a minefield with a map in a foreign language, only to be left wondering, “What the heck just blew me up!”, over and over and over again. It can be very frustrating. Everybody learns differently. Twenty plus years ago, I watched every CA video and went through every tool and menu item in a marathon week (or two, or three) of 18-hour days. (It helps to watch the videos at 1.5x the normal playback speed.) Then, I got a few hours of training from David Potter. That training plugged some holes, which really helped me. David helped shorten my learning curve, lessen my frustration and supercharged the process. I cannot tell you what is best for you, but I wanted you and others to know that this long-term user empathizes with you. I wish you success. Hang in there. Best, Charles 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JiAngelo Posted Sunday at 11:33 PM Share Posted Sunday at 11:33 PM Can we change the title to "Day 22 of using CA for the first time." ? 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterdd Posted yesterday at 01:10 AM Share Posted yesterday at 01:10 AM This software allows me to design badass homes and make a a lot of money doing it. I can only pray I stay busy and it carry me thru the next 20 years until retirement. What you don't understand about CA can be answered here by the intelligent forum members. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mtldesigns Posted yesterday at 02:51 AM Share Posted yesterday at 02:51 AM 10 hours ago, CurraheeWW said: I have been trying to put a roof over this proch for two days. I have watched videos, went step-by-step thru the tutorial, but the software wants to fight me. But you never once just asked for help. Lots of years of experience on this chat, and your roof issue looks like it could have been solved very easily. Three post is all you have. I use various design software all day, everyday, Chief is as easy as any of them.. but you have to be patient.. and ask for help if something is a road block. I am sure you did not get your engineering degree without asking a few questions. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark3D Posted yesterday at 03:09 AM Share Posted yesterday at 03:09 AM Upload your plan i will do a video showing how to do it 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisb222 Posted yesterday at 02:34 PM Share Posted yesterday at 02:34 PM 22 hours ago, CurraheeWW said: .................................................................!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Lol, wow somebody upset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael_Gia Posted yesterday at 02:43 PM Share Posted yesterday at 02:43 PM hey, we've all been there. hopefully OP can post the plan so we can confirm that Chief is indeed a piece of crap, but it's our piece of crap, and at the moment it's the shiniest turd out there. sure beats Revit, Archicad, Softplan for what most of us are doing here. although at this point, he's already figured out that it was operator error and the solution is so embarrassingly simple, he is now to shy to post a follow up. but like I said, we've all been there. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
winterdd Posted 23 hours ago Share Posted 23 hours ago 2 hours ago, Michael_Gia said: sure beats Revit, Archicad, Softplan for what most of us are doing here. Dang right! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kMoquin Posted 22 hours ago Share Posted 22 hours ago I think the OP was referring to his Revit trial 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5FT-20Designs Posted 22 hours ago Share Posted 22 hours ago Hope you have a great day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
para-CAD Posted 21 hours ago Share Posted 21 hours ago I don't think I've ever put a roof over a proch either in software or as a 20-year + framer. I feel your pain. Relax Francis. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renerabbitt Posted 13 hours ago Share Posted 13 hours ago This is a 1 minute roof in this software. Ask us for help and we will help, we only need to know if you are trying to extend the gable over the porch or if its a shed roof over the porch 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
builtright3 Posted 12 hours ago Share Posted 12 hours ago That’s too bad, I hope CA didn’t block him. It sounds like he may have just been having a rough day. Hopefully he comes back. I’m also impressed seeing everyone step up and offer help. That’s really cool to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mthd97 Posted 12 hours ago Share Posted 12 hours ago (edited) On 4/27/2026 at 2:22 AM, CurraheeWW said: This program is the biggest piece of crap...WHY Why would ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE, ANYONE BUY THIS POS!!!!!!!!!! I have been trying to put a roof over this proch for two days. I have watched videos, went step-by-step thru the tutorial, but the software wants to fight me. I had to manually (Like I build in Revit) put on this roof because it would twist this simple roof into a pretzle......WHY,N WHYT,WHY,WHY,WY,WHY.. In my 29 years as a engineer IHAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH A PIECE OF **** FOR SOFTWARE THAT WANTS TO FREAGIN FIGHT YOU EVERY GODBLESSED TIME YOU DRAW SOMETHING. GODDAQM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THIS SOFTWARE TO FIGHT YOU LIKE THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i HAVE LOCKED PLANES, Told it to ignore manually roofs.................................................................it just builds on top of it....POS software!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Chief like other software it takes time to learn. But probably much less than Revit ??? If you are used to using Revit and do not have the patience to learn CA then use that instead. We are all here to help you learn that a simple house like this is easy for CA when you know how to use it correctly. It will save you a lot of time when you get up to speed with it. Edited 8 hours ago by mthd97 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve-C Posted 7 hours ago Share Posted 7 hours ago I've been using CA for 20 years. The first 6 months were a hard learning curve. After that I started getting comfortable with most aspects of the software. To be honest, I feel like it took a good 5 to 7 years to really master it. Hang in there, CA is probably the best software available for residential design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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