New Intermediate Level Chief Textbook!!!

[Jim Rogers]

So, what's on that advanced list?
Let us know so we won't ask for it.......

[StarTraining]

Actually, duplicate requests would indicate more of an interest in a particular topic and i'm tracking that as well. There have been suggestions of terrain, ceilings, molding, polyline solids, symbols, roofs, stairs, foundations, and framing. They've just been fairly general requests. Case in point, was earlier someone suggested advanced roofs. What specifically, would you like to know more of on roofs? In this book I went through the creation of 10ish different roof types. Are there specific conditions, or situations you have in mind? Different Styles? details? Things like that.

Mike

[lbuttery]

I would suggest going back over the postings in this forum and the Yahoo Chief forum and review all the postings back to Jan 2003 when ver 9 came out and then for the major topics like roofs, stairs, terrain, cabinets,
foundations/framing/trusses etc. create examples that show click by click how to set the dbx's etc. to do some of the advanced features of these tools.

With lots of pics on a DVD so we can see how it all works, etc.
Break each topic down into small repeatable workshop style lesson plans. See the Nasman book for a methodology of presenting the material,
with the 10 lessons plans in his book.

I'd like to see a lesson plan for each topic discussed on the forums.

Lew

[Greg T.]

Mike,
I just ordered the book yesterday. I am interested in seeing what it has to offer. It has already had some good reviews that I can see. I agree w/ Lew in that I like the workshop style lesson plans. I also like the idea of working @ your own pace. The classroom enviroment is great, but trying to take notes and pay attention to the instructor @ the same time, you can lose info. that cost a pretty penny. Also, you have some students interrupt the session to ask questions from about three or four topics back. I completely understand having questions, but ask them either in the same topic or @ break time. Every instructor that I have had a class w/ has been willing to stay after class to help out. The self-paced characterisitc of this book is what I am looking forward to.
Thanks

[CColson]

MIke,
What I'd like to see in a future (not too far in the future) book would be a section on creating drawings for multi-family projects. Chief markets itself as a program for residential and light commercial but I haven't seen too much info or sources of information on creating drawings for commercial or multi-family.
Thanks,
Carl

[Allen42acj]

Got my book yesterday.
For the price it's not bad.I thought it would be a hard cover,it's a spiral notebook style.
Most of it is covered in the manual and training Cd's.
If your already doing plans,I don't think you need it.
It's geared more to be a part of a training seminar with a live trainer.
If I saw it first,don't think I would have bought it,but will repost after I go through it,almost done now.
The last few chapters are what I wanted it for..Layouts/CDs
I don't mean to sound negative on the book,just think every one wants an honest opinion.Please don't get mad at me.
If this is what is taught at the seminars,glad I did not spend that much.
I think 1 on 1 would be a better idea,or small classes.
Allen Colburn

[lbuttery]

Allen:

If it's not what you expected, call them to see about returning it.

I sent the Wallach book back.

Lew

[Allen42acj]

Lew
I'll look at the last chapters and see.
If they're good it will be worth the money.
I just wanted to give an honest opinion to those looking at it.
I flew through most of it because it was things I knew.
For the most part"Better Homes and gardens Home Suite 6.0"users guide is just as good without a trainer.
Allen Colburn

[lbuttery]

I flew through most of it because it was things I knew

That's probably so, but while I "know" most of it, there is a difference between "knowing" and "doing". I find that when I get down to it, that doing the click by click's really helps to lock in that knowing.

I have found that when I try something that I thought I knew that "**** .... why doesn't this work..." then I realize there was one little piece I didn't know or mis-understood.

However, I do agree that perhaps what they are calling Intermediate, would be better labeled as "Beginner", and what they call "Beginner" should be called "Newbie"

When I took the two-day intermediate class in Oct I found that I "knew" the what and the where of most of the topics and tips/tricks that were presented, thanks to the education gained from the forums. It was the
application of that knowledge that proved more difficult.

Yes, if someone has built many houses in chief and can whip right thru foundations and framing and roofs and stairs without giving it a thought then this book is not for them. For any who are still on shaky ground, then this book should be invaluable to them.

It may be the same material as in the reference manual or the vids but with this book the student can apply that material in a step-by-step , click-by-click comprehensive consistent manner from creating the first wall to doing presentations and creating the working docs.

the value of this book is highly dependent upon the readers starting point.

After all that, I'm not disagreeing with you, in fact I agree with you, this book is not for everyone. No book could be. Hopefully, they will be doing an advance book and hopfully they will be doing books aimed at specific areas, like roofs or terrain, etc. A 500 page book like this on terrain or roofs would be wonderful.

Lew

[Allen42acj]

Lew
I agree,and will keep it..

He wrote
After all that, I'm not disagreeing with you, in fact I agree with you, this book is not for everyone. No book could be. Hopefully, they will be doing an advance book and hopefully they will be doing books aimed at specific areas, like roofs or terrain, etc. A 500 page book like this on terrain or roofs would be wonderful.

I was expecting more from it and wanted to pass that on..Compared to somethings the price is good,and it would be a good book for user meetings..
If money is that tight,don't get it..
I don't know how to add quotes from other post...

[lbuttery]

Allen:

It would be nice if the book was $20 cheaper


To copy something from another post just hi-lite it and then do ctrl-c and then go to your reply and do a crtl-v.

Or right click-copy and then a right click-paste

Or menu - edit - copy and then menu - edit - paste.

If you want it int BOLD then click the B icon and then paste between the B's tags that appear in the reply.

Lew

[Allen42acj]

It would be nice if the book was $20 cheaper

See if this works..
I know how to copy and paste,just not get the quotes around like others do..This time I used the wrap tool and clicked in the center,,,

[Allen42acj]

I'm sending back my book,just got an email from them,no proplem.Everything but shipping refunded..
They responded very fast to me and I have nothing bad to say about them.
I think in a group the book might be usefull.
Allen

[quickdraw]

The parts of CA I really need help with are the terrain tools and symbol creation.

[Allen42acj]

I would like to see books on just 1 subject at a time,rather than just the basics of all the topics they cover in the book.
More geared for at home learning than class rooms training..