mgianzero

How about creating walls with rounded corners? Can we do that?

By the way, is there an easy way to round the corners (like a fillet) for wall caps? I'm trying to make some nice detail to my swimming pool - have a raised spa that I drew walls around with caps. Again, didn't see much in the literature about this. This was done using countertop feature. Kinda cumbersome doing it that way. Wanted to just use terrain walls with caps if I could.

Thanks so much! I'll check it out.

I see. Okay ... didn't know if there was some embedded feature in CA for recording itself since I know it records walkthroughs. I discovered that Catalina comes with it's embedded version of Quicktime which I've started to use. Thanks for all the resources regarding researching / searching for answers to my CA questions. I also updated my signature as you suggested. Marc

Wow! You've got a lot of videos on there. Many don't have descriptive titles to them, so it's hard to search. But I'll see what I can find that I can learn from. What software are you recording with?

Hey, now that's really slick! Never knew about that. I haven't read the CA manual cover to cover, but learning as I go. By the way, how do you search for such a video? I noticed it's titled "Recording #610" so what does that mean? Are you searching under "Videos" from CA main website, because doesn't show up for me. Again, I'm learning how to navigate and use all the support tools (both online and written docs) for CA. So I apologize if I'm slow here.

I'm still learning about the Marquee Selection Mode. Read directions, still struggling to see how exactly it works in this scenario. Perhaps you can show me how to do this in my plan? Terrain wall caps V2.zip

Okay, that worked beautifully. I'm assuming you are suggesting the technique as demo'ed in my video below. Screen Recording 2020-09-22 at 7.51.35 AM.mov

Just upgraded from HDP to Chief Architect. I love the wall caps feature. So I applied a new wall cap to one of my retaining walls. Is there an easy way to copy this feature to the other existing walls, or must I do it all manually? Here's a sample plan that I want to copy the cap from one wall over to the neighboring walls. My walls are retaining walls. Is there an easy way to do this or must I change each wall individually? I thought the object eyedropper would work but it doesn't. Marc

Okay. I was trying to understand this comment in the scenario you referred to in "Modeling a Subdivision or Lot with Multiple Structures" article. So let me then explain what I am doing and see if this all makes sense. ... As opposed to modeling an entire subdivision I was going to use that approach with this property which has a house, teahouse (as built), tool shed (as built), a detached garage (new construction) and pool shed (new construction). Each building will be exported out of CA as a 3D symbol and later imported into the terrain plan, all on the same property. However, not only is it easier to tweak areas of the terrain, house, and other buildings when I have separate files for each, but if I wanted to share these building designs (and even solicit some help with them) I can simple send these smaller files - easier to send / edit this way. Also, sometimes, when I'm tweaking the terrain, it's nice to remove the house because it blocks certain 3D (and 2D) views for editing. Lastly, having a 3D symbol allows me to position these buildings differently on the property as different options, no? Am I approaching this correctly or should I be using layer sets for this? I don't know. It's all new to me. But then you said that when creating a 3D architectural symbol of my house (from another plan) to import to this terrain, I should exclude layer sets such as appliances, fixtures, furniture. But don't I want all the details of the house model so that I am not losing information in my plan? Or do I still refer to that separate plan of the house (or other building structure) when I want to see all the details? I'm not sure. Marc

Oh yes! Now I see. That makes more sense.

Mick, Thanks for the reference. I am aware of the help sites / knowledge base for self-teaching. But, please realize that it's sometimes difficult to navigate this way if you don't know exactly the terminology or what to describe what you are looking for. But "modeling a subdivision or lot with multiple structures" makes sense once you pointed it out to me. Still trying to understand how creating a unique layer set for this purpose is necessary for what I'm doing here. But again, I'm new to the layer sets concept in CA as I've only used Home Designer Pro for years. Just learning here. Marc

Okay, this tells me a little more information that helps. Thank you. I was trying to create a 3D symbol for my detached garage (part of a larger plan with the main house) and I selected the building in plan view since it's much easier to select just the garage in plan view. Then I copied it to clipboard (making sure my edit area included all floors). But then the "Convert to Symbol" option was greyed out in a 2D view. I didn't realize that, despite the object being copied, you cannot save it as a symbol unless you then switch to a 3D view. But now that I have my 3D symbol that I now can select from the library, it's difficult to move it to EXACTLY where I want to paste it. It seems difficult to rotate or drag your new symbol to a specific placement where you want it before it becomes a permanent addition once you click your mouse to confirm your location. The one procedure that I think works better is that I create my building (garage, house, shed - whatever it may be) and then I save it as a separate file. Then I open my terrain plan and building model as two separate plans. I make sure the edit area (all floors) is selected and I capture and copy this same building again. Then in the terrain model I want to add my model, I select paste and click roughly where I want my building. Then, before I finalize the paste, I can rotate and drag my building to exactly where I want it. I know this method doesn't use any layer sets to do this. What are the downsides towards doing it this way? Marc

Eric, I appreciate your wanting to help. But submitting an answer such as this does nothing for anyone here. If I knew how to create an entire 3D symbol of my house, then I wouldn't have asked the question. I know how to take a house that is in its own separate plan and copy it and paste it to another plan. That I do by making sure my "Edit Areas" option is selected for all floors and then I cut it and open my other plan and paste it - done. But there doesn't appear to be an option anywhere on the lower panel to convert this object to a symbol. It's easy to select a few architectural objects and select the "convert selected objects to a symbol" option on the base panel. My problem has to do with "how to you select the ENTIRE house and make it a 3D symbol. A more detailed answer with perhaps an example would be best to clarify the steps here. Marc

So if I understand you correctly, you can make a 3D symbol for the ENTIRE house and save it to the library. Then open your terrain plan and import it like any other 3D symbol and rotate / position the house exactly where you want? Then you have a new plan with both terrain and house combined, fully editable in CA? If so, how exactly do you create this house 3D symbol?

Can someone draw up our as-built plans in Chief Architect / HomeDesignerPro and help with our remodel designs so all we need is to find us a good contractor? I've attempted to do this myself with HomeDesignerPro 2017 and have also included this file in my attachments so, perhaps it is easier to just tweak my plans. Before my wife and proceed with a remodel, we'd like to start with as-built plans and then show the options for our remodel (possibly with full renderings) so that she can better see everything before we decide on final plans. She struggles with visualizing the possibilities so I'm thinking this is the best alternative. The direction of my project is mostly to remodel some of the bedrooms, baths, closet / storage space and open up kitchen / living area and maybe change the entryway. The footprint will mostly stay the same except that we may be extend the square footage to enclose the existing patio structure. We will obviously have our plans evaluated by a structural engineer to sign off on any critical changes. We live in southern California so it would be great to work with someone local if possible. Marc G. JPEG.zip Main House (with fp).plan

I have little architect background but decided to tackle a project so apologize if I'm not using the correct terminology here. I have a 50 year-old home that I wanted to create "As-Built" CA / HomeDesigner plans so I can proceed with a remodel (mostly same footprint with some room changes). I actually own the original blueprints which I scanned in to HomeDesigner Pro (using CAD default layer) and tried to trace over it and add the appropriate dimensions, but having some issues getting it all to work. I am using HomeDesigner Pro 2017. I'm debating upgrading to Chief Architect, but wanted to first get on the right path before I can justify the upgrade. Here are some of my main problems: 1) Some walls don't line up with original plans despite the fact that I entered all the dimensions and measured with Dimension tool. Are my blueprints not accurate or do I have some measurements off? (Most notably, the walls on the backside of the home near master bedroom and den areas appear to be off. Also, the second story doesn't exactly match up to the first floor.) 2) How does one add beams to a false vaulted ceiling? Notice the false vaulted ceiling follows a different pitch and I can't seem to get any beams (using the soffit tool) to follow this new ceiling, only the original roofline. You can see my attempt at one in the living room. 3) I can't seem to figure out the staircase to make it fit and also open properly to second story. Notice the rail side of staircase actually is supposed to be partly covered by wall half-way up. (Here are the plans for this: LH-p5 (Stairs : Cross Section).pdf) 4) I had some success building the double sided fireplace but it was painful since I had to create all these walls and covering them with masonry, adding a window for the firehole, etc. But it becomes cumbersome very quickly. (I really wanted to make the entire fireplace as an architectural block but couldn't get that to work using walls. Also, editing an existing fireplace appeared to be too limiting for my needs.) Sorry for all the questions but, I've worked quite a bit getting to where I am and didn't find the answers in any of my searches. Any help is much appreciated. Thank you. Marc G. LH-p3 (Floor Plan).pdf LH-p5 (Stairs : Cross Section).pdf LH-p1 (Roof Plan).pdf Main House (with fp).plan

I own just a hobbyist who owns a copy of Home Designer Pro that I've used for a couple of years to draw out some remodeling options for my current home. But, with all the options we have to move walls, closets, and even reconfigure bathrooms, it gets hard to manage which file has what. I really want to be able to select different layers (thinking this is the best approach) to share multiple plans with my wife (and builder) as to what all my remodeling options are. But I wanted just one file to do this. I'm noticing that Chief Architect Premiere has more control over layering than Home Designer Pro. Do I need to upgrade to CA Premiere just to do this? And is this the best approach? Sorry, but I didn't find much information about this online. I also don't know how to exactly search for what I'm looking for. Marc