CJT1963

Hi FelthamUK, I'm sort of asking these questions myself under the below forum topic on this forum & HDP as considering to buy one or the other if flexible enough :- UK Construction with Chief Architect or Home Designer Pro Not a user yet (may be) I'm surprised some of these issues can't be done manually i.e. move tool, if no control is available to locate windows/doors on creation via the window/door menu from a wall face. I was also thinking, can CA or HDP let the user just create ones own pre-drawn 3D window/door set as a symbol & just insert it into an existing made opening or both at the same time. I sometimes have to do this with DataCAD & SketchUp-Pro as a work-around. However I've no idea how easy this is to do in CA or HDP. Over & out, CJT1963

Thanks again Solver, I've used DataCAD & SketchUP Pro for some years now, so I reckon being an experienced CAD user, I would also be able to find work-a-rounds to some of these issues, if I feel they're issues in the first place. Over & out, CJT1963

Thanks Glennw, This is good to hear, the dbx's I've since learned are originally from CA HDP when I spoke to CA HQ. All I can say is that it was from an AUS CAD distributor who called it another name & at the time, it wasn't that clear to me they were the same programme, as you a user, recognise the dbx's being the same to earlier versions. I'm now even keener to try out the demo versions & hope you can customise wall types in these versions. I'd also like to know why UK users aren't that keen on CA or HDP & trust we can hear direct from them on this forum. As I noted previously, I was put off a long time ago by reading something negative on CA for UK use. However this, whatever it was, (too long ago to remember) may not have been a true reflection of its use. Over & out, CJT1963

Thanks Solver, As I assume you're an experienced user, can you tell me if the wall types I mention, or the one I enclosed as attachment graphic, can be simply achieved in the walls menu in CA & HDP. Home Designer Pro looks o.k. to me as does CA, however this is subject to these wall types being achievable in either programme. I'm sure there would be more interest in the programme for the UK market if this could be made clear. I had hoped there would be some UK users on this forum who could comment, as they would be more informed by experience, early days though, in the meantime, I'll have to download them when I've time to test drive them for myself & report back. Over & out, CJT1963.

To all, I've been discussing recently with CA HQ about purchasing either CHIEF ARCHITECT or HOME DESIGNER PRO & then upgrading to CA. I've always liked the look of CA & their website & videos, but got put off a long time ago now that the thinking was both were not suitable for the UK construction market. I may have even discussed this before on similar forums, so as an update, are there any UK users on this forum that use CA or HDP for the UK market ? Most of the videos I've seen clearly are for the US, i.e. timber frame wall construction, no cavity walls. However in the UK it's the norm for cavity wall construction, either 100mm th'k rendered blockwork or face brickwork on the outer leaf with various widths of cavities ranging from 100mm to 150mm wide. The insulation can be full fill within these cavities or partial fill. The inner leaf also varies, insulation (AIRCRETE) or dense block work 100mm to 150mm th'k or insulated timber frame 140mm th'k. We are also seeing wider insulated timber frame walls with just caldding, MARLEY ETERNIT being quite popular. There are many more variants, however can someone confirm if CA or HDP can undertake these forms, a video showing this would be great to see. In the meantime, I enclose some snap shots from a video I've seen that didn't really say it was CA or HDP but later found out it may be a 'doctored' non-legal version, whatever this means. Over & out, CJT1963