DBCooper

I agree with Rene, it's probably a video card issue. You might want to check out this tech article though: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-03049/troubleshooting-chief-architect-software-closing-unexpectedly-on-windows.html

Take a look at the file import options. You can import images to use as a background, set the scale using the point-to-point resize tool, and then trace over them. There is a tech article that explains this in more detail: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00018/tracing-over-an-imported-file-to-create-a-3d-floorplan.html If you want to use an existing plan as a background, you could first export it as an image, pdf, or cad file and then bring it in to trace over it. Might work better if you converted it into a cad detail instead though because then you don't need to worry about scale. Not sure if X7 allows this, but in X14, you could just use the reference display to turn on the other plan to use as a template. Although, I don't know why you couldn't just open the original plan, do a save as, and then just modify it however you want.

I'm the opposite. I always start with auto everything and will jump through flaming hoops to get them to work before I resort to manual. Use whatever method works for you.

Seems to work ok for me. Bow window below is fully auto. It has a lowered ceiling and raised floor. The only other thing I did was change my default roof overhang because it looks pretty dumb with an 18" overhang. Sure would be nice if you could modify the auto roof settings in the bay window though. If you still want an 18" overhang for the rest of the roof, you would have to specify it as 18" in each of the walls (or just use manual roofs). You could also create the roof above the bow window manually but this seems like more work to me. Now if you want to remove those extra lines on the wall above the window, that's a whole different problem. The short answer is that is what I use "edit layout lines " for.

Usually, when you lower the ceiling on a bay/bow, you will get a separate roof over it. There are also some limited controls over the roof on the "options" page. I think if you choose "use existing roof" you can draw your own roof to stop the bow window walls.

The callout size is tied to the size of the camera name.

Just to follow-up with what Glenn is saying, if you need to modify a component window in a bay/bow, you just need to use the tab key to select it. You can then open the dialog to customize it. If you need more control then the auto bay/bow gives you, you can also explode it just like you can explode an auto dormer.

It's not the size of the model. It's all of the details. You can design a 50,000 sq ft McMansion that's basically an empty box and Chief will do just fine. You can also design a 400 sq ft tiny home and bring the program to its knees. If you are seeing the biggest problems in 3D views, then the biggest cause is usually surface count. The more surfaces, the slower it gets. Using lots of fixtures/furniture, especially ones you import from 3D warehouse, are often the leading cause. Turning things off can often speed things up but not putting them in to begin with (or until later) can make you a lot more productive. Chief also has a support article that has some good advice about dealing with slow plans here: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00521/troubleshooting-slowness-in-chief-architect-plans.html

Like Eric said, hold the control key down when selecting one of the stair sections. You could make them "chief winders" (like Joe suggested), but I think winders are a big pain. You have to create a curved stair section instead of landings and they sometimes do really strange things. You could also just set the landing thickness to whatever you want which is probably way easier. Also, if you turn on the "winders" checkbox in the stair dialog, I think you will have problems pulling the stair away from the wall to get your 2" gap. Turning it off should allow you to have the gap. You will have to manually create the support for the landing treads though.

I thought Robert's list of things you can do to speed things up was really good, but it looks like he left out something important. According to Chief's support article about trouble shooting slow plans: Work on Files Locally By far, the most common reason for slowness is working in an unsupported fashion, such as over a network server location, external hard drive, or USB flash drive. Here is the link to the full article if anyone is interested: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00521/troubleshooting-slowness-in-chief-architect-plans.html

I don't think I can help you with the molding polylines but if you want those soffit lights to look better you can open up the symbol dialog and turn off the option for "flush mounted".

If you are trying to create a new layer set, you can do this in either the "layer display options" dialog (by copying an existing layer set) or in the "layer set management" dialog (that has both new and copy). If you want something else, you need to be more specific.

Try this: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00907/specifying-the-on-center-oc-spacing-for-wall-framing.html

You could try making the removed walls "no room def" or just delete them entirely?

You're doing it the hard way. When in the layout, just select the layout box and use the "update view" edit button. I don't know why this was changed but I suspect that it was because someone complained that they didn't like the question. You should complain to Chief if you want the question back. I have learned to live with it and just need to remember to make sure my views are updated before I print.

I think you need to create your own counter top hole that matches the shape of the sink. The program will create a rectangle one by default and you probably don't want that. See if this help article helps: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01203/creating-a-custom-sink-hole.html

Someone else was asking about this a while back and @HumbleChief seemed to have it figured out:

If I had that problem, I would probably call tech support. Maybe this tech article will help: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00085/troubleshooting-printing-issues.html

So it looks like your automatic dimensions are generating too many automatic dimensions. My best guess is that you have generated both automatic exterior and interior dimensions or have setup your automatic dimensions with too many things turned on. It would be much easier to diagnose with a plan file. If just hiding them and turning your temp dimensions back on allows you to continue working, then that's fine but if you want to turn them back on later you might still have a hot mess. You can always delete them and regenerate them and if you still get too many you can then work on figuring out why. You may also have been bit by this same problem: https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/36763-auto-dimension-prevent-multiple-copies/ Also, in your first picture above, it looks like you have angle snaps turned off. I highly recommend that you keep angle snaps turned on. If you need a specific wall at an unusual angle, you can always set it's angle to whatever you want. If you need to design a portion of a building at an odd angle, you can add the angles to your "allowed angles" in your general plan defaults.

File>New Plan? Assuming that you haven't changed the default template, this will start a new plan with all of the out-of-box defaults. Without knowing what you changed, it's a bit hard to tell you how to get back to the defaults. You can import most of the defaults but this won't necessarily reset all of the things in your plan that you have already drawn. Also, an uninstall/reinstall will not change any of your plans. This would only solve problems where the installed files have been accidently removed or corrupted somehow. As for your dimension problem, DJP is showing you how to turn of the layer so that they don't display. They are still there though, just hidden. If you want to get rid of them entirely, you could click on one of the dimension tools, and then draw a "marquee" around all of the ones in your plan, and then hit delete. If you have automatic refresh for dimensions turned on, you will get a prompt asking if you want to turn it off. If you turn off auto refresh and delete them, they won't come back until you either draw them manually or use one of the auto dimension tools. It would actually be more helpful if you posted your plan or at least a picture showing what you are seeing though. A "matrix" of dimensions may indicate that you have some other problem going on. Just hiding or deleting your dimensions may not really help you in this case. As an example, I have seen problems where you will get your auto exterior dimensions inside your house when you have messed up your room definitions (or wall connections). In this case, getting rid of the dimensions does not solve the real problem.

If you want to see the rafters, and not just the roofing surface materials, you will need to turn on the layer for roof rafters. You still might not see them if your roof surfaces are hiding them. Here is a support article about exposed rafter tails: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00488/creating-exposed-rafter-tails.html Here is a basic video about controlling what displays in camera views: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/904/controlling-what-displays-in-3d.html

Normally, you shouldn't change the wall top or bottom, you should adjust the room floor or ceiling instead. One time you might need to edit the wall poly is when you need to build a stepped foundation. This article has some of the basics: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00579/controlling-wall-floor-and-ceiling-heights.html

Try going into your preferences and using the "reset templates" tool. This will make sure you are using the factory installed templates. Then go to your new plan preferences and make sure you are using the "residential template.plan". This will make sure that you start new plans with the default installed template. If that doesn't solve your problems, then you might want to contact support. There is also lots of info about templates here: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/category/271/templates.html

I don't know if those blue lines actually mean anything. They could just be showing you the outline of what you have selected and it might look strange because you are at a strange angle in a perspective view. The shadow line is more of a potential issue because this might indicate that the surfaces are not aligned. What does this look like in a vector view? Vector views are a much better way of telling when you have problems with the model. Whenever I see missing lines or extra lines in a vector view I can tell that I have a modeling problem. Regardless, if you want anything more than random thoughts and guesses, you should probably post the plan.

I suspect that you actually did. Maybe you drew them in the plan, maybe you drew them on the layout, or maybe they are on your reference display. All we can do is guess unless you post the layout and the plan file.