VHampton

Sounds great. It wasn't clear to me if resetting the tool bars may delete a custom option. Meaning a reset to factory defaults. Some users have developed such a highly personalized toolbar that the thought of a reset seems daunting. With regard to the crashing... a suggestion... Take an archived plan and try deleting things. Namely large 3d objects. Things with high surface counts can place a load on the program. As the plan file gets pared down you may discover the cause behind the freeze ups.

You're in the right location. What you may want to try on the Chief menu is look for Tools----> then navigate to Toolbars This is where you can "Import" one of those, and hopefully it's good to go. If the imported toolbar works, then "Remove" the one that isn't functioning as it should. As a safeguard (in preempting the next crash)... make a Copy of the good toolbar. The switch over to the "copy" is much easier in case one of them may lose functionally again. As you can see, I've got a stockpile of backups which were named SAVE. It happens to many of us, and the best option is to have a spare tire for when the road gets bumpy. All the best. ....BTW... if the program is crashing... how many 3d objects might be in the plan, and are they high surface counts?

Click on all of these walls and make sure that none of them are designed as "attic". They need to have room definition properties.

This makes total sense. The graphics card is an essential ingredient in terms of the ability to render. The program tends to run smoother (and faster) as well. My 2 cents... you did the right thing with regard to having a more reliable and more robust set-up for work related purposes.

That second computer will work really great. It's got the correct amount of RAM and the video card is spot on. The specs. check all of the boxes. Wondering how your new initial purchase performs? ...and why it was commented that the standards aren't up to speed? It appears that it would (should) run just fine. The recommended computer for Chief Architect X16 is a PC with: 32 GB of RAM 1 TB SSD an Intel i9 or AMD Ryzen 9 processor. Here are some other things to consider when choosing a computer for Chief Architect X16: Video card A dedicated video card like an NVIDIA GeForce RTX or AMD Radeon RX is recommended. Processor A multi-core processor with more cores and higher speed is better, especially if you plan to run multiple applications at once.

Lots of good suggestions here:

Molding poly-line would be the ideal choice. Make a 2D view, and draw the sky-plane lines. Convert those lines into a 3D molding with a heavy thickness (+/- 1 - 2") ...and an extensive length of course. Material property = glass.

The refresh viewport tool (to update an elevation) can result in that "ghost" outline. Open the camera view from the viewport, and then close it. Try the refresh elevation option once more. That usually does it. Or... send the camera to layout altogether (as Michael suggested).

On the menu bar... go to Help ----> Manage License This is where you can sign out of the Desktop. What that does, is allow you to sign into the laptop. Ideally your computers will have the license memorized. This makes for a swift transition between machines. EDIT... as per Ben, the Digital locker provides ease of access to the license, as well as the computer management.

Glad to be of help. That's what we do here. In terms of the "look", would you mind a couple of observations? If a reverse gable on the dormer is the direction... perhaps consider making it steep? (the same pitch as the primary roof). Last observation... This building could be a bit more progressive looking. Modern windows (casements and picture units) would steer the look into something more timeless. There's some really great inspiration in the previously posted links, unless a cabin-like appearance is the goal. Anyway, All the best.

The gable end walls are typically stepped inward from the rake boards. It's a feature which is common with this style architecture. Usually constructed in snowy regions, A frame roofing prevents snow loads from piling on. With regard to the image file... the shed roof pitching back into the house is asking for leaves and tree debris to gather there. Just saying. It's a water catch unless you put a cricket in between (small peaked roof).

The plan is always a great help in being able to seek assistance. In getting the roof to work... Start at the bottom (the roof edge) and use the break roof tools. By clipping the roof, this clears the way for the 1st and 2nd floor walls. The ground floor ceiling had to be lowered from 9 feet to 8 feet. (The shed roof dormer needed head height for the exterior door.) Anyway, the goal here was to help show how the roof works. (Floor elevations can be adjusted as necessary.) Good luck with the project. (The attached should provide a head start with the basics). AFRAME3.1.plan

Build the A Frame roof to cover the living space to the right. It looks like the roofing covers about half of the footprint. Use the break roof tools. Start at the base of the roof. Make (2) break points and drag the roof plane up as required (to the 2nd floor ceiling height). The addition (w/ shed room dormer and roof deck) will be able to merge into the roof new opening.

There's a few root causes for shadows displaying with a slight offset. Sometimes it can be an object far away from the point of origin. In the camera view, the shadow should be moving in accordance with the adjust sunlight toggle. Question: Are you sending that view to layout? Is the issue that the shadows don't correspond to the active camera when doing a layout "refresh" ? If so, often times, sending the camera views to layout one more time will fix. A bit more information would be of help. Those look like the correct shadows except that they have an offset.

Do you have an example? Anything is possible. Not sure if you are asking if the rail can penetrate the roof plane which sounds like the question... Is it a first floor porch? Or a second floor covered balcony?

A frame house with porch examples: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/178103360233167796/ https://www.lushome.com/deck-design-ideas-adding-outdoor-living-spaces-irresistible-triangular-homes/187065

Create an exterior "room" at the lower terrace area. Example... use invisible walls to create the terrace area. Make sure that they all connect, and then use the settings for the "room" to show a slab floor with pavers. No roof and no ceiling. Set the floor height to whatever it needs to be below the main house height. Maybe it's a few feet? Not sure. The image doesn't show. Anyway... Use the "landscape walls" to draw over the invisible walls ----> to create the stone walls as per the image. Then use the stair tool to launch the stairs going up from the exterior room until it meets up with the grade. It's sounds complicated, but it's not too bad. You will get.

A question Joe... Why won't the foundation level allow floors 1, 2, & 3 to be created without any issues? Is the basement partial crawlspace and partial living? (like a split level ?) Sounds like the project might be on a hillside. A quick cross section would help answer.

You're quite welcome. 3D solids are an invaluable tool. There's no limits to house design because of what they can do.

3D solids would be the best pathway. Once the frame and louvers are made, the various solids can be made into a symbol. (click on each solid, and once all are selected)----> Make symbol. The new symbol can then be made longer or taller as necessary. The attached plan shows how the progression went from solids to a symbol. good luck! ...it's not as complicated as it seems. Untitled 1.plan

Michael's reply beat me to it by a few minutes. Make curved landings. Start with the first curved tread. It appears to be about 14" Copy & replicate (2) treads (landing). In the x direction - move forward approx. 12" (this ensures that the riser overlaps the landing. In the y direction - go up 7" or whatever riser height is required. A general observation... the exterior space appears to be too shallow. (The IRC code excerpt is below) Even when an exterior door swings inward, the outdoor walk-space has to be a minimum of three feet to avoid a trip and fall. There shall be a landing or floor on each side of each exterior door. The width of each landing shall be not less than the door served. Landings shall have a dimension of not less than 36 inches (914 mm) measured in the direction of travel. The slope at exterior landings shall not exceed 1/4 unit vertical in 12 units horizontal (2 percent).

Yep... that's what I meant with the miniature decks. The framing and sono-tubes are the added bonus rather than going after this with the stair tools alone. Nice job by the way Michael. CA has come really far over the years. "There may be more control that way even if calculating the landings (mini decks) involves some work."

Gene... The answer is that one or the other gets locked. I would start with the bottom landing. Lock it up, and see how a 7.5" rise works. Then adjust the riser height until it meets up with the top landing (deck) accordingly. On the other hand... why not build (3) landings? That's the way the model is reading in the Sketch up. 3 landings with (2) independent stair section. The landings provide the deck structure & footings which is quite handy. (Landing 1 looks like a section of stone or something. Not sure). Either way... There may be more control that way even if calculating the landings (mini decks) involves some work.

Post the plan for sure. When roof trim won't show up, it's often because it's got interference. What's happening is that the lower roof isn't allowing the upper section enough breathing room to reveal itself. Either the upper roof doesn't have a *break* and it's it's colliding with the lower... or vice versa. Essentially the rake board on that upper is being choked out by the lower roof.