This topic has been discussed in sveral posts, but I thought I'd share this recent render by Microsoft CoPilot:

From this:

To this:

1 hour ago, DeLayDesign said:

but am I missing something

A plan file maybe:)

Hey Lance, I'm not sure exactly why that's happengin, but I'll share my settings. I'm not experiecign that issue, although I am still getting 2 temporary dimensions even though it's set for only 1.

15 hours ago, SHCanada2 said:

and please help us all out and put in another suggestion in the suggestion box for a sloping terrain region feature...to avoid all this

Awhile back I had made a feature request for an elevation line that would allow different heights at each end and with straight line interpolation along the line. 

Hey Jim, I can't get anything to work with a shaped window.

To set elevation lines or points in an even ascending or descending grade, simply use the transform/replicate tool and include the z-axis elevations.

It may be helpful to calculate the slope percentage before performing this task.

@Chrisb222That's pretty sneaky!

If the higher window is wider, I will place it on it's own layer so that I have line control. If this higher window cuts the wall's main layer (where there would still be some framing below), I will fill those areas in with CAD polylines with a lighter fill.

I place these windows on their own layer because this provides line style control which is too limited if you use the vertical stacking option.

Because we have more than just the plan view to convey the structure, I really don't worry too much about if it's perfectly clear at a glance. It's not too much to ask the plan's readers to look at every drawing in the plan set, and even to think a bit:)

Here's a recent example:

There are 2 possible settings to adjust wall stud spacing:

1. Automatic Framing Defaults>Wall
2. Wall Type Definitions:

• adjust the framing layer to use the default setting for universal control from Automatic Framing Defaults
• or assign a stud spacing specific to that wall type.

By default, in at least some of Chief's template plans, at least some exterior walls do NOT follow the Automatic Framing Defaults. In my opinion, a template plan should be set up so that exterior walls DO follow the Automatic Framing Defaults.

I'd suggest that you explore the Orthographic Full Overview camera, then select 3d>View Direction>Top View.

This will display the pattern used for the material. To adjust the pattern lines, simply edit the material (if needed).

Experiment with rendering styles and toggling color / shadows, etc.

First thing I'd try is unchecking 'Roof Over This Room' in the lower pop-out room. Second thing I'd do (if that doesn't work) is add that layer to the floor structure specification for the balcony.

1 hour ago, ACADuser said:

How do you mix flat soffits & sloped soffits in the same roof plane?

This would require manual modelling as there are no soffit settings on a 'per wall' basis. You could either use multipl roof planes, or a single roof plane with manually modeled soffits.

I did a quick experiment. While my cad block lines were exactly drawn corner to corner, I got similar unexpected results at each corner for the relationship between the center of the line and the center of the muntin. Upon inspection, I can see that for these muntins, the cad lines represent the top edge of the muntin. So, I can adjust the cad lines to move to the top edge and re-load the muntin.

First Try:

2nd Try:

First, try setting the camera Tilt Angle to 0 and then inspect both views. This will result in the least amount of variation between the 2 views.

The difference in the backdrop postion is due to the Index of Refraction of the glass material. A different refraction value will also affect the appearance of the position of the backdrop.

On 6/19/2025 at 10:35 AM, Adam_Gibson said:

How does one enable the deck to show up when it's over a section of roof?

If you ensure that the deck is built on the floor above the roof planes, then you should be able to avoid this issue.

@Renerabbitt

Hey Rene, thanks for taking the time to respond in such detail! Your effort to reply in video (not just to myself) is always appreciated! 

From what I can tell, a short wait may be all it takes to address mypreference to see the width and height of openings in 3d views!

With door and window labels turned on:

Vector View:

Standard View:

And so is this; hmmm, was this a 28", 30" or 32" door...back to plan view to check!

30 minutes ago, Renerabbitt said:

Sorry let me rephrase  why aren't you doing automatic always refresh exterior dimensions to center and temp dimensions to sides . You will be able to use either or then

I am using always refresh etxerior to center. For some phases of design developmnet and client review, I don't include dimensions to windows and doors.

That being said, I still always want temp. dim. to centers. Especially when positiong interior doors...29 years of dimensioning to centers both in plan documention and on site. I know these numbers like the back of my and and I don't want to start using dim. to sides.

For example, this is not as useful as including width and height:

14 minutes ago, Renerabbitt said:

Why no set your exterior defaults to center and your temp dimensions to sides?

Because then in plan view, I lose the ability to dimension to the center for openings. During design development, many openings are not dimensioned and in my work, openings are dimensioned to centers. In 3d views, I'm not really using dimensions per se, but rather I'm adjusting and resizing windows and its helpful if I can see the window size...like I have been able to for decades! As I move between views, I don't just remember the size of every window. If I need to drag-tab a window from 30" to 32", it's helpful to click and see that it's 30".

I guess I can turn on window labels in 3d views, but then I either need to turn them off or create new layer sets in order to send exterior images for design review.

2 minutes ago, Renerabbitt said:

This would come from your temp dimensions from the active dimension default of your camera type

Thanks Rene! So, assuming all my plan view dimension settings are setup to dimension to the center of windows, I will need to create a new dimension type with different settings just to display the size of the windows and doors in 3d views, is that correct?

And then I'll either have to do that in every plan and template plan in progress, correct? 

Does anyone know how to get the window sizes (width and height) to display in a 3d view in X17? I can't figure out how to get these to display!

The snippet is from X16:

I'd suggest opening a slightly older plan and comparing the settings to the plan in question.

You could also post those files here so someone can investigate your settings to help identify the specific issue. If you don't want to post the files in the forum, you could PM me a dropbox or Google Drive link to download them and inspect. Again, best to sompare an older plan that looks correct with the plan in question.

Does that make sense?

1. The first thing to check is that the view is using the correct layer set.
2. Drawing Sheet Setup: If you have changed the Drawing Scale, this will affect the appearnace of line weights.
3. Drawing Sheet Setup: If you have changed the Advanced Line Weight Options, this will affect the appearance of line weights.

Open Help and paste 'Drawing Sheet Setup Dialog'