DavidJPotter

Some persons do not upgrade because they hate change and do not like spending the upgrade money. I have Versions 7-17 and many past and present versions of Home Designer software as part of my business (if a person has Chief Architect Premier X1 and still uses it, I need to be able to help that person in X1 etc). Those are the only reasons I can think of but you have to do what is right for you. DJP

Ask their Sales Department, nothing but opinions from end users (I doubt it but like I said, ask) DJP

The curved part of the ceiling is either a poly-line solid or molding profile and whatever it has, it also has a "Specification Dialog - Materials Tab". Use that to set and orientate the material for that and set the flat ceiling via its room dialog - Materials Tab. DJP

I still run 7-X7 and all run just fine, so I agree with Jon in that it is probably something with your PC and its hardware as opposed to Chief (any version) DJP

3D symbols do not dimension as easily as 2D CAD objects, so sometimes you must use the dimension tool that creates its own dimension points, or use points or short CAD lines to dimension where the faces of a symbol do not dimension as you might want. In other words you do what you must, when you must. DJP

Certain Structural Engineers I work with require 3D framing details, so I will then use 3D framing to portray those details. Most of the time I just just 2D Details but as I said, which ones I use I leave up to the PE I am drawing for, which varies from person to person. DJP

You should be able to merely copy-paste Word Documents directly from Word to a Text box, I have done that for many years in many different versions without any trouble. DJP

"Build - Trim - Quoin" DJP

I do not believe there is such a thing called "Auto-Deck Framing". When you name a enclosed space "Deck" then thereafter when that room is selected the option to "Build Deck Framing" then appears as an Icon in your "Edit Toolbar" which you can manually click on or not at your choice. To have that room frame as a regular room, just change the name from "Deck" to a different type of room name (Balcony, etc) which will then manually change the potential framing. If your Deck is over a Terrain Plane and named a "Deck" then as part of naming that room a "Deck" will come extended posts and footings but those can be manually edited or deleted at your choice. DJP

Delete or rename all your recent plan and layout files or Go to Edit - Preferences - General -File Management - Recent File List" and set to "zero" but that then just disables the feature Were I you, I would just get used to how it works and leave it alone. DJP

I have been a Beta Tester on every version since version 8. So far, like Perry I have done several dozen projects in Beta 7 and on my machine there is no lag at all. I have found that Chief Architect Inc is very careful about the quality of its public beta releases and I have never been 'left in the lurch" by doing so. You do what seems right and safe to you and so will I. DJP

Did-do you mean "sill plate"? What is a "Seal Plate" by the way (I apologize in advance)? Nomenclature differs from place to place, please define exactly what you mean. DJP

Your questions are best answered by a careful study of the Reference Manual, viewing provided training Videos and lots of practice after making a study session. This software runs or not based upon how an end user adjusts and controls settings within the software. It requires a very well made PC or Mac and requires a person to be knowledgeable about his software and hardware. I started with Chief Architect Premier in 1995. by the end of 1996, I got to be pretty good with the software and enjoyed using it. I started teaching and tutoring using it in 1999. Only you will determine how fast you master it by how willing you are to study and practice using it, gaining skill and competence. Just owning the software does very little in itself, you must learn how to make it do what it does. Chief Architect and Home Designer Software are heavily supported by its makers and its end users, I and several other users have You Tube Channels or websites dedicated to teaching the software. The total number of hours of video offered by Chief Inc and its End users runs into thousands of hours. So if you want to achieve competence, you certainly can, it is up to you. Your main barrier or helper to success is you. DJP

That is an arbitrary built into the software (first floor at zero inches), that is no reason that your topo cannot be relationally correct (I have done that many times), you just do the math and make it so. Relationally correct starts with default settings. there is nothing wrong with what your client is asking for other than it is impossible to do easily. The appearance of exactitude can be achieved but trying to impose "the real world" on to a virtual one is more difficult and unnecessary act. If you were to do as your client wants would be making something simple unnecessarily complex IMHO. DJP

You can also manually, dimension string by dimension string, open each string's dialog and manually change any string's attributes however you would like. I usually set my "Site Plan" dimensions to decimal feet, general dimensions to feet and inches and for cabinet elevations I set those to inches only, you just have to become familiar with where the settings are, what they do and what best works for your differing views and purposes. DJP

I use PDF's and images all the time but I have never afterwards edited the PDF or used alternate edited versions of PDF files. Your question would be better put to a Tech Support type person who actually knows how to answer your specific question (I am not that person). DJP

There is more than just one way to portray this. You can do so using railing walls and set the beam to appear boxed (it has a dialog box setting to control the dimensions of the beam. You can completely custom frame such things down to the smallest degree provided you have the patience to do so, custom modeling every piece and then boxing in the structural beam object. Please post a sketch of exactly what you want to do and then I am sure any of us can then help you arrive at the appearance and or actuality you desire. DJP

Sherry, I am glad you have not been negatively impacted, I am saying that I have worked with several end users who were negatively impacted using Dropbox, USB dives etc, I have never done so, so neither have I been hurt. Just because you dodged a bullet does not mean you are bullet proof. DJP

I have worked with end users who work from USB storage devices or even from Google Drive or Dropbox. Such storage locations and devices are for transport and storage of tiles not for use as a location to actively work on a plan or layout file. Send a copy of your file to Tech Support for evaluation. In the mean time if you have been actively using a USB or other secondary location for your files being actively worked other than your physical hard drive, knock that off. Chief automatically makes back up copies of files as you work (on a PC they are stored in an "Archive folder" located in "My Documents - Chief Architect X6 (or whatever you are using) Data". I wish you some luck, as you will need some now in such a situation. DJP

Welcome to the forum! I personally would enjoy seeing examples of your father's creativity! искренне DJP

I have not experienced this in any version whatsoever. Sorry. Send a copy of the plan to Tech Support along with other data they will need to evaluate the situation. DJP

I have a self built desktop (see signature) and an old Vista HP laptop for field work. On my desktop I have versions 7-17 of Chief Architect on two separate hard drives, one that runs XP for legacy titles and my main hard drive that runs Windows 7 x64. I intend to replace the laptop with something more up to date in the near future. I looked into just using a laptop some years ago and decided not to because I would have to spend a lot of money on a laptop that would be as good as my desktop (I built the desktop for about $1,000.00 whereas a comparable laptop would have cost three or four times that amount). The old laptop I have, I bought used for $500.00 three years ago, it has served me well (I currently run X5, 6 and 7 on it), it is not fast but it is still reliable. If you are willing to learn computers and hardware a little, you can not only save money but also time in terms of knowing what to do when things mechanically "Go South" as they often do. Everyone is different so just be honest with yourself and do what you consider best for you and your needs. DJP

I believe that you need a Structural Engineer LIcensed in your home State and Ideally one that lives in the area where you intend to build the structure so his or her stamp would then be valid. DJP

I have versions 7, 9.5 and 10 installed on a hard drive that runs Windows XP x32. That is the native environment those versions were designed to run within, trying to do otherwise is a dice roll relative to performance. DJP

I often do not use "Automatic" stair functions but when doing so, input values are calculated manually for each stair, so in your posted image, you are only half way there. Manual is manual all the way, so plan on doing the manual math. DJP