DavidJPotter

export the image file and then rotate it in an image editing program. DJP

Carl please post a copy of your plan or at least an image. DJP

I thoroughly agree, this has been frustrating for years (versions) that "cancel" means "when I get around to it Bud!", what is up with that? DJP

Gene, I have designed many such homes and you just set the walls as seems proper. I don't exactly understand what you are asking "What is my best route to getting the frost walls built in Chief, and getting that basement slab modeled accurately?" . I mean the exact design will be determined by a State Licensed Local Structural Engineer, not you, me or anyone else. From your posted image (if it were mine), I would step the stem walls along the gradient in the terrain for the purpose of looks, the actual design will fall to a Structural Engineer who has inspected your design and the intended property. DJP

Maybe Tech Support can offer some help to you, I have neither a Mac or that particular plotter, sorry you are having trouble. DJP

Without actually seeing what you are speaking of, I would use custom poly-line solid created in the desired shape, then apply the material of your choice to the result. DJP

Vinnie, I agree with Doug Park, in that I work hard to keep my PC in peak condition and I rarely see the "blue Donut" of Windows. It may be a typo but you list only 16 Mb of RAM, didn't you mean Gb instead of Mb? (Modern Windows Operating systems will not run on so little as 16 Mb) DJP

"Any ideas why this is happening?" No, but what I do is just create a replacement using the poly-line solid tool. Honestly, I doubt that Doug Park or Dermit Dempsey know either. DJP

Accuracy relative to time is dependant upon the structure being measured and one's standard of accuracy. I do not see a "one system or way fits all possible occasions" kind of thing. You acess the project and then act accordingly to your own preferences always. DJP

When no plans exist and I must create them, I do so on site only. The problem with field notes is the problem Scott alluded to: what do you do when you get home and they do not add up??? That is why I measure, make notes and then input them into my laptop on a full version of Chief while there. That way when I come to something that does not add up, I am still there to measure it from inside and out until I get that resolved. I also take digital photos for Architectural detailing and sometimes landscaping that I add when home. Clients and I do not like multiple trips when one elongated one will do. I do not own a smart phone or pad and so will never be a canadate for the aforenamed app and I agree with Scott in that I believe such a thing is more useful to those who consider a laptop to big and clumsey to tote around. What I do works for me and that is all the happy I need. DJP

I have several clients that use X5 and Windows 8 and it runs fine for them so I would assume that you need more up to date Video Card software drivers. DJP

No, perhaps it is a Mac issure only? DJP

repost 5-17-2014

Photo Shop (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MbZNcly4bM), Corel Paint Shop Pro (http://designertoday.com/Tutorials/Paint.Shop.Pro/797/Custom. Textured.Text.Corel.Paint.Shop.Pro.7.Tutorial.aspx) etc, not really my forte but I have made several successsful custom textures using Paint Shop Pro. DJP

The idea that lessoning or increasing anothers "reputation" annonimously is irresponsible and unethical, so I intend to ignore what is by default BS. DJP

I may be that the texture file has white grout and so the pattern file in vector view would have white pattern lines, which do not work well on layout, when I come across such a material duo I change the pattern lines to "Black" so that they show up on layout. If that is what you mean of course. DJP

Jon, Dormers like stairs are kinda twitchy IMHO, here is a tutorial I made done in Home Designer Pro 2012 but I assure you the dormer tools and roof behaviors are identical whether you are in Pro or Chief Premier-any version: DJP

If the dwg file was shared with you from "Paper Space" (similar to Chief's layout, scaled down to fit a specific paper size), then you have some work to do. Probably the easiest way to handle this would be to ask the AutoCAD creator to give you a copy of the "Model Space" views which are at a scale of 1' = 1' thus making your job easier. If you do not know the AutoCAD person you will just have to try reimporting the dwg using different scales or use Transform-Replicate to "resize" the drawing until it scales out properly in Chief (I have done all of the above in the past, so I know it can be done) DJP

Take a look at the material color and pattern line colors (which you can see in full color) but sent to layout any pattern lines that are natively "white" will not show up in a black and white environment. The only way I know of to send fully colored elevation views to layout is as a bit map image. Bit map images are not easily annotated or dimensioned, so I just use black and white (vector view) instances to layout. Why your elevations arrive to layout red, I have no idea (I have never seen this happen in my 20 years of use of Chief Premier), so I am at a loss of words to comment otherwise (perhaps your video card and or its drivers are not up to snuff). DJP

One would need to know what the easements and set-backs are to tell if a structure would or would not fit on a particular lot, most cities have requirements for parking relative to such commercial buildings as well. I think no one has replied due to your request being too general and nebulous to respond to. DJP

I am not sure what you are describing, I imported some skp files yesterday with no trouble at all, it may be that the 3D Warehouse file is corrupted or poorly made. I need more data (description) to comment further. DJP

3D Warehouse objects are free, they are not culled by any quality control, anywhere. The window you downloaded and used is poorly made, that is all there is to say other than "you get what you pay for". Some symbols from 3D Warehouse are well made and some are not relative to use in Chief Architect Software, that is all you are up against. DJP

It appears to me that the image you posted was produced by "20-20" or some such cabinet program like they use at Home Depot and Lowe's. I commonly just use the standard "plan view" for cabinet layouts since you have dimension tools and annotation tools. I suppose for a more "3D" look you could use the Doll House camera but that camera offers no useful dimension or annotation tools. You should not expect Chief Architect Premier to be like someone else's software application, it is what it is and does what it does quite well but it is not something other than what it is. DJP

No one but you can decide whether or not they are "worth" the cost. I bought them when on sale and I enjoy having them. DJP

Post a plan copy or at least a screen capture or sketch. Lots of us "know how" but it is not clear what you want to do that you presently can not do with illustration. DJP