DavidJPotter

Learn well by study followed by practice the tools used to edit and customize roof planes as well as the settings that control and effect roof planes. Tutorials help but the key is getting defined any terms used to describe what to do (if you understand the words, you can then understand the actions necessary to get a wanted result). Study, which includes clearing up any misunderstood terms or symbols. followed by successful practice is the road to competence. DJP

Here is a short You Tube video of me looking over and fixing your file: http://youtu.be/h610pq1xW1w DJP

Some material texture files can be found under "Roofing" in the Library Browser. If none of those work for you, then you can download other texture files and convert them to custom materials and add to the Library Browser. If perhaps you mean fully 3D roof tile objects, then yes there are none that currently ship with Chief Architect. Some roof tile symbols were available on the old Chief Talk forum made by others and freely shared. You need to be specific when posting as to exactly what you need and want for anyone to be sure that they, in fact answered your question. DJP

No, I meant 2D and 3D, you make a baluster, newel posts and railings to fill in your invisible railing walls just as you would do it in the field, you do it in the software and it will look fine in plan and in 3D views if done properly. You can use soffits, poly-line solids, molding poly-lines, slabs or whatever you are comfortable with to manually build the railing. DJP

That should be easy to handle by way of Edit - Default Settings - Dimensions - Dimension Defaults, really confront and understand the settings of the tavs of that dialog and you will get it sorted out. DJP

Building the railing manually is the only way I know of to get just that exact look, using multiple copy and or transform-replicate, it does not take all that long to do. DJP

For that to happen you will have to send the elevation to layout AS a bit map image as opposed to the default vector view, Textures are bit map images and communicate visually only in that format. DJP

1. Export from the Mac to a dwg or dxf file for import into Chief (dwg) or into Home Designer (dxf) to then trace over with 3D tools. 2. Yes, there is a SIP wall type in either Chief or HD 3. I would do internet searches for pertinent data and diagrams (doors should all be set to 36" wide and ADA layouts can be obtained via the web for kitchens and bathrooms 4. Do not do that, rather use ramps to entryways otherwise proper drainage will be compromised (the alternative is to design a French drain or drain system to protect the interior of the home against water which is more expensive and maintenance intensive) If you buy a Home Designer title, I recommend only Home Designer Pro if you are really serious about self home design to plans. DJP

Scott, are you getting this behavior on your Mac? I have not observed this kind of behavior myself, I mean, perhaps it is your mode of operation that brings about this unwanted performance. You might review exactly what you do, just before a bout of this and see if it is something you are doing that is contributing to this situation that you can spot and then change yourself. DJP

I think a more useful approach would be to export each floor as a dwg file that you could then import into Chief, set on layers to "lock" and then trace over using Chief native tools. (A large symbol could not easily be edited at all in Chief and so would be mainly a waste of time), I am assuming you also want to remodel or edit the home. DJP

I have not recently read the Reference Manual data about Materials list features and functions but as I recall, each Materials List is just for that moment in time when it was created. So, just like framing does not automatically update as Architectural changes are done (3D) in order to get an updated ML one would create a new Materials List in a NEW unit of time which will be accurate for the moment of time it is created in.Materials Lists are so programmed and work in exactly that way and not perhaps as we might want them to. It measures what you tell it to measure in the moment you tell it to. If you then make additional changes you must make a new ML, that is the way it is designed to work. DJP

I could do this in Chief etc but I would want to be paid a lot of money for such exacting work. It seems like a lot of work for not that much real, useful product, like over kill for its own sake. DJP

I second Kiwideziner's method for doing remodeling plans (I always create an "As-built" that is relationally correct and then save that as the "Remodel Plan" that I apply the changes to), doing so then makes it easy to place such views side by side to communicate changes. DJP

In terms of any "freeware" you are better served to not wiz through the installation process, otherwise you might miss the check boxes or choices to also install that extra "toolbar" or "Feature" that helps pay for the "Free" software. If one will squarely look at and study each dialog page during installation, you should easily avoid the bloatware and add-ware junk that actually "pays" for the free stuff. I use CutePDF for years, it serves my needs. DJP

See if this article does not help: http://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00449/ DJP

No, but I would loose the "tori" and see then if the plan smooths out (often times you undo what you did just before the trouble started and that can put things back on track). DJP

For symbols like that you place the symbol and then place a light source, matching its height to the height of the symbols light emanation point. The dialog box of the "added light" gives you all the control necessary to do this. DJP

My advice is to learn where all the settings are and what they do, either singly or in concert with each other. There are too many to learn in a seminar or class. Learn them a few at a time. Watch a video and then open your software and practice what you saw until you can do the action portrayed or get the product being shown. Then read another section or view another video and then practice what you saw or read about until you can demonstrate that you understand what you studied. Be watchful for words, terms and symbols that you do not understand while watching or reading, spot them and get them well defined and understood (if you do not understand the words and symbols used, you will not fully understand the theory and will not thereafter be able to get the products of those misunderstood tools and actions. How fast you go is the speed of your own ability to understand. DJP

This is what I use: DJPBOARDNBAT.zip

This is something I ONLY do after I have made sure that the client in question is actually as Lew says "Computer Savvy", to suggest this route to someone is not really "savyy" is unnecessary punishment and a masochistic act. I have had it end up being a "good idea" and a disaster, so really make sure the clients in question really are personally causative with computers before you go there is my advice. Anything that "goes wrong" is inevitably your fault, no matter the actual reasons or lack of personal responsibility. DJP

Commonly one uses the truss tool to fill the void between ceiling planes and roof planes. If you do not want trusses then it will have to be done manually, get one section done and then copy-paste the rest. DJP

Kind of you, that is. DJP

Dennis, this has been complained of for years (many versions), I have no idea why they just do not fix it as this gets suggested evey year I have used the software since 1995. DJP

You pay for Tech Support already, tap it. It could be a software driver, it could be a lot of things. you should check these sorts of things and if you still have the problem, tap Tech Support, it is their job to keep us up and running. DJP

It is not the forum that does or does not sign one in, rather it is your browser that does this by way of "Cookies" or in my case I have a software program that automatically signs me in to various sites (it senses a location and automatically applies the user name and password). It is something that you do or set up or not as the case may be. The program I use is called "Last Pass", it is free and I like it a lot. DJP