DavidJPotter

The point of saving an image to your project's hard drive folder is that if you ever wish to share a layout and plan file you are better served to use the "Back up Entire Plan" command in the "File Menu" and also using "Back up all referenced files" so when a person opens your layout and plan file on their computer, they do not get numerous Error Messages about "referenced files being missing". Also any image files sent to layout while on layout should be marked "Save in Plan" in the image's dialog box while on layout, otherwise if you do not share your location map image along with all associated images and plan file, the layout when opened on another PC or Mac with then have numerous blank pages where only place holders will appear where plan, camera and other images once appeared when the layout was first created on a particular computer. It is a matter of reducing one's future liabilities and reducing practices that can cause problems. DJP

You get a location map on one's computer screen, then use a cropping tool to save it as an image. Then save your captured image to your project folder on your Hard Drive. Then open your project's layout and then using the import command "Import Picture" to place on the layout. DJP

Anyone could be a little more certain with a helpful answer IF you were to also share in your signature, what software version/title you are using. They ARE all quite different in what and how they can and cannot do things. If you have Suite or Architectural you are SOL as they offer no line weight controls. If you have HD Pro then you are in luck: Open your "Display Options" dialog while in Plan View and you will see there that you can choose, manually an object's "Line Weight" (darkness or lightness), the "Line Style or type" (dashed or unbroken) and the line's color, take a look, please. Obviously, I answered this thinking I was on Home Talk but never the less what is true for Home Designer Pro is also true for Chief Premier. INo matter what Version of Chief you have my answer, relative to line appearance is the same. DJP

Every object in Chief has a dialog box where specifically in terms of a line or text leader line can have an arrow on not and one can set the arrows style and size. For lines there is a "Line Style" tab for increasing or decreasing its "Line Weight" (you must have "Show Line Weight" ON in order to evaluate the thickness/darkness change visually). I suppose you mean actual thickness of a line or arrow which cannot be reset or controlled except by way of "Line Weight" presently. I suppose you can ask for a "New Feature" along that line, if you wish. DJP

If you wish to have auto-frieze boards then they must be set in Edit - Default Settings Roofs - Frieze Boards, or set in the Build Roof Dialog box - Frieze Boards check box. That said, sometimes any "auto" setting or function can fail to operate properly from time to time. In such cases you just do what is necessary to obtain a product manually. Chief does most things quite well but is not and probably never will be "perfect" in terms of its functioning, that is where we come in as end users. DJP

That is the kind of work I do online with people all over the place, contact me please. DJP

Change the material of the towel to something more like the intended appearance of the cabinet (That is the only source of "Pink" that I see in the room, you may be aware of another). Colors in PBR tend to be influenced by the presence of other colors being reflected on other objects, so look for and eliminate all the pinks and then see if that helps. In PBR colors and lighting are King and Queen. DJP

Of course, take a close look at "Edit - Preferences - Appearance" and other Default Settings as well but thereafter it may be difficult to share your plans with other users who do not do that. Another consideration is that "White Lines" will NOT print to paper or PDF, so your prints and PDF's by default will use a lot of Black ink to print. Basically you are intending to go into "Undiscovered Country" indeed. I know AutoCAD is set up with a black background but I am not aware of any Chief users who do so. DJP

I can design a horse barn using a $100.00 Home Designer Suite software application (made by Chief Architect Inc). It is NOT the software that does or creates anything, rather it is you and your studied competence that does those things, software is just another tool. DJP

Time to call Tech Support then. They are open today and Friday, Pacific Business hours. DJP

Have you saved your plan file, closed Chief and then tried again? The only time (like Eric) I have seen the ray trace icon grayed out is when I was in a camera mode other than PBR or Standard. DJP

DJP

Since it IS an electric object then it should be reported as a bug. Whenever, for whatever reason the wiring tool does not work, I use a CAD line or Arc and then place it on the "Electrical Connections" layer and be done with it. DJP

I NEVER create these separately, one project one plan (in the case of remodels, I save as the as built plan with terrain and it renames to Proposed) See number one above and since you have done this separately the point to point is about your only realistic way to put the two together. By adjusting the terrain to the structure/structures using the "Building Pad" input box in the Terrain Specification Dialog see number one above. I only import images or PDFs of a site plan to use to trace over, this way there is no "competition" with the objects in my plan natively DJP

Information about the "Materials List Tools" in Chief Architect. DJP

I doubt that "... however it changed every glass in my library to the same multi color." Importing a custom material to the Library Browser cannot do this. What I think you meant is that when you applied that custom material to the sink you used the "Eye dropper" or "Material Painter" tool in the wrong "Mode". Both of those tools have four application modes: the default is "Component Mode" and this mode just applies the intended material to whatever surface you click on with the tool active. The second mode is called "Object Mode" which then applies that intended material to the entire object clicked on. Then there is "Room Mode" that will apply the intended material to all similar objects in the room. Then there is " Floor Mode" which then applies the intended material to all similar object on the floor you are on. Finally there is "Plan Mode" which is apparently what you mistakenly used used to apply your custom material to a single sink but "Plan Mode" is programmed to apply the selected material to all similar objects in the ENTIRE PLAN with a single click. I believe that is what you did. The above is my best guess as to what you are now complaining of. For more data please click on this link to Help Articles about using the eye dropper and material sprayer please. DJP

See if any of these Help Articles help that are to be found on the Chief Architect Website please. DJP

I have done this kind of work for a company in Dallas many times, I can help you as well. Call or email me pleae! DJP

Haven't you guys ever heard of the "Edit Layout Lines" tool on views sent to a layout while on layout? DJP

Brilliant!!! DJP

You said that you are using X7, is that correct? Then I suppose you are Ray Tracing within X7 as opposed to a third party render program like lumion, V Ray etc? Only if you share a copy of your plan file using "File-Back Up Entire Plan with all associated material textures as a zip file" can anyone then in detail help you as it is version and plan file specific in nature. DJP

I too would be interested in knowing about a "lowered deck" but the way I have always done this is to add a simple, rectangular molding to the bottom for this purpose. DJP

I live in Austin, Texas and commonly work remotely with clients all over the world. I can and will help you get this done if you like. Please contact me (contact data below). DJP

In your posted image you are showing the Wall Covering Tab. That is NOT locked, you merely need to click on "{Add New" to then add "Wall Coverings" if that is what you wish to do, which does NOT match what you originally siad-rather confusing! BTW to change a room's name you simply open that rooms dialog box and in the top second line, change the name. If you are getting a select of the entire project then,click on the room you wish to rename and then hit the "Next" button to select a single room (that phenomena is usually caused by a single or multiple bad wall connections-find the bad wall connections and properly close them and then the "Select entire project" will stop. DJP

What is allowed is what you intend to do and then do it whether it is by way of a dialog box, custom manual construct or Sketch Up. One is the only one "in control" and not the software. Yes Chief has programmed limitations but just about anything can be worked around if one persists. The width of landings is what you make of them, you can make them wider by using the "Break Line" tool. Landings that are narrower than the stair are Architecturally incorrect and that is why the stair and landing tools are not programmed to do that (I suppose one could do a narrower landing than the stairs but I doubt that any inspector would allow such a thing). Honestly, I am not completely sure what you wish to solve, if you can do it, do it and do not worry about "Rules" (aka pre-programming barriers) and just ger er done, whatever it is. DJP