DavidJPotter

I can help you if you like. DJP

Given a choice, I would prefer to be an Architect. This requires a college degree in Architecture and a journeymanship at an Architectural firm but the fees Architects can charge can, in competent hands be a nice living. I am a draftsperson, self-taught with a background in construction. I teach tutor, draft, and design. I love this kind of creative work but being merely self-employed I have not become rich or affluent thereby. My advice to anyone is to follow an endeavor that you love and thereafter it will not seem like a job but rather a life of fun and creativity. DJP

You can merely take some measurements around the corners of your home or site and estimate the amount of drop in your lot and then apply those measured values to your virtual model's (.plan file) terrain plane to emulate your terrain. You then set the terrain plane object to the house model (using the Terrain Plane Dialog box - Building pad input box to adjust that relationship). There are several training resources available to you free of charge in this matter: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/search/?default_tab=support&q=terrian and videos: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/search/?default_tab=video&q=terrain DJP

Couda-shouda-wooda people never seem to be happy with anything. I agree with those who like and appreciate the hard work of the Chief Architect Team, thank you to you all! DJP

I always just use one plan file for most projects (except remodeling of course). You build the terrain in the main plan file using the Plot Plan Annotation and layer sets. Copy pasting a structure into a terrain plane is just making extra work and is completely unnecessary. DJP

Read this and see if it helps please: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00467/troubleshooting-missing-toolbars.html DJP

Chief Premier can open and edit Home Designer Pro plan files, returning them to be further edited in HDP but as Charles said, any of us to help you MUST know what version you are running of HDP. Newer versions create plans that can not be opened at all by older versions, very important. DJP

What I would do is to use a regular cabinet for elevations and renders. If necessary you could do an elevation of that or those cabinets and merely add the necessary geometry with 2D CAD, and clean that view up using the "Edit Line" tool after sending to the layout. If you must, for some reason be more exact you could create a custom cabinet symbol in Sketch Up for importation into Chief but I consider that overkill. DJP

It is a work in progress which they will announce in due time. Chill. DJP

Whenever I edit a plan or layout file, whatever the reason, I give it a new name, usually today's date so older versions are saved and newer versions are easily differentiated from older versions. This is practically important on remodeling and custom home projects were clients often say " can we revert to last weeks version?". Each of us can do as we please with our own files but there are practical reasons NOT to delete anything as well. DJP

Yes DJP

Chopsaw answered your question plus make sure "Flatten Pad" is left unchecked in the Terrain Specification Dialog. DJP

My laptop and desktop have Windows 10 on them. I have installed and operational on them X1-X10 (on my desktop I dual boot into XP x32 on which I have installed Old Version 7, 9.5 and 10). So please do not tell me you "can't install" any version of Chief in Windows. It is NOT SO. you just need intend that it goes right until it actually goes right. DJP

This may help you understand what you are dealing with: DJP

Runs alright on my PC which is a lot older than Perry's. DJP

Contour lines are a byproduct, in Chief Architect, of your elevation objects (lines, splines, regions, breaks etc), you edit the elevation objects which then display as modulated terrain or in plan view as contour lines. Perhaps I am just discussing semantics but I thought I should point out the difference. In my experience, you make a single change in the terrain and then immediately inspect that single change to evaluate if it moved you closer or further away from the intended result. Terrain, to me, is a trial and error, tweaking process generally. Whether or not I use retaining wall objects or just slabs and polyline solids depends upon the actual terrain layout. I find the retaining wall tool rather difficult to use in all possible cases (sometimes it works well and sometimes, due to the lay of the land, it does not. In such cases I then use custom objects like slabs or polyline solids that do not directly react with terrain). Without have a copy of your problem plan and then also knowing exactly, in some detail what problems that have been vexing you, the above is all I can offer as advice. DJP

I agree with Eric, in that I looked and looked in your plan and found NOTHING out of place but I suppose I could have missed something. DJP

An easy way to share .plan files here is to use the command found under the "File" menu called "Back up entire plan" using the subcommand " send to compressed archive". This action compresses (makes smaller in Mb) for posting here (there is a 20 Mb limit for sharing plans). Sharing your plans or at least screen capture images, makes it easier for us to help you! DJP

They did, indeed. Just be patient. DJP

I checked and it has (my V7) the core libraries which install when you install the program. Back then there were no Manufacturers or Bonus Libraries. What do you need them for? DJP

Charlie, the oldest libraries I have are for V9.5 and 10. I actually do have version 7 installed on an HD that runs XP but All I have are the core Libraries for that. What are you trying to do, I wonder? DJP

Adam, anyone who has X8 can open and save old .pl1 files to .plan files that can then be worked in X10. One usually also has to replace certain older, no longer supported symbols and materials (it is just part of updating old legacy files). For one to help you, they would also need to know what current version of Chief Premier you are using so the appropriate version can be saved to. Email me the file, tell me what version of Chief Premier you want it saved to and I can then return the updated file to you for editing. This is a common, fundamental part of my business. I charge $75.00 per hour for my help, such a file upgrade should take about 30 minutes to do ($37.50). Let me know if you would like me to assist. DJP

I called your listed number but your voicemail is full and so could leave no message. I work with Home Designer Software users all the time. I charge $75.00 per hour until you are satisfied with the resulting plans. When satisfied we commonly then share them with a local, State Licensed Structural Engineer for structural call-outs and advice. Most Engineers use AutoCAD, so the plans we create then are shared in that file format with the Engineer. DJP

I used to use Snagit until it became unreliable so I did not renew it, I used Go to Meeting for years and now just use Zoom Meetings for creating video tutorials. So far, it is utterly reliable. DJP

Frieze boards are merely molding polylines and can be manually edited when they do not work as programmed, which gives you a route to a solution. You will need to inspect where they are not working properly and take indicated action. Like anything "automatic" based upon pre-settings and preprogramming one must always be willing to manually step in to correct shortfalls DJP