DavidJPotter

I can be there helping you through your rough spots in an instant. All you need is a broadband internet connection and a need for help. Email me and let's get started! David Jefferson Potter

I am not sure what you mean when you say "added". Chief of whatever version is a mechanical device that one controls and guides to needed and wanted results. Plan files and Layout files work in concert to achieve graphic results or communications you might say. The process is straightforward, the only complication is the 3D element of the plan file. The additional difficulty of 3D is offset by its utility. I just do what needs doing. Clients change their minds. Architectural Design is a creative process and not in any way fixed or set in stone. DJP

Whenever I have seen this on my plans the foundation walls are not properly aligned with the floor above allowing them to build to the roof eaves. Aligning them always solved this unwanted appearance for me. A secondary cause can be miss programmed wall layers assigning the wrong layer as the "Main" layer, so you could look for that as well. DJP

Updating your video card drivers is free for most cards, that is the first thing I would do. Then I would check my Mouse software drivers and general Operating System health. DJP

Thanks, Steve, none of us "mavens" know everything DJP

Thank you! DJP

Every object of whatever type has a dialog box. Those dialog boxes allow you to do whatever that object is preprogrammed to do, have a look and by doing so you can answer your own question easily, just look and see. DJP

Without being able to see your plan file or layout file, no one can but guess what you should do other than read your users guide and Reference Manual. Posting a copy of your plan and layout file and some screen captures of what you are seeing versus what you want to see would go a long way towards anyone helping you. Welcome to the forum in any case. DJP

That is NOT how dimensions are programmed to work. You select an object connected to a dimension string, then left-click on the dimension segment you wish to edit. This opens a "Move Object by way of Dimension" dialog box where you enter the desired value. You then close the dialog which orders the selected object to move to the desired new location. You can also do many things to a selected object using the "Transform-Replicate Object" dialog (command icon is to be found in the "Edit Toolbar" that only appears when an object is selected. With that tool, you can move it precisely in any direction or angle, make copies, rotate precisely, mirror-reflect etc. The learning curve is what it is due to the many useful tools at your fingertips, learning where they are and what they do and do not do. Begin! DJP

Yes. DJP

I always send images via Send to Layout Current Screen and as such those images are not capable of updating thereafter, only those images sent to layout as vector view images are updatable and those sent as "live veiws", neither of which I often use. I rather like only those views which I control, myself manually. DJP

I have Firefox, Edge, Chrome and Opera on my PC and they all work exactly the same in terms of the Digital Locker. DJP

I have 7-20 on my PC so I am often activating and deactivating these between my desktop and laptop, so the website change did not bother me. Even though some of my active apps are no longer showing in my Locker they still work and switch just fine. When I reinstalled Old Version Seven, I did have to call Customer Service to get that done. DJP

Since they implemented Print to PDF, I have never seen such behavior in any version of Chief whether using "CutePDF, Microsoft Print to PDF or Chief Print to PDF". I have never seen an image shift of any kind, so something really weird is happening on your PC indeed. DJP

It is mainly good for AutoCAD users as the default Chief Layers are renamed to more AutoCAD like names. DJP

Chief offered this layer set for years but is now not shipped with X8, X9, and X10. I have versions back to Version 7 so I still have that and import that layer set into X10 etc. Of course you guys can do whatever seems right to you, as always. DJP X3 Layer Sets.layers

When sending as a dwg using Chief AIA layer set they end user can easily turn off any named layers in AutoCAD just as in Chief or any other CAD program, what you do is wasted time and unnecessary. DJP

Post a copy of your plan file so others can inspect your existing settings otherwise, no one can know but only guess. DJP

I send the PDF of the plan set and then I send each page view of the layout as a .dwg file set ot the exact AutoCAD version that the Engineer uses. That way he or she can see the intended plan set in PDF format and the raw files that make up that layout file in raw AutoCAD format using the "AIA.layer set" (Demo plan, proposed floor plan, elevations, a cross section, roof plan etc) so he or she does not have to redraw everything from scratch in AutoCAD. Most Engineers these days use some Version of AutoCAD. DJP

Bump maps are usually just a copy of the image texture assigned as a bump map on the "Properties" tab of a material. Bump maps can give a material greater 3D presence and sometimes they make a material look fake, so it is not a simple matter of assigning one to a texture and that is that, you will then need to Ray Trace to evaluate the change. Ray Tracing, in general, is a trial and error affair adjusting lighting and materials settings until you feel like the render is enhanced. DJP

X11 has not yet been released. That said, I have lots of remodeling and Custom Home clients. I consider Chief Premier is the best possible application to address all phases of these creative endeavors. Photorealistic rendering is commonly done using Chief Architect but is not a matter of pressing a button, it requires a willingness to study and practice to develop competence in producing such creative works but as I have said it is commonly done by many users who have the personal discipline and intention to do so. If you want more professional looking produce, then yes make the upgrade and start the process of earning competence along that line. Otherwise stay with what you have. DJP

I commonly use .jpg files but .png, , ,bmp or .tiff should work as well. DJP

For years I have imported image files for my title blocks for myself and for clients. I do NOT use the paste command, never have. I use the "File - Import Image" command on page Zero of a layout, then open the image file and mark it "Embed in Layout". As long as you do not rename or relocate such images they will then faithfully appear as you intend. DJP

In terms of Version 7 .pl files, what Tommy said is true, Home Designer Pro cannot open such antique files. Specifically, you would have to share your plans with a person who has Chief Architect Premier X8 (which can open and convert old .pl files to .plan files which can then be marked "Allow editing in Home Designer Projects". Like it or not, the rules are the rules with digital files and conventions. DJP

I have version 7 but on a separate hard drive that runs Windows XP. I do not think it will run at all in Vista, Windows 7 or 10. You would be better served to purchase Home Designer Professional for $495.00 which is designed to run on Windows 10 64 bit. DJP