DavidJPotter

DJP

Default settings for text, dimensions, labels in terms of font and font size are controllable there. Everything is controllable from settings mostly Default Settings per .plan file. The way the program acts all the time is controlled by way of Edit - Preferences. DJP

Some objects like poly-line solids are visible but just not editable (Home Designer titles do not have "poly-line solids" as a choice but they are visible and deletable on their end). I have never had any real or important problems helping Home Designer users plans. DJP

I assume that you are aware that only Home Designer 2019 titles are capable of being shared with Chief Architect X10, HD 2018 tiles only work with X9, HD 2017 titles only work with X8 etc, Older titles can be opened in newer titles but not new to old is the rule. DJP

I work with Home Designer users on a regular basis. You add the annotation and layer sets from an export from your default Profile.plan, it will not adversely affect the Home Designer users when they get the plan file back. Layout files are NOT usable as such between Home Designer Pro and Premier at all, keep those separate. You also try to minimize using custom layers (that the Home Designer user cannot access when you return the edited file to them for them to use). Also be sure to mark the plan "Allow editing in Home Designer Products" in General Plan Defaults before returning the file to them. Mainly you add what is missing from Home Designer titles to make your work more efficient and try to minimize any trouble that may cause for them. DJP

Generally, NO, a symbol has materials assigned to its 3D faces. Materials can be custom created as materials but not symbol to material. DJP

DJP

I posted a link to Home Talk above, it will take you to the Home Talk forum. DJP

Your forum for the software you use is Home Talk but since you have Home Designer Pro you can like Chief Premier users, just manually create your entry using available tools. What I recommend you do first is to draw the covered porch area using railing walls to demark its boundaries like any other space, mark the outer wall "Gable" and see if it will not build "automatically". If not then draw it manually. The gable truss can be drawn using soffits and slanted soffits reshaped to look like the truss parts. Many users here do not know what "Home Designer Pro" is or what it does and does not do. DJP

A simple way to get started is by confronting each dialog one at a time, and scan each input box, check box etc and ask yourself, one by one: "Do I honestly know what that does-what effect it creates-what is is for?". You then open the Reference Manual and find the section that explains that dialog and find out. Then practice making the indicated changes and viewing the results. You can do this just a few minutes a day after working and daily increase your competence with the software but you must stay at it on a regular basis. DJP

DJP

What camera render type? What video card does your PC or Mac have? DJP

The only way I know of is to obtain and install one that does meet minimum requirements, period. DJP

Similar to the current panorama feature but with the axis of the camera around a central point to the exterior of the house would be perfect, the end user could then control the speed and views of the model just of the exterior. DJP

Help is more important than correctness. DJP

If the OP has Home Designer Pro, it has the exact same capabilities as X10 or any version of Chief Premier, in terms of roof tools they are identical. You are in luck Glenn is looking at your plan, I can think of no other user on Earth that is better at solving problems with Chief than Glenn. DJP

Check for dongle drivers at the Cheif Architect website and see if they help (your old ones will not work in Windows 10). I have two hard drives, one for legacy versions like 7-10 and Windows 10 for Versions x1 forward, that works for me, same hardware, two operating systems. DJP

Hope this helps you DJP

I took a look, the thread seems to be non-extant for now DJP

Open the dialog for the PDF and look first, if you can, you then can, otherwise look at upgrading. DJP

This forum is specifically for Chief Premier users (not Home Talk which is for users of Home Designer software titles). That said, open the dialog box for the PDF and see if on the "Line Style" tab you can choose the drawing order of the PDF. These settings, IF you have them will allow you to display the PDF above or below your 3D objects. Suite 2015 does not have this default feature, I do not remember if you can change this via your dialog box. In the latest versions of Home Designer and Chief Premier, PDF imports default to being behind plan view 3D objects like walls, windows and doors. You will just have to look and see what your software's capabilities are and are not. DJP

Aside from posting here instead of Home Talk, you need to do what you want to do manually. The auto roof tool is preprogrammed to do what it does and as you have seen, does not fit all scenarios. Tough it out, and learn how to manually edit roofs to get what you want. DJP

I have used "Foxit Reader" for several years, the free version allows the editing and adding of text and other nice features. DJP

Are you speaking in terms of the Materials List or visually in a camera view or just in a cross section? DJP

I have never experienced this kind of lag on my Desktop or laptop. Where I you, I would contact Tech Support to help you sort out what is wrong with your PC or Mac. DJP