DavidJPotter

Currently, my schedule shows "Number" in the schedule and on my plan view per door. I turned off "Number" in the schedule columns but it still displays in plan view per door. I want it to display my custom labels per door. I cannot figure out for the life of me how to do that simple thing. Hep me! DJP

A recent project in progress DJP

This software is predicated upon right angles as is most traditional Architecture in the World. You are best served to draw your walls as close to right angles as is possible to the default "North-South" of the plan view screen in Chief and try to minimize the number of odd angle walls in a plan. Most usually such "off angle" walls are found to be 30 and 45 degrees, it is VERY unusual to on purpose walls at odd angles. When you must draw off angle walls it is best to set their angle by way of the Wall Specification Dialog-angle input box after drawing the wall. If you are trying to orient the structure to magnetic North you use a "North Pointer" to indicate magnetic North, leaving the structure itself oriented tot he default North-South of the plan view screen. To do otherwise is merely a choice to have unnecessary frustrations and difficulty in drawing the structure and subsequently in building such a structure. DJP

I have old versions 7, 9,10, 11,12,13,14,15,16,17, 18, 19 and X10 running on my PC, I run Windows 10 x64 and XP 32 to support legacy versions. I am often called upon to help legacy users with plans. DJP

Have you read the Reference Manual section addressing the "Break Line Tool" yet? I have observed that in some single instances, the tool does not comply with my wishes but my solution is to just try again until I get the effect I intend. In extreme cases of failure, I just save, close and reopen Chief and the unwanted behavior then ceases. I have found this to be true since Version 4 (circa 1995), it is still true. DJP

Chief Architect for better or worse, is a 3D application only. It contains some 2D objects and tools but its basic purpose is for 3D modeling only. If you do not want or need 3D, then do not use Chief Architect, use AutoCAD, IntelliCAD or TurboCAD etc. Those tools are for 2D and work well in that dimension. DJP

The use of any tool in any software is based on the study of what it does, under what end user choices with an eye on what, exact outcome you wish. Read the section about this tool in your Reference Manual, then practice using it in test instances until you see the connection between your studied material and its successful application under your control. That is how you go from incompetence to competence. DJP

NO, that is what layers and anno sets are for, so a single plan can be dressed up for different layout pages. The only time you make an additional plan file is for remodeling (as built and Proposed) or in the case where you want to present different variations of the same plan but different roof systems and materials for presentation purposes. With a custom home, commonly you just use one .plan file and its internal layers, layer sets and anno sets. DJP

CAD Default has been in the program, I know since at least Version 4 when I started, way before anno sets. I would assume it is left over from those woe begone days is all. Now a days, the default CAD layer is relative to the anno set used, in other words that layer is "default" for that Anno Set and the Default CAD Layer can be used or not used in any layer set or anno set. DJP

Emulating Terrain from a survey document is an exacting job that needs to be done methodically and carefully. Are you looking for help or adoption (no disrespect intended). Lots of us do this kind of work for pay. I have no intention to go to a lot of work to explain how to do this, step by step but basically: 1. I would import your PDF into Chief. 2. I would scale the PDF as accurately as possible 3. I would then place the PDF on a custom, locked layer to trace over, then I would orient the PDF so it aligns with the North-South of the Chief plan window 4. to trace out the property lines, topo lines etc 5. Next I wouild align the terrain to any already drawn structures like a house in terms of moving the terrain plane up or down relatice to that structure 6. I would then add the Barn structure, it is likely that the barn would have a higher or lower floor level relative to any other structures in the .plan file. 7. Then I would build the Barn relative to is actual floor level and relative to any other structures that also abide in the same .plan file. That is basically how to do what you wish to do. I have done this countless times and so know what the problems are and how to solve them. I do hope this outline helps you. DJP

Anyone willing to help needs to know WHICH Home Designer title AND its version number to even see if they have a compatible version of Chief Architect Premier (so whatever they do for you, you can open and still edit in what software you have). I speciialize in helping, training and outsourcing users of Home Designer Software, contact me if you like for details. DJP

Combination of both, it depends on the client or clients desires, most are happy with a Standard render, some for PBR and some for Ray Tracing. Now I have a wider choice. DJP

Contact Chief Architect Inc Training to find out what is available aside from that information published on the Chief Architect Inc website. There are teacher grade users in both Australia and New Zealand who can be promoted to and there are others like myself who specialize in Chief Architect one on one, live tutoring and training services. You also can tap Dan Baumann of Chief Experts.com and David Michaels of Chief Tutor.com who have existing services in terms of websites, video tutorials and other valuable services that you can avail yourself of now. DJP

That is a good question for Scott Harris and the other persons who run Chief Architect Inc. I worked with the now Vice President of Scholastic Sales, Debbie Gray as a trainer back in 2005 where we serviced those University's and schools that used networked versions for classroom deployment. Not the same as a corporate environment but similar. In any case end users do not determine such functionality, rather it is persons like Dermot Dempsey and others who develop Chief's programming and deployment, ask them, directly please, they do listen and care.. DJP

For that you would use "Added Light Sources" to place a light source in concert with your custom light fixture."3D - Lighting - Add Light" then adjust the "Light Data" to suit your purposes. DJP

Thanks again, Rob! DJP

Thanks Rob! DJP

No, it is not. Sketch Up constructs come in like any other symbol. Any editing of the symbol would then need to be done only in Sketch Up before bringing into Chief as a static symbol. DJP

You cannot select auto-return roof planes in plan or camera views. DJP Carson Tims redesign xxx.zip

X1 is an antique but requires updated drivers from the maker of the hardware lock to recognize the lock in Windows 10 (I actually have versions X1 back to version 7 on a separate hard drive that runs on old Windows XP 32 bit, that is how I solved my wish to continue to run legacy versions smoothly). X1 was designed to run within Windows XP, not Windows 10. I have versions X2-X10 on my other hard drive running Windows 10.Works for me. DJP

They can be turned on or off (visible or invisible) in "Layer Display Options - Walls, Attic". If you do not want them to auto-generate there is a setting in 3D Defaults to have them auto-generate (set that way by default as you have seen) or to not generate at all, which then means that you will have to manually draw all Attic Walls yourself. DJP

This a simple process, following is a YouTube video on how to import, manually your User Library: DJP

How much do they want in exchange for that rig? DJP