DavidJPotter

I can model your PDF into a .plan file using Chief Premier X6 (Suite 2015 and X6 are compatible) and then program that file to be editable in Home Designer Suite 2015. The only proviso I would suggest is that you NOT thereafter try to build roofs because Home Designer Suite is VERY INCAPABLE in terms of creating roof systems. Let me know when you would like to get started. I charge $75.00 per hour. All I need is your PDF file and how you intend to use the resultant.plan file DJP

I started using Chief Premier Version 4 on Windows 3.1 in 1994 for a remodeling firm. The only viable method whether you use Premier or Pro is to have a relationally correct "As Built" model. Then save as copies of it to make differing versions of your remodeling ideas. Placing them all in one file is not recommended nor is it workable. Do not waste your time with the "one plan file wish". DJP

I would isolate the hall using room divider walls, Then turn off the Hall's ceiling on its structure tab. Then place a "Ceiling plane to emulate the removed ceiling of the Hall, setting it to the desired angle. Then place my skylights above the hall. DJP

You can apply-create a poly-line slab with stone as the assigned material. With this, you can control its extent and thickness. DJP

I merely use capital letters for East, West, North, and South. N 86° 18' 52" W 125.57', S 76° 46' 00" W 120.17' , N 15° 09' 00" W 83.11' DJP

In terms of emulating your slanted doors under a stair object, this may help you with an Idea: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/404/design-wainscoting-for-walls-and-stairways.html DJP

What has happened is VERY unusual. I have been using since version 4 on Windows 3.1 and never had this happen, nor have I heard of it happening to others. Your first impulse should have been to contact Tech Support. You should anyway since this is so unusual and so unwanted. I hope reinstall does the trick! DJP

I rarely use a cabinet schedule in the normal course of my work. I more commonly use door and window schedules. But I took a quick look at what you are speaking of and yes, 3D images take up a lot more space, add little useful significance but does offer a choice if you desire it. On cabinets, you can actually have three schedules, one for each cabinet type and also these for each individual floor (schedule by floor). This tends to make each schedule smaller. I believe all you are looking at is that the "3D" cabinet feature is not your "cup of tea" nor is it anything I believe I would use. DJP

That is most commonly caused by not making Chief cover your entire desktop. Not doing so tends to obscure some tool icons as you describe, DJP

Tommy's offering looks fine, the last time I needed a generator symbol, I just searched 3D Warehouse for one. That is the first place I look after checking current content resources. DJP

Yes, you can download additional libraries from the Chief Premier Website. You can also learn Sketch Up and create your own custom objects for use in CA, lots of things you have not yet seen or that you know about. DJP

Each railing wall has a dialog box and a Newel and Balluster tab, use them for that purpose. In terms of the exposed framing, just do what you must to handle such things (polyline solid, material region etc), Chief is not perfect so when you see a plan or rendering that looks perfect it is because someone made it so. Got it? DJP

DJP

If you want an additional piece or object you create the piece or object, size it and locate it. There is nothing more to say other than to do what is indicated to do to communicate your design. The "Help" here is: stop making something more difficult than it is and just get it done. If you are already convinced it is too hard to do, then it is but if you just decide to get a product no matter what it will become easier to do. DJP

Whatever the actual cause of your difficulty, you are the author of it, not the software, it is a result of things that you did or did not do to cause this effect. I suggest you share a copy of your file with Tech Support so they can actually help with information other than opinions and guesses. 3D faces take time to compute per second for a CPU and for parsing by way of a video card for visual displays. If you import a lot of third party objects from 3D Warehouse and other such places, this action alone can overload most PC's ability to display such objects per second which like I said, this is something you are doing, not the software or hardware. DJP

It is always a matter of viewpoint on such things but if you want something done you merely do what is necessary, difficulty has nothing to do with it, only the outcome matters. DJP

One more time DJP

Chief does not provide such details, you do actually. I do not see why you cannot add the missing detail with an additional polyline solid. DJP

Riverroad, the point is that is can be done, is being done. There are no stops or barriers other than what one agrees are stops and barriers. Whether or not Chief has or does not have a "Chimney Tool" is a matter for the "Suggestions" area. As long as you have Home Designer Pro or Chief Premier and you really want to build a relationally correct fireplace chase you can do so, now with what you have for tools. In terms of your materials list and foundation design, in most places in the USA you must be a State Licensed Structural Engineer in order to design a foundation. If you are such a licensed professional you could then design a foundation and have it show properly in a Materials List. The materials list in Chief and Home Designer merely measures how well YOU created the 3D model and it is as useful a product as the quality of your 3D modeling of the measured structure. Only incompetent users complain about missing tools and features, the rest of us just do our work with the tools at hand. DJP

Not by default but one could create a custom layer called "Walls, Normal, Interior" then placing only interior walls on that custom layer you could then turn off visually interior walls only. DJP

https://3dlibrary.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?r=site/library&reset=true DJP

Chief is rather straight forwardly created. So if your own procedures are weak or in error, Chief allows you to make such errors. Michael has discovered what you did to cause this plan to be overweight, so in the future make sure that when you make a copy that you are making a single copy of an object. Most such problems are End User Based predicated on wrong assumptions by that end user. It is part of the learning curve we all must mount. DJP

The trial version limitations are that you cannot print (other than print screen) and you cannot save a plan. The main limitation is the actual competence of the end user and his usable knowledge of the software and its tools (this is true for any version). You have minimal libraries in the Library Browser. There are no hidden limitations that I know of other than your own lack of knowledge of how to use the software and its tools effectively. DJP

A You Tube video of me looking over your plan file. DJP

I have versions 10-19 on my Windows 10 PC with NO problems so far for a couple of years. I agree with Lew and Eric, just fully uninstall - reinstall X5 and that should be the end of it. DJP