DavidJPotter

Great job Chop! Chop's video should underline an important understanding for you in that Settings control everything in Chief. If your settings are wrongly set or guessed at (like it appears you did some of that) you get problems and wasted time. Take the time to really study and practice with Chief off your production time so you do not continually waste time guessing. It took me over a year back in 1995 to really do this myself but it makes a vast difference to Know as opposed to hope for the best. New users need to fully understand the Chief is not a problem solver, it is a wonderfully crafted mechanical aid but has no intelligence, judgement or experience. Only you can provide these vitally important factors to get your work done. DJP

The only time I ever had crashing problems was back in Version 6 in 1999 and it came down to a corrupted mouse driver which I updated solving that problem. If I had such a problem again that is the FIRST action I would take to handle. DJP

I have my Library Browser set to Vector view and it is faster than X8 in my X9, try that. Also strongly consider calling upon Tech Support. They have wider experience than any of us and want to help. Setting your LB to Standard then weighs heavily on your video card (but you have a good one already, probably not the cause but vector view is faster than standard generally). DJP

You did not mention what PDF software you are using (I guess "Save to PDF" that is part of Chief?). I have never seen this occur on my PC (I would be very concerned if I ever did). This is certainly an unwanted problem, if you have an active SSA call Tech Support for help during their Pacific office hours. DJP

In your posted image I do not clearly see what you describe in your post. I do see an incomplete roof system auto generating unwanted artifacts because in is not finished and joined. Explain some more and post an example plan please, we all still want to help. DJP

Here is my You Tube take on your problem: DJP

Scott, I am in a similar state of mind in that I find the current state of electrical connections annoying and vexing but I also continue to assert that end user intervention and intent to succeed can overcome that tool's weakness (I do what I have to do when creating electrical plans). DJP

I have been Teaching Seminars and doing on line tutoring in Chief Premier since 1999. I am not an Architect nor am I a State Licensed Structural Engineer but anything that needs to happen with house plans and how that is accomplished in Chief I can do and help you to do. Data about my on line help services can be read here: http://djpdesigns.com/tutoring.html , I am available on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9AM to 7PM Central Time for tutoring. Let me know when you would like to get started! DJP

This specific request should be made in "Suggestions" along with a specific description of how this tool would work if deployed. Glenn Woodward is in my opinion one of the most competent Chief Premier users I know of, so if he does not know what you are talking about then it your responsibility to make clear why such a tool is necessary and what it does. Most of us here just use Chief Premier and are unfamiliar with Revit, Archicad and how such other programs work. I am blissfully ignorant myself though I am open to positive change. DJP

That is as may be, but the point is he has asked for help of professionals and he should have it. DJP

My views are often unpopular here. Any software will be found to be rather less than perfect. To obtain perfection requires End User intent and action. I agree that the electrical tools in Chief are not perfect in action but I also will say that electrical plans can be made that are perfect in every way. You just do what is necessary to achieve desired results. Placing this responsibility at the door of software, I believe is just a little irresponsible because goo electrical plans can and are created all the time using tools as they are. A lack of perfection is annoying when it occurs but you just persevere until you have what is acceptable to you is what I am saying. DJP

The settings that I alluded to exist and are there, that you cannot see them is your concern, not mine. There is no substitute for the ability to look and see what is there, I am sorry if you cannot or will not see what is there to see. DJP

I often make custom columns from a combination of cabinets, slabs, poly-line solids and 3D molding poly lines, so the tools are there already just not specialized as a "Column tool" per se. What version of Chief Architect Premier are you using please? DJP

There are settings you can access within a single roof plane specification dialog to alter automatic returns, however to be able to really edit and shape such returns the best method is to create manual returns using custom roof planes to emulate such things, I usually use auto returns unless greater control is required or desired. DJP

I was able to open it in my copy of X7 and I immediately made a copy just in case that plan actually becomes unusable. The error messages states that your .plan is corrupted. That means that at some point the plan may enter a state where it can no longer be opened by anyone. This is a common event when new, untrained users are involved, making too many guesses as opposed to educating themselves on how to properly use the software. A trained user never gets a corrupted plan, ever. I will need to work on your plan live on line with you so I can find out from you what your intentions were versus what is found in the plan relative to its default settings and preferences. Once we have the plan stabilized (no error messages) then we can start making construction documents. Let me know if you are willing to work with me and we then will. In terms of a Materials List, well that is a different order of magnitude: in order to have an accurate Materials List the 3D model must be perfect in every way, inside and out. The entire model must be built exactly as it will be built in the field, every stick, every stud, joist etc. The materials list in Chief Architect Premier just measures what is in the 3D model and NOTHING MORE, so if the model is perfect from foundation to roof ridge then and only then will the Materials List be accurate. This requires extreme skill with the software and a thorough knowledge of local building practices to pull this off. This level of accuracy is not necessary to creating plans and so takes at least TEN TIMES longer, one has to triple check everything from stem to stern, that takes additional time. In terms of myself, I do not offer "Take Off" professional services. You would be better served to share your plans with such a professional who does offer professional Materials Take off services that to try to make a 3D model do this on its own. For instance the foundation must be accurate in every detail, every grade beam and footing must be completely accurate for that to then read accurately within the Materials List. I am not a structural Engineer and so you would have to hire such a professional to design the foundation which could only then be modeled into the .plan file. I am sorry to dump all this new data upon you but I do this for a living and for several decades, I know what is required. DJP

What software name and version are you using, LIke Gene said making a statement like you made you can't possible be using Chief Architect Premier. DJP

Because they are mulled. In order to change their size, un-mull then, change the size and then re-mull them. DJP

The labels can be selected and moved in plan view and also they can be move to the front using each label's dialog box-Line Style tab. DJP

I think you have the problem taped, it is either corrupt mouse software drivers or the mouse itself. Mice are a nickle a million, get a new one. DJP

You can also control the size or width of boxed eaves by way of the "Roof Specification Dialog". In terms of changing the pitch that can also be done by way of the "Roof Specification Dialog - Pitch" input box per roof plane but when you change the roof pitch you will also have to reconnect the roof planes to the adjacent roof planes (valleys) by using the Join Roofs tool. (when you change the pitch the mating edges angle changes) DJP

In terms of specific Help with Home Designer Software and home design, currently all official training comes out of Coer D'Alene Idaho from Chief Architect Inc. I have been providing one on one help for Home Designer and Chief Premier users over the internet since 1999. All you need is a broadband internet connection. Please contact me below by phone or e mail and I will help you to the degree that you desire. DJP

Wall heights are controlled first in "Edit - Default Settings - Floor - Ceiling height", the individual Room Specification Dialogs where you wish to diverge from Default Settings. There are no other applicable settings for Wall Height, provided roof planes are in place. DJP

No, no ever not on any of several PC's I have had or any version back to when I first started with 3D Architect. Please contact Tech Support they will be interested to help you. DJP

Claire, please post a sample of what you are talking about so we can SEE what you mean. DJP

I second that motion, Windows has a built in archive that you can use, you may have to reinstall X9 afterwards but it is unlikely for this anomaly to happen a second time. DJP