DavidJPotter

I have versions 7, 8, 9.5, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 15, 17, 18 and X9 on my PC. Since 1994 what happened to you never happened to me. Contact Tech Support and if you want to reinstall X8 you certainly can. Part of the installation routine built into each new version is to bring forward all prior Users Library and Bonus Libraries you had present in your earlier version. I have observed this to be the case now for several versions. This is something you did and not Chief Architect. DJP

KBird has the right idea in that different annotation sets by default (when they are understood and used) automatically place text and other objects on appropriate layers while using a particular annotation set and you can customize annotation sets and create specialized text layers within those annotation sets to place text on whatever layer you desire. The "trick" if it can be so called is understanding, choosing, customizing annotation sets and their sets of layers to do your work for you while you work. DJP

I can help you, I specialize in working with Home Designer Software users DJP

The thing about the Materials List in Chief is that it just measures only what you put into the model and nothing more. The only way I ever got a completely accurate Materials List is by modeling every grade beam, create all framing automatically and then manually edit it all making sure to add all necessary bracing and other structural objects that are not added automatically. All relevant settings that effect materials must be set perfectly otherwise you just get an inaccurate waste of time. I have done this twice in my career. I told the client that to produce an accurate Materials List, I first must work with a Structural Engineer so they can design the foundation and its grade beams and specify all bracing and structural concerns. Armed with that data I then check and triple check that the model reflects that in detail. Only then will you then get an accurate materials list. I also told this client that such a 3D model will cost them a lot more than one used just for construction documents due to the involvement of a Structural Engineer and the additional time and care necessary to make a perfect 3D model. Only under those exact conditions have I ever acquired an accurate materials list and that is why to date, I have only done two such lists. Most of the time I just skip it. When I was working for a remodeling company many years ago when I first started, my boss asked me to pursue and research the Materials List feature and the above is what I found to be true. It has always been quite useful for simple calculations like flooring etc. Most relatively new users simply do not have the skill and understanding of Chief Premier and its tools to create a useful materials list. It can be done, I have done it but it is a rather intense and exacting process. DJP

I have used it for many years/versions mainly for realigning glass block and a frame for remodeling purposes and certain tile patterns. Since these are small jobs I have never needed to worry about "Global" but rather just specific materials on a specific surface. DJP

Deactivate that license on your current PC, then go to your "Digital Locker" at Chief Architect.com, download and install on your laptop. All the data you will need is in your digital locker on line to do this. In terms of custom materials, plan and layout files must be copied to One Drive, Google Drive or Dropbox or just some portable media and then transferred to your new laptop. It is not hard to do. Just watch what you are doing while you are doing it and you will be fine. There afterwards you can only use one license at a time,deactivating one and then using the other. DJP

How to use the Users Guide is to read every word of it and be sure and get defined ANY words that you have any attention on after reading them, getting them fully defined in the context they were used. This will better orient you to how Chief Premier is intended to be used generally. The Reference Manual is over 2,000 pages long and is NOT to be read through like an owners manual (that is what the Users Guide is) rather read it a little at a time studying the subjects that personally interest you. After reading and or watching a video. open the software and practice doing what you studied or watched until you feel confident that you well understand what you just watched or studied. I recommend that this becomes part of a regular study period you set for yourself each day after work this 15-30 minute period is just for the purpose of you learning, little by little all the tools and functions of the software over an extended time (It took me almost a year to do this but it worked for me). DJP

Generally speaking walls, any walls are editable by direct manipulation of their "Wall poly lines" which define their 3D shape, so any wall foundation or otherwise can be reshaped to suit. Without your plan as ShaneK has pointed out NOTHING specific can be offered but guesses and general truisms. DJP

Yes, You study the Reference Manual, watch some videos and then you use the provided tools to do whatever you need and want. DJP

I recommend that you create a terrain plane and then have that terrain break at differing height changes to get a feel for what works and what does not work. I agree with Scott in that specific advice can only be offered after evaluating a particular plan file along with an understanding of what the wanted result is to be. It depends upon how much the terrain modulates (changes) and surrounding terrain. There is a trial and error to this in terms of finding just the right combinations of objects and values that work together to cause a specific result. The general advice I always offer is to make one change and then evaluate that change in camera views until you are satisfied with the results and then make another change, etc. Avoid making a lot of changes in terrain objects and then evaluating the results as then it is harder to know what change caused the viewed result. DJP

Without seeing your plan, no one can offer anything but guesses and possibilities, not real answers. We cannot see what you are seeing (yet) so help us out. DJP

Without your plan and layout files to look at no one can do anything but guess. With the rigs you have I would also be upset with the lags (which I do not have unless the plan file is huge and complicated with lots of CAD details, imported PDF's and images) which at a glance at your video I saw nothing "telling". I am curious as to why your layout pages were all but blank and yet lagged like mad. This leads me to think that your template plans if that is what you were using, are corrupted or are the source of your slowness (your PC's are NOT the source of any lags or slowness). Though this takes longer to do, I still recommend that you share your plan, layout and associated files with Tech Support. They specialize at such investigations, secondarily, sharing those same files here will be essential in terms of any real solutions as they are the source of your trouble. DJP

It required two try's to get a video made but this shows you a way to arrive at what I think you need and want: DJP

DJP 1294 Wheeler Overlook Play after tutorial - pony Wall v1.plan

If placing such a custom material to a single 3D face of glass you would have to parse the material so that it appears to cover only part of that 3D face. I have done this several times to create custom signs or that appear to be a decal on a larger clear glass space. Such planning is placed into the custom material (image with a transparent background) so that when applied one uses "Stretch to fit" across that face so all you see is one instance of the image as opposed to multiple instances that one would get if the "Stretch to fit" command is used. DJP

Saving as is a good way to protect yourself but merely making copies of corrupted files is all that does, it "fixes" nothing. I have not seen such an error message since version 7 or 8 so I doubt any here will know anything useful in terms of specifics. Generally speaking such errors come from poor end user habits based upon a perfunctory actual knowledge of Chief Architect software and its proper use. I am not saying this as a put down at all, but rather merely stating facts based upon helping newer users is what I have specialized in for over twenty years. Knowing what to do is far superior to merely guessing and hoping for a livable outcome. Competence is your only real protection from error messages, when you follow established procedures you rarely see them and when you don't that is almost all one sees. Version 8 is an antique application, it still of course works as it was originally designed to do so but it is still an antique that was designed for an antique operating system and hardware. DJP

The settings that control "Freeze Trim" can be found in the Build Roof Dialog. If you do not want any Freeze trims then do not set any to be built in the Build Roof Dialog. Such trims are also on their own layer and can be turned on or of visually in Display Options. DJP This software is predicated upon settings, dialog boxes and input boxes. Usually it is just taking the time to look and find where such settings are and what they do. It is time well spent.

If you were my client, I would ask you quite squarely, what is it that you and your family like in terms of Architectural style. I would ask you for photos of houses and or house features that you would especially like to incorporate into your design. That is what an Architect does or at least the really good ones. I would want to ideally visit your property with you and as thoroughly as possible find out what this home needs to be to make you and your family comfortable, happy and to serve your needs. Once that data is acquired then it is a matter of fitting that into a budget that you and your family can afford. It is a dynamic, creative process that accommodates Life and the physical area where the house is to come into being. DJP

Some of the most stunning renders I have seen recently have been done in Lumion from Chief although using just Chief can get the job done. It requires care and a willingness to take the extra steps to get a realistic result. Thea render in the knowledgable hands also produces visual results. There are many applications out there but the main factor is the creator and not what that person uses. It is his or her sense of rightness and quality that makes all the difference. DJP

A possible work around is to turn off the offending labels in Plan view (of course this would be a last resort until Tech Support comes up with an actual fix) but should work. You can turn them back on in another Display Options dialog for plan viewing/printing. DJP

Have you tried simply turning off the layer in Display Options: "Doors, labels" while in that camera view? That is the first thing I would try. DJP

I totally get you, I started using Chief in 1994 and before that I used a pencil, stencils and a drawing board. It took me a year of blood, sweat and tears before I really started to master roofs and then terrain. You learn a little at a time. Back in those days there was no help forum, no or few videos and you either learned or died trying. If I can become an expert then anyone can, it just takes time, study and practice and lots of failures that lead to successes. DJP

This is why I have several browsers on my PC (Edge, Chrome, Vivaldi and Foxfire), when one does not work, I try another, one always ends up working. Browsers are a nickle a million. I have the latest version of Edge which is quite good, even better on my laptop where I run the latest insider version of Windows 10, it is improving by leaps and bounds. DJP

Confront and decide is my advice. If it is not what you want, change it to something you do like and want. DJP

Your post is rather mysterious to me, I do not understand what you did or how you did it or why but I have no such trouble, ever. Can you be a little more specific please? DJP