DavidJPotter

No not slow for me with my old PC. DJP

No, not that I know of, sounds like a cracker jack suggestion though. I have never had this come up as an issue but if I did need to I would turn off the default stair object hand railing on the indicated side and replace it with a railing made from a 3D molding poly line, yes that is a work around but you did ask. DJP

With such a completed roof system, I would expect the roof generator to fail but get most of it right. I would then expect to manually straighten out what it got wrong. DJP

Aunttieem,If you want help, I charge $75.00 per hour for personalized help, you can contact me as you like. I am not, for free going to straighten out your mess, let me know. DJP

No, it is always improper presettings that causes short falls in Chief. The first thing to do is to determine if your settings are correct for the situation at hand. Chief is a 3D mechanical device and only does what it is told to do or what it is erroneously told to do. Be assured that you are getting what you ordered and to fix it, you have to get the settings right. The way to really learn Chief is to carefully go through the "Users Guide" and "Reference Manual" stopping after a paragraph, open your software and verifying your understanding before you study more. To do less is just irresponsible, take the time to really learn your tools. DJP

I commonly use about ten passes, the key to good images is adjusting your lights and how materials reflect light, that takes time to figure but several short pass renderings and adjusting what you see in each render. When you get things adjusted only then would you do a long number of passes, it takes what it takes for quality. DJP

As with a lot of things in Chief there is more than one way to arrive at a result. another way is to create a blank floor above the top floor. Then draw four walls of the intended cupola, define its floor height and ceiling height, draw its roof planes and install vents or windows, this method also works. DJP

No, you toggle up to the attic level and then manually draw your missing wall using the reference display to help you draw it in the right location. DJP

How to create a mansard roof is described in your software in the "Build Roof Dialog - Roof Styles Tab", take a look. DJP

I guess you are speaking of not getting the desired number of columns by way of the railing dialog. Just set Newels to 1/16" and place columns manually directly from the Library Browser. DJP

I just noticed that you said that you have a GeForce GT 230M video card, that (forgive me) is an antique piece of C__p, since you have a laptop there is nothing you can do about that in your current machine but you need to come into the 21st Century hardware and software wise, upgrade to X8 and get a new laptop or desktop that what made recently. DJP

I think this video will help you: http://djpdesigns.com/roof-dialog.html and this one: http://djpdesigns.com/more-roof-dialog.html DJP

I downloaded your file and made a You Tube video of me fumbling around with it, I hope my efforts help you: https://youtu.be/mpC5Y-RKHZA DJP

Easy is a subjective word and concept. Your photos look like custom slabs and poly-line solids with custom materials on them or pavers. DJP

Here is my You Tube take: https://youtu.be/ep9d6UwfXB0 DJP

Here is me trying to help on You Tube: https://youtu.be/BdnCfQtH1wo DJP

Like jbaehmer said, and to amplify, such things are controlled by you by way of "Display Options - Rooms" in this specific case. DJP

The more performance you get the higher the price, so in the end it is you and your budget that will decide. DJP

As Shane's image shows, Temporary Dimensions can be manually turned on and off. Yours are probably just "turned off". DJP

Good specs, reasonable price. My laptop has a NVIDIA 965 and is quite good. Had I gotten a laptop with a NVIDIA 980, I would have expected to pay more than I did pay but my laptop is a second PC and not my main machine. My desktop is beginning to age a little, I intend to upgrade it to an NVIDIA 1070 when I do upgrade. DJP

I have done it both ways, I generally prefer the two wall way, using an interior wall with sheetrock on only one side. DJP

Take a look at this You Tube video please: https://youtu.be/bMGPRzoTYCQ DJP

Sounds like you exported the views from a layout page ( which is scaled to the intended paper size instead of 1' = 1' when you export from a plan view). Please do not do that. DJP

Becky, Chief Architect Inc offers an anywhere tutorial service called "Personal Tutor" you can find information about that service on their website. I offer the same service at a lower rate, I use an application called "Got to Meeting" by CTRIX corp to work live with Home Designer and Chief Architect Inc users live over the internet since 1999. Lots of successes from my clients. Finding someone to come to your home is a little beyond the pale, the internet is the easiest most secure to obtain personalized help. DJP

Look for the "Auto Stairwell" command in the Edit Toolbar when you select the stairs on the first floor. Or you can draw an Open Below room above the stairs using the Reference Display to properly align the walls of the Open Below room above the stairs. DJP