DavidJPotter

The very basic instructions on how to create an automatic shed roof can be found in the "Build Roof" Dialog on the "Roof Styles" tab. How to create a manual shed roof is also simple and can be done simply by practicing with the manual roof tools. After a quick glance at your plan, it appears that you already know how to do a shed roof (your rear porch already has a shed roof), so what is your question exactly please? DJP

The steps are: 1. Go to "File - Print - Set up Drawing Sheet. 2. Format the virtual layout sheet "printable area" (Blue outline on most printers - a visual when the layout is opened) to the intended paper size 3. Set Drawing Sheet to either portrait or landscape 4.Set up your title block on page zero (things on page zero appear on all pages thereafter) 5.This is thoroughly covered in your Reference Manual and Users Guide (found under Help Menu) Here are some additional Help Articles on this subject: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/search/?q=Layout+print+set+up DJP

Here is a You Tube video of me roughing in the buttress fireplace: https://youtu.be/T62CuHH90DE DJP

You have to forgive us veteran users, to a new user what you have to do might seem daunting. But it is merely a straight forward thing to design. What it looks like when finished is more important than how it is modeled (there are usually more than just one way to model (portray) something. Your "buttress" could be just three or four walls, except of the presence of the fireplace so I think I would use a combination of custom poly-line solids for the fireplace in combination with masonry walls. The part of the buttress that extends above the roof would probably end up being slabs or poly-line solids. The exact steps cannot be described in a few sentences rather it is a combination of techniques and objects to emulate this outcome. DJP

I have a folder (Directory) that I named "Plans" on my storage drive. In that folder I have sub folders, one for each client or project, the file names include the date I created or modified the plan and layout files. Each corresponding plan file has its layout files that go with that project, all image files, PDF and other documents are filed with the plan and layout files per project. I usually create as a sub folder for each project a folder named "Archive", this folder contains earlier versions and related data that is not the latest but might be needed for reference later) See screen capture below DJP

If that were true no one could draw a square, circle or rectangle because its all been done before, rediculous. There is a specific definition for copy and it means a precise duplicate in every way. not similar but the same in all respects, look it up. DJP

Johnny is right, here is a video displaying the suggestion: https://youtu.be/xVemucQWP6o DJP

Chief Architect Inc does not sell older versions of its software (ask them, do not take my word for it). You can upgrade your video card for as little as $150.00 unless of course you have a laptop computer. You must do what you see fit to do but if you want to use Chief Architect or Home Designer software you must at least meet minimum specification requirements to do so. DJP

Of course, you would place those new wall types in your Profile plan making them available thereafter in each new plan. DJP

Here is one I did earlier this year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW1Fb8qckJQ DJP

I abandoned poly-line solids to act as window sills and lentils many versions ago. For that purpose I use molding profiles that I draw myself and add to my Library Browser. They are easy and quick to make and apply and do not tend to move around like poly-line solids sometimes do interacting to a terrain plane. Molding profiles attach themselves to the window or door symbol and stay there. DJP PS: this video may be of help to you: https://video.chiefarchitect.com/?search=lintel You also might want to look at these as well: https://video.chiefarchitect.com/?playlist=98

I do not say this in a mean spirited way but there is nothing wrong with your PC, the specs look great. I occasionally get a crash mainly because I use X8 many hours per day. I have never experienced what you describe. What Perry and Joe have advised is valid and you should make sure that your main video card is the one being used by Chief and not some integrated support build into the mother board. I suppose some kind of malware could be a factor and you should check for that. What I have observed from my experience helping new users through learning the software is that many problems are generated by the new user. It is a humbling realization but I have observed that a majority of problems experienced by newer users is caused by never learning the software properly in the first place, guessing as to what is right procedure instead of learning such from the Reference Manual and User's Guide. Those publications usually gather dust and are only referred to as a last resort. I am not saying you are in this category but I am suggesting you be honest with yourself. Most of the problems we all experience in Life are self-generated. DJP

I did a You Tube video of my fix here: https://youtu.be/ZHHSsD_z4eg DJP

Here is a You Tube video of me working on your plan: https://youtu.be/FZ9fJc2khSI DJP

I looked at your plan file and what happens is when you attach the shed roof, it destroys the dormer, so like Javatom said, the solution is to explode the dormer and then manually attach the shed roof around the edges of the dormer. A default dormer object is not programmed to cross two roof planes, you have to manually shape the roof plane edges to allow the dormer to stay. DJP

That is totally dependant upon the quality of the furniture symbol and its Materials Tab. Who ever made the symbol assigned the layers to it that can accept and display individual materials or not. If the symbol allows several materials then you can, if it does not, you cannot easily do so. Symbols offered by Chief Architect Inc are usually pretty good for that, symbols from 3D Warehouse are a complete gamble relative to quality (you get what you pay for...) DJP

Chop, I repeat that I did not have that problem in my test run through. I understand that you did not. Did you really submit a ticket to Tech Support and did they respond that "they were stumped"? Anyway, I took the time to look and reported what I saw. Sorry you are having a difficulty. DJP

I ran the video walkthrough you posted and it ran perfectly on my PC. The model was not perfect (z fighting, coffered ceilings and other 3D modeling errors) but ran smoothly from first floor to the second floor. So 1. I doubt that "Chief Developers are stumped..." other than perhaps them, like me do not know what you are talking about. or 2. It may be that the weakness is in your own hardware rather than in Chief software. DJP

Try this thread too please: https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/2295-fantastic-new-solution-found-re-how-do-you-show-partial-open-railing-stairs-and-how-to-show-the-door-to-the-basement-stairs-underneath/ DJP

I have done this using different geometric objects like Eric points out (octogon, hexagon, circle, rectangle) which you can then make to look like a raised area by capping the "hole". How complicated or sophisticated is up to you, your client and your willingness and patience. You use the available 3D modeling tools to model the effect a step at a time. DJP

The whole point of layers, layer sets and anno sets is efficiency and productivity. Organization of objects is the key to setting up page views that clearly communicate graphic data by page type. Color or the lack there of is an aesthetic personal choice. Color printing is more expensive to produce, black and white is more economical and is widely accepted. Whether you use color or not is a personal aesthetic choice, shaded by the users own sense of "right". You should do what is right for you based upon your own reality. DJP

What you have selected is not a "wall" but it is a "ceiling plane", not that it cannot be done, it is just I have never tried to make a hole in a ceiling plane. I guess you could try to make a hole using a skylight set to "Hole in the roof" but as I mentioned I have never tired to do so since 1994. Once or if you get your rectangular hole you could then place a solid or poly-line solid object to emulate an insessed shelf. If the slanted ceiling object was a "wall" then other methods could then be employed but you are using a ceiling plane, not a wall. DJP

What you are "missing" is that Chief is not as smart as you might think. I often have to zoom in to precisely place or relocate a dimension point. Zooming in and patience is the key. You can also increase the "Edit Handle" size and change the Snap Distance setting (Edit Preferences - Edit - snap properties - snap distance input box" in pixels which can help as well. DJP PS: I watched your video after answering, I still stand by my original statement

https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/search.html?q=wood+burning+range&backendClass=entity

Seems to me that you have answered your own "question", sort of. I mainly use CutePDF but I have also used the Chief PDF and Microsoft PDF. Like you, I prefer a reasonable file size. Your question would be better aimed at Tech Support or the guys who wrote the application (not users). I would use the application that gives me a useful product at a reasonable size, you should too. DJP