DavidJPotter

Here us my take on what you can do with the steep hip roof: https://youtu.be/18lHY93UUCE DJP

You can do as Ray suggests but I would advise to make a save-as plan and call the copies: "Version 1, 2 3 etc" these can be placed side by side on a layout. A plan with three copies of the same plan I have found a little cumbersome. But you should do was you wish and find out for yourself. DJP

I, like you was not able to adjust the piers you used. So I would abandon that approach and use "shapes-cylinder" that I can manually adjust. That is manual but also has the attribute of being able to edit-locate the piers. DJP

Sorry about the Oklahoma vs VCU game, I forgot I had it on while making the video. Basically I realigned the roof baselines and manually edited and moved the existing roof planes relative to the shared photos as best I could. I replaced the original video with one without the basketball chatter. DJP

Here is a You Tube video of me fumbling around with your file and the edited file is attached. I agree with others in that more data would have helped create a better more accurate answer. https://youtu.be/uV_V1YMtHdI DJP casa.plan

Mouses like hairdos are completely personal. I have used a track ball for years and the last year or two I switched to logitech wired and wireless mice, others here swear by digital 3D mice and controllers. What I did is to buy the device, use it and if I do not like it, take it back until you are happy and satisfied. DJP

Reset Foundation Defaults to what you need and want. Then order "Rebuild Foundation". Simple, easy and not dangerous. DJP

You can customize and organize your "User Catalogs" adding custom folders as you wish. The other categories in Bonus and Core catalogs are fixed as to their organization. You might make your query into a "Suggestion" or "Feature Request" for future versions. DJP

Chief Architect and Home Designer software always can be counted to ONLY follow default settings. In Suite 2016 you go to "Edit - Default Settings- Materials - Exterior Walls" to set that default setting. Also under "Edit - Default Settings - Wall - Exterior Wall" those two settings need to be set into agreement. The next thing many new users do is to use the Materials Eye Dropper and Panter tools without first carefully studying the four modes of their use before making a mess of their plan files. It seems intuitive to use the eye dropper and painter but you can cause no end of trouble by using these two tools without study. BTW this forum is for Chief Architect Premier users only, Home Designer users have their own forum called "Home Talk" https://hometalk.chiefarchitect.com/ . Many users here have never seen Home Designer Suite. DJP

You cannot do it via the stair dialog, the way I do it is to draw a cable railing wall, marked "follow stairs" and turn off the railing of the stair object on the rail side of the stairs. It is not "easy" to do but can be done with patience and exactness. DJP

You can use a doorway with the casing and sill turned off. DJP

Open "Display Options" for that plan view and check the line weights, then adjust as necessary. DJP

Here is the edited file (in X8) and a You Tube video of me fixing it: https://youtu.be/5U5kZ9PPWkk DJP 235 St Francis Final 02012016 2 Dormers.zip

My website is up and running now DJP

I initially altered the wall poly-lines but a better solution is to make the offending walls pony walls without altering their poly lines except to align their split layers after converting them to pony-walls. You can replace the wall I made invisible and then place a doorway for the stairs to pass through. Off set wall poly-lines come into play when you have a split entry, multi-level floors it just comes with that turf. DJP

I was able to open in Version 7 and then 9.5, X1 and then X7, the plan file is attached. You did not say what version you are using now so I guessed. Being created in 1998 would make it a Chief Architect Version 5 file or a similar version of 3D Home Architect. I keep version 7 mainly for such older file version upgrades. I haven't needed anything older so far. DJP Old Home.plan

Sorry but I could not figure out what you are complaining of but I did download your plan and made a video of me fumbling around with it: https://youtu.be/l8AWuJphLXU DJP

Call Tech Support or HP Tech Support for help. DJP

I looked at your plan but from the wording of your post above, I haven't a clue what the problems are. You need to be a little more specific than "...I can get the cantilever to work" (I haven't a clue what you mean by that). Also how is the lower foundation "not working...". You need to clearly state exactly what is wrong and why it is wrong in your opinion, leaving us to guess at what you mean is an unfriendly way to treat us. DJP

I just use my "caps lock" button at need. DJP

You place two doors side by side, opening in and the other opening out. Then using "Control-Drag" you make them occupy the same wall space. DJP

You unblock the CAD detail (if blocked) and then use a CAD "Fence" to delete lines on one side or the other of the CAD fence. You should carefully read the section of the Reference Manual that describes its uses. DJP

Whatever their genesis you can easily remove them once the elevation is sent to layout using the "Edit Layout Tool". You can also use that tool on layout to replace missing lines as well. DJP

Where you have a multi-layered foundation wall, optically-manually alignment of foundation walls seems to be a conservation solution https://youtu.be/egAYrMGXoM8 DJP

Select "Slab" after placing the garage door, on the "Options" tab you can then alter how many panels the slab door displays. DJP