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Plan7ArchitectPro

Just realized that 2026 is a subscription. I have both cancelled my 2026 subscription and guess I will be using 2025 until its not viable anymore. I have also sent an email to the sales dept expressing my disappointment with what I believe to be a short sighted decision to move to a subscription revenue model. It's not about the money, it's entirely about putting access to my work product in the hands of a 3rd party that can decide at any time to cut me off. I've started moving away from adobe, Microsoft and any other software project that is a subscription only offering. I don't rent tools!

Can you post a screen shot of the error message?

No this is ancient because it goes back to CAV10. (Better Homes & Gardens) BH&G HDP7 is based on CAV10. About 20 years ago lol. . I do have HDP 2025 though, the last perpetual version. I can get CAV10.08b working on these newer machines as of today with help from other users and with the old red HASP dongle key. I was trying to find out if I can do the same with BH&G HDP7 that also has an old red HASP dongle included with it ? X17 in reality is version 27 of Chief Architect as you may know ?

have you checked for each door/opening under the FRAMING tab what the headers are set at? Why would you set them @ 3.5" Depth (height) or width? for a load bearing wall the depth depends on the opening free span and if your door width is less than or equal to 49" you should get 3.5" which i see it drawn in your framing picture. But you want to leave that default table set as when you purchased software as it pretty much goes by the Lumber tables for header sizing. Remember headers are for Doors, windows and any other wall opening and meant for load bearing walls but framing crews will fit them on all wall openings even those not load bearing since it is just what they do and know and play it safe for little money. you would not want a 2x4 going across an opening of 10ft with a hip roof load on top....

Pro 7? never heard of that version Latest is subscription based titled HD 2026 one before that was HD 2025 etc based on year it. OR do you mean Chief Architect X17?

Hi all, I was wondering if anyone here was able to use Home Designer Pro 7 on a newer Windows PC like windows 10 or 11 ? I have installed the program from the disks and have downloaded the program updates but I am having difficulties in installing the program updates. I get a red triangle on the download with an exclamation ⚠️ mark on it, asking if I trust the download before opening it. Of course I trust it becuase it is an official download from CAHD site. I have dragged and dropped the files onto HDP7 but they do not install. How do I get these updates to install on a newer windows PC with either windows 10 or 11 ?

Hi, I am currently working with Home Designer Pro 2025 and encountering an issue when attempting to globally change door header sizes. I am trying to change all my door headers to 3 1/2". I navigate to *Build Framing -> Framing defaults -> Openings* and set all Header size depths to 3 1/2", then click OK, and either perform an automatic or manual rebuild of the framing. However, no change occurs, and all headers retain their original sizes. Deleting all framing via *Edit -> Objects* and rebuilding also does not resolve the issue. It appears the rebuild framing function may be pulling values from another default setting. While I am manually changing all my headers to 3 1/2" in the framing view, I am still incorrectly getting 2x6 headers listed in the Materials list. Could you please provide suggestions on how to resolve this? I prefer not to use a different version, as this version contains framing defaults that should be functional. Thank you for your help. Best regards, Alexander

As I said, that line had nothing to do with the camera that was present during the screen shot. It was there before I created that camera view, and when I closed the camera, the line was still there. The line was created when I did the plan check to restore the living area text to the new rooms on that floor. Which is why the line points to the region between the two new rooms (the library and the hall / stairwell at the top). It is like it made the line to point to the living area the text was in reference to. I don't mind that in practice, but the fact I couldn't select just the line to modifiy it / move it when I moved the living area text is a bug IMO. Anyway, as I previously posted, I managed to remove the line by selecting a larger region and de-selecting most of the other items before cutting. Then I just had to put the missing items back. Easy fix, but annoying.

Yes, there was one. The one in question looks like it has a "V" in it, which is why I suggested there was a vector view camera active somewhere in the plan. Possibly saved from when a view was sent to layout page or something. Posting the plan often helps more than playing guessing games. Anyway, good luck with it

In that screen shot I did have an active camera, but even without the camera the line remains. And like I said, I cannot select it or anything to delete it or modify it. I finally got rid of it by selecting the area, deselecting most other things, and then cutting. I had to put the other things back but it wasn't too bad.

Looks like you have a vector view camera active or saved in that are, which is giving you the line

Update to the plans changed the rooflines and they are ALMOST perfect except this one frackin wall! I have a balcony wall and for some reason the roofline next to it makes a peak to intersect it. I've tried changing the interior-exterior options, removed the gable ends, adjusted every interior wall, etc. but nothing fixes this. It should be a simple roofline with gables at both ends.... Any help? This is the final piece as the layout is 100% done finally, but this roofline issue is driving me nuts.

So, I was going through the plan check to re-create my missing living area texts and this strange polyline showed up... I can't select it, move it, delete it, or anything. Even if I hide the living area texts (either by deleting them or turning the feature off), it still remains! Anyone? Bueller? Bueller...?

Doug, here's what I looked at, refer to the images. 1. I turned on the Auto Rebuild Roofs 2. On floor 2, I extended your wall across, so the roof would build symmetrically 3. Placed a shed dormer and adjusted the windows. It's a floating dormer; if you want a structural dormer, which seems likely here, you need to draw walls to connect it (refer to the help system if you need)

Using HD Pro 2024 and struggling to build this shed dormer on back of house. Here’s what it’s supposed to look like. Here’s where I’m at in HD, and software won’t let me build a roof over this room? I get this error and software locks up if I hit OK. I.ve attached the plan file if that helps. Any help building this shed dormer would be appreciated. Thanks in advance! Plan 7877 (r2-ver5).plan

I don't need pretty pictures, although those are nice to have. I need a finished set of house plans. HD works extremely well for most of that, and has produced perfectly acceptable finished plans for submittal to multiple city planning depts. It just seems to not be able to handle the specifics I'm looking for in this instance, I don't actually need the 3D models, just the 2D flat layouts, but those don't layup properly when there are stacked walls of different thicknesses, I have other issues between the 1st and 2nd floors. Bottom floor is ICF. Top floor is framed 2x6. Really seams like HD should be capable of doing this, even down to the specific framing studs. Was hoping somebody here had more experience, or that someone from chief architect would chime in. I'm not unwilling to spend the money to upgrade, but CA is a subscription only product and I don't rent tools (software or otherwise). All companies that started as or have moved to a subscription only model really need to go away. The entire subscription software industry is nothing more than a drain and leach on society that effectively holds their customers work as ransom. Want to make changes or continue being in business, pay us your monthly extortion fee or you lose access to all of your work.

or make each step from a SLAB. SO first on on terrain then stack them on top and located. PS it is good to have top step (LANDING) be 4ft out from edge of door opening. This allows people room to stand and open door and other safe things.

me I would not worry about framing around the door and just stick in a door into your ICF wall... MAke it look pretty in 3d.... for the wife or whoever you are making this for. IF you need site detailed drawing - well then I would use something else... HD is not perfect nor can do everything - for that you need the pricey CA.

Thanks.. I have played with pretty much all of the options and can't get the flashing between the ICF and the framed wall to turn off. I don't have a problem getting the door to cut in, just need the flashing not to show up. Guess I can play with this more, but it seems like this should be simple to accomplish. But maybe its not doable in the home designer product. You can see the actual finished entry with the stacked relief over the door in the attached photo.

You could also use a stair landing and set the radius.

Do it using custom countertops. Stack them on top of each other

How do I create a semi-circle stair? Example is pic #1. I have tried using the flared stair option but the best I can get is the attached pic #2. I have searched and searched the available help but cannot find anything on this subject. The videos only cover options available, and this does not appear to be one, so it's not in the video. Still using HDPro2021. Retired and on fixed income, can't justify cost of a $500/year subscription for a program I don't use that often. Thanks. Susan

As a legacy user this is complete BS, Thanks for invalidating every license I own. And no I wont ever be updating again.

maybe try Play & adjusting variables in the: JAMB, CASING, LINTEL, ROUGH OPENING and FRAMING sections in the door edit screen until you get what you want - lots of ways to cheat here knowing what each does. under framing you set header size or go to default and how it is built along with side framing of jack and king studs sies and qty etc, As always have the help scree open so it can help you - very powerful tool the help screen Then use a stock door so you can set width and all the other variables like the arch at the top. If all that does not work - maybe first set in a door opening to dims of cutout and turn off all the trim (casing, jamb & lintal.) Turn off framing etc. Then see if you can add door inside? Never done this so I would just have to play with the tools ya got.