DavidJPotter

They are to be found in the Library Browser - Architeectural - Fences and Railings - Gates, have a look please. DJP

Using the "break line" tool you can make them appear to join, let that be good enough visually. DJP

Commonly when I do a remodeling project I first make a relationally correct copy of the home as it is, the save-as a copy for use of adding the proposed remodeling or additions. DJP

Jeff, my main point is that although they look the same, they are not the same in function. I have seen many posts here and elsewhere by confused users who simply do not know this datum. I think pointing it out is enough, to get people to look and think. DJP

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I always do mine using a "vector view" camera; anyway you use dimension tools to dimension what you wish to display dimensions of. Sometimes placing a "CAD Line" makes that job easier as 2D objects are easier for dimensions to detect; you place the CAD lines where you wish the dimensions to measure to and then draw the dimension lines. You can "save" such cameras that you have customized (if you do not save the work when you are done, it WILL be lost and have to be redone. This is a lot easier to do with Home Designer Pro but can be done in Architectural. DJP

With Suite you build/design your first floor when when finished you go to the "Build" Menu, select "Build Foundation". Suite does not allow one to specify "ICF" foundation walls. It is preprogrammed to only build concrete foundation walls. So what you do is to just use the default walls. Then once there you can change their material so they then look like ICF walls. Unless you are a State Licensed Structural Engineer you cannot legally specify a foundation type, only they are allowed by law to specify such things. DJP

Garage Door Specification Dialog - Arch Tab - Drop-down menu of different Arch Types- select and set angle. This is also the case for windows and doors via their dialog boxes. DJP

Vaulted ceilings are done in one of two ways: 1. simply turn off the "Flat Ceiling over this room" on the "Structure Tab" of the room you wish to vault. This gives you a "Common Rafter Vault" where the underside of the roof planes become the "ceiling". or 2. You turn off the flat ceiling and then add "Ceiling Planes" that you can manually adjust to emulate the interior vault (found under "Build - Roof - Ceiling Plane" "3. Some of the exterior walls extend bricked into the Attic. I redrew them but can't get it to stop doing that." The software is programmed to add attic walls you can delete them but the program will merely add them back, or you can make them invisible as you wish "4. On the roof over the front of the house which faces south, I will be installing Solar Panels which will be used to power the house. I plan on using LiFePo4 Batteries and wanted an on grade slab floor room behind the Auxiliary Garage. But I couldn't figure out how to put a 3 sided room against the back wall of the Aux Garage. " There are solar panel symbols available from the Home Designer Website for downloading and application. "5. I grew up in a house in California in the 50's that was built built in the 30's that had a stepped ceiling with 2 steps around the outside of the ceilings of the rooms. only for the rooms that are not vaulted. I would like to do the same but haven't got a clue how to accomplish this." Home Designer software has no trey ceiling tool like Chief Premier does so such a condition is created manually using the tools you do have. You use invisible railing walls to create a room within a room, each with differing ceiling heights to achieve the trey ceiling appearance. DJP

DJP without knowing what software you have we do not know what capabilities what you have, has.

With Suite and Architectural, all the instructions you need are to be found in the "Main Toolbar - Build - Build Roof - Roof Styles Tab" where how to preprogram the walls-Roof Tab and Build Roof Dialog to then obtain the type of roof Suite is capable of building, please take a careful look, study and then practice. DJP

Call Customer Service for the straight infomation, is my advice. DJP

3D software is by default not easily worked by older versions to new versions. In other words a newer version can open, view and edit older version plan and layout files but older versions cannot open, view or edit newer versions of ".plan & .layout" files even though they are both made by the same company. I am not familiar with what "Solid Works" will import into it but each type of CAD software does have their own restrictions as to what it will export or import in terms of file types. Find out what Solid works allows as file type imports and check that against what Home Designer Pro offers as file type exports to see if there is any chance of two-way communication between your HDP and Solidworks. DJP