DavidJPotter

When you are new many things seem hard. This is due to your needing to really learn the software you have and not due to any short comings it has. You have not stated what software you are using, Home Designer has several differing titles within the current version (2017). Each of these applications have differing abilities, so without knowing what you have, a precise answer to your questions is uncertain. Asto your question #2 again I must need to know what software application you have in order to answer that question. There are several ways to accomplish what you want done, it all comes down to what you have. The attached images were done about 16 years ago. None of them required a curved front but I have done those as well. DJP

This Knowledge Base Help article may help you: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00924/customizing-a-material.html DJP

I was able to import this Column library into Architectural but not Suite, sorry. I suppose you could make this out of separate symbol objects combining column objects and resizing them, give it a try. DJP Columns.calibz

That is caused when the rafter depth is greater than the fascia depth. You can correct that in the "Structure Tab" of each existing roof plane or as well in Default Settings - Roof - Structure Tab" but changing the Defaults after the fact of building roofs has no effect on existing roof planes, existing ones must be done one at a time. DJP

As Law has demonstrated above, the other persons you sought help from were not experts as you have said. LawB10 has his settings correct and understands where they go to get a result, your settings are off and so you do not have what you want. Those settings are shown in the Build Roof dialog-Roof Styles tab. Once you fully read the Users Guide you should then know proper general procedure. The settings are fully explained in the Reference Manual under the "Roofs" Section. Learn the settings, where they are and what they do. You have already seen the results when the settings are wrong. DJP

Post a copy of your plan for useful advice. DJP

I have completed a You Tube video of "fixing" your plan in Suite 2017 and in Pro 2017 so you can clearly the limitations of Suite. I am sorry but it is what it is. DJP

Call and sort this out with Chief Architect Sales. They will help you. DJP

Like a lot of things in this software getting the right Default Settings is the Key. You can just look for the sections in the Reference Manual that cover foundation defaults and your "Main Layer" in your exterior walls must match the setting in your Foundation walls. I assume currently that they are not set in agreement with each other. DJP

You will have to upgrade to Chief Premier to have that ability. Home Designer does not have that capability. I suppose if you were really intent to have that, you would have to make the crown mold object at the correct angle in Sketch Up and then import that custom object into your software. DJP

you need to reprogram your image via its dialog: on the Texture tab of that image you check mark "stretch to fit" that way it should as you resize it then display just a single instance of the image. DJP

I would suggest that you do not use the material eyedropper. Instead I would open the dialog box of the intended wall only, go to its "Materials Tab" where you will find a setting for the exterior wall or interior wall. That is the recommended way to do this. The eyedropper has four "Modes of Use" and it sounds like you used the "Room Mode" instead of the Component Mode which would have achieved your objective. Finding out how to find and use tools is in detail described in your "Reference Manual". Until you are willing to really understand how to use your software it will remain "mysterious". The answer is to make yourself provide and use time for detailed study and practice only if you are willing. DJP

I favor in Pro setting up my plan views one at a time. One layer set up for structural plan view. Then send to layout and print to PDF. Then arranging my layers on and off for an Electric plan view per floor, sending to layout and then printing a layout for each floor with that set of layers on or off as is appropriate and then print to PDF. When you use just one .plan file you only have one plan to edit if your client wants to make changes. Otherwise if you go the multiple plan route as Elovia suggests then you have multiple plan files to edit so they all agree with the new edits. DJP

I am sorry I attempted to make two videos, one of step by step how I created the attached file and then a second video speaking of the steps necessary to do what I did. This example contains a lot of guesses due to you not providing essential facts but I hope it does help you. DJP Debbie447.plan

One other thing about layers is that there is a "Display Options" dialog for Plan views, and each different camera views. There is not one for all views but rather there are several different ones that control what shows (is visible) or not. DJP

I rather doubt it. Such features as custom layers, layer control etc exist in Chief Premier already and for many years. If you really require the best, most full featured Architectural software then Premier is what you should acquire. I am not being mean spirited, it is merely a fact. DJP

Take a look at this video of me working on your plan, it still need a lot of adjusting and editing. The main problem is a lack of data and views of the intended house: DJP

One should also look at the "Roof Styles" tab of the "Build Roof Dialog" where tutorials exist for each roof type. DJP

You can make a copy of your plan and remove unnecessary objects (Not walls, windows or doors, invisible walls or interior walls). You can remove all furniture, fixtures and cabinets so as to lighten the file and have enough of it to address the roof issues you are having. or you can open a free Dropbox account, upload your file as it to a folder you make in dropbox and then post a link here to that folder, either way will work. DJP

I assume that you have Pro so what you need to now do is build framing. DJP

In Premier but not any Home Designer title. DJP

Here is a short You Tube video with a solution to your problem: The auto roof generator has its limitations, so to get past those limitations you manually edit as I have done. David

What software do you have specifically? You might post a copy of your plane file and a picture or sketch of your existing home. DJP

"Designer 2014" communicates absolutely nothing, you have Essentials 2014, Suite 2014 , Architectural 2014, Interior Designer 2014 or HD Pro 2014. In most of those titles you can do what you want by default, what do you have exactly? DJP

You would first have to lean how to create a custom pattern file (.pat) and then learn where to place it in .my documents/your software's name. I have written .pat files and I do not recommend wasting such time for so little return. You might try creating a room poly line manually and see if your options increase but then you forever after have that poly line to deal with. DJP