DavidJPotter

Vector view is what I use 99% of the time, you can do as you wish. DJP

This You Tube video may help you: https://youtu.be/cKNYRFvTqsA DJP

"Corbels" found in the Library Browser under "Architectural - Millwork - Corbels" DJP

Dormers have a dialog box like any other object. That dialog box has a "Walls" tab where you can select the type of wall you desire. If you properly set Wall Defaults to the wall type in Edit Default Settings - Wall - Exterior Wall and set the exterior material of the wall in Wall Defaults - Exterior Wall and in Edit Default Settings - Materials - Exterior Wall to the same desired outer layer (exterior siding) then and only then have you done your job properly. The software is merely a mechanical device that requires your control and guidance in terms of your intended outcome. DJP

A material is defined by two separate file types per material 1. is a .pat file or pattern file for visuals in vector views 2. For render views a material has a texture file (usually a bit map image file like .jpeg, .png or .bmp file formats) You can find the precise procedure in your Reference Manual, the section is about "Custom Materials", how to create and import them. In order to have a circular pattern the texture or image would have to show a single instance of the masonry pattern and so seamlessly repeat itself across 3D faces or surfaces. One would have to learn how to write .pat files (such technology exists on the "WWW", I used to know how to write simple .pat files but have since forgotten how to, if you are determined enough you can do that as well). If you can find an image of a single instance of your intended texture (often times an image from a masonry company website can be used but it must be properly trimmed so it repeats across 3D surfaces seamlessly. This is about all I know about custom materials. DJP Here is a video about making seamless texture files:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2xR3WQDSZc

Brian Spector asked me to repair his roof system and shared the file so I could do so. He created the design in Architectural 2015 and I repaired it in Chief X6. When your floor plan is asymmetric your resulting roof system will be also and sometimes that is beyond the capabilities of anything than Pro or Chief. The video is of me editing Brian's plan file: https://youtu.be/ZkMd20pWUJw DJP Roof Help.plan

Here is a You Tube video of me looking over and editing your plan: https://youtu.be/yDUb1ibz3Pg DJP Floor Plan.plan

That just indicates that the grade beam (footing) has been notched for a door, it is an automatic function of the software. Unless you are a State Licensed Structural Engineer and thus licensed by the State to draw actual foundation plans, don't worry about minor details like that. DJP

This is not rocket science, just open your software and give it a try until you figure it out by trial and error (that is the best way, anyway). Read the data you have and then try that, until you get the outcome you want. DJP

I reported this as a bug to Tech Support. They told me it is now "logged" and they are looking into it. DJP

You Create a layout file for each printed page that you require (Floor Plan.layout, elevations.layout, electrical plan.layout etc). DJP

I do not see any windows in your posted image at all. Do you mean "doors", the doors with a bookcase in front of them? DJP

Kat, thanks for the correction! DJP

Do what Kat suggests for sure. DJP

Architectural does not have the ability to lock any layers, sorry. DJP

I did a sketch of your intended design in Suite and then in Pro so you can see the difference in capabilities of the two programs. I think you will be much happier with Home Designer Pro as opposed to anything else: https://youtu.be/GosnMg2IuSE DJP

The video you are referring to was done in Chief Architect Premier and can be done with Home Designer Pro but NOT Home Designer Suite. Whether or not your job can or cannot be done in Suite is open to question (I do not fully understand just from your post exactly what you want to do). It does not sound complex but in order for us to help you Eric and I must completely understand your intentions to determine whether or not what you want to do can be done in Suite. DJP

Only Home Designer Pro, Chief Premier and Chief Interiors have that functionality, sorry. DJP

Read the knowledge Base help article that Kat posted above. Read it, understand it and then implement it. DJP

I did verify that two windows can be made into a corner mitered glass window in X8 but three does not work. I reported it to Tech Support as a bug or feature request. I will share what they say when I get a response. I think Eric already noticed this earlier and I verified it in X8 and Pro 2017 as a short fall of function. DJP

I did find this Knowledge Base help article:https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00673/creating-corner-windows.html At the top of the articles it states that the articles only applies to Chief Premier and Chief Interiors so cannot be done in any Home Designer titles, sorry. DJP

Eric has the right idea, really learn how all the tools work and their settings and practice following your study sessions. Once you really know what you have you then develop the judgement of knowing what the software can do and how you can get something emulated no matter the apparent limitations of the software. The main limitations are self generated and not actually "real". I am completely self taught, I never attended a class or seminar. I have taught seminars for Chief Architect in Idaho, New Mexico and Texas none the less so I know what I am talking about. Is it "easy"? Well name anything worthwhile that was "easy". If you want to learn, you can. The place to start is the PDF Reference Manual and PDF Users Guide that install with your software found under the "Help" menu. DJP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuEeA3zaC48

Home Designer Suite is sold for $99.00 (you get what you pay for). Home Designer Pro sells for $495.00 and with it you can make the floor platform thickness whatever you wish by default settings. Blaming the software is not the answer, if you want exactitude, you pay for it or you make due with what you have. DJP

I tried and tried but like Eric, was unsuccessful getting the corner window to work every time, I got it to work about one out of ten try's, so I consider it a rather buggy situation worthy of a bug fix, it should not be as hard as it currently is to do. DJP

Using LawB10's file I did the following video: DJP PS: I did not think of this while making the video but the floor of the porch could be lowered as well since the raising of the porch ceiling has a vanishing point.