DavidJPotter

Between settings in "Display Options" for the camera view used and settings for a "Doll House" camera view by checking and unchecking various named layers you can get the view that you want. It will not happen by chance but rather by studied choice. DJP

Not really, what you observed is merely a plan that is not finished. The software is rather complex and sophisticated and a lot of times if you just press on, apparent problems like yours just "go away" as part of the creative process. Oft times, just pressing on, intending success the while is all that is necessary along with related study and proper creative procedure but in the end your intention to succeed is the senior factor. DJP

How much cantilever will be determined by the strength of the intended support members (best left to a Licensed Structural Engineer to calculate accurately). Otherwise, Eric has indicated a proper solution (naming the deck as a balcony), naming a space "deck" has automatic and in this case unwanted results. Name the space "Balcony" and have an Engineer review your plans so the proper structural strength can then be applied. DJP

You can freely move any object by depressing and holding down the "Control Key" while dragging an object and the object thus moved will freely move. DJP

No, commonly you use only one or two (for remodeling projects-before and after) plan files and as many .layout files aws you intend printed pages. I am not making this up, it is laid out in your Reference Manual, you should carefully read it instead of guessing or asking others. DJP

There are no "forms" but there are "Default Settings - Framing" where you can assign metal studs and metal joists. There are dropdown menus and material settings (no forms). DJP

"Print - Center Sheet" if you intend to print directly from a plan file view, though the usual way with Pro is to print from a .layout file where you can arrange and scale several views on a single page. There is additional choices to be made under "Print - Scale to fit and Drawing Sheet Set Up" that you should study up in the Reference Manual before using. DJP

Each .layout page equals one printed-laid out page per file, so a set of plans would require multiple .layout files (floor plan.layout, second floor.layout, electrical plan.layout, elevations.layout etc) as many layout files as you require to represent your plan pages. DJP

"Edit - Default Settings - Dimension Defaults" DJP

To expand on Eric's answer, such mismatches are caused by differing pitches of roofs coming together in concert with the geometry of your plan view wall layout. Also varying ceiling heights can also contribute to that outcome. You can change your roof pitch settings or wall geometry or as Eric said, upgrade to Home Designer Pro for greater control and choice relative to roof design. DJP

If your software has the feature (You did not share that data with us) over the wall you wish to have a "Full Return" (Rabbit Run) you open that "wall's dialog box-Roof Tab" and find the "Roof return" section and there will be check-boxes for various types of roof returns including a full return. I am not sure if all Home Designer Titles have this feature, take a look. DJP

If you are using the "Floor Camera" it, by default excludes anything in the plan file except the floor on which it is created. That is the most usual result using that camera tool. There are other, possible causes like improper Room Specification Dialog - Structure Tab settings but without your plan file to study, that remains a ""maybe" only. DJP

I suppose this is rather snide but the idea of a square-spiral staircase is a paradox of terms (all spiral stairs are round by default-spiral means round). There are spiral stair objects in your Library Browser under "Stairs" but to duplicate the stairs in your posted image would require doing exactly as you did using separate objects, this is also true in Chief Architect Permier. DJP

You can import a scan or image of your drawing and then scale it in Pro, then sketch over the lines using 2D CAD tools. Not a job I would enjoy but doable. In order to 3D model a plan you really need to know ceiling heights per room-floor, four elevations and second floor platform thickness data. Using Pro for 2D only drawing is like using the Space Shuttle to go across town but one must do what one must, I suppose. DJP

The object in your posted image appears to have been created in Chief Architect Premier (Pro has no ability to create such custom objects). That being the case, you will not be able to alter or edit such custom objects created In Chief Architect Premier, sorry. DJP

Have some Chief Architect User open, program your plan file and then return it to you, It only takes a moment to do. DJP

Terrain as a feature was added to the basic program in 2000 AD, so one sets the terrain as an object to the structure's "Floor Zero" of the first floor. The Terrain Plane has a dialog and in that dialog there is an input box (Building Pad) where you can raise or lower the terrain relative to your structure. Read this Knowledge Base Help Article for more data> DJP

I have Home designer versions 10-2016 on my Windows 10 PC, they all work fine. DJP

Not my area of expertise but I can say that the quality of 3D objects from 3D Warehouse is a wild variable, the only constant is that they are free of cost. I usually download several candidates for a purpose and discard the ones that I find to be of poor quality, it seems to come with that turf DJP

I do not think such curtain symbols exist, if they exist they would be here ( https://3dlibrary.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?r=site/library&search=&x=0&y=0&x=true&soft_family_2=2&hid_soft_family_2=2&utm_source=&utm_medium=&utm_campaign= ) and or you can do a "search" at 3D Warehouse where you might find a usable symbol there you can download for free (no guarantees as to quality) DJP

Pro 2016 has a "Hatch Wall" tool where you can use it to mark walls of your choice with a hatched fill. It is found under the "Build Menu - Wall - Hatch Wall", the hatching can be turned on or off in "Display Options - Wall - Hatch Wall" after you mark the hatch walls. This is explained in the Reference Manual under the section covering Wall Tools - Hatch Wall tool. Where you might want to show where demo walls used to be, you use 2D CAD in your as built copy of the plan and then "copy-paste-hold position" those outline CAD lines into your remodel plan, usually using a "dashed" line style. Adding a text annotation with an arrow is also a good idea to further delineate what they represent. DJP Also see this Knowledge Base Article about "Showing Demolition Walls" please

Newer users of this software often have unrealistic expectations. The software does what it does and it is up to the end user to figure out how to create a useful result. This takes time and patience in many cases. I think Eric has offered you some reasonable solutions. Keep in mind that the software needs to communicate graphically what you intend building professionals to make an actuality (No one will ever "Live" in a virtual, digital structure, it is merely a guide to others who will create it in the real world). As long as your creation does that, it is then successful. The software does not do "perfect", only skilled, experienced end users ever do that when it occurs. DJP

In order to have finished "Attic space" one would have to have created a second floor (this software does not allow actual "finished" attic space). Your post currently leaves too much to guess about, please post a copy of your plan file for further, specific help. Perhaps a crude sketch of a cross section of what you intend would be quite helpful as well to anyone who wants to help you. DJP

The key to getting the dormer tool to work is how it is set in its defaults before commanding a dormer appear. The geometry must be set to fit on the roof slope where you want the dormer to appear. Try different default settings until you find a combination of height, width and roof type that works for you (It can be done, no matter what you have, the only "no-no" or limitation is that the dormer must NOT be placed across the edge of a roof, rather it must be fully within its parent roof plane to form). DJP

No, sorry, calbiz files will not import into such an old version. The current library files are programmed to work in 2012, 2014 and 2016 versions. Not all library files are formatted for all titles, the webpage states what versions they will work in. DJP