DavidJPotter

You can find and read the "Reference Manual", it is found under the "Help" menu and is searchable by subject of interest. Basic data on auto-generating roofs of various types can be found in the "Build Roofs" dialog "Roof Styles" tab. DJP

I downloaded and opened your plan in Essentials 2016 with no problems. You should contact Tech Support to acquire specific help solving your unwanted performance. DJP

IF your software has the command " Edit - Edit Area - All Floors" then you can use that to copy-paste your drawing to another plan. What software do you have (its name and version number)? DJP

3D Warehouse is the most commonly used. It is unusual for me to need other objects but when I do, I merely "search" for them. There are sites that offer 3D symbols of actual objects that a company sells but they are specific to what that company sells. If you search, you will find whatever is there to find. DJP

What you can do is to create an image file that looks like such a sign. Save that image. Import that image as a "Custom Material" into your Library Browser Once there you can assign it as a "Materials" to sign like object (such as a soffit) set to "Stretch to Fit" and then the soffit will display your "sign" custom material. This Knowledge Base Help Article may also be of help. DJP

You enclose a space with walls, then to control the ceiling height you: 1. for the entire floor or its majority you go to "Edit - Default Settings - Floor - Structure Tab - and set the ceiling height you desire or 2. for a single room you open the "Room Specification Dialog box - Structure Tab and then set the "Ceiling Height" to your desired height for that selected space DJP

If you are asking relative to "available in Home Designer or Chief Architect Premier" you can create and add materials for your use using any scalable .jpeg image. As look as it looks like the material you want, it will serve. DJP

This You Tube video might be of help: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4u61Q1oUr2A Terrain tools and procedures are pretty much identical from Essentials to Chief Premier DJP

I have done some 3D plumbing and HVAC for a couple of projects. Those were highly specialized displays for illustrative purposes (one was a 3D cross section of a swimming pool showing all the structural layers of the pool in a 3D cross section done in Chief Architect Premier). It is "do able" in Pro but would be very time consuming with some help from Sketch Up. The fact is if you really want to do something bad enough, there will be a way to create it but I would also want to be well paid for that bit of creativity. As a designer you need to make sure you have allowed enough space for HVAC and Plumbing to be run and leave the specifics to those licensed to do so. Fully 3D HVAC and Plumbing are just not necessary to build structures. DJP

Here is a You Tube video of me doing several types of turrets in Pro 2016: https://youtu.be/0dn3-xJ0pqo DJP

It looks like Kat and Mick have answered your question pretty well. I just uploaded this You Tube Video to make sure: https://youtu.be/UCXX2CoijRs DJP

You are always welcome to seek help from Tech Support (they know all and see all), as well. DJP

Any Chief Architect product is a steal compared to maintaining a license of ArchiCAD (ArchiCAD is a fine program though). I have never used it but many Chief Architect Premier users who used to use it say Chief is easier to use and learn than ArchiCAD. DJP

I do not have a Mac either but I cannot imagine that that procedure would be radically different on a Mac (the procedures would be identical, Macs and PC's both have dialog boxes and input boxes). You change the x and y values of the pattern and texture to resize the appearance of a material on 3D faces. No other method is possible. DJP

Are you asking about changing the apparent material size of a tile material of something else please? DJP

Kat, as usual you are right, in that Architectural does not have the Transform-replicate tool as Pro does. Mick has the precise correct answer above for you I believe. DJP

The largest size you can print to using HD Suite 2016 is Arch "B" - 12" x 18" I have never used "Print Model" in my twenty years + use of Chief or HD so I cannot say, I would recommend you call "Sales" and ask them, they know. NO Suite is not capable of creating annotated, scaled elevations and cross sections like Architectural and Pro. The main limitation of Suite IMHO is having to set up roofs via settings instead of HD Pro's manual roof tools which then limits your choices relative to roof design. In my opinion Home Designer Pro is the way to go, it has the most choices (freedom) and largest paper size choices. You get what you pay for. DJP Software by itself does nothing but take up space on a hard drive, you should think of it as a tool only that you use after learning how to. The software does NOTHING on its own. The more you spend, the more function you purchase in terms of ability

Vectors and arcs can be described in one of two ways, for instance a vector can be defined (stated) by North and East or South and West, Arc's are also capable of being expressed in terms of their Arc Angle which can be stated for instance as +45 degrees or as -315 degrees. Geometry was not my strength in school either. You can also turn on " Edit Poly-Line Parts" command and then select the errant Arc and then reflect it vertically or horizontally using the transform-replicate tool. Not being able to see your problem, I can only guess in terms of a workable solution. DJP

In the Display Options dialog you can control whether or not ANYTHING shows or not by checking or unchecking "Disp" in the dialog.That dialog is found under "Tools" Menu "Display Options". Read the Reference Manual section that describes it as it is key to visual control of all objects per view type. DJP

Need to know what title and version of the software you are using, how "simulated" you want your pole barn, inside and out. Obviously you can see that it can be done thanks to Eric and Jo_Ann but keep in mind that you control things and not the software, you use the software to obtain a wanted result. DJP

Here is a You Tube video of me scaling an imported scan of a site plan that may be helpful to you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hncV8yl-ND0 The native scale in Home Designer is 1" = 1" DJP

Check these out please: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/search/?q=gazebo&submit.x=0&submit.y=0&default_tab=all&site=chief_architect&client=chief_architect&restrict=ChiefArchitect&proxystylesheet=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chiefarchitect.com%2Fsearch%2Fchiefsearch_stylesheet.xslt&output=xml_no_dtd DJP

What you describe are regular CAD 2D lines, what you need to use is found under "Terrain - Elevation Lines - Splines - Regions etc. Only those objects are pre programmed to modulate terrain. DJP

You should set your terrain to be cut out by the building (setting found in the "Terrain Specification Dialog") or draw a terrain feature around the stairwell and designate it a "hole in terrain", either method will then remove the unwanted terrain. DJP

Stair objects (stairs and landings) each have a "Dialog with a Fill Tab". This can be set to "no fill transparent" and then anything under such objects cant then be clearly seen in plan views. DJP