DavidJPotter

Turn ON the framing layer for Roof Rafters in plan view, select and then rotate the object, manually. DJP

The software is rather robotic and mechanical in that it ONLY follows its settings and NOTHING else. If the settings are wrong then the model is then wrong. Without more visual data or a copy of your plan file, nothing more can much be said. In Architectural you cannot control such things as framing defaults nor can those be manually edited as can be in Home Designer Pro, If something approaching perfection is required consider upgrading to Home Designer Pro which allows you greater control over the outcome of your construct. DJP

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Check this data out on the Home Designer Website: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/search/?default_tab=all&q=split+level+floors&page=1 DJP

"S" stands for "Step Marker". A Step Marker indicates a change in height within the perimeter of a foundation stem wall height. That data as Eric pointed out is defined in your Reference Manual and can be turned on or off via the Foundation Specification Dialog found in Default Settings, please, do take a look. DJP

You can upgrade to Home Designer Pro, Pro provides the ability to have different materials on roof planes and other customizing and editing of individual roof planes. It is up to you how important this is to you. DJP

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In the latest version they changed the name of polyline driveways and sidewalks simply to "Driveway Area" (in older versions they were two types, quite similar called polyline driveway or polyline sidewalk. Now they are now consolidated as "Driveway Area" (same exact tool and outcome). Driveway Area can be used to create sidewalks or driveways or roads as you wish and edit them/shape them however you wish using the "Break Line Tool and the Straight line to ARC tool", check it out, please. DJP

I rarely use spline or straight driveway or sidewalk objects due to what you are complaining of (pre-programmed limitations). I use the polyline sidewalk or driveway polyline objects as they are more customizable using the "Break Line" tool and straight line to ARC tool to reshape them as I wish. When you find a tool with limited capabilities you keep looking until you find something that does what you need done. DJP

If rebooting the software does not bring back proper functioning, then I suggest you call Tech Support or post a ticket to see if they can help. In over 25 years of my use of this software I have never had this as a problem, sorry. DJP

From the Factory "Grid Snaps" are ON. That is the first thing I turn off when starting a plan (see image for "Edit - Default Settings - Plan"). Even with Object Snaps off, these have separate controls as you have seen. DJP

With Architectural you go-to tool for that kind of create is found under Cabinet Tools - Custom Backsplash. Using an elevation camera you can then, using the Custom Backsplash tool to draw a closed polyline that is editable and adjustable to whatever shape and material you wish, check it out! DJP

Without more detailed information as to the specifics of your "Attic" room, let me say this: Like the help article said, you do not "move the roof over the highest floor up". If you are making the attic into a room you merely turn OFF "Auto Build Roofs" and then create a new floor without regenerating the existing roof. The space left under that existing roof is what can be used of an Attic conversion. If you need more head-height in the converted attic room, you then have to tear off the existing roof and build a higher one to accommodate more living space. You control the plate height of the new roof system by your "Finished Ceiling" height that you set for the second floor, that height determines the new height of the new roof planes. DJP

You can enclose a space with railing walls and then what you then select as the "Room Name" tends to establish what kind of room or space it is. If you name it Deck then it is programmed to look and be structurally like a "Deck". If you name it "Porch" it will by default have a 4" concrete slab floor. The Names of spaces in Home Designer are not just "names", rather they are also programming commands that determine the floor structure and whether or not the space has a roof and ceiling or not (settings of the Structure Tab). This software has no judgement or consciousness, it is the End User who, via study and practice who supplies the guidance to the software tool. DJP

Garage floors are commonly slanted downward with the lowest point at the garage door threshold. Chief and HD don't do slanted floors by default, so if the lot is flat, I set terrain building pad at 7" (A common requirement is to have at least 6" of reveal of the foundation from grade to bottom of exterior finishes). and I set the Garage Floor to -6". This places the garage floor 1" above the terrian and a driveway object are by default 1" thick, which places the surface of the driveway at the bottom of the garage door. You can do as you wish, no competent Builder is going to build it wrong just because you modeled it wrong. DJP

Here is a recent thread posted on Chief Talk about sources for downloading potential 3D symbols for import: https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/topic/34944-3d-models-for-download/?tab=comments#comment-271423 DJP

Create it in the free online Sketch Up app and then import as a symbol, is the only way I can think of. This sort of custom 3D object can be natively created in Chief Premier but not in any Home Designer title. Sketch Up is free and easy to learn, especially for something as straight forward as the shape you need. DJP

I suggest you speak to Chief Architect Sales or Tech Support about this. In my over twenty five years I have NEVER used an .svg file, no Chief Architect or Home Designer software will export to or import that file format presently as far as I know . Sorry. This software is able to create vector files (.svg files are also vector files) but one would have to select plot lines for the view as it also does pixel based files as well that could not be used as vector (line based) files DJP

"Edit - Default Settings - Text - Text Styles - Default Label Style". DJP

Copy it, alter it in an image editing app like Photoshop and then import as a custom material, sometimes you have to work a bit harder to get what you want... DJP

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On all plan files or just a particular one? Have you tried uninstalling it and then reinstalling it? Worth a try DJP

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1969/framing-an-overbuild-using-rafters.html I am unsure if this feature existed in HD Pro 2020, you can call Chief Sales for a definitive answer. DJP