DavidJPotter

Here is a You Tube video on what Mick is suggesting: https://youtu.be/AQhlfLkkaxM DJP

Please do not bother exporting to images, when blown up they will all pixelate badly. What I recommend to you is to download "CutePDF" (it is free but during the installation be careful not to also install the inevitable bloat-ware that comes with free software). A PDF document is "vector based" and as such will not pixelate but will remain sharp at any size. With a PDF printer you can then print to a 24" x 18" sized document and take that to Kinko's and then get professional grade results. I have been using Cute PDF for about 10 years I just checked and Pro 2016 has a "Save as PDF" option so you do not even have to download and install anything else (brand new feature!!!). Save as PDF and be happy. DJP

I rarely draw in shingles either. DJP

In Architectural you would have to make or find a texture image file and then import it as a custom material but it can be done it is just a lot more work than in HD Pro or Chief. DJP I also checked this in Architectural 2016 and the results were the same as 2012

When I get such errors I always click on "Send Report" and then I FORGET ABOUT IT! In older versions such an occurrence was often catastrophic but for the last several versions you just see the error, make the report by clicking on "Send report" an nothing else happens. Anything critical and repeating gets included into future update patches. Nothing really for you to do or worry about. Software as complicated and sophisticated as Home Designer will be productive of occasional generated errors (the makers cannot predict all possible miscues we can inflict while using it), thus the occasional error messages. DJP

I intended to make a video of me solving your problem in Architectural but while doing so found out that what I had in mind does not exist in Architectural 2012 ( it does exist in any version of Home Designer Pro or Chief Premier, sorry) https://youtu.be/cGxnpntN4Ak DJP

Here is me fumbling around with how to do a cross section-wall typical in HD Pro 2016 http://youtu.be/2kNAYZ-XVlY DJP

Here is what I did with your file in Suite (I accidentally opened it in Suite 2016 but the tools and procedures used are identical to 2015): http://youtu.be/tMNAOH0sQs8 DJP

What you are observing is merely how the software operates (it creates attic walls automatically). There is no "reason" for this other than that is the way they programmed it to function. See this short You Tube Video done in Suite 10 please: http://youtu.be/lVy6-m-2ImY DJP

Software is a mechanical device (it acts robotically), when your basement walls do not perfectly match the first floor walls, even just a little, the software sees a "hole" and covers it with roof planes. It is as simple as that. DJP

This is what I found out: https://youtu.be/3G-8rpLyFAw DJP

What kind of roof do you want (be specific please) over the addition? DJP

When I open your plan nothing unusual happens, no problem exporting. That would lead me to believe that there is a problem with your PC or Mac and or its hardware. DJP

Post a copy of your plan please or at least post some image screen captures do we can see what you are seeing. DJP

Call Tech Support (Pacific Time office hours), they are the professionals in that area. DJP

Here is the You Tube Tutorial on how to make custom wall types in HD Pro :http://youtu.be/RbGzONRkj0w DJP

What I left out of my prior post is that in Home Designer Pro you take a wall type that you are NOT already using in the plan, and make that wall type layered just like your exterior walls for camera views but with a different name, the same for interior walls, (you take another wall type and delete all of its layers except for framing and sheetrock) then with a different wall type that looks like interior 4 and or siding 4 you can change the fill on the new walls. I will do a You Tube video demonstrating the entire cycle of action. DJP

This short You Tube Tutorial should help sort out dimensions for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6mra1PpSL8 DJP

The way I do it is to place a closed poly-line (same shape as the columns) and place it in the same space as the column, then hit the "copy" command while just the poly-line is selected. Toggle down to the floor below or above and then hit "Paste, Hold Position" (found under the "Edit - Paste" menu). The copy-pasted poly-line then represents the column in plan view on as many floors as I require. DJP

Here is a short You Tube Video of some solutions: http://youtu.be/rdB2m-BZSFs DJP

Dave, the way I do remodeling plans is to first create a relationally correct "as-built" plan file and then "save-as" a copy of that and add my addition. I end up with two files. In the addition plan file you can change the fill pattern of the new walls to show in plan view what is new and existing. You just use the tools at hand and get creative. DJP

It sounds like you need to learn how to create a dormer manually. The dormer tool is limited to creating a dormer within the boundaries of a single roof plane and often times the geometry of the dormer exceeds that size, These Knowledge Base help articles will help and explain what you must learn to do: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/search/?q=manual+dormer&submit.x=7&submit.y=4&default_tab=support&site=chief_architect&client=chief_architect&restrict=ChiefArchitect&proxystylesheet=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chiefarchitect.com%2Fsearch%2Fchiefsearch_stylesheet.xslt&output=xml_no_dtd DJP

Make sure the software being shown is what you have (not all video tutorials apply to all Home Designer titles). I know Pro can block items, I am not sure about Architectural, Suite or Interiors. The command icon appears as a choice in the "Edit Toolbar" only when you have objects that can be "blocked" together (otherwise the command icon will never be seen). The "Edit Toolbar" only appears when an object is "selected", when an object is "deselected" the Edit Toolbar then vanishes/ Each time it appears on screen, it will contain all the applicable command icons for that selected object or objects. If the block command icon is not present then the selected objects are not "blockable". DJP

I also opened this plan in my copy of Chief Premier 7 and got EXACTLY the same results, so I believe it is plan based. I occasionally get some "Z" fighting but NOTHING like this (this is very unusual). That is why I suggested she send a copy to Tech Support. I could not adjust the Z fighting out even in Premier! DJP

I opened your plan on my PC. I got the same results you did using the dollhouse overview and full overview camera types. when viewed with the full camera, floor camera and elevation cameras the views are as anyone would expect (just fine). I could not find out why this is so (the kinds of visual adjustments you can make in Architectural are few), my advice is to send a copy of this plan to Chief Architect Tech Support for them to figure out. I can tell you put a lot of work into this plan and I am sure you would like a real, useful answer. I opened your plan in Architectural 2015 and made a video of me doing so, I am sorry I could not do better for you: http://youtu.be/60_YMVhNj_g DJP