DavidJPotter

Architectural 2021 also has a "Wall Covering Tab in the Wall Specification Dialog. It also has a "Pony Wall" tool that can be customized in Default Settings - Wall and the option mentioned by Eric about the Custom Backsplash tool. All function perfectly once learned. DJP

Help us, help you by telling those who might help you what software you are using and its Version Number. Post a copy of your plan file as well. DJP

I would try using the "Custom Backsplash Tool" to emulate the trusses, this requires of you some "thinking out of the box' but does work. The steel plates at the joints can be created in Sketch Up and imported (No reason not to make the trusses in Sketch Up and then import as symbols. One would just have to be precise with their measurements so the imported symbols fit with little adjustment. DJP

That is what I thought after seeing the geometry of your home in the first place but let me say this: upgrading to Pro only provides additional tools for roof editing and designing, those tools must be learned, studied and mastered in order to then empower you to then do what needs doing, the software by itself is merely mechanical and robotic. It is you who must add the guidance and competence to actually create a product that you desire. DJP

Natively in AutoCAD and similarly, in Chief Premier & HD Pro, the plan view drawing scale is 1' = 1' or 1mm = 1mm. One can export directly from a plan view at the native scale of 1" = 1" but both Chief/Home Designer & AutoCAD can also export at a paper scale. In AutoCAD, you have what is called "Paper Space" where drawings are laid out for printing to a piece of paper. In Chief Premier/Home Designer you have a ".layout" file for the purpose of scaling drawings to fit on a piece of paper. What I wish to point out is that exports from AutoCAD et al can be at "Real-World Scale" (1' = 1' ) or that same drawing could have been exported/shared from a layout file or Paper Space and thus arrive to you at an unknown scaling. Wo what I do in such a case is to import the drawing. Then using Chief's/Home Designer's dimension tools to check the accuracy of the imported drawing. If too small you marquee-select the drawing import and then carefully calculate, based upon your measurements how much larger the drawing must be "resized" and then apply that "resize" factor to up-size the selected drawing using the "Transform-Replicate" dialog tool - "Resize" input box. Then by trial and error, checking your results each time with dimension tools until you get the proper scale applied to the imported drawing from AutoCAD. DJP

Copy=paste only copies the objects but NOT the settings of the room, the current settings for each balcony are obviously different, opening their dialog boxes - Structure Tab will tell you what is what and indicate what to do to make them twins again. DJP

Most new users do not realize that the "Display Options" accessed while in plan view is only one of eleven different "Display Options" dlaogs. Each Camera Type and plan view each has their own "Display Options" dialog. So while in a wall elevation or Cross Section/Elevation Camera open its Display Options Dialog and check to display "Cabinets, Labels" and then you are there! DJP

DJP

Presently, neither Chief Premier or any Home Designer software can dimension in orthographic or perspective cameras as in Sketch Up. Dimensions are available only in plan views , wall elevations, and exterior elevation views. DJP

You can make the cabinet front look like your intended cabinet by making the lower space appear to be a tall drawer, then add text saying it is a tilt-hopper. There is NO NEED to have a fully functional cabinet in 3D. Yes, this can easily be done in Chief but at over $3,000.00 you should expect such service. Graphic communication is what any of this software is for, why we use it. Most Builders, Contractors and Sub Contractors are used to 2D drawings, 3D drawings are for Non-Professionals to use to visualize new creations, the people who actually create new structures do not need this ability for them to understand. DJP

Not since 1994. DJP

Please post a sketch or photo of an existing, similar roof so others who might wish to help you, then can. BTW this software is more often used fo "Model" roof systems as opposed to "designing" them, I guess either definition works. HD Pro has manual roof tools that allow you to manually place roof planes at differing heights and locations. Auto-Build roof with its pre-settings is a VERY limited way to Model er design roof systems, especially non-symmetric ones. DJP

DJP

You make them "independent" manually by manually setting the floors of the secondary structure 2' lower manually, per floor. The main structure then follows preset defaults and in the secondary structure you set its floor and ceiling heights manually 2' lower or higher as the case may be in your case. In such a case it is YOU who does the manual settings for the exceptional, secondary structure. DJP

What, exactly do you mean by the terms "portico and wrap-around skirt roof"? Are your porticos curved or square? Can you post an image of something similar (pictures are more valuable than words).? DJP

If you place a minimum of two elevation lines at different values the software will plot an even gradient between those two values. DJP

You are merely running into a pre-programmed robotic message from the software. Change the "Deck above a non deck room" to "Balcony" and the message will then go away, nothing more, nothing less. DJP

as a workaround, you could cover the unwanted brick material using a custom backsplash object but in elevation views, you would also see the edge lines of the custom backsplash. I can think of no "perfect" solution for your problem, sorry. When dealing with a computer program, it has pre=programmed limitations that are hard to get around sometimes. A software program cannot be made to suit everyone anywhere for any and all conditions. DJP

Your existing walls, structurally, do NOT match in any way the addition walls and THAT is what is causing the unwanted artifacts is all I am saying. DJP

I am confused why you did what you did with the wall types (one wall type that shows brick in plan view and the other that does not show brick in plan view but DOES show in camera views). You could use the "Custom Backsplash Tool" found under "Cabinet Tools" to cover up the unwanted brick spillover but if you were to set up your wall types so the "brick layers of each wall type match in depth you then might not then get the unwanted results you currently are getting. Generally speaking, your wall types should follow what exists in the "real world". a brick layer that is a fraction of a inch thick is not very "Real" IMHO. DJP

I downloaded your plan file, opened it on my PC desktop, and carefully looked it over, inside and out. I found no unsightly wall connections at all, what so ever. Si you may have a problem with your own machine or video card. DJP

The wall over which you wish to have a gable instead of the hip is to "temporarily" draw that wall from one side of your floor plan to the other. Build roofs again and then turn OFF "Auto Build Roofs" thereafter. Then remove the "temporary" wall you used to bet the gable to build. The "Temporary" wall is for the purpose of communicating your intention to the software. DJP

They are probably in your "Downloads" folder. Open Pro, Go to the Main toolbar "Library", then select Install Library files, then navigate to your downloads folder, select them and then click "OK". Only then will they install. DJP

You manually use the dimension tools and draw the dimensions if your version supplies them. If you create them manually you can then "see" them, that is how that works. DJP

I am sorry to report that you are as we say "SOL", no Home Designer software has the capability to do anything other than to sketch over AutoCAD 2D drawings. The 2D AutoCAD stuff can only be sketched over using HD's 3D tools like walls, windows, doors, dimensions. Only Chief Architect Premier has the abilities to import and then convert 2D AutoCAD lines to walls directly through a "tedious" process of setting up Chief Premier's "CAD to Walls" tool. I have Chief Premier and I rarely use that tool because it is not that good OMHO. What I do is to import the 2D AutoCAD stuff and then trace over it ala Home Designer. DJP