DavidJPotter

My custom home and addition remodels always go to a State Licensed Structural Engineer who calls out all structural matters and designs the foundation, I do the rest and turn my plans over to he or she usually in AutoCAD format so they can do their work. It is the smart thing to do. DJP

No, that is Chief Premier only. I create a relationally correct model (.plan file) of the existing home inside and out. Then I make a "save as" copy of that to use as "Version one.plan" and then start making changes in the copy of the existing.plan file. One commonly shows which walls are to be demolished or changed for plans in the existing.plan. Then you show printed pages of the proposed plan and elevations. More data can be found by Google Search relative to other drafting conventions and procedures (AIA conventions etc) DJP

Main layer is the framing or structural layer of a wall. If your walls do not align floor to floor to floor you should use the wall alignment tool to make sure they are aligned to each other, floor to floor. When that is done then the dimensions should match. DJP

Take a look at "Edit- Default Settings-Materials" where general materials are pre-set. Also, you can experiment using the "Materials Eyedropper" set to "Plan Mode" but PLEASE read the reference manual section covering the Materials Eyedropper tool" first and practice using the tool in a simple test plan before using it on a plan you have invested time in. It is good general advice to suggest that you really learn how to use your software by studying and practicing using your Reference Manual so as to reduce you're having to guess and hope for the best on an ignorance basis. Even what you have is somewhat complicated and sophisticated and takes a knowledgeable user to really create with it. DJP

Each camera type as well as plan views have their own Display Options dialog. That means that the foundation may show in plan views but not show in the various camera views, each object group has an alphabetically assigned "layer" that controls whether or not any object group displays or not depending upon the camera type used. This is explained in the Users guide and Reference Manual but if not carefully studied can easily be missed. Foundations in Home Designer software are purely cosmetic in nature unless you happen to be a State Licensed Structural Engineer who can legally design them. In terms of the floor height, that is controlled in the Local Room Specification Dialog - Structure Tab - Floor Height input box. Commonly the garage has the lowest floor height of the first floor, otherwise one would have to build a ramp to enter the garage from the grade. I do agree with Jo Ann about posting images or even a copy of your plan file here along with clearly stated descriptions of your exact difficulties. No one here knows your project like you do. DJP

Generally speaking, Home Designer software has little native ability to customize objects. You can look into downloading objects that better suit your purpose at 3D Warehouse (a large library of free objects made using Sketch Up, which can be downloaded and then imported into most Home Designer titles for placement in plans. You did not mention what software you have and use so I cannot be more specific than the above. Chief Architect Premier offers the most additional choices and tools for customizations like you are talking about but of course, it costs a lot more as well. All home designer titles, except HD Pro are for hobbyists and amateurs. Chief Premier is for Professional Use. DJP

Eric meant an "Invisible Wall" not a visible wall per se. That is necessary for 3D modeling purposes: one space so created can then have a different ceiling height from the other invisible wall divided space. DJP

I guess you could export the cross section as a .dxf file (If that is what you want to do?) and then in that form you could then work on it as you would in AutoCAD where all objects visible are merely lines. I use the method described in the KB article that Rookie65 posted, that is your best solution within HD Pro. DJP

Home Designer and Chief Architect software is a preprogrammed mechanical aid to help you 3D model and create construction documents and details using its tools. It is not a carpenter, a builder or engineer. It is a mechanical device to help you. It is you who must guide it to acceptable results. It does not think or have intuitive qualities/ It only follows settings after which it is you who must then, step in and manually edit what the presets provided. DJP

https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/videos/watch/2228/dimensions-in-home-designer-pro.html https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/videos/watch/2227/manual-dimensions.html The above Training videos should help get you squared away. DJP

I now understand what you want to do. In the past, I have created a simple custom slab to represent the house footprint. I then create a relationally correct terrain plane based upon GPS data and then use the two objects to find the best excavation friendly location using the simple custom slab-house footprint object, which can easily be turned, raised and lowered. It would be well to keep in mind where the best views and vistas are for the potential house while doing so. DJP

Call Sales, if anyone would know it would be them. DJP

Some of my builder clients do this from my plans using just the dimensions and a transit on site. DJP

Because when you built framing the ceiling height was incorrectly input and framing, unless you have it marked "Auto-rebuild framing" will not update after a room dialog box change has occurred. The software just does what it is told or not told to do, it is strictly mechanical and not intuitive. DJP

I downloaded your.plan file and the ceiling shows just fine in a full, elevation or floor camera view. So you just might want to reboot your copy of Pro and take another look afterward. The only thing I did notice that was askew was the bathroom/s crown molding sticking through the roof over just that room. DJP

I say this knowing that it will not help cushion your loss but new users, all of us were once newbies. Almost all of us never read the "Users Guide" or "Reference Manual", never preset "Default Settings and Preferences" before starting a plan, just guessed at what we did not know the meaning of, did not find out the proper procedure of how to develop a plan, step by step and thus waste many hours either guessing or repairing our guesses. Some new users often make so many wrong guesses that it corrupts the plan as yours is. Do yourself a big favor and learn how to use the software based on how it is pre-set and programmed to work. Do NOT guess, find out! When you are having a particular problem with something, press the "F1" Key to open the "Help Files", watch a video about the problem area. I have been where you are, you are not special but you do need to take more responsibility for your use of this software as a favor to yourself. DJP

You have not yet mentioned what software you are using, its version and title. Can you post a screen capture of what you are NOT seeing, please? In HD Pro 2018 the "Help Files" state about the plant chooser: "Click the View Item button in the Plant Chooser Dialog to see more information about the selected plant in the Plant Information dialog.(and a visual of the plant)" Is that what you are doing or something else? DJP

I do not do many walk-throughs so I did a test walkthrough using my copy of Pro 2017. The first thing I did was to "Edit - Preferences - Render" where I checked "Reflections in mirrors" in both " Preview Options" and "Final View Options". Though not a work of Art, here is the results: DJP

When I opened your plan file it told me that it was created in Chief Architect Professional (not Home Designer, which is the forum you posted on, not Chief Talk). You should state what version of the software you ARE using, first and foremost. Then Help can then be delivered that fits what you have (you should not make us guess what software you are using). DJP

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The software does not do that, you do it manually using text and arrows in a back-clip elevation window, like the rest of us. The software is relatively easy to use and learn but it is just a tool that one uses to do one's graphic communication. DJP

You are very welcome, not to worry about Austin, with the State politicians, lobbyists, University of Texas rabid fans and left-leaning Staff and Teachers, and right-wing conservative alumni Austin's enate weirdness is safe and sound. I am still here too you know. DJP

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automatic behavior can be done using the "Control Key (CTRL)" to override default location ability. On this one, you placed the window in a first-floor wall and then drug it into an attic wall (doesn't work, does it?). What you should do is to place the window in the attic wall or level so the window is then part of the attic level and in an attic wall, then the window will show through. You can place the window on the <A> level or attic level or using a camera view left-click-create the window directly to and on an attic wall. DJP