Robborito

Alpha Terra - if you are seeking Home Designer Pro 'polish to design' as you say - then this is the HD Forum. If I wanted Chief Architect polish - then I would post on the Chief Forum. I hope you find the help you seek.

Are you seeking Home Designer assistance or Chief Architect assistance to layout? This is after all the Home Designer forum - not Chief Architect. Isn't it? I always thought it was. I'm not offering btw, just curios as to the suggested resources offered here. Thanks and good luck btw.

Can I ask which material's/finishes in the pic attached to your comment are the ones you have created please?

For this to work I use two slabs - the screed under slab bed is depicted as gravel in these screen shots; This is ok in the 3D visual world but needs drafting using fills in the 2D detail drawings world - easy as really. This is a 6" slab and a 4" screed. Happy modeling.

I have read various comments by users in these forums about the multi-page layout subject, and I have experimented with the multi-page layout on my own projects - and show the results I achieved here; Generally it is stated that it cannot be done - but I seem to have achieved suitable results for my work. So in layout I have created a custom layout sheet size that is dimensionally, 4 x A1pages wide and one A1 page page high; Using a metric A1 sheet that's a layout that measures 594mm high x 3364mm wide (or long, 4 x 841mm =3364mm) An A1 sheet is 23" x 33"....approx. See screen shot attached; So you can delineate these 4 sheets graphically, I have noted these as Sheet1 - Sheet 4 - just for simplicity here across the 3364mm width and then allocated all the drawing material images, plans, elevations - that is needed accordingly where needed on the 4 sheets; Then, when ready to print - nominate the target output sheet, in my example this is an A1 sheet - and save the job as a 4 x A1 sheet pdf file; I have printed the 4 sheets from the one large layout onto 4 x A4 sheets - 'scale to fit' - just for simplicity here; Alternatively - I have also printed the layout as a pdf of the same layout size; Some 24" printers can print one sheet to that length using paper roll feed - not cut sheets; This can be cut into 4 pages once finished/printed; As it is that I use A3 sheets predominantly with drawing output - I am experimenting in testing the limitations of the layout maximum width. According to CA - there isn't any limitation. The results are satisfactory for my multi-page needs and use - from one layout. ( Note - the output nominated print size was adjusted slightly to suit the total page width.) Happy days. 2021_Trevellyan as 4 printed sheets.pdf

So what's wrong with the export to 'Collada' DAE file? File\Export\3D Collada model (DAE) Using all you creative input used in HDPro exporting instead of conversion back from a DWG export? (If you had an abundance of time on hand you could then export form DAE Collada to SKP Sketchup.) IMO - HDPro produces very good 'physically based' images if time is spent with available settings. Chief Architect Premier X12 does image 'ray tracing' rendering at a higher level. Cheers.

Simply use the CAD tools and trace of what you need of the reference level, on the plot (land lot) level that you want to show, be it a floor layout or roof level; add dimension and notations, north/south point ; All the tools are there for simple 2D drafting;. That's what I have done in the past.

Maybe the DXF needs to changed?

Lake Travis, This is interesting - and I am curious what these zig-zag lines or paths you added are contributing? The 'path tool' you used is in Google Earth - correct? What is happening technically here with what you have achieved - do you know exactly? So you ended up with a terrain in HDPro that is based on Google Earth data etc... Could you expand on the outcome you achieved for me please? Thanks.

If you are talking about working in plan view as opposed to working in a layout.... move the drawing sheet to where you want it positioned? I have done this.

Hi there; This had me bamboozled for a while too pondering the need to change the profile; But could not. But yes it can happen I discovered thru experiment how to do it; Instead of using the deck and handrail tool - which has a default oval handrail (unchangeable I found); I built the perimeter of where I wanted the deck to be located using the 'wall type' - 'Deck railing/fence'; Don't use 'Railing/fence' wall type; there are two types in the wall types that come with HDPro; Make sure you tick 'railing' in the General tab of the Wall Specification; Once this area was defined using the wall type 'Deck railing/fence' perimeter - I then defined the area within the wall area as a 'Deck' - which then fills the area in as a deck; You can now edit all railings on the 'Rail' tab in the Rail Specification as desired. But they are square, not oval. Add balustrades and or infills as desired etc. You may have to add the structure under by 'build deck' selection and operation if it hasn't already done so Pic attached of basic square deck I built this way as demo and another on project with glass panel infills. (and rectangular handrailing) Happy railing sailing.

My suggestion is - it works for me as a work-around; And as I say - its just 'my' work around as a solution that I have used. firstly - Label the room as 'open below'; this removes the default floor; the draw a CAD circle the size & where you want it; Then insert two floor slabs that centre around the hole you want; Mine are off centre for this demo; Add a few points or 'breaks' to enable making a round hole, or half a round hole on each slab edge; add your finish; add your floor waste plumbing object; ( i did not do this bit, again for clarity ) Then- take a break. Happy hole cutting.

The library objects I have in the Bonus Catalogue folder are library items I have downloaded from the available on offer at the website; If your bonus catalogue folder is empty, maybe you have not yet downloaded anything? Is that the issue?

There is a 17 page comparison chart of features between CA Premier and HD Pro - and in particular - on page 4 of that webpage this pdf file, https://cloud-hd.chiefarchitect.com/1/pdf/product-info/compare-chief-architect-to-home-designer-pro.pdf The following is found in 10th para of page 4; And it's stated, Remodeling Plans. Place New, Existing, Demolition and Remodeling Walls on unique layers. A feature of CA Premier not found in HD Pro it state's. I have a demo of CA Premier - and cannot find this feature in Layers, or elsewhere. Have looked extensively. Have any of the users in these forums have experience with this feature of Premier please. Advice of same would be excellent thanks. Happy modelling.