Robborito

The Help pages suggest that it (Living Area ) can be located away from its default - to suit ones requirements; Thats is true - until you re-open the layout - and it returns to its default spot. Can others add comments to your suggestion? if so, where please.....

I am unable to maintain any relocation from the default position of the 'Living Area' - plan notation; Have followed 'help' guidance etc from within HDPro - but it always returns to its default spot? That is centrally justified under floor plan work area. Am I missing something. (apart from pointy ears) Additionally, I am noticing that some Text notes added to a floor plan seem to vanish.....from my file when I return after a previous editing session. I am sure I am saving the file during the edit and on closing - so where is it going? Not on layers turned off, not sitting under something...a mystery to me. Likewise with room internal floor areas - appear there in edit - but gone upon return. Is there a default that I am not changing in the save maybe? I'm not sure. Anyone with similar happenings?

I opened Pro again for a re-look and have found that in the Drawing Sheet Setup under Printer - I can now use and A1 sheet? is this a new upgrade development or was I missing something earlier with my posts in my demo of this software? This if is a new development - is a great advance and if right - I will buy the Pro version......Can anyone confirm please?I've emailed Chief - but yet have not had a reply. So much for living on the under-belly of mother earth I guess.......( They are busy, I know.) OooPs - hang on - I'm revising this post - Have just realised the sheet layout can be A1 size - but the printer will only let me output to A3 sheets. Which requires further page pasting and editing to make an original the same size as the layout. What bout the pdf? Same output restriction. Sorry for this further frustrated post.

Mick, So the print to pdf - which I can't see because I'm using a trial version, has no sheet size limitation? I know as you say - buying 'it' is the first step. There are work-arounds I'm sure.

Having now reviewed 'Pro' side by side with Architectural and Suite - There are other buttons in Pro that just don't work in the more economical 'DIY' versions of the software. This limited output/printing thing is one thing for me, probably the most important. I still don't understand that part. But things like 'custom countertop' and 'partition' (kitchen design tools) that are only available in Pro. I think I get the 'Home Designer'picture now. It does now look like Pro is my only choice - if and when the output is ever changed

I have the OZ trees - they are fairly average, nothing too flashy or indigenous about them though. No OZ plans as you refer to though. I prefer starting with a blank palette as it were anyways. I do recall having read about the upgrade paths - which is an incentive for sure. Very smart. Chief guru's have replied to me regarding the sheet size output upgrade to an A1 max sheet - which equals 2 x A2 or 4 x A3 size equivalent. My metric sized A1 is about your 24" x 18" I think? I was told it would be discussed in the product review. I'm not holding my breath though. Nor waiting for that matter. Thanks Mick.

The ArchiCAD background feedback from DJP - is very true. It is a fine program - but in my 16 years use of it I have barely scratched the surface with its multitude of features. But this is not about it - but about Home Designer & Chief. As an experienced used of the former - I am still blown away with the latter. ( HD & Chief) And yes - imo, HD & Chief are more user friendly. I did email sales at the Chief HQ and they have answered my questions re earlier post. Mick - No HD Suite does not allow raking or pivoted sill - but will match roof slope at head. I went there first actually. (ha ha) I have a local Contractor here who after I introduced him to its estimating/quantities feature he has jumped in with Chief Premier - up to his neck Mick. Probably a little over his head actually. I have a nail bag too I tell him, but its only filled with paper clips. But like most contractors I know - he blames me for his poor design skills. The software does not design buildings I told him - the user does that, it outputs only as good as what you input to it. Anyway- that's another story. He designed and output his own recent new home house plans and approval doc's - without me. (Smarty-pants he be!) Next time I'll keep it all to myself. They were not as good as I would do, of course - but they were still approved. The comparison charts on the software are contradictory in a few spots - and rather non-comparative. imo. Anyway - its all good - I'm trailing HD Suite - for the enjoyment of it and as a comparison to HDPro. It's fine for the money - $126 AUS. A bargain actually. And a stepping stone. You have very beautiful detailed design basics in the USA. Not much of that here in AUS. More pseudo minimalist colonial revival - if thats a vernacular? Thank you gentlemen for you comments as experienced user/operators. PS - what is this trade in thing, and is the licence transferable then?

I have jumped from HDPro to trying a trial of HD Suite now - as an alternative to investing $ 650AUS dollars - this will only be $ 130AUD - I see this as a foot first into the quicksand, perhaps a little more slowly than jumping into waist deep mud - as it were. Are there users that can advise or comment if HD Suite, The 'Print Model' - feature does this in fact work in this version ? A comparison chart of Chief and HD depicts its not available at all in HD? Yet the HD comparison chart states it is available - from what I see anyway. The HD comparison chart says no printing output is possible - is this correct ? On the other hand comparison chart depicts maximum sheet size of printer - so I'm confused. Will it produce elevational views - I don't think it will ? What other known unknown limitations does this version , Home Designer Suite, have please? That comparison chart would be better demonstrated in a more graphic format. imo. There are allot of features there. Regards.

I think this may be the case as you say - 'one frustration after another' - perhaps.. Maybe I am expecting too much from both versions, as I have looked at Chief re this window sill item also - No go there with the window parametrics either. Baring in mind the naming differences between US and AUS terminology - but I still can't get a profile sill to my liking. (Spalyed brick) I guess those software architects in the know at Chief - have said no go with this detail. That's cool - not necessarily useful - but I can see the extra setup needed to get that happening would be time consuming. I'm just disappointed - for such a great ($650.00AU) price - it's a cool suite of software. (HD) But not really going anywhere for the more detailed BIM operations and needs. (imo) It's a tailored product - which I am learning. What software does the object creating for HD & Chief objects? Is that a trade secret I guess? Maybe one could add this extrusion profile to the library.....I'm guessing.

Wow, this is a deal breaker for me...I cannot believe that a parametric window tool does not handle conventional sill and head details.....regardless of wether again its to be used by DIY'ers or Professionals. I watched the video by DJP with amazement.....well demonstrated as it was, but a loose end as far as building information goes. We don't need 'dumb' objects - objects that float in the BIM world. A work-around for sure - but I am learning slowly of the missing essentials in HDPro. Thanks for the intro. Disappointed again am I that I can't work with this.

I was keen to know what the current version of HDPro does with stl files? Has the issue been fixed in the current version of HDPro. Was it solved and/or improved following your problems? As for providing clients with models - I have historically built simple models at small scale (in balsa or cardboard) to demonstrate massing concepts to client or local governing and planning departments. ( Now mandatory on some projects in Aust.) So .stl files have always interested me with the affordability of 3D printers currently. The other feature in HDPro I notice is the Print Model - But as I only have a trial version of the software - Do you know if this process is as good as it holds promise too? There are conflicting references to wether it is part of HDPro or not included in HDPro - so again I cannot check the feature. All very positive strategies to providing clear and user-friendly operations. Most of my clients relish a small scale model. If I can find if this is resolved - it would help. Thanks.

You see there had to have been a way - and this is it , but not in HDPro it seems - as far as I can see. No Make CAD block - nor muntins..... Seems I would need to get into Chief for this. Thanks Mick. Well found.

If it meant more money for the extra few sheets of output - within reason - I'd gladly pay for it. As for the comparison between HDPro and Chief Premier - yes I know all of that I've seen that also - I think you're missing the point?

Monthly rental.....Thanks I'll look into it. OK - I looked into it. Bad idea. Cheers.

Well thanks for all of that - but, really - imo the limitation is just poor marketing. Sure they are a company....not sure I understand the rigging of the world comment, but... what has that got to do with the output from HDPro? If I was to go to Chief premier for that issue alone - better printing output of docs., I would need my head read. Chief has an awful lot more to offer than just the construction contract drawings output surely? Doesn't it? For HDPro - A set of 4-5 A3 sized ( Sorry I'm metric) sheets would be clever marketing., for a multitude of reasons. I would buy it and suspect many other professionals would also. It's a clever, well focused, intuitive suite of software - that high end BIM ( ArchiCAD, Revit ) software does not have. Full-stop. HDPro - It's a cursory step towards the eventual and obvious conclusion........Chief Premier! Thanks for the feedback - Hometalk people.

Maybe someone has inside information perhaps - but after reviewing HDPro for quite a while - when you get to actually outputting drawings, images aetc as you need to do, suddenly we hit a limitation on output size, sheet numbers etc etc. Why is it like this? (apart from the obvious) Like OK - HDPro is a great program at a great price - but it seems dumb to stop the bells and whistles when you get to the most important phase (as far as impressing clients anyway) - only to find restrictions. Sure - you can make as many single layout pdf's an images as you like - plans/blueprints, whatever you guys call them, are important communication media between and Architect/HomeDesigner/ whatever you be, and your client..Why not sets of drawings/layouts? In my opinion HDPro would do much better if this output limitation was removed. I would have bought it months back. Instead - I am procrastinating my purchase over this output limitation, and how best to work around it. OK - I see that it sorta directs me to getting Chief Premier - but, I am not in a position to go there atm. Maybe there is room for another version - Home Designer - "Blueprint Artist" - "Professional Plan-Maker" Or something similar? Increase the HDPro layout output to a set of say 5 sheets - to enable a decent output. Are there ways around what I see is an issue?

All good - I need the practice - the more you do it - the better you get at it. ( Excl. golf of course! ) Here are a couple of screen shots - its the "botom-corners" settings that raise and lower the sill to be raked (or sloped) depending on your vernacular. I'm still searching to see if I can add internal sash/lites patterns - automatically i.e.,, but no big deal. The 'Lites' button - is not accessible on the menu it seems. Maybe it won't handle raking sills and heads on windows, but I'm guessing? There are allot of radio buttons in this program - easier just go round turning them on and off again, to see the effects. Thanks for your advice.

I simply followed the leads provided by you guys...Thank you. And only have the overall shape I created in the screen shot attached earlier - HDPro won't insert colonial or other sashes. No prob. though - that is 2D stuff I can add in the relevant elevation. Its a couple of lines. (Like we used to do.) I think sometimes I see users getting too precious about having every little detail correct - everywhere. And as I only have a demo - I'll have o rebuild the scenario for you. I am exploring more obscure structure shapes, curvilinear wall, overlapping storeys and more. with the software - non conventional roof etc. Allot of crashes it seems atm. But fun getting it there. Regards.

I thought this forum was for functions and use of the software? This is more a consumer-come-operator matter....

Hey that was easy........ I knew it, if everything else fails - read the manual! ( or equivalent's ) Keep forgetting about these 'specification' - the editable parametric functions. My mistake; ( this time) I was searching for a window to suit my needs as an object at the start; The Answer; Insert a window - then modify it in situ to suit. Smart. Thank you gentlemen for your input. It's very easy when the method is known I'm getting closer.

I have been trialing HD Pro - and have come up against a need to insert an angular clerestorey gable window. My freehand sketch is attached showing my concept drawing - and also an image of my partly developed model created in HD Pro; is it possible to cut in the angular format window I show in my gable end - using the software HD Pro? I have investigated the libraries etc - I'm not that 'cluey' on the whereabouts of somethings I can modify for such a use. Can others please advise? I want this to work - so badly in HDPro, but this may be the stabling block for me on the HD Pro.....side of things. The standard window formats do nothing for my design. Regards, and many thanks in anticipation.

Thank you for your input. Walls are good on both levels. The intersections are generated automatically - and tight. Is see it as the pony wall being treated as two skins. The little satellite roof - is for the lower brick outer wall of the pony wall. The cavity in the wall at the acute point is much larger thru its truncation in plan. ( Are you with me ) It appears in two locations in my screen shot - exactly the same result. Acute wall intersection angles. Large cavity's - maybe read as a void or hole...I don't know. I have tried it several times - same result. Maybe not that simple? I've worked around it - just deleting them, no big deal - but......why does it occur.

Experimenting with the auto roof tool - When wall intersections on plan are of an acute angle - these small satellite wedge style hip roof appear on the basement plan? See my attached image. They are easily deleted - however strange they should appear? Is there a radio button on the basement plan that prevent this? I can't seem to find one. I know all of this is simply done using the manual roof tool - however the auto tool is a handy thing - although has some limitations. Are there some rules I need to know - that are not that obvious? Thank you HD Pro world.

Who is Mick - and the consistent request to add version and title to your Signature? Is not what I show adequate? Or am I missing something here? (Again..) Anyway - Thanks Kbird1 - that is what I had resolved myself - to do, to achieve that result. And DJP - I had concluded, in the meantime, exactly what you have said - Thanks for your input. I'll go without what I am used to doing - just for the other joys offered me with HD Pro.( And Chief.) Many Thanks.

My background is 16 years with ArchiCAD - the learning curve here is nowhere near as steep with HD Pro....Its is much more intuitive imo. So many intelligent and automatic parametric functions - its excellent. (and enjoyable to use) Have had it on trial it for a while (as well as Chief) - I think I'm going to buy HD Pro. I also like it. Good luck.