RoyJames

Hello rossandmarita! Here’s a resource from our website which should have some information on using multiple joist directions: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-02932/changing-joist-directions.html I hope this helps!

Hello Designer_Ryan, It depends on what kind of an action you are trying to repeat. There is a function in Home Designer called Sticky Mode which allows an edit tool such as Copy/Paste to remain active after being used. The option is typically found on the left-hand side of the edit toolbar (the icon looks like a pin). When selected, the tool will not go away after being used. In Chief Architect Premier, the Esc key will cycle back through recently used tools, but this is currently not available in Home Designer. I hope this helps!

Hello Hurdle69! There have been issues with Intel-based Mac’s with only Intel integrated graphics on the new macOS Sequoia. Since you have an M2 processor, this shouldn’t be an issue. The only other known issue you may experience is due to a new feature introduced in Sequoia, which can obscure information that we use to activate your software. So if your software loses its activated status on your system, you may need to adjust the Private WiFi Address settings for the WiFi network you are on in order to activate. See the article below for more information: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-01191/troubleshooting-activation-issues.html#PrivateWiFi I hope this helps to clarify!

Hello Steve! We've seen a few of these errors in the last week and it appears to be an out of date security certificate. We have a patch in the works but to resolve it now, you can go to this site: https://www.amazontrust.com/repository/ Under the heading "Root CAs" click the DER from the first link under "Self Signed Certificate" Download, save and install the certificate. Close and reopen Home Designer and try the download again. If you continue to have trouble after that please reach out to Technical Support so we can look closer at what you are experiencing. Regarding missing files, many of these may be cleared up by getting the catalogs properly installed. However, if there are still more, you may want to look at the image path that it's looking for with each item in the list. This may give you ideas for where the files that its looking for will be. I hope this helps!

Hello ParleeParty, It looks like the cutout is not being made because part of that wall is not above a foundation stem wall. If you place a break in that two door wall at the corner of the foundation, it will generate the cutout. I hope this helps!

Hello Jsnfree! Welcome to the HomeTalk forums! The 3D Solid tool is specific to our Chief Architect Premier software which looks very similar but has some different features. Here are a couple resources from our home designer website www.homedesignersoftware.com that may help you with your screened porch. Article on creating a Screen Porch: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00748/creating-a-screen-porch.html Quick Tip Video on Screen Porches: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/videos/watch/2301/screen-porch-quick-tip.html I hope this helps!

Hello jacklait, Text can be added to plan, cross section, and elevation views. Here's a resource from our website with more information: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/videos/watch/2281/adding-text.html?playlist=207 I hope this helps!

Hello Rock, I would recommend sending a backup of your plan (see instructions at link below) to our technical support team here. You can also reach out to technical support via phone at 208-292-3400. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00987/using-the-backup-entire-plan-project-tool-to-send-files-to-another-user.html Our support staff can help troubleshoot this behavior. Best Regards, Roy

Hello jlliles87, You should be able to use the Reference Display to show your plumbing fixtures on the floor below and change their line style using the Change Floor/Reference dialog (Tools->Floor/Reference Display->Change Floor/Reference). Use the Define button next to Reference Display Options to control what shows and in what way. To learn more about the Reference Display: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/videos/watch/2233/reference-display.html?playlist=202 I hope this helps! Best Regards, Roy

Hello Gatorguy, It looks like you may have Upper Pitch checked in the Roof panel of your Wall Specifications. I would confirm that the setting is unchecked and the roof is set to auto rebuild with the Auto Rebuild Roof checkbox on the Roof panel of Build->Roof->Build Roof. I hope this helps! Roy

Hello CDR_Design, For exterior walls, the software will dimension to the outside surface (which you can see for the manual dimension). The Interior dimension specifically focuses on interior sides of walls but doesn’t have adjustable wall locate defaults. So the Interior dimension thus locates to the main layer on the interior side of the exterior wall. However, if the dimension hasn’t located where you want it, you can adjust the locate point of the dimension after you’ve placed it. If you select the dimension line, you’ll see a small diamond shaped edit handle where the dimension is locating to. Simply click and drag that diamond to the interior surface layer. I hope this helps! Best Regards, Roy

Hello Keefers, If you’re crashing on your M3 Macbook, I would reach out and contact Chief Architect Technical Support through the technical support center. It’s located under My Account on www.homedesignersoftware.com. You could also reach out by phone at 208-292-3399. If you submit a case in the technical support center, send in a copy of your system information and your message log file. Instructions for getting that information is at the following links: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-01867/retrieving-system-information-to-send-to-technical-support.html https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-02908/locating-the-message-log.html Best Regards, Roy

Hello CDR_Design, You can find the locate wall settings in Edit->Default Settings->Dimension. Just change the Locate Wall Dimensions At option to Surface. Bear in mind that this option only affects Auto Exterior dimensions and dimensions created using the Manual Dimension tool. You can find more specific info about dimension settings in the following resource: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00491/changing-your-dimension-settings.html Regarding your attached image, if you zoom in on the ends of the dimension lines, you can see exactly which layers the dimension is locating to. I hope this helps! Best Regards, Roy

Hello Matthew! From the information you provided, it looks like you may need to adjust your In From Baseline/Star at Height value. If you set your In From Baseline to be 0”, it’s going to cause the programs some problems trying to generate the roof. The In From Baseline value determines where the upper pitch starts by defining the distance from the baseline (the exterior edge of the framing layer of the wall) to the upper pitch change. In your left image, you can see that the pitch change occurs between the wall and the middle, so you will have an In From Baseline value greater than 0” if you want the same shape with a lower ceiling height. I would suggest looking at the In From Baseline value before lowering your ceiling. Then, once you lower your ceiling in the dormer area, change the In From Baseline to be the same. This should hopefully change the height down to where it needs to be. I hope this helps! Roy

Hello lawrencelam2000, If you’re still looking for information about the Rooms, Interior Area layer or Rooms, Standard Area, here is the information from the documentation in the section called Room Labels: "Rooms, Standard Area is measured from the center of interior walls that define the room and from either the outside surface or the outside of the Main Layer of exterior walls, depending on the Living Area To setting in the General Plan Defaults dialog. It is rounded to the nearest square foot or mm and does not include the area within bay, box and bow windows. Rooms, Interior Area is measured from the inner surfaces of all the room's walls." Hopefully this helps!

Hello SandraH, It appears that the Auto Roof Return is behaving oddly. I would send a copy of this plan to our Tech Support team so they can take a look. In the meantime, I believe I have a workaround for you. If you change the Auto Roof Return settings from Full return to Gable return, then increase the Length value until the ends meet (9.5' seemed about right for the plan you attached), it should behave like a Full return. Hopefully that works for you!

Hello RJRDesign, Home Designer Suite does not have a layout feature in it. This feature is available in Home Designer Pro and the Chief Architect Premier/Interiors versions of the software. Which tutorial are you following? If you’re just trying to export a PDF of your plan or a camera view, go to File->Export->Export PDF while in your view.

System settings->Appearance->Always Hello Beth, Regarding your scrollbars, there is a setting on MacOS that affects the scrollbars within Home Designer. The setting is called Show Scrollbars. You’ll want to set it to Always and relaunch Home Designer. The setting is located: MacOS Ventura: Apple Menu->System Settings->Appearance MacOS Monterey and earlier: Apple Menu->System Preferences->General Regarding your jumping camera, this sounds like unexpected behavior in the software. I would recommend reaching out to Chief Architect’s Tech Support 208-292-3399 and have them take a look.

Hello Donco15, The backup USB can serve a few different purposes: 1. It’s useful in situations where internet is slow or security is a bit tighter. The software still needs to activate online, but the content necessary to install is already there. 2. It’s a backup medium for the program installer, core catalog content, and other resources. Some people find it handy so they don’t have to track them down on the website if they need it down the road. I hope this helps!

Hello again, The features you are describing are features found in the Chief Architect line of software. Specifically, templates, the ability to import/export default settings, and use style palettes. Here’s a couple resources about these features in Premier/Interiors: Templates: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-03094/creating-custom-templates-from-existing-projects.html Style Palettes: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/247/using-style-palettes.html The way you are currently doing templates is what is currently possible in the Home Designer products.

Hello y-g-m-n, Here is an article that may help you combine your drawings into a representation of your whole lot: Modeling a Subdivision or Lot with Multiple Structures in Home Designer https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00345/modeling-a-subdivision-or-lot-with-multiple-structures-in-home-designer.html