katalyst777

You could look in to the monthly rental of Premier so you could use it's photorealistic ray tracing and BIM capabilities and actually use the plans you've already started in Pro? http://www.chiefarchitect.com/software-rental/

David, did you check the Pro version of the software before replying? I think what OP is asking for is a feature of the Premier version in the Roof tools and isn't offered in Home Designer Pro.

Did you look at any of the Knowledge Base articles or tutorial training videos or search the software's Help or even search here on HomeTalk for prior threads first? https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00855/creating-a-breakfast-bar.html https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00317/creating-a-half-height-wall.html * http://video.homedesigner.chiefarchitect.com/player/player.php?id=300&th=1&autoplay= * https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00983/creating-a-custom-shaped-countertop.html *Architectural and Pro only

This article is the equivalent one applicable to the Home Designer Pro software. https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-02020/importing-and-using-a-custom-bathtub-symbol.html

That's pretty much up to you, isn't it? I mean, if you don't see the value in the things shown on the comparison in the Architectural as opposed to the Suite, then why would you upgrade if you don't need the custom countertops, backsplashes, wall coverings, Library objects, wall types, deck capabilities, etc? You might want to contact the company's Sales folks directly to discuss what you want/need in case there are things not listed on the comparison, or just download the trial version of Architectural to see for yourself. Most people who post here, it seems, once they decide to upgrade do think its work going all the way up to the Pro version.

Something like this?

Can you attach a photograph similar to what you are trying to describe?

The Premier X7 version lets you have a Primary Format as well as a Secondary Format for dimensions. To the best of my knowledge, none of the current Home Designer programs offer that capability, but you might want to check with the company's Sales folks to be sure.

You could also just import it in to an Imperial plan, add to the User Catalog and then place it from there in to a metric plan and it seems to work okay. Still glad to hear that the company's Support folks sound like they're on top of trying to get it fixed though.

https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00806/using-terrain-features-and-regions.html https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00868/editing-terrain-to-create-a-daylight-basement.html https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00718/modeling-a-sloping-terrain-for-a-walk-out-basement.html http://video.homedesigner.chiefarchitect.com/?search=terrain

Create the floor plan (walls, doors, windows, cabinets, landscaping, etc) in Home Designer. Try to use as many materials and symbols from the software's Library Browser as you can, as stuff imported from SketchUp can quickly add up to a ton of extra surfaces that can make rendering slow or cause you to run out of video memory if you add too much, but can be nice if you have a very customized piece of furniture that you want to show in the camera views.

The libraries aren't "downgraded" - There are more, better symbols in the current version than there were in the old programs (and I remember 3D Home Architect was in the days before even ALB files so David's suggestion wouldn't work anyway), so maybe you just haven't downloaded the core, bonus and manufacturer catalogs yet, if your Library Browser is empty. See this Knowledge Base article to learn more. https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00048/downloading-additional-library-catalogs.html

Probably will get better feedback over on the ChiefTalk forum, most folks over here use Home Designer for their own projects, not in a professional capacity.

When the "Exterior Room" (what is shown as selected on the Status Bar in your screenshot) highlights like that, it usually means a bad wall connection. I would zoom in especially on all the curved wall segment ends, disconnect and reconnect them until you can select the individual rooms again, which should take care of the floors and ceilings as well.

I think you need to contact the company's Customer Service team to find out if you can transfer the license, and if so, how much the license transfer fee is, as well as get the paperwork in order to transfer it in to someone else's name before you can legally post it on Ebay or Craigslist or whatnot. https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/company/contact.html

I would suspect something to do with your media player and the codec (hence my recommendation), but if you want to figure it out without trying that, then I'd recommend troubleshooting with the company's Support folks directly as opposed to posting in the user forum. https://support.chiefarchitect.com/ We're happy to help with the how-tos here, but technical issues should really be reported to them.

https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-01028/installing-home-designer-on-multiple-computers.html

The Premier version lets you actually add lights to the symbol itself, so you can also try asking over in the ChiefTalk Symbols & Content forum to see if someone can import the symbol and actually add the light for you and send you an editable plan with that symbol in it.

Tools> Display Options and uncheck Layout Box Labels.

The status bar also shows the coordinates as you move your mouse around in the floor plan view.

Just select them in the floor plan view and then delete them, either using the Delete edit tool or delete key on your keyboard, as with removing other objects.

Just my two cents, but my preference is to use the XVID codec for recording walkthroughs and using VLC Media Player for viewing them. https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00076/specifying-what-video-codecs-to-use-for-walkthroughs.html

You don't have to have a Terrain Perimeter at all in order to create an elevation. You can turn off the whole "Foundation" layer (but that will turn off the display of everything on Floor 0 in the elevation view). You can leave the Terrain Perimeter, but just turn off its display in the Elevation. Depending on your version, you might even be able to create a CAD object to mask just the part of the foundation below the terrain.

Do you have the option to "Manage Activations" in your Digital Locker? If so, use that to deactivate the current install and see if it will let you reactivate.

KB-02302: Importing a Room Planner Design into Chief Architect and Home Designer