katalyst777

When you create a second floor, you have the option to either create it based on the first floor, or to create a new blank floor. Is it possible you created a blank floor? If so, just turn on your Reference Display and start drawing in your walls on Floor 2.

Agree with Mick that the camera not working in the newer version points to you needing to update your video card's driver. Troubleshooting 3D Display Problems: http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00897/ I think the Pro version has more control over the Deck framing elements that you want. Maybe check out the trial? https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/trial.html Info on returning is also on their website at: https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/shop/guarantee.html

I've been considering taking the plunge for Chief Premier for a long time, and multi-page layouts, with no print size limitations, is one of the biggest reasons to upgrade IMHO, so I completely understand why they wouldn't let that feature trickle down to the less advanced versions. You mention you're not "in a position to go there atm" so maybe the monthly rental option for Premier would be an good for you or consider calling the company's sales people directly, they might have a special deal on upgrades from Pro not listed on the website. http://www.chiefarchitect.com/software-rental/

KB-00164: Modifying the Transparency of a Material I know it doesn't sound like it from the title, but this article describes exactly what you want to do based on this image.

The Knowledge Base article on locating the sample plans does have a note now that says it only applies to the 2015 and earlier versions, so I am guessing they got rid of them. Most were uneditable anyway though, and you can do a google image search for floor plans if you need more inspiration than the samples offered on the Home Designer website.

Try placing Corner Boards on the outer walls and resize them so that it looks like the casing goes all the way over, covering up the siding where the windows would join together.

If your version allows railings to follow stairs, you could create one with a lower railing height and balusters close together to get pretty close to modeling this. Also, there's a chair lift already available in one of the bonus catalogs.

Make sure you are using Panel and not setting them as a Newel/Baluster or they will come out looking incorrect.

Company Contact Info https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/company/contact.html

Double check with the company's Sales people directly. https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/company/contact.html

Update your video card's drivers. This article explains how - http://www.homedesignersoftware.com/support/article/KB-00897/

For future reference . . . KB-00484: Generating a PDF File

You should probably submit this to the company's Support people. It is confusing to turn off the Auto Dormer layer and not have that affect the display in floor plan.

For future reference. . . KB-00467 - Troubleshooting Toolbars

KB-00265 - Creating a Room under a Staircase

Tools> Reference Floors> Reference Display Options. Check "Disp" for the layer your post resides on (if you used Framing, it'd be one of the framing layers, if a column from the Library Browser it's probably Millwork, if a Shape from the Library it'd be the Geometric Shapes layer, etc) and click OK. Then it should show up when the Reference Display is toggled on.

KB-00147 - Selecting a Sink after it is Placed in a Cabinet "In Home Designer Essentials, Suite and Interiors, sinks, dishwashers and other library items cannot be selected independently once they have been placed in a cabinet."

You can put breaks along the edges of a Skylight to reshape it in to a circle, and use a cylinder from the Library Browser to fill in the underside at the ceiling with a material like "Lighting Yellow" with the transparency bumped up a bit.

Release notes on updates are usually found over in the Announcements section of ChiefTalk. https://chieftalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/forum/5-announcements/

In Architectural, right click on a Folder in your User Catalog and select Export Library. Give it a name and save it to your Desktop. Exit out of the software. Launch Pro, start a new blank plan, and under the Library menu, click on Import Library. Select the file on your Desktop and click Open.

KayNine - A screen capture works if you want a static image, but the problem also happens if you try to do a walkthrough or print an image, so updating the driver is still wise to just fix the problem, rather than try to work around it.

What version of the software are you using, and can you attach a photograph similar to what you are trying to create?

KB-00903 - Enabling or Disabling the Display of Crosshairs

https://hometalk.chiefarchitect.com/index.php?/topic/879-current-version-guarantee/#entry5013

There are several earlier threads that explain this is an integrated Intel chipset issue with older drivers. Updating the driver should fix it. (I tried to see if I could track down the earlier threads, but "red" is too short a search term - If I recall correctly though, I think the driver date needs to be from 2014 or newer.)