HD Pro 2025 Template help?

[ishoultz]

I've been struggling trying to add my own custom template file show up in the list when you start a new project. I've created the template I would like to use and have just been doing the save a copy as the new plan file. After accidently saving the file instead of "save as", I tried tackling this task. I watched the following video and I think I'm doing the same steps, but for the life of me it won't show up in the Create New Plan window. 

 

Also, is it possible to change the layout template that HDPro uses? Again, I've just been doing the "Save As" file creation but would rather just have it set. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance 

 

 

[Renerabbitt]

1 hour ago, ishoultz said:

Also, is it possible to change the layout template that HDPro uses? Again, I've just been doing the "Save As" file creation but would rather just have it set. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in Advance 

this is a very old video and is modifying the core data files which I would not recommend.
HD2025 I believe has the Save As Template option in your file menu. 
Also your default plan and layout files are set from preferences under the new plan panel

[ishoultz]

28 minutes ago, Renerabbitt said:

this is a very old video and is modifying the core data files which I would not recommend.
HD2025 I believe has the Save As Template option in your file menu. 
Also your default plan and layout files are set from preferences under the new plan panel

@RenerabbittThanks for the attempt at help. I'm not sure if the version I'm using is different, but I don't see the options you are referring to. This is what I see when I try to do a File/Save As

I don't see an option to save this as a template file.

 

For the New Plan in Preferences, I only see a location to specify a folder location, not a file type.

 

Not exactly sure what the issue is. As I mentioned, this is Home Designer Pro 2025. Any other thoughts?

[Renerabbitt]

On 1/7/2026 at 8:23 PM, ishoultz said:

This is what I see when I try to do a File/Save As

It does seem as if these options are not available in HD2025, only HD2026. 
In that case simply gut a project and for each new project make a copy of your gutted project and start from there

[ishoultz]

@Renerabbitt Thanks for looking. I'm sure there's ways around this, gonna have to keep digging. I have been using the "save as" for both plan and layout files. It would just be faster & more convenient to be able to select them from the pop up menu. 

 

This is the craziest software I've used to date. I've watched videos on older versions of the software as there aren't that many specifically on HDPro 2025. To see that certain features were available previously, but then they take stuff away later. Trying to follow along with tutorials & Tips/Tricks videos is almost impossible when things are removed. As awesome as this software is & could be, it's frustrating (I'm assuming on purpose) to to know there are things that are so simple that have just been disabled to make things harder.

 

PS: I watched your comparison video and it looks like you've poked around in HDPro2025 a little bit. It was awesome to see what someone that has tons of CA experience can still be impressed with the functionality offered by the cheap version of the software.

 

Maybe one of these years I can afford Chief, but until then I'll just keep playing around in this version as it's pretty much paid for.