 Design Tools
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| Design Templates aid in quickly beginning a new project | 60+ | 60+ | 35+ | 40+ | 20+ | 15+ |
| Enhanced editing feedback - preview the placement and orientation of objects while moving your cursor makes adding and moving items easy and fast |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| Free Sample home plans for design inspiration | 5,000 | 2,500 | 1,500 | - | 1,000+ | 500 |
| Create Billboard Image tool allows you to import a photo of your home and add Landscaping | | | | | | |
| Reference Display Tool - Turn on a Reference of adjacent floors to aid in designing multi-tiered decks or room layout between floors | | | | | | |
| Name individual rooms from a defined list of types or create new names. Custom Room Label controls - assign room types as well as custom room labels | | | | | | |
| Automatic Room Connections. Island rooms (rooms within rooms) automatically connect to outer rooms via an invisible wall to ensure proper room definitions | | | | | | |
| Display the Dimensional Size and the Square Footage labels for a room at one time | | | | | | |
| Multiple Select & Edit Rooms. Group select multiple rooms and edit their attributes at once | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Multiple-select editing. For example, select all your cabinets and change them all with one command | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Center Objects tool – center objects in 2D & 3D. Center cabinets under windows, windows in walls, dormers on a roof, and several other items 3D and 2D | | | | | | |
| Make Parallel tool. Use the Make Parallel tool to align objects parallel or perpendicular to other objects | | | - | - | - | - |
| Use Edit Area to select, move, edit, and copy entire regions of your design | | | | | | |
| Rotate and Reverse Plan | | Excludes Rotate | Excludes Rotate | - | - | Excludes Rotate |
| Create blueprint layouts with 3D, CAD, Cross-Section / Elevation, and Plan Views. Define any scale for the drawing | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Use callouts to reference between details, plans, and cross-sections in a blueprint layout | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Enhanced “Send to Layout” . Experience faster response times and improved line generation | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Backup Entire Plan - exports a bundle of all the files referenced in your plan, good for sharing with other users who do not have your custom materials and images | | | - | - | - | - |
| House Wizard™ provides more control over choosing the room types for each floor | | | | - | | |
| Model Maker™ tool allows you to print 3D models for assembly | | | | - | - | |
| Virtual Graph Paper™ displays a reference grid | | | | | | - |
| Plan Check™ reviews your design against basic building principles | | | | - | - | |
| IRC - Residential Design Checklist to review your design against national building codes | | - | - | - | - | - |
3D Tools |
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| Import 3D Library objects in .3DS, .OBJ, & .SKP formats | | | | - | - | - |
| Create photo-realistic 3D renderings with shadows in interior and exterior scenes | | | | | | |
| Use the Rendering Techniques tools to create artistic views of your designs like Watercolor, Technical Illustration, and Vector Views | | | - | - | Excludes Vector Views | - |
| Create accurate day or night-time views of your lighting plan | | | | | No Night Views | |
| Define custom lighting with shadows, attenuation, intensity, and more | | | - | - | | - |
| Enhanced Adjust Lighting Dialog. Added information in dialog makes it easy to locate lights by label name or room location | | | - | - | - | - |
| Easily control lighting. New edit controls for lighting allow you to turn lights on or off with a single click. | | | | | | |
| Improved Lighting Units. Choose from common wattage/lumens values for lights or specify custom values. | | | - | - | | - |
| Save and load 3D and Render Views to quickly view your favorite camera images | | | | | | - |
| Full control of render settings allows you to customize your photo-realistic rendering for speed or visual quality | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Delete Surface tool. Explore your structure in 3D by temporarily removing surfaces without changing your design | | | | | | |
| Define the North Pointer for Sun Angles | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Create 3D objects (countertops, slabs, terrain features, and more) from CAD objects | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Aerial View gives overview for fast navigation of plan while editing | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Material eye-dropper and Color Chooser™ allow "drag-and-drop" application of materials and colors | | | | | | |
| Blend Color tool allows you to change the color of any material while retaining its texture | | | | | | |
| Record Walkthroughs along a specified path | | | | - | - | - |
| Record Walkthroughs with the stylized views of Rendering Techniques | | | - | - | - | - |
Cost Estimating / Materials List |
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| Standard Project Cost Estimator automatically generates a materials list for budgeting and planning an entire project | | | | Deck & Landscaping Materials | Interior Materials | House Materials |
| Advanced Project Cost Estimator automatically generates a materials list for budget planning, by room, by floor, or by entire project | | | | - | - | - |
| Specify when a room is calculated in the Living Area. For example, specify the garage or attic to be included or excluded in the living area calculation | | | | | | |
| Deck and Framing Cut & Buy Lists. A Structural Lumber Table can be used to calculate lumber materials for a Cut & Buy List. This calculation is in addition to square feet and lineal feet calculations and can be especially helpful for your framing and decking board calculations | | | - | - | - | - |
| Export Materials Lists to spreadsheet programs including Microsoft® Excel | | Text File Only | Text File Only | Text File Only | Text File Only | Text File Only |
| Save snapshot Materials Lists for different stages of the project. Allows you to evaluate different ideas, compare cost differences, and plan stages of construction | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Add detail to each individual component in the materials list for a comprehensive cost estimate breakdown. For example, assign components to your cabinets, such as doors, pulls, and hinges and assign costs for each item | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Master List allows you to store and manage commonly-used material prices | | - | - | - | - | - |
Dimensioning |
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| Manual and Automatic dimensioning. Includes One-Click™ Automatic dimensions | | | | | | |
| Temporary dynamic wall dimension - displays temporary dimensions as walls are drawn | | | | | | |
| Advanced dimensioning tools including angular, end-to-end, and interior dimensions | | Interior Dimensions | Interior Dimensions | - | Interior Dimensions | - |
| Fully editable dimension lines, and configurable dimension editing. Change where dimensions locate walls, windows, doors, and other objects, both when generating dimensions automatically or manually | | | - | - | - | - |
| Enhanced Wall Editing with Dimensions. Adjust wall lengths by selecting dimensions or temporary dimensions that run parallel to the wall. | | | | | | |
| Box and Bumpout Extension Snaps. Snap to projected 90° intersections | | not visual | not visual | not visual | not visual | not visual |
| Manually enter dimensions (lengths or angles) to precisely position walls and objects. Use dimensions to quickly position objects with precision | Lengths & Angles | Lengths | Lengths | Lengths | Lengths | Lengths |
| Tape Measure tool. Use the Tape Measure Tool to find the measurements of any item | | | | | | |
| End-to-End Dimension tool. Drag dimension from start to finish creating a single dimension string | | | | | | |
| Dimension Number Height Control. Adjust the number height for dimensions on a per-dimension basis | | | | | | |
| Default Dimension Format & Arrows. Control the unit formatting, arrows for the default dimensions. Quickly change the look of the dimensions in your design through a single dialog | | | | | | |
CAD / Elevations |
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| Export plans in DXF file format | | | | - | - | - |
| Standard CAD tools to detail your designs | | | | - | - | - |
| Advanced CAD tools to detail cross-section views with insulation, cross-boxes, and more | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Close Polyline tool, Filleted Polylines radius. Select any polyline and choose Close Polyline to automatically connect the start and end points. Editing of filleted polylines retains fillet radius | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Advanced CAD editing tools such as replicate, line weights, point-to-point move, custom patterns, and more. Compatible with AutoCAD® patterns | | - | - | - | - | - |
| CAD-to-Walls™ - Convert CAD lines from DXF file format to walls. Convert plans created in other CAD programs | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Visual CAD Snaps™ feature with setup dialog and snap options to control | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Toggle control for Angle Snaps & Object Snaps | | | | | | |
| Layers can be used to separate key building components such as electrical or framing. Display or hide features of your design, set colors, lock layers, and use reference layers for precise editing | | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited | Limited |
| Use layers to control the display of labels in plan views - Architectural Blocks, Cabinets, Electrical, Fixtures, Furniture, Shapes, Hardware, Millwork, Plants, and Sprinklers | | | | | | |
| Layer for Camera Labels. Label display for cameras is now independent from the camera display. | | | | | | |
| Automatic Roof Labels. Display labels for roofs, skylights and holes. Label includes pitch direction arrow and the roof angle in pitch or degrees. Modify the arrow style and text style of the roof labels | | | - | - | - | - |
| Labels for Layout Boxes. Automatic labels for layout views will display the camera name for elevation and section views or the floor plan name for plan views. Create custom labels that will move with the views and you set up you layout . | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Specify labels for Light Source or “added light” objects. Uniquely name light sources in your scenes for easy recognition. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Soffit, Shelf, and Partition Labels. Assign custom labels through the new Label Tab for soffits, shelves, and partitions | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Labels for Bay, Box, and Bow Windows. Customize labels through the Label Tab of the Bay, Box, and Bow Window dialogs. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Primary and Secondary Terrain contour labels. The primary and secondary labels are now independent of each other. Control the highlight for negative value contour labels. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| More control over arrowhead style. Specify the arrowhead type used for Joist Directions, Sun Angles, Roof Labels, and Stairs and Ramps. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Text Style tools. Create Text Styles and assign them per layer, per default, or per object to control the appearance of labels, dimensions and other text in your design. | Limited | - | - | - | - | - |
| Show or hide Electrical Connections, Architectural Blocks, Hardware, Plant Schedules, and Light Sources using layer controls | | | | | | |
| Improved control over plant schedules. Manage multiple schedules of the same type and independently control their display of labels. Improved schedule updating when items in the plan are added to or removed from the schedule display. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Specify Line Style and Fill Style for Schedules. Change schedule grid color and overall background color on a per schedule basis. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Automatic GFCI outlets in Kitchens. Use the Auto Place Outlet tool to add GFCI outlets to your kitchen rooms. | | | | - | - | |
| Stair and Ramp Up/Down Arrow layer control. New layer for stair and ramp arrow allows you to control the display separately. | | | Excludes Ramps | Excludes Ramps | Excludes Ramps | Excludes Ramps |
| New “Footings, Step Markers” layer. Control the step markers display, line style, color, line weight, and text style. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Create Elevation, Wall Elevation, and Cross Section Views for the interior and exterior of your design | | | | - | - | |
| Create back-clipped Cross Section/Elevation Views to limit your view to relevant details for precise plan editing | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Create Rendered Cross-Section Views with photo-realistic textures | | | | - | - | |
Windows / Doors / Cabinets |
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| Standard Cabinet Tools | | | | - | | |
| Advanced Cabinet Tools - attach moldings & hardware, angled front cabinets, and more | | | - | - | - | - |
| Rounded Countertop Corners for Automatic Countertops. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Improved Corner Cabinet Hardware. Single knob hardware for pie-cut corner cabinets. | | | | | | |
| Frameless Cabinet settings. Change the cabinet style in one click with the new Frameless and Full Overlay options for cabinets. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Design and edit Custom Countertop shapes and styles | | | - | - | - | - |
| Pass-Thru tool. Create an opening between two rooms | | | | | | - |
| Atrium Door options. Create Center Swing Double Doors, also known as atrium patio doors. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Visualize door placement prior to actually placing the door with intuitive control of the hinge and swing | | | | | | |
| Improved representation of doors recessed into masonry walls. | | | | | | |
| Door Defaults by Door Type. Set unique door defaults for different types of doors: hinged, pocket, bifold, sliding, and garage. | | | | - | | |
| 3D Door Display options. New edit tools “Show Door Open in 3D” and “Show Door Closed in 3D” make it fast and easy to control the state of doors in 3D views. | | | | | | |
| Adjustable Louver Sizes. New louver attribute allows you to control their size in windows and doors. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Arched Top Windows & Doors. Specify Round Top, Gothic Arch, or Broken Arch shapes to windows and doors. Adjust the amount of curvature | | | | - | | - |
| Angled Top Window Controls. Adjust the angle of window tops. Apply changes to the left, right, or center of the window | | | | - | | - |
| Window Treatments & Interior Shutters. Adjust curtains by the height off floor and height above casing. Specify shutters on the interior of a window. Blinds fit inside casing when attached to Windows | | | - | - | | - |
Libraries / Catalogs |
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| Library Items to customize and create designs | 8,800+ | 8,800+ | 6,500+ | 6,500+ | 4,800+ | 5,000+ |
| Download Additional Library Catalogs from www.homedesignersoftware.com in the 2012 format | | | | | | - |
| Advanced library items - Cabinet/Door Hardware, and molding profiles | | | Moldings Only | - | Moldings Only | Moldings Only |
| Ability to Add items to the Library Browser | | | | | | - |
| Ability to Export Custom Libraries - Share your libraries with other Home Designer Users | | | | | | - |
| Library Search & Instant Search bar integrated into the Library. Search for Library items by keyword, object type or style. Instant Search bar is integrated into the Library, just start typing in the search bar to find objects in the Library Browser. Customize Library Search Attributes, view or modify key words for searching on Library objects | | | | | | |
| Improved speed of deleting objects from the Library Browser. | | | | | | |
| Library Browser filtered views. Choose to show or hide entire library catalogs in the Library Browser tree. Improved library load times as hidden items are not loaded into the Library Browser. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Library Tree Reorganization. Manufacturer, User, Home Designer Core, and Home Designer Bonus catalogs are now grouped into separate categories for easier navigation. | | | | | | Excludes Manufacturer and Bonus categories. |
| Library Object Shortcuts. Create shortcut items to any object in the Library Browser to customize your organization. | | | | | | |
| Faster and more reliable catalog downloads. Downloaded content automatically installs (no pre-subscription required). | | | | | | |
| Enhanced feedback for Library Catalog downloads status. Options to Continue or Cancel downloads when Home Designer closes. Catalog Downloads automatically restart if Home Designer is closed then re-launched. | | | | | | |
| Multiple Select Library Items. Use the Shift or Ctrl keys to copy, move, and edit groups of objects | | | | | | |
| View number of Objects in Library Catalog. Select any folder to view the number of items contained there. Displayed on the Status Bar | | | | | | |
Stairs / Ramps / Railings |
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| Advanced stair tools allow control of shape, starter treads, flaring, tread width, and more. Full control over curved staircases | | Limited | - | - | - | - |
| Wrap Around Stairs - join stairs on outside or inside corners | | | | | | |
| One-Click™ Stairs & Ramps. Auto place stairs from platform to platform. Place full length stairs with a single click. Stairs and Ramps automatically connect to the terrain when drawn from the ground to the structure | | | | | | |
| Define Stair starting elevation. Specify whether stairs and ramps are located at the sub-floor or the finished floor elevation | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Landing tool. Create Custom Landings to auto-connect Stair sections or Ramp sections together. Choose auto adjust features for the height and thickness based on stair or ramp connection. Turn railings on or off per Landing edge | | | | | | |
| Ramp tool. Default Ramp is ADA compliant. Specify length, slope rise and run. Use for non-traditional ramps such as skateboard ramps | | | - | - | - | - |
Building Tools |
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| Automatic building tools for roof generation, stairs, dimensioning, foundations, and more | | | | | | |
| Automatic building tools for framing and electrical | | | | - | - | |
| Ceiling Plane tool - create custom ceilings of any slope and shape; vaulted, cathedral, and more | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Building tools to customize floors and ceilings. Control over ceiling height and vault. Use any floor materials you like | | | | - | | |
| Automatic Roofs - gable, hip, shed, gambrel, and more | | | | | | |
| Gable & Hip Roof Toggle tool. Toggle the roof between these two styles using the Gable / Hip tool in 3D and 2D | | | | | | |
| One-Click Auto Dormer™ - builds dormer on roof automatically while cutting a hole for the ceiling | | | | - | - | - |
| Automatic Structural Dormers - builds dormers automatically with walls that reach the floor | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Unblock and manually edit Automatic Dormers | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Auto Roof Returns™ | | | | - | - | - |
| Create any custom roof plan with the Manual Roof tools. Edit and create roof planes. Start with an automatic roof and then add custom details, or create the entire roof manually | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Customize construction methods for walls, floors, ceilings, and foundations. Specify wall layers, floor structure, platform height, mudsills, framing methods, and more | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Design Multiple-Story buildings. Create structures with up to 3 floor levels plus basement foundation and attic | | | | | | |
| Custom Wall Types. Create, copy, and delete wall types with layers to match your projects | | | - | - | - | - |
| Half-Wall tool. Draw half walls and specify their default values (also known as solid railings) | | | | - | | - |
| Create pony walls and edit wall shape in cross-section view. Add beadboard to a kitchen, add stone to the outside of your design, or create a stepped foundation for a hillside lot | | Limited | - | - | - | - |
| Pony Wall height controls. Adjust the height of individual Pony Walls by typing the lower wall’s height into the dialog | | | - | - | - | - |
| Improved railings clip to ceiling surface. Railings that intersect roofs and ceilings are automatically clipped to fit the slope. | | | | | | |
| Specify Foundation types by room | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Elevation and Cross-Section cameras show the foundation in the view - see your basement, slab, or crawlspace in a section view | | | | - | - | |
| Vertical Footing Control. Define stepped foundations with vertical footing control. Choose to show or hide vertical footings for stepped foundations | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Specify Foundation Piers as Round or Square | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Enhanced Garage Slabs with monolithic foundations. Select components of the slab and adjust garage specific settings to suit your design | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Improved foundations with Slab at top of Stem Wall. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Foundation Defaults. More detailed control over the foundation automatically generated for Garage rooms. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Auto Rebuild Foundations. Automatically update the foundation plan to align with the 1st floor as the design progresses. | | | | | | - |
| Monolithic Slab technology. Designing slab foundations is now faster, easier, and more accurate. | | | | | | |
| Display cutout indicators for Garage Doors in foundation stem walls and curbing. | | | | | | |
| Slab Volume listed in the slab specification dialog for easy reference. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Control Roof Lookout framing. Turn on or off the automatic generation of lookout framing in the Framing dialog. | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Manual framing tools for fully editable framing, including joists, rafters, trusses, beams, posts, and more. Create any framing system for your design | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Automatic Framing - set the program to update your framing as the design changes | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Post & Beam framing tools - specify Round or Square posts. Set the Default Material for Posts in the framing defaults | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Specify the size and style (In Line, Stagger, or Cross) of Roof Blocking and Bridging | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Advanced architectural object editing including replication, rotation, and reflection | | - | - | - | - | - |
Landscaping / Decking / Terrain |
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| Landscaping Plants | 3,600+ | 3,600+ | 1,500+ | 3,600+ | Interior Plants Only | 500+ |
| Plant Encyclopedia & Plant Chooser™ | | | | | - | - |
| Plant Hardiness Zone Maps | | | | | - | - |
| Plant Schedules - Generate a list of all the plants used in your design | | | - | | - | - |
| Grow Plants Slider Tool - 0 - 20 years | | | - | | - | - |
| Distribute Objects in Garden Beds - auto-populate your garden beds automatically | | | | | - | |
| Show plants with filled colors in your 2D landscape design | | | | | - | |
| 2D plant symbol types allow you to customize the look and feel of your landscape and plants | | | | | - | |
| Lock and Reset the aspect ratio for plants and images - choose to stretch or resize plants and images based on your design needs | | | | | | |
| Landscaping Style Templates | | | - | | - | - |
| Complete Deck & Fence Tools | | | - | | - | - |
| Deck Designer™ tool. Design Straight and Curved Decks. Define roof and ceiling attributes for a covered deck. Control the orientation and size of deck planking, gap, width, overhang, direction, border planks. | | | - | | - | - |
| Auto Re-Build Deck Framing. Deck Framing updates as the deck design changes | | | - | | - | |
| Advanced Railing Tools - Custom Railing Panels, Control of Height & Railing Styles - Great for Custom Decks | | | | | - | - |
| Polygon Deck tool creates deck shapes automatically | | | | | - | - |
| Deck Planking Control - change angles, borders, and create patterns with deck planking | | | - | | - | - |
| Deck Planking - change the materials applied to all planks. Paint one deck plank in 3D and all planks will update | | | - | | - | |
| Advanced Fence Tools - Control Height of individual Fence Components | | | - | | - | - |
| Pre-Arranged Garden Beds | | | - | | - | - |
| Standard Landscaping Terrain Tools | | | | | - | |
| Advanced Landscaping Terrain Tools - Hill and Valley tools for terrain features | | | | | - | - |
| Terrain Hole Tool - Cut holes in Terrain - great for pools, spas, and advanced terrain features | | | | | - | - |
| Advanced Terrain editing Tools | | | - | | - | - |
| Define custom Terrain, including sloped lots and input elevation points | | | | | - | - |
| Input accurate elevation data for true to life Terrain models | | | - | | - | - |
| Import Terrain Wizard | | | | | - | - |
| Create split-entry homes with daylight basements | | | | | - | - |
| Straight & Curved Terrain Walls, Curbs, & Retaining Wall tools | | | | | - | - |
| Straight & Curved Roads & Sidewalks, & Driveway & Parking Lot tools | | | | | - | Straight Sidewalks Only |
| Stepping Stone tools | | | | | - | - |
| Water Feature tools - create various shaped ponds and water features or design a lake front home | | | | | - | Round Only |
| Stream tools - add streams, creeks, and water features to your design | | | | | - | - |
| Image/Plant Object Specification - set the X and Y coordinates for image and plant objects - for specific planting definition | | | - | | - | - |
| Define Terrain Elevation Splines, Elevation Regions, and Terrain Breaks | | | Elevation Regions | - | - | - |
| Import GPS Wizard - quickly model your terrain with GPS data | | | | | - | - |
| Display angles as Azimuth Bearings | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Dimension to Plants & Images | | | | | | - |
General / Support |
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| Maximum Print Size | Architectural C 18" x 24" | 12" x 18" | 12" x 18" | 12" x 18" | 12"x18" | 8.5" x 14" |
| Loan/Mortgage Calculator | | | | - | - | - |
| Fully editable working environment including customizable toolbars | | - | - | - | - | - |
| Compatible with - 3D Home Architect® (Version 4.0 and prior) | | | | | | |
| Compatible with Chief Architect® (Version 10.0 and prior) | Viewing Mode Only | Viewing Mode Only | Viewing Mode Only | Viewing Mode Only | Viewing Mode Only | Viewing Mode Only |
| Compatible with Chief Architect® (Version X1-X4) | Full Editing | Basic Editing, Change Materials & Colors, Move Furniture | Basic Editing, Change Materials & Colors, Move Furniture | Basic Editing, Change Materials & Colors, Move Furniture | Basic Editing, Change Materials & Colors, Move Furniture | Basic Editing, Change Materials & Colors, Move Furniture |
| Online Training Tutorials with "How-To" videos | 90+ videos | 40+ videos | 30+ videos | 40+ videos | 40+ videos | 25+ videos |
| Searchable Training Videos - use keywords to find exactly the help you need | | | | | | |
| Windows® 7 / Vista / XP Compatible | | | | | | |
| Chief Architect® 2012 Technology | | | | | | |
| Free Online Technical Support | | | | | | |
