Learn what graphics card your computer has by following the steps in this article.
The extend slope downward option in your wall specification dialog can be a useful feature in the right circumstance.
You can click the Check Help Database button at the bottom left corner of any warning or error message to launch your Internet browser to our online Help Database.
Use the instructions in this article to obtain the software's Message Log and send it to the Technical Support team using the online Support Center.
If you are receiving this warning while attempting to place a framing member. Take a look at where you are attempting to place it.
If a newer version of the software is available, you may receive this message upon launching the Home Designer.
If the perimeter of a CAD base object has been broken or is not completely enclosed, then you may receive the following message.
If you are receiving this warning, here a few things you can try to resolve it.
This warning message displays when a roof plane overhang is extending into a wall in your plan rather than butting against the wall's surface.
If a roof baseline has a length of zero, you may receive this error message.
Finding the problematic location related to this message can be done by following the steps within this article.
This article describes why a texture cannot be found within Chief Architect as well as finding a resolution
This error is generally caused by an outdated video card that does not accurately use render shading. Please check the System Requirements for your version.
Some errors occur because Chief Architect or Home Designer encountered something unexpected. Follow these steps to get to send the correct information to Technical Support for further troubleshooting.
Having an area that is to small to accommodate a certain object will result in this message displaying.
If you are receiving a warning on the program's launch regarding being unable to write files, it means that you do not have permissions that the program needs.
Resize the cabinet you want to place the appliance in so that it is large enough to fit, then place the fixture.
This message will display if you open a plan file created in an old program version - typically, Chief Architect 7 and prior or 3D Home Architect version 3 or 4.
This Information message will display if you try to use the Wall Elevation tool to create an exterior view of your model. If you believe you are trying to create a view inside of the room, make sure the room is completely enclosed and selectable.
This message appears when the Custom Toolbar file could not be opened. The problem can be resolved by creating or importing a new custom toolbar configuration.
The most common reason for this message to display is caused by a structure in which floor and ceiling heights in some part of the plan are such that the program cannot create roof planes over that area and have them join properly to the roof planes in the rest of the plan. This condition may also be accompanied by walls that have had the Pitch incorrectly set, or are wrongly specified as Full Gable, High Shed/Gable, Knee Walls, or Extend Slope Downward.
Learn how to send a dump file from Microsoft Windows to Technical Support to troubleshoot the error Chief Architect encountered a problem and needs to close.
This message will display if you try to open a new plan or layout, but the program cannot find the file that you've specified as your template.
Chief Architect can no longer find one or more plan files from which views have been sent. You may have moved or renamed the plan files(s) resulting in the broken link so that views sent from the plan can no longer be displayed in the layout.
This message displays when a plan file is opened, and its electrical defaults extremely old discontinued objects that are not present in the library of the current program version. Please contact Technical Support for troubleshooting immediately if you receive an error that the default template cannot be found and this error message is one of the results.
When creating a deck on an upper level with a room below, consider changing the Room Type to Balcony and changing the Room Name to Deck, rather than specifying the Room Type as Deck, which will affect the framing.
If a cross section/elevation view that has been sent to layout and you choose to delete it, the link between the layout and plan will be broken.
Placing an object on a layer that is currently not displayed in the current view will generate this message.
This warning message will display if you type characters into a field where they have no meaning. Like if you type letters into a field that requires numbers.
This message indicates that the file you are trying to open is corrupted and can no longer be used. You may need to revert to an archive.
For the best walkthrough results, it is recommended that you refrain from using the computer while recording while in Chief Architect X6/Home Designer 2015 and older products.
If you have not created a layout, or opened an existing layout, then you will see this message display when you click the Send to Layout button.
If the missing file is a custom backdrop, image, picture or texture, you have several choices to resolve this issue in the short term including helping the program to locate the missing file on your computer, replace the missing file with a new file, or remove the reference to the missing file from the plan or layout in question.
This Information message will display when a stair section is connected to a landing along an edge that is not the same width as the stairs or requires a break point.
If there is a wall in your plan that contains a complex set of openings, or a large number of mulled openings in one wall this error may display.
If you cannot place an Automatic Dormer, see the detailed information in this article to correct the plan so that the requirements are met.
This message displays to inform you that although the Room Label Specification dialog is a type of Text dialog, the text of the room label cannot be modified here.
Contact Customer Service immediately with your proof of purchase and Product Key if you receive this error message.
When installing Chief Architect software, what to do if you get an error message: 'Side-by-side configuration is incorrect'.
When you attempt to place a fixture or appliance into a cabinet that already contains a fixture/appliance, this message will display. Choose to keep the existing fixture/appliance or replace it with the new one.
As the message implies, either the e-mail address, or password that you're entering is incorrect. Verify spelling, case and if necessary, reset your password.
This error message indicates that there may be another process using the file you are attempting to open.
If you do not find a specific custom font on a particular computer, you can install it.
This message will display when the program finds a wall that appears to have been drawn with the exterior layer facing inward and the interior layer facing out.
This warning indicates that you have changed the Main Layer for a wall type that exists in your plan and that walls will be moved to accommodate the change.
In most circumstances, the Main Layer should be specified as the structural layer of the wall, particularly when the wall is a framed type.
If you receive this message, you may want to purge your plan materials.
This message displays when you send a view to layout at a scale that will make it either taller than the layout drawing sheet's height or wider than its width.
This message displays when the file you are attempted to open is corrupt. Do not continue working in this file. Instead, locate your last good backup of the file, or access the software's automatically generated Archives to find a recent copy of the plan.
Receiving this message indicates that an illogical or undo-able roof configuration is trying to be built.
This warning message can display in Windows when your Chief Architect software program is closed, but still running in the computer's background, such as if it was not closed correctly. Even if you don't visually see the Chief Architect program on screen or in your Windows taskbar, your operating system still shows it is running in order for you to receive this warning.
The resource you requested will be opened in your default web browser. If you would like to access the resource when disconnected from the internet , you can use your browser's 'Save As' functionality to save a copy of the resource
Each version of Home Designer is optimized for each type of user. If you are seeing this error, you may not have the right product for you.
Lengthening a staircase, or increasing the rise angle, are two potential solutions to make your stairs reach the next floor.
This message will display if the file you are trying to import cannot be read by the program due to corruption, formatting or something in the file is unrecognized.
If you attempt to place a symbol into a plan as an independent object, when it was meant to go into a cabinet, this message will display.
When trying to place an appliance or fixture an error comes up warning that the symbol was made to be placed in a cabinet.
This warning means you cannot save your plan, undo file, or archive. Please see the steps in the article for troubleshooting steps to resolve the message.
If you type a character into a dimensions string that is not in one of the three types of allowed characters, this Warning message will display.
If a CAD based object such as a slab, custom countertop, or polyline solid is overlapping itself, then you may receive this message.
Automatically generated walls can be created when Attic Walls need to fill in a gable end, room divider invisible walls need to connect 'island' rooms, when 'Auto Rebuild Foundations' is turned on, or when a wall on the floor below a wall is marked as a Bearing Wall.
Plans created in newer titles are unable to be opened with older versions of Chief Architect and Home Designer software.
Many web pages use JavaScript to provide additional functionality to the reader when viewing web pages.
Changing the file extension of your plan or working over a network are just a few of the reasons why you may receive this message.
This message appears when you try to open a Chief Architect file, but the file does not have any information saved in it that the program can read.
This Warning message will display if you try to import and the file is not a type that can be imported either into the active view or into the program in general.
Cross Section/Elevation, Backclipped Cross Section, and Wall Elevation views sent to layout are semi-dynamic; you can choose to update the layout or not.
When uninstalling your Chief Architect product you may encounter an error due to file permissions on your system.
This warning will display if the Fault Tolerant Heap is enabled for a Chief Architect or Home Designer program.
The Material Painter is an excellent way to make modifications to the materials applied to most objects but shouldn't be used on Pony Wall wall types.
Home Designer has the ability to open Chief Architect Plans but you may have limited functionality when it comes to making modifications.
Creating objects on Floor A (the attic floor) can cause this message to display.
This message displays when you do not have an up-to-date video card driver provided by the manufacturer, often described as an installed client driver.
When a cross section/elevation view is created, Chief Architect generates lines to represent the edges of objects that the camera is passing through.
The likely reason for receiving this message is that cookies have been disabled in your web browser itself or by your security software. If the issue is with your browser, see the appropriate website below for your web browser.
You may receive this message if you have an outdated video driver or an unsupported video card.
Opening legacy files require a Chief Architect X8, Home Designer 2017, or an earlier version program that supports the .plan and .layout file extensions.
A gap between floors is usually caused by modifying the Platform to this Line option in your Wall Type Definitions dialog so that it is on the exterior surface.
Follow these steps to create a new Data folder to circumvent unexpected behavior caused by having the Documents folder stored on iCloud Drive.
Creating a 3D view of your Home Designer plan relies on your computer's video card. Problems with camera views can often be resolved by following these steps.
The detailed instructions in this article resolve most issues with Chief Architect software crashing on a computer that uses the Mac operating system.
Follow these instructions to resolve most Chief Architect software crashes on a Microsoft Windows operating system.
Library catalogs are available for download from our 3D Library website. There are catalogs available for multiple program titles and versions, but you should only install catalogs designed for your version.
If you're receiving several error messages when opening or closing a Chief Architect/Home Designer program, a System Setting/Preference may be blocking the program from accessing all of the required files to function optimally. Please follow the instructions in this resource to resolve the issue.
Follow the detailed instructions in this Knowledge Base article to correct exceptions, assertions, null pointer, and SEH error messages. If none of the instructions in the article resolve your specific issue, follow the steps to send the System Information, Message Log, and other relevant files to our Technical Support team for advanced troubleshooting.
If the registration wizard fails to locate the usb hardware lock device, check to ensure that the computer meets the software version's System Requirements. If the version is supported on the operating system, follow the instructions to download and install the appropriate driver for the device.
Select Library> Install Core Content to restart the core catalog download if it has been interrupted or failed. If the process continually fails, check your network proxy or firewall settings.
You may receive one of these messages if your structure or an object that you're placing is far from the origin point. Follow the instructions in this resource to resolve this.
Having trouble printing? Here are some things you can try before contacting Technical Support.
Please follow these steps if you are having trouble registering your Home Designer Product.
Line weight scaling affects both line weights and line styles and can be particularly noticeable with dashed line styles. When a view is sent to layout, line weights may be affected by the drawing scale selected for the view. This occurs when the layout view’s scale is different from the drawing scale of the original view. You can specify the drawing scale for any orthogonal view by opening the Drawing Sheet Setup dialog while in that view. A message may appear when the Line Weight Scale setting for a view being sent to layout is not the same as the Line Weight Scale setting for the plan file.
The Auto Stairwell tool is a quick and easy way to create a stairwell for a set of stairs.
This article explains how to resolve permissions issues when receiving the error: 'Critical error writing preferences.'