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3D Home Architect Deluxe Version 3.0
FAQs - Downloads - System Requirements
 		 3D Home Architect Deluxe Version 3.0
 
 
 
3D Home Architect® Deluxe Plans you can build with results that will make you proud! It's so easy and intuitive, even a beginner can be up and running in minutes. And the results are spectacular! Start from scratch, or you can modify one of 150 professionally designed floorplans. It's easy to place windows, doors, counters, and furnishing... even custom stairs. You'll see your plans develop before your eyes in realistic 3D, down to the last detail. Features Include: SmartPartsTM technology automatically guides the placement of walls, doors, stairs, and other objects Print out plans for your contractor or architect Automatically prepare a complete Materials List Conduct room-by-room inspections with PlanCheckTM and avoid potential problems Improve your skills with video tips from "The Home Pro" and helpful articles from American Homestyle magazine Export to popular CAD programs in DXF format Access a library of more than 400 furniture and fixture objects Design using standard or metric dimensions.

 
 
FAQs
bullet Stairs: Cannot See Up or Down to Next Floor
bullet Fence Sections Do Not Automatically Align
bullet Floor of This Room Is Too Low
bullet Ceiling of This Room Is Too High
bullet Applied Materials View Not Responding to Camera View
bullet Below Minimum Requirements Detected (Cyrix)
bullet Print Shop® Unlock Code Is Not Provided
bullet Materials List Prints Text Too Small
bullet3D Views Will Not Print
bullet Export 3D View as BMP File Does Not Work
bullet Dimensions Not Measured from Center of Wall
bullet Plants on Upper Floors Do Not Show in 3D View
bullet Area Calculations and Dimensions
bullet Menu/Dimensions are Symbols Instead of Text
bullet Metric System Measurement Units
bullet Material Application to Objects
bullet Electrical Symbols Cannot Be Moved
bullet Printing Floorplan Size Limit is 8.5 X 14 Inches
bullet Internet Options Do Not Work in Program
bulletScaling the Floor Plan
bullet Wall Alignment: Upper and Lower Floors
bulletDeck without a Roof
bullet Selecting Specialty Windows from within 3D Home Architect® 3.0
bullet Exterior Wall Texture Application
bulletCreating a Column
bulletCeiling Height Change
bulletSwapping Floors
bullet Importing Graphic or DXF Files Not Supported
bulletDeleting Unwanted Floors
bullet Texture Color Cannot Be Changed
bullet Adding a Mirror Above a Sink or Cabinet
bulletCorner Cabinet Placement
bulletZoom Tools
bulletSample Floor Plans
bulletCurved Walls
bullet Export 3D View as a .WMF or .BMP File
bullet Wall Height Cannot be Changed
bullet Wall Length Minimum Can Be Changed
bullet Wall Fill Color and Hatch Pattern
bulletAdditional Floors
bulletHome Pro Tips
bullet Invalid Page Fault in 3DHOMEV3.EXE
bullet .DXF Files Do Not Open in AutoCAD®
bulletFloor Plan Default Settings
bulletCamera View Adjustment
bulletCathedral Ceiling
bulletSplit-Level Design
bullet Split-Foyer Plan Cannot Be Designed
bullet Restore Deleted Room Name and Dimensions
bullet Restore Deleted Living Area Label and Dimensions
bulletFans and Lighting Fixtures
bullet Staircase with a Room Underneath
bullet Bay, Box or Bow Window Design
bullet Lazy Susan in a Corner Cabinet
bulletLoft Design
bullet Fireplace Design (Masonry)
bullet Area and Dimension Display for Individual Rooms
bullet3D Camera View Settings

 
 
Issue Stairs: Cannot See Up or Down to Next Floor
Description  
Solution It is not possible to see up or down stairs to the next floor. For example, the stairs seem to disappear into the ceiling when viewing from the lower floor. A stairwell room must be created on each floor. This room needs only to be large enough to encompass the stairs. You can designate any of the stairwell room walls as invisible if desired.
Here's the procedure:
 

     
  1. Choose the Select (arrow) Tool.
     
  2. Double-click inside the Lower floor stairwell room. The Room Specification dialog will open.
     
  3. Uncheck the Ceiling Over box and then click OK.
     
  4. Double-click inside the Upper floor stairwell room. The Room Specification dialog will open.
     
  5. Use the arrow to select Open Below in the Room Name field, and then click OK.
     
  6. The room that serves as the stairwell must be connected to an Exterior Wall. This must be the case for each floor that you want to be able to view.
     
  7. If the desired floor plan does not allow for this connection, simply draw a new wall segment.
     
  8. Double-click on this wall and designate it as invisible.
     
  9. You must use the Full Camera 3D view mode, rather than the Plan Camera, to be able to see two different floors simultaneously.
     

 
NOTE: The stairwell wall does not have to be directly connected to the exterior wall. It may be connected to an interior wall if you can trace a path through interior walls to any exterior wall.
 
Issue Fence Sections Do Not Automatically Align
Description  
Solution While running 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, there is no automatic alignment feature when placing fence sections onto a plan. It is necessary to manually move and align adjacent fence sections after placing them onto the plan.

     
  1. Use the Magnifing Glass tool to Zoom In on the fence section to be moved.
     

 
This makes it easier to select and then move or rotate an individual section.

Note that the fence sections can only be moved on the vertical and horizontal axes.

 

 

     
  1. Hold down the Ctrl Key to allow movement in any direction.
     
 
Issue Floor of This Room Is Too Low
Description  
Solution While attempting to access the Room Specification dialog when double-clicking an upper room, the following error message appears: "The Floor of this room is too low. It could force the lower floor's ceiling down." This issue occurs when the ceiling height on the floor below has been changed to a value higher than the default setting of 96 inches. (The program does not automatically calculate the floor height of the upper room to include the floor thickness.) Clicking OK will bypass the error and open the Room Specification window as desired. The error can be avoided when specific guidelines are followed. To avoid the error message in the future, adjust the floor height of the upper room to equal the ceiling height of the lower floor plus the upper floor thickness, including the floor joist.

NOTE: The Floor Thickness setting is found in the Build Roof dialog. The program default is 11 inches.

Example: If the ceiling on the lower floor has been changed to 120 inches, then the default floor height of the floor above will be 107 inches. Change this value to 131 inches. The calculation is 120 inches (lower floor ceiling height) plus 11 inches (default floor thickness) equals 131 inches.
 
Issue Ceiling of This Room Is Too High
Description  
Solution While attempting to access the Room Specification dialog when double-clicking on a room, the following error message appears: "The ceiling of this room is too high. It would protrude higher than the floor above." This issue occurs when the ceiling height of the floor below has been changed to a value higher than the default setting of 96 inches. (The program does not automatically calculate the floor height of the upper room to include the floor thickness.) Clicking OK will bypass the error and open the Room Specification window as desired. The error can be avoided when specific guidelines are followed. To avoid the error message in the future, adjust the floor height of the upper room to equal the ceiling height of the lower floor plus the upper floor thickness, including the floor joist.

NOTE: The Floor Thickness setting is found in the Build Roof dialog. The program default is 11 inches.

Example:

If the ceiling on the lower floor has been changed to 120 inches, then the default floor height of the floor above will be 107 inches. Change this value to 131 inches. The calculation is 120 inches (lower floor ceiling height) plus 11 inches (default floor thickness) equals 131 inches.
 
Issue Applied Materials View Not Responding to Camera View
Description  
Solution After using 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, you discover that the Applied Materials view does not respond to the changes of the camera made in the Camera view. A brief description explains characteristics of the Applied Camera view. Descriptions of the Applied Materials view are as follows:
 
  1. The Applied Materials view responds to the following:

Changing the navigation options in the Camera view;
 

Changing the camera height in the Plan view.

  1. The Applied Materials view does not maintain the Camera view's clipping, zooming, or scrolling.
NOTE: Changing the zoom setting in the Applied Materials view will cause the program to default to the Camera view.
 
Issue Below Minimum Requirements Detected (Cyrix)
Description  
Solution A message may indicate that the system is below the minimum requirements for properly installing 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0. If your computer has a Cyrix processor, this message may appear even though the system is well above the minimum requirements. When this message appears, click OK to continue installing the application. Once installed, 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 will run correctly.
 
Issue Print Shop® Unlock Code Is Not Provided
Description  
Solution During the registration of 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, you are prompted to enter the unlock code for the free version of Print Shop® Deluxe III included with the program. However, no unlock code has been provided. The correct unlock code is THD1B. When entering this code, verify that all characters in the code are typed using uppercase letters. If uppercase letters do not work, type the code using all lowercase letters.
 
Issue Materials List Prints Text Too Small
Description  
Solution When attempting to print the Materials List of 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, the printout text is too small to read. An incorrect font setting can cause this issue. Editing the 3DHOME.INI file should resolve the issue. Edit the 3DHOME.INI file in the manner that follows.
  1. Close programs and return to the desktop.
     
  2. Click Start and select Run.
     
  3. Type 3DHOME.INI in the Open: field.
     
  4. Click OK. The 3DHOME.INI file will open in Notepad.
     
  5. Under the [Fonts] section, locate the line that follows.

    Materials=Modern (Font names other than Modern may appear.)

     
  6. Replace the font name in that line with the word Arial. The new, edited line will show the following text.

    Materials=Arial

     
  7. Click File on the menu bar and then select Save. The Materials List should now print with larger text.
 
Issue 3D Views Will Not Print
Description  
Solution The 3D Views may not print for some personal computers. However, the Floor Plan Views will print for most personal computers. In most cases, changing the Color and Desktop (Screen Area) settings will resolve the issue. Complete the following procedure to change the settings as needed.
 
  1. Return to the desktop.
     
  2. Click Start, choose Settings and select Control Panel.
     
  3. Double-click the Display icon to open the Display Properties dialog window.
     
  4. Click the Settings tab.
     
  5. Click the down arrow next to Color Palette (or Colors) and select High Color (16-bit).
     
  6. Change the Screen Area (Desktop Area) to 800 by 600 pixels.
     
  7. Click Apply and then click OK.
     
  8. Restart Windows® and launch 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0. The issue should be resolved.
 
Issue Export 3D View as BMP File Does Not Work
Description  
Solution Exporting a 3D view as a bitmap (.BMP) file from 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 may not work with certain video cards and drivers. Typically the Save As window does not appear when clicking File, Export, then Bitmap File. Adjusting the Color and Desktop (Screen) Area will alleviate the problem in most cases

     
  1. On the Windows taskbar click Start, point to Settings, and then select Control Panel.
     
  2. Double-click the Display control panel to open the Display Properties dialog window.
     
  3. Click on the tab labeled Settings.
     
  4. Click on the down arrow next to Color Palette (Colors) and select High Color (16-bit).
     
  5. Change the Screen Area (Desktop Area) to 800 by 600 pixels.
     
  6. Click on the OK button and then click the Apply button.
     
  7. Restart Windows® and then run 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0.
     
  8. The issue should be resolved on most systems.
 
Issue Dimensions Not Measured from Center of Wall
Description  
Solution The Dimensions Setup window shows the option to Locate Wall Dimensions at Center or Surface. This dialog is incorrect. Interior room dimensions created by using the Manual or Automatic dimensioning feature are measured from interior surfaces only. In 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 2.1 and previous versions interior dimensions were measured from the center of the wall. In response to customer requests, this was changed in Version 3.0.

Designating Locate Interior Wall Dimensions at Center in the Dimensions Setup Dialog window does not actually affect the way that Manual or Automatic dinmensions are located. It does, however, correctly affect the location of the dimensions that are displayed when selecting a wall with either the Wall Tool or the Select Tool (arrow) activated.
 
Issue Plants on Upper Floors Do Not Show in 3D View
Description  
Solution Plants and other landscape items that are placed on a floor other than the first level do not appear on that floor in 3D views. Instead, they appear on the first floor only, even though the 2D plant symbols show on the upper floor in the floor plan view. The plants and landscape items were initially designed for outdoor placement only. As a result, they appear only on the ground level. However, some of the items are incorrectly labeled as indoor plants. This issue has been reported to development for further review.
 
Issue Area Calculations and Dimensions
Description  
Solution After installing and using 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, you wish to know how dimensions are measured and how overall area is calculated relative to a specific floorplan. The following information will help you better understand how the program calculates area and analyzes dimensional data.
bulletAutomatic (Exterior) Dimensions: These dimensions are measured from the outside surfaces of the exterior walls.
bulletManual Dimensions: These dimensions are measured from interior wall surface to interior wall surface, even if one or more of the room walls are also exterior walls.
bulletArea: Area is calculated using the middle of each wall as its linear dimension, which is an architectural standard. The Living Area of the entire floor plan is calculated solely using the exterior walls of the floor plan. (The addition of interior walls or rooms does not affect the overall living area value.)
 
Issue Menu/Dimensions are Symbols Instead of Text
Description  
Solution While running 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 the menu and/or dimension text may display as either symbols or unrecognizable characters. This issue manifests itself most often on IBM® Aptiva computers, but it may also occur on others machines. It is a resolvable issue. Remove the Monotype Sorts font:
 

     
  1. Click on the Start button, select Settings, and then choose the Control Panel.
     
  2. Double-click to open the Fonts control panel.
     
  3. Click on the font icon labeled Monotype Sorts so that it is highlighted.
     
  4. Click File on the menu bar and then select Delete.
     

If this procedure does not solve the problem, be aware that the program defaults to the Arial font. If the Arial font is missing or corrupted on your Windows® system, 3D Home Architect will default to Wingdings or some other symbol font. Contact Microsoft® if you are unsure how to delete and then reinstall the Arial font.
 
Issue Metric System Measurement Units
Description  
Solution To create a floorplan using Metric System units of measurement instead of Imperial (feet/inches), which is the program default, you must choose the Metric option before clicking File, and then selecting New to begin a new plan. The Units of Measurement, once established, cannot be changed in a plan. To set the desired Units of Measurement for a plan:

First, close all open files in the program.
 
  1. Start the 3D Home Architect program.
     
  2. Click File.
     
  3. Select Close All.
     
  4. Click Yes to Save projects when prompted, if desired.

Change to Metric units:
 
  1. Click File, then select Change Units.
     
  2. You will be prompted whether you wish to use Imperial or Metric measurements in your floorplan. Select the Metric button.
     
  3. Click OK.
     
  4. Click File, and then Select New.
The new plan will use metric system units of measurement.
 
Issue Material Application to Objects
Description  
Solution When creating projects in 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, you do not know how to apply a material (such as a fabric or finish) to a furniture item, fixture, cabinet or other object. Applying the material to the appropriate color category field (i.e., Main Color, Trim or Second, or Accent or Hdrw) should allow you to achieve the desired results. You can apply Material from the floor plan or any of the 3D views in the manner that follows.
 
  1. Select the mouse pointer tool.
     
  2. Double-click the desired furniture item, fixture or object. The Fixture/Furniture dialog window will open.
     
  3. Click the Color & Material button. The Assign Colors dialog window will open.

    NOTE: The Main Color category field, which is the default, contains a blinking cursor.

     
  4. Click to place the cursor in the desired color category field. The color category you select depends on what portion of the object you wish to apply material to.

    NOTE: To apply an overall material type to a furniture item, such as a sofa or bed, you may need to place the cursor in the second color category—labeled Trim or Second—rather than the Main Color category.

     
  5. Click the Material button. The Assign Material dialog window will open.
     
  6. Click the Choose Material button. (The Select Image window will open.) You will be presented with different thumbnail size material swatches representing the general material categories.
     
  7. Click the thumbnail image to open the desired category. Choices of different material surface types and colors will be presented. (Additional subgroups of color or pattern choices may also be available.)
     
  8. Click the thumbnail representation to select the desired color, pattern or surface to apply to the selected furniture item or object.
     
  9. Click OK.
     
  10. Continue to click OK until all material dialog windows are closed. You will return to the initial floor plan or 3D view from which you selected the object.
NOTE: Applied Materials can only be viewed from the Plan Camera or Full Camera views. To view the applied materials, click 3D on the main menu, then select Applied Materials View. Or, click the Camera button to display the selected material.
 
Issue Electrical Symbols Cannot Be Moved
Description  
Solution After selecting a item, placing it in a plan, and attempting to move it using the mouse, the following error message appears: "Must place switches & special outlets (TV, phone, etc.) on a wall, leaving this item in its original position." Some electrical symbols such as Ceiling Fan, Smoke Detector and Recessed Lighting cannot be moved or rotated once they have been placed on the floor plan. Deleting the item and placing a new item in the desired position should prevent the error message from displaying. When the item is initially positioned, it must be placed exactly where desired to prevent the error message. If you need to move the item, delete the symbol and place a new item in the desired location.

NOTE: The rotation orientation of the symbol cannot be altered from the default placement.
 
Issue Printing Floorplan Size Limit is 8.5 X 14 Inches
Description  
Solution The program will not print larger than 8.5 X 14 inches (Legal size), nor is it supported by plotters. This is by design. You can, however, export your floor plan as a .DXF file and print it from various CAD programs. To export your floorplan as a .DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) file, complete the following steps:
  1. With the floor plan view on screen, click File, point to Export and then select one of the .DXF options. The Write DXF File navigation window will open.
     
  2. In the Save in: field, select the desired location to export the .DXF file.

    NOTE: The .DXF graphic file format can be opened and printed without size limitations from many CAD programs. You are limited only by the paper size that your particular printer supports.

     
  3. In the File name: field, type a name for the file.
     
  4. Click Save. The Write DXF File navigation window will close.
     
  5. Open the saved .DXF file in the desired application and print the file using that program.
 
Issue Internet Options Do Not Work in Program
Description  
Solution After installing the program, you are unable to use the Internet options shown in 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0. The Internet features (Go Online, Upload File and Download file) present under the Internet heading on the main menu are no longer functional. The Broderbund® 3D Home Architect® Web site has been discontinued. Consult the remainder of this technical note for additional information. An alternative site containing information, sample files, tips, etc. is available. Click or visit www.totalhomenetwork.com for the information.

At the site, click Software Owners and choose 3D Home Architect Deluxe 3.0 from the Software Owners product screen.
 
Issue Scaling the Floor Plan
Description  
Solution The screen display does not portray a specific scale. You can, however, print the floor plan to a desired scale.

     
  1. Click File, then select Print.
     
  2. Scaling, by default, is set to Full Page (no scale) at 100%.
     
  3. Click the button next to 1/4 Inch = 1 Foot, which is an architectural standard.
     
  4. To change the scale, type a different fraction value to replace 1/4 inch. Note: The real-world value 1 Foot cannot be altered.
 
Issue Wall Alignment: Upper and Lower Floors
Description  
Solution After creating a plan with multiple levels, you want to align all (or some) of the walls on one level with those on a different level. Walls can be aligned automatically using the Align Floor option. Complete the following procedures to check and align walls within a multi-level plan.

Checking Wall Alignment
  1. Launch the program and open a multi-level plan.
     
  2. Click Window on the main menu and select Reference Toggle. This will superimpose the Reference floor onto the Current floor.

    NOTE: Walls on the Reference floor are outlined in red to distinguish them from walls on the Current floor. If a Reference floor wall and a Current floor wall are close enough to overlap, you can automatically align them.

     
  3. Continue with the procedure that follows.
Aligning Walls in a Multi-Level Plan
  1. With the plan onscreen, double-click in the middle of the overlapping walls. The Wall Specification dialog box will open.

    NOTE: If no Align Floor option check box is visible in the Wall Specification dialog box, return to the plan and drag the wall on the Current floor closer to the wall on the Reference floor to align them. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 of this procedure.

     
  2. Click the Align with Lower Floor or Align with Upper Floor option, depending on which is the Reference floor and which is the Current floor. This will align the walls.
 
Issue Deck without a Roof
Description  
Solution After creating a plan, you want to add a deck that does not include a ceiling and roof. This technical note describes the process. Complete these steps to add a deck to a plan.
 
  1. Launch the program and open the plan.
     
  2. Click the Wall tool on the menu bar to activate the tool.
     
  3. Click and drag the mouse to draw walls that define the deck area.
     
  4. Double-click in the deck area and remove the check before No Ceiling Over this Room and No Roof Over this Room.
     
  5. Using the Select (arrow) tool, double-click on each deck wall and check No Room Def. (Complete this step for all walls or railings.)
 
Issue Selecting Specialty Windows from within 3D Home Architect® 3.0
Description  
Solution The Window library has specialty windows (such as rounded and arched) that are not available when you choose a window type in the Window Specification dialog box. To choose a type of window in this dialog box: 1. Under the “Build Menu” option, click Window, then click Window Library. The Window Library dialog box will appear.

2. Click a type of window (e.g. Series 1).

3. Click a subtype of window (e.g. Arch Top). Click Back if you want to return to the previous choice.

4. If necessary, repeat step 2.

5. Select the window you want to use and click OK. Click where you want to place the window in your plan. The application places the window.

6. To place the arch window above a normal window, go to the 3D view, click on the frame of the window. You can now move the window around on the wall.
 
Issue Exterior Wall Texture Application
Description  
Solution While creating a plan, you want to add a texture to an exterior wall surface. The following tutorial describes this process. Complete the following procedures when applying a texture to an exterior wall and viewing that texture.

Applying a Texture to an Exterior Wall Surface
  1. In the Plan view, click the Select (arrow) toolbar icon on the main menu to activate the Select tool.
     
  2. Double-click just outside any exterior wall. The Assign Colors window will open.
     
  3. Click the Material button.
     
  4. Click the Choose Material button to view the available textures.
     
  5. Click to select the desired texture material for the exterior walls.
     
  6. Click OK to return to the plan view.
View the Exterior Wall Surface in 3D
  1. Click the View toolbar icon (appears as an eye) to display the view option icons (right side of the toolbar).
     
  2. Select the Full Camera view. This toolbar icon resembles a camera.
     
  3. Click and hold the left mouse button. The mouse pointer will appear as a camera with a crosshair next to it.
     
  4. Drag the mouse to draw a line toward the desired surface as if aiming a camera. The Full Camera 3D view is displayed.
     
  5. Click the Camera tool on the toolbar (or click 3D on the main menu and select Applied Materials View). The Applied Materials view will display, providing a 3D view of the newly applied texture.
NOTE: Textures are bitmapped images. The default color of an applied texture cannot be changed.
 
Issue Creating a Column
Description  
Solution Pillar and columns are not included in the program as such. However, there is a workaround procedure that will create a reasonable facsimile. Create Pillars or Columns attached to Overhead Beams for Porches or other areas. Row of Round Columns (Bannister Style):

 
  1. Draw a wall.
     
  2. Double-click the wall and choose Railing with Large Posts and Posts to Overhead Beam.
     
  3. Click the door tool and place a door in the center of the wall.
     
  4. Click the door and stretch it out to where it nearly as big as the wall, just leaving the posts in the corners.

Row of Square columns (Bannister Style):
 
  1. Click the cabinet tool.
     
  2. To the right, five more tools appear. Click the Soffit tool.

     
  3. Click the Eye tool and enter the 3D view.
     
  4. Click and drag the top and bottom of the soffit to the ceiling and floor.
     
  5. Click and drag the sides to adjust the thickness of the column.

Single Round Column
 
  1. Make a radius-end cabinet (it has to be done next to a wall and adjacent cabinet).
     
  2. Copy the cabinet to the area the column is to be located.
     
  3. Choose the dimensions and color.
     
  4. Copy it three times and rotate the pieces to form a column.
 
Issue Ceiling Height Change
Description  
Solution Use the following procedure to change the height of the ceiling:
  1. Using the arrow tool, double-click in a room to bring up the Room Specification window.
     
  2. Change the ceiling height to the desired height in inches.
     
  3. Click OK.


f you are changing the ceiling height of the entire level, you must change the ceiling height in every room on that level.

NOTE: When changing the ceiling height on a lower level, be sure to adjust the floor height of the level above accordingly.
 
Issue Swapping Floors
Description  
Solution In some instances during the design process, it may become necessary to swap floors. For example, after creating the ground floor (.PL1), you but want to add a basement. Since there is no special designation for basement–.PL0 is the foundation only–the basement must be designated as the first floor (.PL1). This technical note describes the process. To continue with the floor plan, design the basement as the 2nd floor and swap the floors by changing the file extensions. Use the following steps to swap one floor with another.
 
  1. After designing the basement floor as the second floor and saving the plan, close the program and return to the desktop.
     
  2. Double-click My Computer.
     
  3. Double-click the C:\ drive.
     
  4. Double-click the 3DHAD3 folder.
     
  5. Locate the two floor files. (The file for the first floor has the extension .PL1 (pl1). The file for the second floor (currently the basement) will have the extension .PL2 or pl2.
     
  6. Right-click on the first file and choose Rename.
     
  7. Change the .PL1 floor file extension to .PLx. This step is necessary to keep from overwriting the .PL1 file when changing the .PL2 file to .PL1.
     
  8. Right-click on the second file and choose Rename.
     
  9. Change the .PL2 extension to .PL1.
     
  10. Right-click on the first file again and choose Rename.
     
  11. Change the .PLx file extension to .PL2.
     
  12. Open 3D Home Architect®, click File and select Open. The floors are now switched.
 
Issue Importing Graphic or DXF Files Not Supported
Description  
Solution After installing 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, you want to import a graphic image file into the program. 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 does not support importing graphic image files of any type. Additional information is presented in this technical note. 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 supports a proprietary format only for floor plans. The floor plan file format is .plx. For example: The first floor of a plan will have a .pl1 file extension; the second floor will have a .pl2 file extension.

3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 will export (but not import) .DXF (Drawing Exchange Format) files that can be imported into some CAD applications.
 
Issue Deleting Unwanted Floors
Description  
Solution Many times after creating a floor plan, you want to rebuild a floor or remove a floor altogether. Rebuilding a floor in a plan can be accomplished by first deleting the original floor. Removing a floor from a plan is accomplished by deleting that floor. This technical note describes the procedure. Complete the following steps to delete a floor from a plan.
 
  1. Close the 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 program.
     
  2. Click Start, choose Find and select Files or Folders.
     
  3. In the Named: field, enter the file type of the floor to be deleted. Choose from the following file types:
bulletType *.pl0 for a basement/foundation floor;
 
bulletType *.pl1 for a 1st floor;
 
bulletType *.pl2 for a 2nd floor;
 
bulletType *.pl3 for a 3rd floor.
  1. Verify that the Look In: field shows the letter representing the hard drive. (Typically this is the C: drive.)
     
  2. Select Find Now. All files showing the extension that was typed in the Named: field in Step 3 will be found. Each of the files found is a floor plan.
     
  3. In the list of files that appears, locate the unwanted floor plan and right-click on that plan.
     
  4. Select Delete from the menu that appears. This will delete the plan from the system.
     
  5. Recreate the floor as desired.
 
Issue Texture Color Cannot Be Changed
Description  
Solution After applying a texture (such as wallpaper or brick) to a surface, you want to change the color of the applied surface texture. The following information describes using surface textures. Each surface texture is a separate bitmapped image. The default color of this bitmapped image cannot be changed.
 
Issue Adding a Mirror Above a Sink or Cabinet
Description  
Solution When adding fixtures, you want to place a mirror above a sink or cabinet. 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0 does not allow fixtures to be placed one on top of another. However, placing the mirror against the wall and then placing the sink or cabinet in front of the mirror should resolve the issue. Follow the procedure below to place a mirror between the wall and another fixture.
 
  1. If the sink or cabinet is already placed in the room, click the Selection Mode icon (arrow on the far left) on the toolbar.
     
  2. Click once on the sink or cabinet to select the fixture. Red handles will appear on and around the fixture.
     
  3. Using the mouse, place the pointer in the center of the fixture. A crossing pointer should appear.
     
  4. Click once and keep the left mouse button pressed.
     
  5. Move the selected fixture slightly away from the wall by moving the mouse.
     
  6. Release the left mouse button. The selected fixture will move to the new area.
     
  7. Click the Fixtures icon (resembles a toilet) on the toolbar. The Fixtures Library will appear.
     
  8. Click Bathroom Fixtures and select Mirrors.
     
  9. Select the desired mirror, and click OK. The pointer will be shaped like a toilet.
     
  10. Using the mouse, place the mirror in the desired location.
     
  11. If needed, click the Selection Mode icon and move the sink or cabinet closer to the mirror.
 
Issue Corner Cabinet Placement
Description  
Solution After creating a plan using 3D Home Architect® Deluxe 3.0, you want to add a cabinet to a corner of a room. This technical note describes how to add a corner cabinet to rooms such as the kitchen, utility room or bathroom. Complete the following procedure to add a corner cabinet to a room.

Adding a Corner Cabinet
 
  1. Select the Cabinet icon (fifth from left) on the toolbar. The pointer will change to a crosshair (+).
     
  2. Position the crosshair in the corner where the cabinet is to be placed by moving the mouse.
     
  3. Verify that the crosshair is touching the corner where the two walls connect, without going too far over them.
     
  4. Click the left mouse button once. The corner cabinet should appear. (Unlike a square base cabinet, a true corner cabinet is L-shaped.)
NOTE: If a corner cabinet does not appear, try one of the following suggestions. It may take several attempts to get the crosshair in the correct position.

If a base cabinet appears instead of the corner cabinet, the crosshair was not touching both walls where they connect in the corner. Complete the following:
  1. Click Edit on the menu bar and select Undo. The cabinet should disappear.
     
  2. Repeat the above procedure, verifying that two tips of the crosshair are touching the two walls in the corner where the cabinet is to be placed.
If a message appears stating "Area too constricted, could not position a corner cabinet here," it is possible that a wall or another cabinet (or other object) is too close to where the corner cabinet is to be placed. Complete these steps:
 
  1. Click OK to the message.
     
  2. Revise the plan as needed to increase the size of the area where the cabinet is to be placed.
     
  3. Repeat the Adding a Corner Cabinet procedure shown above.
 
Issue