Deck Design
Professional - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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We’ve gathered the most common questions about Deck Professional and put the
answers in one place. If your question isn’t answered here, check back often,
as we update our FAQs frequently.
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Activating your product is easy. When you first open the program, an "Activate"
button should appear on the right side of the screen. Click on the button and a
dialogue box appears that allows you to activate either by the internet or by
phone.
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First select the Product Support from the Support Menu. Here you can find the
answers to most of your questions. If these sections do not help, please
complete the
technical support form
to contact a technical support representative.
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Recommended Hardware:
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Windows XP® Service Pack 2
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Pentium® 4 2.0 GHz processor or Athlon™ XP 2000+
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1024 MB RAM
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2 GB of available hard-disk space
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CD ROM drive
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nVidia GeForce 4 Ti™ series or ATI Radeon 8500™ (or better) video card with 64
MB or more memory
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Mouse or compatible pointing device
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IE 6 or Firefox 2 or higher browser
Minimum Hardware:
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Windows XP® Service Pack 2
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800 MHz processor
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256 MB RAM
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400 MB of available hard-disk space
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CD-ROM drive
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nVidia GeForce™ or ATI Radeon™ video card
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Mouse or compatible pointing device
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IE 6 or Firefox 2 or higher browser
Sorry, we do not provide software for Mac computers.
Windows Vista™ Support
CAD Quest software is not recommended for use on the Microsoft® Windows® Vista™ operating system, and is not supported.
The software may run in Windows XP Compatibility Mode on Windows Vista. The following steps may eliminate software issues on Windows Vista.
Run the program in XP Compatibility Mode
- In Windows Explorer, go to C:\Program Files\Cad Quest\Software Name\Bin.
- Right-click the .exe file (e.g., dekbot.exe or Cqdesign.exe) and select Properties.
- Select the Compatibility tab.
- In the Compatibility Mode section, select Windows XP (Service Pack 2).
- Select the checkbox for "Run this program in compatibility mode for."
- Click Apply at the bottom of the window.
Choose a Non-Aero Color Scheme
If using the Aero color scheme, select a different scheme:
- Right-click the desktop.
- Select Personalize.
- Click Window Color and Appearance.
- In the Color scheme list, select a color scheme, for example, Windows Vista Basic, and click OK.
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Make sure that the account you are using has administrative privileges. Only
accounts with administrative privileges can install software.
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Not only is there a 3-D view, but there are other views such as post layout and
dimensioned to help you design and build your deck.
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Check to make sure all printer wires are properly connected and that your
printer works with other programs. If this doesn't work, make sure that you
have a printer installed on your computer and that it is set as the default.
Sometimes, if your printer driver is not current, Deck Pro will not print
properly or will not print at all. If Deck Pro isn't printing for you, go to
your printer manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers for your
printer.
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Test your CD-ROM drive with another CD that you know is working. If this CD
doesn't function in your CD-Rom, then your drive is malfunctioning. If the CD
does work, then the problem could be with the Deck Pro CD. You may need to
return it and get a replacement.
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Method One
Position two separate decks on plan view so that they are touching. Next,
change the height on one of the decks to create a six-inch height difference
between the two decks. The difference in deck height is your step.
If you want to create a multi-level deck with more than a six inch difference
in height, see method two.
Method Two
Move your two decks in plan view so that they are close together. Click Modify
and select Add a Stair. Add the stair to the taller deck. Make sure that
the bottom stair stringer is overlapping onto the lower deck.
Method Three
Increase the height of the deck over 97". Add a stair. The software will
automatically ask you to choose a stair with landing. You can choose your
landing and then click OK. You now have a multilevel deck that can be
adjusted.
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In many cases, when the 3-D view doesn't work, the problem is with the video
card. If your 3-D view isn't working, visit the manufacturer's Web site and
download the latest driver. If you are unsure who the manufacturer is, then
right click on your desktop. From here, click on Properties. The
manufacturer should be under Display in the Settings tab.
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In order to use beam on top of joist, the deck must be at least 25" tall.
Anything shorter than this and the software will switch to flush joist
construction.
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Deck Pro makes many calls a minute to a database. If you are running virus
protection software, every single call Deck Pro makes must be analyzed.
Disabling the virus scanner should speed up the program.
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At this time, Cad Quest does not offer software for Mac computers.
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There are several things you can do to avoid problems with downloading our
products:
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If you are using Internet Explorer as your browser, be sure to use version 5.x
or better. If you need to download the latest version of Internet Explorer,
please
click here.
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If you tried downloading with Internet Explorer and are still experiencing
problems, you may try downloading using Netscape.
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If you are using an AOL browser, try downloading with Internet Explorer
instead.
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If you are on the download page, right-click on the download button and select Save
Target As.
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Make sure that your Antivirus software is not running and that any firewalls
are not active.
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Currently, residents of the United States and Canada can purchase Cad Quest
software online.
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Yes, Deck Pro includes software upgrade support. Upgrade support ensures that
you receive the latest software upgrades, enhancements and corrections.
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Cad Quest software is designed for contractors and other professionals to use.
It will allow the professional to customize the software for entering their own
pricing and materials.
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Building permit requirements vary greatly for each city and town. Many people
are able to use the software printouts to obtain a building permit. However, we
recommend looking at the sample printouts available in the menu of each product
page to make sure they will work for you.
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