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Chief Architect Lite X4 Full Windows Download
Chief Architect Lite is specifically for designers and drafters. Based on the Premier version of Chief Architect, Lite is a more affordable version for customers with the smaller, occasional projects. The building and drafting tools in Lite follow standard building practices. Every element has commonly used defaults and smart attributes that facilitate the Building Information Modeling (BIM) process making the design process efficient and productive. As you draw your walls, the program automatically creates a 3D model and generates a Materials List. You will find powerful Automatic and Manual Building tools to produce Construction Documents with Site Plans, Floor Plans, Framing Plans, Electrical/ HVAC Plans, Section Details and Elevations.
Summary Features
Powerful Building & Design Tools
Automatic Roofs: hip, gable, shed, saltbox, gambrel, gullwing, half-hip, mansard – with the manual roof tools, create any style including curved roofs
Automatic and Manual Dormers
Materials Lists for Cut, Buy and Lineal materials for cost estimating and bidding
Dimensions for One-Click Auto Dimensioning™, End-to-End, Interior, Point-to-Point and Angular
Advanced Stair & Ramp tools for curved, flared, split and straight
Automatic Framing. Define hand Framed or Truss framed roofs and floors
Electrical and HVAC tools
Smart Objects (BIM) windows, cabinets, doors, framing have properties and behave intelligently in the design
Elevation and Cross-Section tools
Powerful CAD tools for details and custom shapes, includes a catalog of architecturally correct details
Kitchen & Bath Design Tools
Create any style of custom cabinet including shaped, framed- and frame-less with the Cabinet Designer™ tools
Select from a library of thousands of custom door and drawer styles, cabinet feet, pilasters, hardware, wood species and colors
Group cabinets, fixtures, appliances & accessories to create architectural blocks for items such as a kitchen island or even an entire kitchen. Save to the Library for future use – a great time saving feature!
CAD tools to add Section and Wall Elevation details
3D Design and Modeling Tools
Seamless and simultaneous editing in 3D perspective, 2D plan and elevation views
3D views for elevations, overviews, cross-sections and framing
Material Painter™ – apply colors, materials and textures from any image or website
Advanced Framing tools for Truss and Hand Framed roofs and floors
Produce Schedules for Trusses, Cabinets, Windows and Doors
Define platform heights, ceiling styles and wall layers
Manually edit individual wall framing details to produce framing schedules
Powerful CAD Tools
CAD Solids – produce slabs, shapes, custom countertops, and other architectural objects or CAD details.
CAD Drawing tools for lines, polylines, splines, arcs, sun angles and shapes
Align, Distribute, Copy, Replicate, Reflect, Extend, Fillet, make Parallel and several other CAD tools for precision and productivity
Draw custom CAD details, access built-in CAD details, import DXF files
CAD-to-Walls tool imports an AutoCAD® file and provides mapping for layers
CAD tools to detail Cross Sections & Elevations
Plan Sets and Construction Drawings
Create construction documents with the Layout tool. Send any view to the Layout. Define the scale and link to the drawing to update as your design changes.
Multiple Layers and Layer Sets – mask layers to create the view you need
Create Detailed Plan Sets: Site Plans, Floor Plans, Framing Plans, Electrical/ HVAC Plans, Section Details, Structural and Foundation Plans, Room Finish Schedules, Elevations and 3D Perspectives
Use a PDF print driver to print to any size paper
ICC – International Residential Code Checklist
Site Planning, Terrain, Deck & Landscaping Tools
Terrain Modeling, Landscaping Tools and Site Planning Tools
Terrain Elevation Lines and individual Terrain Elevation Points
Terrain Feature tools for Hills, Valleys, Flat Areas and more to modify the terrain attributes
Import Terrain or GPS data and quickly produce the 2D and 3D terrain detail
Set the north pointer and define seasonal settings for detailed shadow overlay
Automatic and Manual deck framing; customize deck planking and materials
Features:
Cross Sections & Elevations
Cross Sections, Back-Clipped Cross Sections & Elevations
Use the orthographic camera to create an elevation or cross section view. Back-Clipped Cross Section views control the cut distance generated for a cross section.
Dimension, Annotate and Detail Cross Sections & Elevation Views
Use the text, arrow, dimension, and CAD tools to add complete details to your Cross Section and Elevation views. Select and edit, delete, resize, or move objects. Add notes and dimensions or insert CAD details.
Opening Indicators – Doors, Windows & Cabinets
Show or hide opening indicators for hinge side of doors, windows and cabinet using Layers in Elevation, Cross Section, and Plan views.
Plans & Layouts
Layout tool – for construction documents
Layout sheets are used to organize plans, elevations, CAD details, schedules, site plans, and other items for construction documents. The drawings can be scaled and printed at any size. All views are dynamically linked to the original model reflecting any update you make. Reorder the Layout pages for construction documents. Create templates for Layouts with borders and title blocks.
Set up multiple Pages per Layout File
* 200 Pages
Advanced Layout Editing
Edit line views sent to the layout, rescale views sent to layout, re-link views on the layout to reference different files.
Enhanced “Send to Layout” and “CAD Detail From View”
Experience faster response times and improved line generation
* Excludes CAD Details
Library / Catalog Browser
Choose from thousands of items. Download new content from Chief Architect or from third party sources. The Library includes generic and manufacturer brands.
* Excludes Manufacturer Catalogs
Design Structures with multiple Floors
Excludes attic and basement or foundation.
* 10 Floors
Unlimited number of Opened Files
Reference as many plans or views during a single session. Limited to your computer’s resources.
Plan Templates
Choose pre-defined Plan Templates or create your own.
Time Tracker™ tool
Measure working time per project, per client, or per task. Start and stop the Time Tracker. View, edit, and export a time log, and add notes for each project.
Residential Code Checklist
Use the Chief Architect partner code to download the ICC’s Residential Code Checklist for National Building Codes.
Plan Database tool
Create a plan database to organizing your plan portfolio.
Plan Check tool
Provides a review for basic room egress, roof, wall layout, and more.
Rotate & Flip Plan tools
Flip or create a mirror image. Rotate the orientation of the floor plan view on your screen.
Insert & Exchange Floors
Use the Floor Above/Below tool to insert and exchange floors. Insert new Floors or levels between existing floors.
House Wizard™
Drag-and-drop room bubbles and arrange them before converting them to walls. Provides a quick way to lay out rooms that adjoin the project to illustrate how the completed project would look.
Model Maker™
Print designs that can be assembled into 3D Models
Loan Calculator tool
Calculate mortgage payments.
Rooms
Room Defaults – ceiling height, style, moldings, wall covering, floor materials
Control the initial behavior by specifying default values. Define room attributes by room type.
Enhanced interface for Room Specification dialog
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.
Name individual Rooms
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. Rooms display dimensions with interior area measurements. Multiple Room Select to group edit the Room attributes.
Custom Room Label controls
Assign room types as well as custom room labels.
Control over new Room specifications when additional floors are added
Use the Floor Defaults dialog to set up a new floor’s attributes.
Display any combination of Room Label Size Layers
Display the Dimensional Size and the Square Footage labels for a room at one time.
Automatic Room Connections
Island rooms (rooms within rooms) automatically connect to outer rooms via an invisible wall to ensure proper room definitions
Accurately Layered Floor & Ceiling Platforms
3D model includes Finished Floor and Finished Ceiling heights. Use these layers to add dimension details and define cabinet and stair elevations.
Define floor coverings, finishes, and sub-layers
Raised Floor Platforms
Specify raised floor platforms that are automatically framed
Molding display control by Room
Specify height, width, and orientation of moldings from floor or ceiling. Control the display of moldings in any room type.
Room Molding Polyline & 3D Molding Polylines tool
Automatically generate a molding polyline derived from the room's perimeter. Reshape the polyline as desired and attach multiple molding profiles. Designate sizes for each profile and specify its height off the floor. 3D Molding Polylines create horizontal and vertical moldings.
* Excludes 3D Molding Polylines
Room Polyline
Automatically generate a polyline derived from the room's perimeter. Use the polyline tools to generate a Materials List, view the area, or convert to a molding, slab, and other custom options.
Walls
Wall tools
Wall Styles include interior, exterior, railing, pony, half wall, curved, angled, raked, stepped. All styles are customizable with unique layers. Wall Types include structural wood, stucco steel, concrete ICF, SIPS, glass block, railings.
Draw and edit Walls in 2D and 3D
Create custom Wall styles with multiple layers
All the Wall layers calculate into the Materials List.
Curved Wall controls for radius, center, and ends
Half-Wall tool
Draw half walls and specify their default values (also known as solid railings).
Solid Railing & Half-Wall material options
Include wall assembly layers and control them just as you would a standard wall.
Improved railings clip to ceiling surface
Railings that intersect roofs and ceilings are automatically clipped to fit the slope.
Pony Walls
For a two section Wall, define materials for each section. Control window and door display, dimensions, alignment between floors.
Pony Wall height controls
Adjust the height of individual Pony Walls by typing the lower wall’s height into the dialog
Double Walls for marriage walls and multi-family units
Includes window and door control.
Thru-Wall controls
Specify wall intersections / framing on a per wall end basis using the new Thru-Wall attribute
Improved Wall Connections for more accurate plan view representations of wall intersections
Turn ON or OFF Thru-Wall connection display in plan view.
Create Raked & Stepped Walls
Control heights of walls, add breaks and adjust in Cross Section and Elevation views. Define stepped foundations with vertical footing control.
Wall Align tool
Align walls on another floor (individually or group selected). Toggle the floor reference to see through to the floor above or below.
Align wall layers with foundation
Use the wall setting "Foundation to this Line" to specify the alignment of walls with foundations walls.
Steel Framing with C-Channels & U-Channels
Specify steel framing members and show them in 3D Framing views.
Set up designs for Remodeling
Place New, Existing, Demolition and Remodeling Walls on unique layers
Enhanced Wall Editing
Adjust wall lengths by selecting dimensions or temporary dimensions that run parallel to the wall.
Invisible Wall Defaults
Invisible Walls are typically used for room definition when a regular wall is not appropriate. Define the default attributes.
Terrain Walls
Terrain Walls follow terrain contours.
Wall Corner Boards & Quoins
Defaults for Corner Trim
Set their size and material attributes.
Cabinets
Convert Automatic Countertops to Custom Countertops
Change the automatically generated countertop to a custom countertop that can be edited and resized independently from the cabinet.
Countertop Edge Molding
Control the display of edge molding applied to custom countertops
Rounded Cabinet Corners
Specify rounded or chamfered corners on a cabinet box.
Rounded Countertop Corners for Automatic Countertops
Cabinet Moldings
Add crown moldings, light rails, dentil and rope molding details to Cabinets
Cabinet Millwork & End Panels
Pilasters, feet, legs, and moldings. All resize automatically as the cabinet changes. Attach End Panels to the sides and back of cabinets. Panels can be set to be automatically generated when an end or back is exposed, or they can be manually turned on or off. Control materials by specifying finished, unfinished, or automatic sides. The automatic feature can determine if the cabinet is exposed or against another cabinet.
* Excludes End Panels
Cabinet Fillers
Create cabinet fillers automatically between cabinets, or add them manually.
* Excludes Manual Fillers
Frameless Cabinet settings
Change the cabinet style in one click with the new Frameless and Full Overlay options for cabinets.
Regular & Sloped Soffits
Generate sloped soffits that automatically match roof or ceiling pitch, or manually adjust slope. Control the initial behavior by specifying default values.
Define Cabinets to sub-floor or finish floor height
Define elevation for cabinets, furniture, fixtures and stairs relative to finished floor or sub-floor.
* Finish Floor Only
Cabinet Designer™ tools
Create any style of Cabinet using the Smart Parametric tools including Framed, Frameless, Curved, Angled and Bow. Adjust drawers, face frames, doors, styles, shapes, shelves, moldings, backsplashes, appliances, countertops and several other items.
Manufacturer Catalogs & Smart Parametric Cabinets
* Parametric
Define Cabinet defaults
Control the initial behavior by specifying default values - define, colors, sizes, doors and drawer styles, moldings, materials, countertops, hardware, and several other attributes for the cabinets as you begin a new design.
Cabinet Specification dialog
Use a specification dialog to define and customize your Cabinets.
Place Cabinet Doors, Drawers, and End Panels on Cabinets or as stand-alone objects
Improved Corner Cabinet Hardware
Single knob hardware for pie-cut corner cabinets.
NKBA standardized
Cabinet display options conform to NKBA standards including countertops, line styles, labels and more.
Display Countertop lines in Plan View and control the display with a Layer
Custom Countertop tool creates countertops of any shape or size
Draw and edit countertops manually. Add countertop holes, edge profiles, adjust the thickness and height off the floor.
Doors & Windows
Custom Door & Window tools
Create any style of Door, Doorway, and Window including Arched, Shaped and Mulled. Use the Smart Parametric tools. Doors styles include interior, exterior, sliding, pocket, bi-fold, atrium, double-swing, and garage. Hardware Library - Hinges, Handles and Locks. Windows styles include interior, exterior, single/double hung, sliding, casement, corner, recessed, bay, and box
Manufacturer Catalogs and Smart Parametric Doors & Windows
Catalog Doors have interior and exterior material settings. Define colors and wood species.
* Parametric Items Only
Door Defaults by Door Type
Set unique door defaults for different types of doors: hinged, pocket, bifold, sliding, and garage.
Pass-Thru tool
Create an opening between two rooms.
Visual Door Placement feedback
Visualize door placement prior to actually placing the door with intuitive control of the hinge and swing.
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.
Atrium Door options
Create Center Swing Double-Doors, also known as atrium patio doors. Define a variety of other ways to open the doors
Adjustable Louver Sizes
New louver attribute allows you to control their size in windows and doors.
Improved representation of doors recessed into masonry walls
Mulled Units, save customized Doors & Windows to the Library
Create custom Mulled door and window blocks. Move, dimension, and label them as single units and add them to the Library. Mulled Units that contain Doors are automatically recognized as Door objects for Schedules and Schedule Labels.
Double Walls/Window/Door Control for marriage walls and multi-family units
Unlimited Divided Lites for glass
Create Windows and Glass Doors with an unlimited number of lites.
Custom Muntins
Design your own muntins using the CAD tools and attach them to windows.
Window Treatments & Shutters
Adjust curtains by the height off floor and height above casing. Specify shutters on either side of a window. Blinds fit inside casing when attached to Windows.
Door & Window Capitals
Place capitals above Window or Door casing and set the height and width.
Sills & Lintels
Specify sills for windows and set the height and width. Lintels - control window and door trim sizes.
Bay or Bow Windows Multiple Select
Select then edit a group of bay, box or bow windows.
Roofs & Ceilings
Build Automatic Roofs - gable, hip, shed, gambrel, mansard, and several others
Generate the roof for any design automatically. Use the Auto-Rebuild Roofs feature to automatically update the roof as your design changes.
Draw and edit roofs in 2D and 3D
Design the roof in a split screen with both the 2D and 3D views up at the same time to visualize the design.
Custom Roof & Ceiling tools
Draw Roof and Ceiling planes and shape and edit them to produce any custom style - including curved.
Build Roof options - pitch, overhang, raise of plate for energy heels, curved roof information, framing details, fascias, gutters, exposed rafters and roof returns and many other options
Specify pitch, overhang, raise of plate for energy heels, curved roof information, framing details, fascias, gutters, exposed rafters and roof returns and many other options Includes roof and ceiling framing and trusses. See the Framing section for details.
Gable & Hip Roof Toggle tool
Toggle the roof between these two styles using the Gable / Hip tool in 3D and 2D.
Auto Roof Returns™ for Gable Walls
Gable, Hip, Full, Sloping and Flat.
Roof Gable Line tool
Draw a line over a door or window and the program will automatically generate Gable roof.
Auto Dormer™ tool
Generate floating (false) and structural dormers automatically. Set the dormer size, roof pitch, and accurately place them on a roof.
Dormers types – eyebrow, gable, hip, shed, gambrel, mansard, barrel, and hip curved
Automatic Ceilings & Ceiling tools - create custom styles including cathedral, trey, coffered, and barrel
Automatic ceilings are created once a roof is generated.
Roof Layer controls - specify the thickness of roof components
Skylights
Automatically cut the roof with correct structural framing. Define Square or Plum sides and frame width and height.
Define Roof attributes per wall including multiple Roof Pitches & Overhangs
Fascia & Sub Fascia control
Control the size and display of fascia boards.
Gutters & Frieze Moldings
Create custom profiles for gutters and friezes. Attach them to roofs so that they update and resize as the roof design changes.
Stairs & Ramps
Stair tool
Specify tread width, length, tread number, overhang, and thickness. Set riser height, top and bottom height. Specify details about stringers, open underneath, runners, railing details, baluster and newel styles and shapes, brackets, handrails on walls next to stairs, around corners, and hand rail profile.
One-Click™ Stairs & Ramps
Auto place stairs from platform to platform. Platform to terrain Stairs and Ramps automatically connect to the terrain when drawn from the ground to the structure.
Advanced Stair tools
Customize curved sections, flared treads, starter treads, winders, definable walk line, maintainable tread width, and landings.
Wrap Around Stairs, connect treads around corners
Auto Stairwell™
Creates stairwell and the platform to match the staircase.
Enhanced interface for Stair Specification dialog
Dialog diagram and access to change more attributes about stairs.
Enhanced Stairs editing options
Options for riser heights, tread width, start height, and bottom height.
Define Stair starting elevation
Specify whether stairs and ramps are located at the sub-floor or the finished floor elevation.
Ramp tool
Default Ramp is ADA compliant. Specify length, slope rise and run. Specify overhangs, railings, tread surface, open underneath, baluster and newel styles, shapes, and hand rail profile.
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.
Automatic Handrail width on Wall width
Define the Handrail width based on the width of the Wall.
Independent Railings
Create custom railing styles such as glass, cable, or panels.
Railing Opening & Wall surface offset
Control whether an automatic opening is created when attaching a Stair or Ramp to a wall or railing. Control the offset of the automatic wall surface under a Stair.
* Excludes Wall surface offset
Multiple Stair Select
Group edit the Stair attributes.
Enhanced materials controls for Landings & Stairs
Individually control the material assignments for stair and landing components.
Foundations
Foundation tools for Slab, Pier, Crawlspace, Full Basement, Stem Walls, Footings, Post & Beam, Grade Beam
Set up a default foundation type, controlling stem-wall height, footing size, slab or pier information. Edit the foundations settings after it has been built.
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.
Monolithic Slab Inset Ledges
Create monolithic slab foundations with inset ledges for masonry wall construction.
Monolithic Slab Curbing
Specify curbing for monolithic slab foundations.
Enhanced Garage Slabs with monolithic foundations
Select components of the slab and adjust garage specific settings to suit your design
Display cutout indicators for Garage Doors in foundation stem walls and curbing
Bearing Wall attribute
Generate a footing, or foundation wall + footing below, when automatic foundations are created by setting a wall as a Bearing Wall.
Slab footing specification
Control footings for slabs on a per edge basis; resize, dimension, or exclude the footing.
Vertical Footing Control
Define stepped foundations with vertical footing control. Choose to show or hide vertical footings for stepped foundations.
Improved foundations with Slab at top of Stem Wall
Specify Foundation Piers as Round or Square
Rebar calculations for Posts & Beams
Specify the amount of rebar required for foundations so that it is calculation on the Materials List.
Specify Slabs for crawl spaces
Slab Volume listed in the slab specification dialog for easy reference
Wall Footing Offset
Choose to center footings on Wall's main layer or specify an offset value.
Framing
Automatic Framing - floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, openings, headers, trusses
Turn on / off automatic framing – move a window and the framing updates. Define Trimmers and Headers based on opening sizes.
Manual Framing tools
Draw individual framing members or select and edit automatically generated members.
Trusses, Automatic & Manual
Floor, ceiling, and roof trusses. Automatically create trusses that conform and fit between platforms; edit and customize them. Truss options include scissor, attic, step down, girder, sub-girder, drop hip, jacks, kingpost, gable end, reduced gable, energy heel.
Truss Schedules
Automatically generated truss schedule for floors and roof. Each truss is labeled for easy identification.
Roof Framing options
Hand Stack or Truss Frame. Define rafters, ridges, lookouts, sub-fascia, blocking, bridging. Valley fill roof trusses. Exposed Rafter Tails and custom rafter tail cuts - choose a molding profile or draw your own profile.
Control Roof Lookout framing
Turn on or off the automatic generation of lookout framing in the Framing dialog.
Enhanced control of Birdsmouth cuts for Rafters
Turn off auto calculation of birdsmouth and manually specify the birdsmouth seat.
Wall Framing details on a per Wall basis
For each wall, view and edit wall framing, add dimensions or callouts. Use to produce framing schedules or wall details.
Post & Beam framing tools - specify Round or Square posts
Set the Default Material for Posts in the framing defaults.
Automatically produce platform holes, foundation holes
Use polyline tools to generate holes for the floor or ceiling and automatically generate framing around them.
Deck Framing options
Define Plank overhang, width, gap, direction, border planks, beams and joists. Define widths, spacing, direction and type of planks. Automatically re-build framing as the design changes. Include or exclude beams, posts, and footings.
Deck Planking - change the materials applied to all planks
Paint one deck plank in 3D and all planks will update.
CAD Tools
CAD tools
Comprehensive CAD objects and editing tools: Points, Lines, Polylines, Splines, Arcs, Circles, Ovals, Boxes, Arrows, Solids, Primitives, Fence, Trim Extend, Parallel, Perpendicular, Reflect, Replicate, Transform, Fillet, Chamfer, and several others.
Convert 2D CAD lines and polylines to other Chief objects
Quickly convert CAD to Polyline Solids, Molding Polylines, Countertops, Slabs, Landings, Holes in Roofs and Platforms. Convert Arcs and Circles to Polylines. Convert polylines to Revision Clouds and Material List Areas. Convert to Elevation and Terrain data, Sprinklers, Roads, Road Markings, and Sidewalks.
CAD-to-Walls™
Import CAD files, such as AutoCAD®, and convert CAD lines to fully configured 3D walls, windows, and doors.
Over 500 Architectural CAD Details
Details for residential structural elements. Detailed assemblies for floors, roofs, decks, walls and foundations.
* Includes a subset of CAD Details
Align / Distribute Objects tool
Define distribution and automatic alignment of CAD objects.
Create and manage CAD Details & Blocks
Draw customized details and diagrams, print them to scale, and save for reuse in the Library.
Auto Purge CAD Blocks option
Unused CAD Blocks can be automatically purged from plans when the program is closed.
Specify Insertion Points for CAD Blocks
Define an exact location for inserting and placing CAD Blocks.
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.
Arc Creation Modes
Choose from a number of methods to precisely draw arcs.
Current CAD Layer & CAD Points saved with plans and layouts
When a plan is closed and re-opened, the CAD Layer used in the previous session is active.
Preference control for Roof Intersection CAD Points
Control the display of the auto-generated CAD points.
Select Same, Load Same & Make Same tools
Match properties between items of the same type. Edit similar items, including Electrical and Images.
Visual CAD Snaps™
Snap indicators – center, end point, tangent, and several others. Snap to objects or a grid. Snap to Reference Floor layer (a floor above or below the current floor).
Angle Snap preview while drawing
Multiple Copy tool
Replicate objects at pre-defined increments. Set default increments for different types of framing objects, as well as general objects.
Paste Hold Position tool
Copy an item between layers, plans or floors while maintaining orientation and exact position.
Point-to-Point Move tool
Accurately move or copy objects.
Layers
Layer Sets
Set up unique layer groupings for display and printing. Create separate Layer sets for Electrical Plans, Framing Views, or Space Planning. Use the Layer Set toolbar to quickly swap active Layer Sets. Swap Layer Sets using Annotation Sets.
User-Defined Layers
In addition to the default Layers, add, change and delete new Layers.
Assign objects to Layers for Display & Materials List
Choose which objects display in 2D and 3D and if they are to be used in Material List. Change the default layer used for individual objects and assign them as necessary.
Layer Eyedropper & Layer Painter tool
Select a layer assigned to an object using the Layer Eyedropper tool, then apply that layer to a different object with Layer Painter.
Layer Hider tool
Click on an object in plan view to turn off its layer display
Control display attributes by Layer
Set color, weight, and line style on a per layer basis. Lock layers as necessary to prevent editing.
Object Layer Properties edit tool
Quickly and easily modify the layer properties for any object
Layer Set Defaults dialog & Management dialog
Assign 2D and 3D views to Layer Sets. For example, assign the Cross Section camera to a “Wall Cabinets” only view. Manage Layer Sets - import, export, copy, edit, delete, and create new layer sets from one dialog. Set the currently active set and the reference set.
Assign Cameras to Layers
Layer Set Defaults for Camera Types
Specify unique layer sets for each camera type; Full Camera, Floor Camera, Full Overview, Floor Overview, Cross Section, Back-Clipped Cross Section, and Wall Elevation. Control the layers displayed for any of these cameras when they are initially created by assigning layer sets in the Layer Set Defaults dialog.
Stair and Ramp Up/Down Arrow layer control
New layer for stair and ramp arrow allows you to control the display separately.
New “Footings, Step Markers” layer
Control the step markers display, line style, color, line weight, and text style.
Layer and Line Style Information are stored with cabinets, CAD blocks, and other objects stored in the Library
Reference Layer Sets
Reference Layer Sets are retained for each view sent to Layout pages.
Dimensions
Dimensioning tools
Baseline, Centerline, Angular, End-to-End, Interior, Point-to-Point, and Temporary dimensions. Use One-Click Auto Dimensions™ for exteriors.
* Excludes Baseline, Centerline
Specify Dimension Units, Accuracy, & Display
Use Imperial and Metric systems. Control the units displayed for dimensions, number height and font, arrow size and style, accuracy in decimals or fractions to 1/128" or 0.0078125.
Dimension Label Fill option
Specify solid or transparent fill for dimensions' text.
Define where Dimensions locate
Locate to centers, rough openings, casing, interior layer, main framing layer, sides, and several other locations.
Multiple Dimension Defaults
Define multiple dimension styles and attributes for your specific needs, such as defaults for floor plans, cabinet elevations and site plans. For each Default, define the attributes for number height, unit of measure, arrow, fonts and more.
Precisely position objects by entering a dimension
Select any object, and enter a corresponding dimension number to move the object a set distance.
Enhanced Wall Editing with Dimensions
Adjust wall lengths by selecting dimensions or temporary dimensions that run parallel to the wall.
Display Wall length as you draw – press TAB to input an exact dimension
Tape Measure tool
Use the Tape Measure Tool to find the measurements of any item.
Dimensions snap to objects
Snap to the Center of Cabinets, sides of Appliances and Fixtures, Framing, and Callouts and Markers.
Box and Bumpout Extension Snaps
Snap to projected 90° intersections
Dimension locations for wall tops, bottoms and cross sections
Wall Elevation Views include dimension locations and extension for wall tops and bottoms. Cross Section Views include dimension locations and extension lines for finished floor and ceilings.
Enhanced Auto Exterior Dimensions
Define the default behavior of Automatic Exterior Dimensions.
Auto Exterior Dimensions for Slab Foundations
Automatically dimension monolithic slab foundations with a single click.
Dimensions Snap to Foundation Footings
Accurately dimension foundation footings with manually drawn dimensions.
Enhanced feedback while drawing dimensions
Show or hide firebox dimensions for free standing fireplaces
Lighting / Electrical / HVAC
Electrical & HVAC tools
Create Electrical, Plumbing and Heating / Ventilation plans. Electrical – place lights, switches, outlets, low voltage, and structured wiring. Circuit Connection tools draw the connections and circuits for your electrical layout. Connect electrical components together to create circuits. Adjust the lines and arcs of the circuit design. Connections will automatically change switches for 3-way and 4-way. Specify Electrical, Fixture, and Furniture items to attach to ceilings and roofs and auto-rotate to match the pitch of roofs or vaulted ceilings.
Electrical Defaults
Control the initial behavior by specifying default values. Set up default objects to be placed when adding lights and outlets to a room, set the height for outlets and switches off the floor or countertops.
Auto Place Outlets tool
Places outlets at regular intervals based on room type.
Electrical Lighting & Lighting Sources
Use Light Sources in addition to light fixture symbols to enhance the lighting in a scene. Light Fixtures have light sources for Render and Ray Trace Views.
Define custom lighting with shadows, attenuation and intensity
Turn lighting on or off per object. Control whether a light is used for a 3D scene.
Improved Lighting Units
Choose from common wattage/lumens values for lights or specify custom values.
Easily control lighting
New edit controls for lighting allow you to turn lights on or off with a single click.
Enhanced Adjust Lighting Dialog
Added information in dialog makes it easy to locate lights by label name or room location
Automatic GFCI outlets in Kitchens
Use the Auto Place Outlet tool to add GFCI outlets to your kitchen rooms.
Continuous draw mode for Electrical Connections
Quickly generate electrical connections for each circuit in your design.
Photo-realistic lighting effects with the Ray trace rendering
See the Rendering section for additional detail.
Materials List & Cost Estimating
Automatically generate Materials Lists
Automatic Materials List with columns for equipment, unit costs, percent markup, and labor costs. Change order of the columns. Generate a list for the entire plan, single room, or defined area using a polyline.
Master Materials List
The Master Materials List stores master data, such as price. When a new project is started, the Master List data is applied. Save and load multiple Master Materials Lists.
Specify Layers when calculating a Materials List
Use Layers to control what is included in the Materials List.
Materials List Components
Add detailed information to objects– such as glazing to a cabinet finish. Components information is then posted to the materials list. Choose which details to show or hide on the final Materials List using Components.
Material Schedules
Create Schedules for Doors, Windows, Cabinets, Fixtures, Appliances, Furniture, Electrical HVAC, Plumbing, Plants and Room Finish. Exclude specific items from Schedules such as cabinet hardware. Automatically Customize the information contained in the Schedule and label controls for Schedules.
Cut & Buy Lists
The Structural Lumber Table can be used to calculate lumber materials for a Cut List and a 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.
Materials List include soffits under roof eaves
Text / Annotation / Scripting
Fully editable Text tools
Control font, size, weight, color, position, justification, and more.
Advanced Rich Text tools
Format text with varying colors, font, and more. Convert plain text to rich text.
Text Style tools
Create unlimited 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
Specify Line Style and Fill Style for Schedules
Change schedule grid color and overall background color on a per schedule basis.
Improved control over multiple 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.
Spell Checker
Uses a built-in or custom dictionary.
Enhanced Text control
Font control, font defaults, and text macros for page number, date, and others.
Customizable Text Arrows
More control over arrowhead style
Specify the arrowhead type used for Joist Directions, Sun Angles, Roof Labels, and Stairs and Ramps.
Custom Door, Window, & Cabinet Labels
Type your own customized labels for any Door, Window, or Cabinet object. Control cabinet label size and orientation.
Callouts & Markers
Place Callouts and Markers in Plan, Elevation, Layout, and Detail views. Adjust fill color, line style, line weight, and double-headed Callouts. Callouts and Markers have unique layers. Use multiple default styles for Arrows, Markers, and Callouts.
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.
Room Label background fill
Specify background fill color or solid or transparent fill for room labels
Control the location of Labels
New X and Y offsets for labels allow you to control the orientation of labels in relationship to the object.
Embed Hyperlinks in Text
Add links to website or other files using the text tools.
Text Macros & User Defined Text Macros
Insert macros into text objects. Add Contact Info, File Info, Plan Info, Special Characters, and Time and Date macros. Create custom Macros, such as macros for Contractor, Supplier, or Revision Number.
* Excludes User Defined Text Macros
Window Macros
Use macros to include Window Type, Top Elevation, Bottom Elevation, and Floor to Header height in window labels.
Label macros for Electrical Lights, Stairs & Ramps, Roof Pitch / Slope, and Layout Boxes
Printing
Printed Paper sizes
Specify printed paper sizes to fit your design scale.
PDF print
Print to a PDF file for outsourcing a print job – great when you do not have a large format printer.
Print Preview
Displays printable area, paper edges, and line weights. Outline printing is visible in Print Preview mode.
Scale-to-Page or Paper Size
Page Setup
Determine plan sheet size and specify how it prints to different paper size.
Span printing across multiple pages
Print a large format sheet on a smaller paper size and tape together to make the larger sheet.
Control line style begin and end size
For example, for a dashed line define the start and end dash size.
Import / Export
Import & Export Chief Objects
Import/Export Annotation Sets, Layer Sets, Hot Keys, Wall Types, Line Styles, Macros, and Ruby Scripts. Share with other users or transfer them from plan to plan.
* Excludes Hotkeys, Ruby Scripts, and Line Styles
Transfer Layers between Plan files
Layer names can be transferred between plans.
Export Materials List to Microsoft Excel, CSV, TXT, or HTML
Import & Export 2D DXF
Advanced Layer Mapping to assist with importing.
AutoCAD 2012 Compatibility. Import or Export DXF and DWG files
* Excludes DWG
Import & Export 3D files
Import 3D DXF, DWG, OBJ, 3DS, SKP. Export 3D DXF, DWG, 3DS, VRML
* Excludes DWG
SketchUp 8 object import (32-bit version only)
Import image files: BMP, JPG, GIF, PCS, TIFF, PCX, PNG, Metafiles, TGA
Image import - specify transparency color and add plant data or image information for materials and backdrops. Display Metafile on plan, elevation, and layout views. Specify fill style to show through and transparency on the image.
Export .AVI files for Virtual Tours & 3D VRML, 3DS
* Excludes VRML, 3DS
System Requirements
PC Minimum*
Windows 7 / Vista / XP**
2.4 GHz processor
2 GB of Memory (32 bit)
4 GB of Memory (64 bit)
5 GB of available hard disk space
256 MB dedicated video card
Monitor resolution 1024 x 768
OpenGL: 2.1 or higher
Internet: High speed for Registration, Video access, and Library downloads
**Chief Architect Premier X4 (64-bit) is not supported on Windows XP
PC Recommended
Windows 7 64 bit
Multi-Core CPU (e.g., Intel i5, i7)
6 GB of Memory
50 GB of available hard disk space
1 GB high performance video card (e.g., NVIDIA or ATI)
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