DerekPedersen

The Chief Architect Challenge is a design exercise crafted to test your skills and encourage learning with fun and unique projects. How many design elements can you recreate in 10 minutes? Chief Architect staff will judge the entries. Each Chief Challenge winner will receive a Limited Edition Chief Architect Gear Care Kit. Visit our ChiefBlog post for the 2026 Chief Challenge to get details and hints for completing the design. Challenge guidelines:1. Download the Chief Challenge 2026 Chief Architect Project file (attached to this post). This project file contains three plans (one for each challenge).2. Download the 2026 Challenge Chief Architect library file. (Can be used for all three challenges in this series.)3. Be sure to clear out your time tracker entries before beginning. We use this to validate the 10-minute time limit.4. Spend no more than 10 minutes recreating the design. How to submit your design: 1. Email your exported project and one rendering of the project to submissions@chiefarchitect.com2. Include your name, company information, version of Chief Architect, and in the subject line write "Chief Challenge 2026." Chief Challenge 2026: 1. Chief Island - Submit your entry by October 16. Winner will be announced on October 21, 2026.2. Lux CA Living - Submit your entry by November 13. Winner will be announced on November 18, 2026.3. "Sweet" Chief CDA - Submit your entry by December 11. Winner will be announced on December 16, 2026. 1087179139_ChiefChallenge-2026.caproj

@SkullMesaRanch Chief Architect has a grant program for non-profits that are serving communities. If Chief Architect is something they can use, you can have them reach out to me for our grant application form. I understand that you would like to donate the computer and software but donating the software is not allowed under our terms of use. I am sorry I don't have a better answer for you on this. The non-profit can reach out to me by email - derek@chiefarchitect.com

Very nice work, @SkullMesaRanch. Thank you for sharing! Chief Architect does not allow the transfer of a software license, so selling an older perpetual license is not permitted. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions at 208-292-3400. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

Hello Paul, I will be calling you shortly about this matter. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

Hello @BRDBRemodeling. Thank you for the question. Yes, we are currently working on an app that runs on LiDAR-enabled Apple devices (iPad Pro or iPhone Pro models) for capturing as-built floor plans. This is currently in beta form. If you are interested in looking at the beta version, you can send an email to beta@chiefarchitect.com. This is the proper channel for beta access requests. The current plan is for the As-Built app to officially release with X18. Of course, this isn't guaranteed, but this is the current plan. I hope this helps! Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

@DeLayDesign Thank you for the question. You will not see a quote in your account because your SSA is set for Auto Renewal. We send a notice 30 days before your SSA is set to auto renew as a reminder. If you would like to renew early, please call our sales department at 208-292-3400, and we can take care of it for you. If your SSA was on Manual renewal, you would see a quote in your account. Please let us know if you have any questions. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

Hello @Fotis1960, Thank you for posting your question. The wall detail tool will show framing on different framing layers within the wall (wall girts and wall posts) separately and there isn't a way around this when using this tool. If you want to see all of the wall framing you created, I would recommend using a back-clipped section view. In the screenshot below, I created the back-clipped section view by zooming into the wall and starting the camera view just inside the exterior siding material and ending the camera just before the end of the framing layer. If you don't want to see the walls above or below, you can adjust the size of the layout viewport in your layout. I hope this helps! Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect

Hello Keith, Thank you for the question. I am not aware of any planned price changes for 2026 at this point. If we do make a price change in 2026, we typically give a 30-day notice to all SSA customers announcing the price change and the date it will go into effect. This allows all of our users to renew SSA ahead of the price change and lock in the existing price for another year. Feel free to reach out to our Sales Department if you have any questions at 208.292.3400. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Sales

Hello @mjampala, Thank you for the question. The only way to export CAD format files, such as DWG or DXF, is to open the plan in Chief Architect software and utilize the Export DWG feature. Here is a Knowledge Base article that will walk you through this process. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00013/converting-plan-files-to-dwg-or-dxf.html You will need to have an active Chief Architect license to open your plan and export the file. The lowest cost option is the Monthly subscription. You can subscribe for just one month at $229 and cancel the auto-renewal in our online account or by contacting us at 208-292-3400. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

Hello Doug, Yes, you can provide your customers with the 3D viewer. Below are details on sharing it with your clients. Note that there are two viewer options as far as apps go. There is a Chief Architect Desktop Viewer for running on traditional computers (Windows or Mac OS), and there is a mobile viewer that works with phones and tablets (iOS or Android). Desktop Viewer: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/resources/viewerrequest.php Mobile Viewer: iOS: https://itunes.apple.com/us/developer/chief-architect/id520677645 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/developer?id=Chief+Architect You will find more information on our website here: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/products/3d-viewer/ Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

Andy, Thank you for the question and feedback. If you are an "on/off user" you can consider the monthly option. The monthly option can be turned on and off as needed monthly and is $229 per month. This is often a good fit for those doing occasional projects. Kind regards, Derek Pedersen Chief Architect Software

Hello Lance, Thank you for the question. No, we haven't made any changes for legacy perpetual license customers with active SSA. We sent you an email notice on December 17 to notify you that your Legacy SSA is set to auto-renew on January 17, 2025. Since you are on auto-renew, you don't have to do anything. You are also set to receive a receipt via email when your SSA renews Jan. 17. Feel free to reach out to sales if you have any questions at 208-292-3400 or sales@chiefarchitect.com Kind regards, Derek Pedersen Chief Architect Software

@thibodude, we will be adding the ability to access X16 over the next few days. If you need access right away, please contact sales, and we will add X16 for you. You can reach us at 208-292-3400. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software

Thank you for the feedback. I sent you an email so we can connect. Kind regards, Derek Chief Architect Software