VHampton

Hey Gene, It really depends on the agreement—and whether interior work is part of it. Sometimes you just have to do what needs to be done, even if it leans more toward interior design than architecture. Chief has the tools to handle just about anything, as shown here. It really comes down to how deep you want to go, and whether the client has paid for and expects that level of service.

This looks like a rendering issue in the Layout view, where the arrowhead fill overlaps the callout circle until it's manually refreshed. It's unlikely to be a hardware problem—more likely a display or redraw glitch within Chief. To minimize the risk before printing: Try toggling zoom levels or pan slightly to force a redraw. Select all callouts on the page and open/close their properties to refresh them. Always use Print Preview as a final check—it tends to show what will actually print. If it persists, report it to Chief Architect support with your image—they may be able to patch it in a future update. Definitely worth catching before sending jobs to ARCH E.

You're very welcome Gene. With the latest releases they now have very good informational videos!

Yes — Chief Architect X17 does support editing newel placement in railings. In fact, the feature was introduced in version X16 and continues into X17: You can manually move individual newel posts in plan, elevation, or camera views using the Move Newels edit tool, allowing you to reposition them along or offset from the railing You can also add or delete newels with the Add Newel and Delete Newel secondary tools, or restore the default layout using Reset Newels Plus, X17’s feature set highlights include improved control and manual positioning of railing and deck newels So if you're running X17, just select your railing, click Move Newels, and you'll see edit handles for each newel. From there, you can drag them to your desired locations. You also have temporary dimension lines to lock in precise spacing if needed.

I see your point, Renne — and you make a good case for the benefits. For someone building out from scratch or looking for a faster way to manage templates and versions, I can see how the new system shines. That said, I still like my own setup — maybe it’s just old habits. Honestly, this feels a bit like being asked to drive on the left side of the road when you’re so used to the right. We’re still getting to the same destination; it just feels unfamiliar.

Agree with this observation. Presumably, newer users may or may not have a method for keeping everything in its place, and perhaps they may be the target audience. There’s definitely a benefit for a team setting — and perhaps that’s where X17 shines. But as for my personal choice, this feels like a feature that’s geared more toward solving workflow chaos than enhancing precision. If a poll were taken, I’d say the silent majority of experienced solo users won’t be using it. Not because it’s bad — but because it introduces more rules than rewards for those of us who already work cleanly and deliberately. Sometimes structure is helpful. Other times, it just slows down momentum. This feels like the latter.

Subject: Why I’m Opting Out of Chief Architect X17’s File Management System After spending some time with Chief Architect X17’s new File Management system, I’ve decided to opt out — and I wanted to share why, in case it resonates with others who work solo and value simplicity. At first glance, the File Management system promises structure and automation. But for those of us who’ve been managing projects effectively on our own — using clear folder hierarchies, consistent naming, and disciplined backups — it adds layers of complexity that don’t feel necessary. It seems like a solution to a problem I don’t have. The system introduces rigid folder structures, enforced naming, and automatic file linking, which may be helpful in team environments or for those just starting out. But if you’re already methodical, it begins to feel like Chief Architect is now micromanaging what used to be intuitive. For example, I already organize my projects by client, keep plan and layout files in clearly marked folders, and archive my own dated versions. I don’t move files once linked, and I’ve never run into a situation where I lost track of a .plan or .layout file. So I asked myself: If it’s not broken, and not in need of fixing — then what’s the point? Yes, autosave still works as it did in X16. Yes, I can still manually manage backups. And no, I don’t need a system enforcing rules I didn’t ask for, especially when it interferes with the clarity and rhythm of my own workflow. To be fair, for teams, or newer users, this system may absolutely be worth it. But for seasoned solo professionals, it feels like a layer that solves someone else’s problem — not ours. Just thought I’d share, in case others are on the fence. If you’ve already got a workflow that keeps you organized and backed up, skipping File Management is not only fine — it might even keep things cleaner.

Hi ralt9245, Don't worry — you can definitely recover your previous defaults in Chief Architect X17. Here's how to import defaults from an older plan: Step-by-Step: Restore Defaults from a Previous Plan Open a New Plan (or the plan where you reset the defaults). Go to the "File" menu. Select "Import" > "Defaults". Browse to a plan file (.plan) or layout file (.layout) you created before the reset. Chief will give you options to import different types of defaults (Dimensions, Walls, Roofs, etc.). Select what you want to restore and hit OK. Tip: If you had saved a custom template plan before resetting, that's also a great source to import from.

Rob and Renee are absolutely right: Summary of Steps: Draw a Railing Segment: Create a short segment of your deck railing (e.g., 36" wide) that matches the design of your existing railing. Convert to Symbol: With the railing segment selected, use the “Convert Selected to Symbol” tool. In the dialog box, assign it to the Door category. Save to Library: Save the new door symbol to your library for easy access in future projects. Insert the Gate: Place the custom gate symbol into your deck railing where needed. It will function as a door and visually match your railing.

Hi there — that definitely sounds frustrating, especially with everything else rendering correctly. Here are a few things to try that often help resolve rendering inconsistencies like you're describing, especially with newer Macs and Chief Architect X16: 1. Check the Material Definition Even if the materials look correct in the plan or library, double-click the fridge and the upper cabinet on the problematic wall. Go to Materials > Diffuse color and texture, and confirm that the correct material and texture are applied. Sometimes a black appearance happens when a texture path is broken or the material doesn’t have a texture map assigned in PBR (Physically Based Rendering) mode. 2. Switch Between Render Techniques Try toggling between Standard, Physically Based, and Vector View in the 3D rendering toolbar. If the problem only occurs in PBR, it's often a material or lighting interaction issue. 3. Check for Overlapping Walls or Geometry Use a top-down view or the "Back Clipped Cross Section" tool to make sure there’s no accidental duplicate wall or object that could be casting unwanted shadows or blocking light. 4. Adjust PBR Material Settings Select the appliance or cabinet, open the Material Definition, and under Properties, check the Roughness and Metallic sliders. If they are maxed or too high, that could make stainless steel appear unnaturally dark depending on the light angle. 5. Light Source Position Add a temporary point light or area light directly above or in front of the fridge and see if that changes the rendering. Also verify the sun angle in the Sunlight Specification dialog isn’t casting shadow directly onto that fourth wall more intensely than the others. 6. Mac M4 Max Optimization If you're using hardware ray tracing, try toggling it off in Preferences > Render Settings and re-render. Also, ensure you're running the latest update/patch for X16, as Chief has been improving M-series support rapidly.

Correct—if those are 14" roof joists, the sub-fascia needs to account for the soffit as if it's being fastened to the underside of the cantilevered roof framing. Increasing the sub-fascia depth will eliminate that gap. Chief Architect can handle modern designs quite well, but the framing defaults often behave more like traditional gabled roof setups.

Absolutely—rest assured, the folks at Chief Architect do read these forums and take customer feedback seriously. There’s a deep and loyal user base here, and the input shared—especially when constructive—is definitely on their radar. That said, you're right: posting here alone doesn’t guarantee a feature request is formally logged. Using the beta reporting tool or contacting Chief directly is the best way to make sure suggestions are documented and reviewed. So by all means, keep the discussion going here—but also take that extra step to make your voice officially heard. It makes a difference. As for me, I’m still respectfully trying to learn more about the upgrades before commenting on features that aren’t immediately apparent. I’d rather understand the improvements fully before weighing in on the new version.

It appears the water tool doesn’t actually animate water—it’s more of a glossy texture overlay. In effect, it replicates what I’ve been doing for years: using a 1/2" mirror layer beneath a transparent slab with a water texture applied. As for the project management feature, I’m not sure I see the need or benefit. Everyone has their own system for tracking projects, and it’s unclear how this integrates or adds value—at least from a sole practitioner’s perspective. I could be wrong, but this seems more geared toward multi-person offices where file sharing and coordination are critical. For individuals working independently, it may offer little utility, especially if it's positioned as a key feature in the new version.

The best photorealistic projects still tend to rely on third-party renderers to really shine—but credit where it’s due: X17 brings some great updates. Thanks to the CA team for pushing things forward. The presentations always help sell the project - not just to clients but to the various architectural review boards within each municipality. Here’s a quick rundown of the new rendering and visualization features, and they're all really helpful: Anisotropic materials – more realistic stainless steel and brushed metal finishes Interactive material mapping – scale, rotate, and adjust textures right in 3D Sun study walkthroughs – simulate daylight changes with a fixed camera Water animation – adds movement to pools, fountains, etc. 3D text & dimensions – annotate right in 3D views Cross-section slider – adjust cut planes on the fly Material builder (Windows) – custom tile, wood, and grout control Still no AI rendering built-in yet, but exporting to Twinmotion, Lumion, Enscape, or D5 is a solid workaround for higher-end visuals. Looking forward to what’s next.

In reading the initial post, he's trying to place a reverse gable over the front door - by using the dormer tool. It's not possible... thus the manual roof method. OR the gable roof line tool (see attached video). Technically they wouldn't necessarily be dormers anyway. Dormers create space within an area where there's need for head room. That will never be the case on the 1st floor roof. There's no living space. The reverse gable is a technically an accent, and it needs to be constructed otherwise - meaning not w/ the dormer tools. This video shows how: https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1503/using-the-gable-roof-line-tool.html?playlist=95