VHampton

You're running an RTX 4070 Laptop GPU — more than powerful enough — but Chief may still prioritize CPU or RAM in PDF generation. Make sure: Dedicated GPU is selected for Chief (not integrated). Try running in Performance Mode under NVIDIA Control Panel. Fixes & Workarounds That Helped Others with new versions where the camera dpi is set to 600 by default: Drop DPI temporarily (e.g., try 300 or 400) to test speed impact — sometimes 600 DPI just chokes the export buffer. Switch camera views to vector (as you did) or even tech line drawing style to reduce GPU processing demands. Observations & Potential Causes: Standard rendering views (especially with shadows, ambient occlusion, or PBR lighting settings) can be memory-intensive during PDF output — even more so at 600 DPI. X17 may be struggling with raster-to-vector translation or texture memory buffering during PDF compilation. Since it worked fine in the beta, it's possible something changed in the PDF rendering pipeline in the final build (maybe a bug, or different optimization).

Poly-line solid over the slab is the best way. Integrate the Chief made slab when drawing the solid for Cross Sectional views.

That’s a great question, and a prompt to name the backup at the time of export could go a long way. Even better if it auto-fills with a base name that includes the project title, date, and maybe an optional tag (like “layouts only” or “final set”). This would give users instant context later without needing to open the file just to see what’s inside.

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.