BenPalmer Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 The .pl1 extension has been removed from the open dialogue in X9. Besides opening in X8 first, has a way been provided to open these Chief 9 and earlier files within X9 via import or other method? I have 100s if not 1000s of designs that I sell or use to base plans off of for customers that were created in 9 or earlier and need access to them via X9 and future releases. I really don't want to keep X8 loaded on my computer forever to bring these files forward each time I need them. Nor do I want to spend the time converting these numerous files. However, a batch conversion tool would be acceptable. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Not at my computer to test, nor do I have any .pl1 files but have you tried simply renaming them to change the .pl1 to .plan? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Michael: renaming would not work ver 9 and earlier files were stored by floor so there is also .pl0 and .pl2 etc Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Ben: not nice of CA to remove that ability I guess you will have to keep X8 loaded it doesn't really hurt to do so its probably best to start converting them do a few a day and soon they will all be done Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alaskan_Son Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Okay. I found an old .pl1 file and tested out my suggestion. It kinda worked...sorta...not really...Chief tried to open it but then gave this warning... Like you said...looks like those older files are just no longer supported. Oh well....I'm sorry...I tried. On a side note, I'm curious how useful those old files can be anyway. Chief has changed so much it seems like the plans would be a mess and you'd be better off redrawing anyway...although I guess you would still need access to the file to get the relevant information. Looks like keeping X8 on hand for a bit might be the only option. Sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob_Medvetz Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I recommend contacting tech support as this may be a bug or an oversight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 The only thing I can think of is to bring it into X8,fix it up, then X9. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gawdzira Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Holy crap. I just tried to get into a pair of pants I bought in 2003. Similar problem but in my case I can't close them. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 I'm actually smaller than in 2003, but that's not saying much. Pant's fall off in a crowd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 This is deliberately done by CA, there is documentation I have seen. Their reason was to be able to move forward, they needed to loose this ability to clean up the code. Anyway when was the last PL1 file? I can't remember which version, I had some PL1 files in 2006. had to go to old computer to find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted January 21, 2017 Share Posted January 21, 2017 Graeme: ver 10 introduced .plan files I wish CA would add the ver id giving .planX9 I have to add it to all my file names so I know what version it was created with Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 I store my plans by version, that way I know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenPalmer Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 Appreciate everyone's input. I understand the need to move on or improve the program, but it is very disappointing to leave long time loyal users in the dust without providing a tool to bring these projects forward. I've been with Chief since version '97 (version 5 i think?), and therefore have many of these files. The .pl1 files are still very useful thanks to importing capabilities of annotation sets, defaults, wall definitions, etc. It takes about 20 minutes to clean up various layers, window and door settings and various other items and i'm ready to go. This saves days of having to recreate the file with all the detailing that is already done. I guess i'll have to keep X8 loaded as well as keep the keys so that I can install it when I upgrade computers in the future. I suppose I can live with that as long as chief doesn't start revoking my ability to have X8 in the long future via the software lock. Thanks again for everyone's input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DRAWZILLA Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 it's unfortunate but, in the future they ,might just take that away too.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermot Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 X9 does not support reading in plans with the .pl# or .la# extension (files from any versions older then Version 10). More information can be found in the Reference Manual on Page 54, "Compatibility with Previous Versions" and on Page 1338, "New and Improved Features by Chapter - File Management". If you want to be able to open these plans in X9, you should first open these files in X8 and save them in the newer format. Once the plan is saved as a .plan or .layout you should then be able to open it in X9. You should be able to continue using your X8 for as long as your computer and operating system continue to support it. At some point in the future, it is very likely that you will have to buy a newer computer that might not support your old software. We can't prevent that from happening. I would encourage you to update your old plans before you get stuck in this situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kelly_K Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 6 minutes ago, Dermot said: X9 does not support reading in plans with the .pl# or .la# extension (files from any versions older then Version 10). More information can be found in the Reference Manual on This is a shame, the backward compatibility of Chief has always been a remarkable ability that has worked well and a point of pride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermot Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 I apologize for any inconvenience that this may cause. Supporting these older file formats was limiting our ability to keep Chief moving forward. We have only had to do this once before when we dropped support for pre-version 5 plan files. We are hoping that with the file format improvements that we made back in Version 10 that we won't have to do this again for a much longer period of time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenPalmer Posted February 1, 2017 Author Share Posted February 1, 2017 Completely understand the need to upgrade and I'm all for it. However, just as was done with legacy library file formats, an import legacy .pl1 file utility should be implemented within Chief to convert those forward the same way I would open the file in X8 and then X9 to bring it forward. Please reconsider completely dropping support for this file and instead implement a way to import legacy plans. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 Ben: I agree If CA needed to clean-up the internal routines they should be able to make an external converter Lew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoeGia Posted February 2, 2017 Share Posted February 2, 2017 I agree. I have 100 plus files from 1995 to 1997 which can't be accessed through X8 and I don't have V9 available to open them. I do need to open one on occassion. Those houses are now ready to be remodeled! A converter would be a great solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcaffee Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Guess I got lucky, just brought a Chief 97 pl file into X8 then to X9. Slow as a dog, but I'll see what happens when it gets cleaned up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BenPalmer Posted February 22, 2017 Author Share Posted February 22, 2017 Yeah, no problem bringing these forward using X8, just can't do it using X9 as the first step. The slow file is certainly a noticeable thing, but that is around using X8 and previous versions as well. Seems to be specific to .pl1 (pre v10 files). Would be nice to speed this up including Undo. I haven't seen the speed up of Undo that X9 toughted as an improved feature in new or existing files...perhaps computer specs? Let us know how working with the legacy file goes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lbuttery Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Surely, CA can snip that import logic from X8 and make it a separate utility ? As a 30 year programmer I doubt if it would be that difficult to do Lew 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcaffee Posted February 22, 2017 Share Posted February 22, 2017 Ben, luckily I don't need to do all the file fixing. The original designer is doing that and then handing off to me to create something similar for a new client. I ditched all my pl files a couple years ago as they were all exclusive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hyrule Posted March 8, 2017 Share Posted March 8, 2017 With virtualization of older Operating Systems (through companies like VMWare) you can run Windows 95 to Windows 7 on the newest of computers. Save your old OS software and your old Chief Architect software and as long as copy protection doesn't get in the way you will be able to open up those 20 year-old plans on the software it was originally created in. Chief is better than most, as many companies out there, you're lucky if you can open up a file that is 10 years old. With virtualization, anything created digitally should be able to be archived indefinitely. Monty Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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