BeaconHill Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Hi there. I have a predicament where a large renovation project that abruptly ended in 2007 has become active again. I was using Chief 95 then and still have the files. However I no longer have older software than X12 running after refreshing my computer earlier this year. Wondering how far back I would have to try and go, so that the software will open a Chief 95 file? I still have the USB key from then and product keys back to X3. Not sure if I can locate install files for older software, but am looking at old backups. Any advice or thoughts as to how to open these up would be appreciated. Thanks, Stephen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
javatom Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Open your current version of Chief and then open the plan file. I think it will load it in to the newer version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopsaw Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 If it is a .plan file open it with your current version otherwise it will need to be migrated using X8 or earlier. You can also accomplish this using the X8 client viewer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chopsaw Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 Not very easy to find though. https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00279/opening-legacy-files.html 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiwideziner Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 X8 was the last version that will open the PL1 etc files. I keep a version of this on my machine for that purpose. You should have access to that download file in you digital locker? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermot Posted October 7, 2021 Share Posted October 7, 2021 I don't think there ever was a Chief 95. Maybe you meant Chief 97? If these are actually files from Chief 97, then you should be able to read them in using the X8 Desktop Viewer and then save them which will allow you to open them in newer versions. You can find the link to the viewer in the tech article that Chopsaw posted above. Please be aware that plans this old are very likely to need a lot of cleanup when brought into the newer versions. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeaconHill Posted October 8, 2021 Author Share Posted October 8, 2021 It is the old .PL1 file system. Current version I have installed will not open them and the oldest download in my digital locker is X10(see edit below). Also, to clarify, it was Chief 9.5 that they were created in, but I left the decimal out of my folder naming so that s why I was thinking Chief 95. However, I did find my old laptop with X1 on it so I am going to try loading the files on it and re-saving to then hopefully open in X12. But I may check out the X8 client viewer first as that would be handy to have for future use. I realize that there will probably be some of artifacts/cleanup, but this is a 348' structure (old textile mill) from 1883 that I do not want to re-measure! Thanks!! Edit: Figured out that if I checked "Show Upgraded Product Keys" in my digital locker it will show me downloads for the older software. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dermot Posted October 8, 2021 Share Posted October 8, 2021 X1 should be able to open V9.5 plans and save them in a format that X12 can read. Not sure if this works any better or is any easier than using the X8 Desktop Viewer. Either way, you will probably have to cleanup things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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