Sharing Custom Toolbars

[MollyNDG]

Hello all,

I would like to share a custom toolbar with my coworker and allow her to integrate it into her main toolbar configuration without messing with the custom toolbars she already has. Is this possible? I know you can import configurations, but is there any way to bring in just one toolbar? Or do I need to package up all of the library items & custom icons into a folder and have her create a toolbar out of these?

 

Thanks!

[VHampton]

Yes... there can be many custom toolbars saved in the Toolbar Folder.

 

While working you can choose to toggle between the various options.

 

Anyway... this is where they're located (please excuse me for stating the obvious).

 

In The Chief Architect Premier X16 Data Folder. 

 

 

Make sure the Toolbar has unique name.  Otherwise It could wind up replacing one of the custom tool bars. 

 

The easy way....

 

• Copy the custom toolbar from the folder location, and paste it into the desktop. 
• Rename it (if necessary) - like Molly's Toolbar -  and forward it via email or Airdrop. 
• The end user can copy and paste into their library Folder. Specifically the Toolbar Folder. 

 

OR... they can use the import toolbar tool and bring it into their system using that method. 

 

More technical answers are below... but the above will work. 

 

 

 

To transfer a toolbar in Chief Architect, you can either copy and paste the entire toolbar or its configuration to a new computer or configuration, or use the migration process to import from an older version. You can also reset the migration to re-migrate the toolbar settings. 

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Copying and Pasting:

• Locate the Toolbar Folder:

  . 

  Find the "Toolbars" sub-folder within the Chief Architect Data folder for your specific program version.
• Copy and Paste:

  . 

  Right-click on the "Toolbars" folder and select "Copy". Then, navigate to the destination folder (on a new computer or a different configuration) and "Paste" the folder. 

   

2. Importing Configurations:

• Open Customize Toolbars: In Chief Architect, go to Toolbars > Customize Toolbars > Configurations.
• Import Tab: Select the "Import" tab.
• Navigate to the Data Folder: Browse to the folder where you saved the toolbar configuration or the new computer's Data folder.
• Select and Import: Choose the configuration you want to import and click "Import". 
   

3. Resetting and Re-migrating:

• Access Preferences: Go to Preferences (usually found under the File or Edit menu).
• Reset Options: Look for a "Reset" or "Migration" section within the preferences.
• Reset Migration: Choose the option to reset the migration.
• Restart Chief Architect: Close and reopen Chief Architect to trigger the migration process.
• Choose What to Migrate: During the migration, you'll be prompted to select what you want to migrate from the older version, including toolbars, libraries, and more. 
   

4. Transferring Toolbars Within a Configuration:

• Master Configuration: If you have a "Master Toolbar Configuration" with all toolbars, you can make a copy, rename it, and then delete any unwanted toolbars.
• Copying Configurations: You can only copy an entire configuration, not individual toolbars. 

[PitMan71]

Following.

 

[Joe_Carrick]

One thing to note is that if the custom toolbar uses custom icons they must also be copied to the same location on the second system.

[MollyNDG]

1 hour ago, VHampton said:

Yes... there can be many custom toolbars saved in the Toolbar Folder.

 

While working you can choose to toggle between the various options.

 

Anyway... this is where they're located (please excuse me for stating the obvious).

 

In The Chief Architect Premier X16 Data Folder. 

 

 

Make sure the Toolbar has unique name.  Otherwise It could wind up replacing one of the custom tool bars. 

 

The easy way....

 

• Copy the custom toolbar from the folder location, and paste it into the desktop. 
• Rename it (if necessary) - like Molly's Toolbar -  and forward it via email or Airdrop. 
• The end user can copy and paste into their library Folder. Specifically the Toolbar Folder. 

 

OR... they can use the import toolbar tool and bring it into their system using that method. 

 

More technical answers are below... but the above will work. 

 

 

 

To transfer a toolbar in Chief Architect, you can either copy and paste the entire toolbar or its configuration to a new computer or configuration, or use the migration process to import from an older version. You can also reset the migration to re-migrate the toolbar settings. 

 

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

1. Copying and Pasting:

• Locate the Toolbar Folder:

  . 

  Find the "Toolbars" sub-folder within the Chief Architect Data folder for your specific program version.
• Copy and Paste:

  . 

  Right-click on the "Toolbars" folder and select "Copy". Then, navigate to the destination folder (on a new computer or a different configuration) and "Paste" the folder. 

   

2. Importing Configurations:

• Open Customize Toolbars: In Chief Architect, go to Toolbars > Customize Toolbars > Configurations.
• Import Tab: Select the "Import" tab.
• Navigate to the Data Folder: Browse to the folder where you saved the toolbar configuration or the new computer's Data folder.
• Select and Import: Choose the configuration you want to import and click "Import". 
   

3. Resetting and Re-migrating:

• Access Preferences: Go to Preferences (usually found under the File or Edit menu).
• Reset Options: Look for a "Reset" or "Migration" section within the preferences.
• Reset Migration: Choose the option to reset the migration.
• Restart Chief Architect: Close and reopen Chief Architect to trigger the migration process.
• Choose What to Migrate: During the migration, you'll be prompted to select what you want to migrate from the older version, including toolbars, libraries, and more. 
   

4. Transferring Toolbars Within a Configuration:

• Master Configuration: If you have a "Master Toolbar Configuration" with all toolbars, you can make a copy, rename it, and then delete any unwanted toolbars.
• Copying Configurations: You can only copy an entire configuration, not individual toolbars. 

Yes, I do understand how to transfer toolbar configurations, that is not what I am looking for (see original question). I want to be able to do this for individual toolbars and have her install these within her pre-made configuration. In the top section of your post you state "you can either copy and paste the entire toolbar or its configuration to a new computer", but I think the lower section answers my question "Copying Configurations: You can only copy an entire configuration, not individual toolbars." 

 

If anyone knows a work around, I would greatly appreciate it.

[Renerabbitt]

50 minutes ago, MollyNDG said:

If anyone knows a work around, I would greatly appreciate it.

You can share an individual toolbar but it takes custom scripting and I am willing to do it for you, I won't be sharing the how publicly as it is far more difficult to do in X16 compared to previous versions and their is a high likelihood that end users would break their systems without understanding how toolbars work if they started to go try and modify them.
Keep in mind it will not link to a custom library item in your user catalog as that requires the TBData file in the toolbars folder and is 10x more difficult to modify. It will however link to library items provided by Chief.
I would do it for free, its no bother, just PM me

 

[VHampton]

On 5/2/2025 at 7:43 PM, MollyNDG said:

Yes, I do understand how to transfer toolbar configurations, ...but I think the lower section answers my question "Copying Configurations: You can only copy an entire configuration, not individual toolbars." 

 

If anyone knows a work around, I would greatly appreciate it.

Apologies... this is where I was slightly confused by the question... "I want to be able to do this for individual toolbars and have her install these within her pre-made configuration."

 

As Rene said, there's a way to do this.

 

Still, there can be many custom toolbars which one can toggle through while working in Chief. It's a reasonable expectation to take the imported one (with whatever unique features) and revert back and forth between this and the "out of the box" toolbars. Over the past 25 years, I've amassed a fairly large collection of them, and can pick and choose between various options when opting to eliminate certain layers... or the appearance of the toolbar itself. Perhaps that's where the disconnect is on my part. The "look" of the toolbars vs. the functionality of the layer settings for a specific tool bar.  

 

On a side, Rene has configurations which are simply beyond impressive. He's posted videos while working with them, and it's pretty incredible. If you've never seen a circular toolbar before, he's got them. Lol 

 

All the best. 

[PitMan71]

2 hours ago, VHampton said:

Rene has configurations which are simply beyond impressive.

 

Yes. This. I am convinced that if Chief Architect were a person it would be Rene. He is a leader and innovator with Chief AND shares incredible insights generously with other users raising everyone's level of understanding. It's worth connecting with him on this issue. While you are at it have a look at his website....https://www.rabbittdesign.net He has several custom Chief tools available for purchase.