Converting old .pl1 models (2004) to latest Chief Architect format and Sketchup .skp

[EricM11]

Hi! I used Chief Architect extensively in 2004 and modeled my whole house in an older version. I have the old Chief Architect .pl1 files and I'm trying to get them to show in the 3D Viewer from Chief Architect, to no avail. Would also love to export them into SketchUp or other tools for sharing with contractors who prefer those tools. I hear I need to get someone with x8 or earlier to open and save as a .plan file which is the newer plan type. The attached zip files have .pl1 and .dxf files, and some other .pl0, .pl2, etc. files, along with the .jpgs for materials I created.  One set was from Chief Architect, and the BH&G file is from a Better Homes & Garden version of the Chief Architect software (supported by same company as I understand it, at least at the time). Would love your help - thank you!

Chief Architect Files.zip BH&G.zip

[DBCooper]

If you still have the old version, you should be able to use that.  Just open the plan and use the export 3D model tool.

 

If you want to convert the .pl* files into .plan files, this tech article will tell you how to do it:

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/support/article/KB-00279/opening-legacy-files.html

 

Once you have converted them to .plan files, you will still need a version of the program that can open them and export the 3D model though.

 

 

[CharlesVolz]

Here are some old notes I compiled years ago. They may be outdated. At that time you could use the free CA Viewer.

 

Older Chief Architect Versions:  X9 does not support reading in plans with the .pl# or .la# extension (files from any versions older then Version 10 (2005). CA 10 (2005) creates *.plan files.).  To open these older plans in X9+, first open these files in X8 (or use the free client viewer for Chief X8) and save them which will be in the newer format as a .plan or .layout file. X8 will open plans back to Chief Architect 97 (released August 1997). Version 9 is required to open pre-August 1997 .pln files. Keep X8 (or X8 Desktop Viewer) until all old plans are updated.       

 

Chief Architect Viewer (free) allows you to actually view files from any version of Chief Architect from X9 back to Version 10. You won't be able to modify the model but you could at least create camera views.

 

Notes:
1.    If you no longer have access to Chief Architect X8, Home Designer 2017, or an earlier version, the X8 Desktop Viewer can be downloaded and used for this process. Once installed, continue with Step 2 below.
2.    Plans created in versions prior to Chief Architect '97 (version 5) or 3D Home Architect Deluxe 3.0 will not open successfully in Chief Architect X8 or Home Designer 2017 and earlier versions.
3.    Chief Architect never could open drawings from 3D Home Architect® 5.0 or later, as these programs were not created by the same company.

 

Notes from Help: 
    1.    After an older version file has been opened in the newer program, the plan may not appear exactly as it did when it was initially created. For example, textures and 3D symbol objects from the discontinued version may not be recognized. There may be missing electrical and other object defaults, and warning messages may display on opening the file, as well as taking 3D camera views, in regards to these objects. While you could try to replace all of the missing textures, objects, and defaults using materials and symbols from your current Home Designer Library Browser, the real advantage of being able to view the older file is to reference dimensions and object placement. In order to have all of the capabilities available in a current version plan, such as Wall Types and other features, recreating the plan in the current version of Chief Architect may be necessary and is recommended.
    2.    Plans created in versions prior to Chief Architect '97 (version 5) or 3D Home Architect Deluxe 3.0 will not open successfully in Chief Architect X8 or Home Designer 2017 and earlier versions. Chief Architect never could open drawings from 3D Home Architect® 5.0 or later, as these programs were not created by the same company.

 

More information can be found in the X9 Reference Manual or the X10 Reference Manual on Page 54, "Compatibility with Previous Versions", and on Page 1338 and Page 1369, respectively, "New and Improved Features by Chapter - File Management".