Adding to the Library

New libraries, folders, and library objects can be added to the Library Browser. Library objects are always placed in alphabetical order within their heirarchy.

Most libraries shipped with Chief Architect are locked

and cannot be edited, indicated by a small padlock on the folder; however, each library category does include a single, unlocked

library which can be edited.

The names of these unlocked libraries begin with "-My," followed by the name of the category. The My Materials library, for example, is located at the top of the Materials category tree. Additional unlocked libraries can be added to any category, allowing you to customize the organization of the library.

Adding a New Library

To create a new, unlocked library, open the Library Browser, select a library category

in the tree view, and choose Library> New> Library. A new library initially named "Untitled Library 1" is added to the currently selected category.

You can also right-click any current library in the tree view and select New Library from the contextual menu. See "Using the Menus".

A new library can also be created from within the Add to Library dialog. See "Adding a New Object".

Adding a Third Party Library

In Chief Architect, libraries are stored using the .ALB file format. Some manufacturers and third party symbol resources provide library content in this file format that can be added to the Chief Architect library.

To add a third party library

In Windows Explorer, browse to the .ALB file saved on your computer.

Right click and select Copy from the contextual menu.

Browse to the Chief Architect Libraries directory, typically located at C:\Program Files\Chief Architect Inc\Chief Architect X1 Full\Libraries.

Select Edit> Paste to paste a copy of the .ALB file in the Libraries directory.

If Chief Architect is running when you perform this task, select Library> Refresh Library Browser

The third party library may be listed in the My Libraries library category.

Inserting a New Folder

Click on an unlocked

library or

folder in the tree view, then select Library> New> Folder. A new folder initially named "Untitled" is added to the currently selected library or folder.

You can also right-click any unlocked library or folder in the tree view and select New Folder from the contextual menu. See "Using the Menus".

Adding a New Object

Any object previously placed in a plan from the Library Browser or using the Create Symbol Wizard can be added to an unlocked library. See "Create Symbol Wizard".

In addition, some Chief Architect objects that are not symbols, such as cabinets, windows, doorways, CAD blocks, molding profiles, architectural blocks, and terrain objects can be added to the library. See "Symbols vs. Native Objects".

To add an object to the library

Select the symbol and choose Tools> Symbol> Add to Library or click the Add to Library edit button to open the Add to Library dialog.

In the Choose window, select the unlocked library or folder that you want to add the object to. The symbol is added at the selected directory level.

If you want to add a new library, click New Library

button at the top right of the dialog.

In the Object field, give the object a name. Names are case sensitive.

Click OK to save the object into the selected folder. The OK button is disabled until you enter an object name and select a library or folder.

Folders in the Backdrops category cannot have the forward slash "/" character.

Adding Materials and Imagesto the Library

Adding Backdrops to the Library

Backdrops are images that can be selected to display in 3D views. See "Backdrop Tab". A backdrop can be added to the library by importing an image file from anywhere on your computer.

Select File> Import> Backdrop

to open the Import Backdrop File dialog, which is similar to the Import Picture File dialog. See "Import Picture File Dialog".

Browse to an image file on your computer, select it, and click Open. This backdrop can now be found in the My Backdrops library.

Multiple backdrops can be added to the library simultaneously by copying them into the My Backdrops folder using Windows Explorer.

You can also create a new backdrop by first copying an image to the Windows Clipboard, then navigating to a Chief Architect window and selecting Edit> Paste> Paste

from the menu or by using the Screen Capture tools. See "Paste" and "Creating Screen Captures".

For information about how to use a backdrop in render views, see "Images & Backdrops".

Refresh Library Browser

If you add a new library or graphics file by copying the file in Windows Explorer, it does not automatically display in the browser. Select Library> Refresh Library Browser to refresh the Library Browser and display the added file.