The information in this article applies to:
QUESTION
My Library Browser is empty, or appears to be missing important content. How can I easily obtain this library content to use in my designs?
ANSWER
If your Library Browser is empty, then you have not yet downloaded the core catalogs. While the program will prompt you the first time you launch it to download and install this core content, you can choose to restart this process at any time if you did not download it in its entirety.
In addition to the core catalogs, a large variety of bonus and manufacturer content can be downloaded and used in your Chief Architect designs.
Core, bonus, and manufacturer catalogs are available for download for the 5 most recent program versions of Chief Architect.
To install core content
- The Library Browser side window is docked on the right side of the program window by default. You can open and close it by selecting View> Library Browser
from the menu.
In X14 and prior versions, a plan must be open to interact with the Library Browser.
- Select Library> Install Core Content from the menu.
The core content contains a lot of data, which may take some time to download. A progress indicator will display at the bottom of the Library Browser side window, if it is open.
- Once all the core catalogs have been successfully installed, a Catalog Update Summary dialog or an Information dialog will display. Click OK.
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To obtain bonus and manufacturer content using the Chief Architect website
- Select Library> Get Additional Content Online
from within the software.
You can also access the 3D Library from the Chief Architect website by navigating to User Center> Catalog & Content Downloads or from within your Chief Architect account by navigating to Chief Architect> Catalog Downloads.
- In the top right corner, click on Log In To Download and proceed to sign in to your Chief Architect account.
If you're already signed in, your Chief ID will be listed alongside a Log Out option instead.
- Click on a library category to expand the contents.
- Catalogs with Free next to the download arrow do not require SSA and are free to download.
- Catalogs with SSA next to the download arrow require active Support & Software Assurance (SSA) or an active software subscription to download.
- Catalogs with a dollar amount (e.g. $3.99) listed are for Home Designer and Chief Architect users that don't have SSA, but want access to catalogs that are typically only available to SSA users.
- Place your mouse cursor over the Info
symbol for a summary of details.
- Click on the catalog thumbnail image to go to the full overview of the catalog.
- Feel free to Like
the catalog if you think it is as described, of good quality, and worth recommending to others.
- To download a bonus or manufacturer catalog, click on the Download Arrow
symbol or the Download 
button.
- You will be prompted to select a version. Click on the Chief Architect version you want to download the catalog for.
- Depending on your web browser, you will be prompted to either Open or Save the .calibz file.
Some web browsers will automatically download and open a file, and some will automatically save the file to your computer.
If you're unsure where the downloaded library file may have gone, check the Downloads folder on your system.
- If you chose to Open the file, it should start the download and import process into Chief Architect automatically.
If you chose to Save the file, then you will need to import the library manually. Select Library> Import Library from within the Chief Architect software and then browse to where you saved the .calibz file. Typically, this will be your Downloads folder on your system. Select the .calibz file, choose Open, and the library will then be imported into your Library Browser. If you choose to use this process to import libraries, you can group select multiple .calibz files on your system and import them all at once.
- Once one or more libraries have been imported, an Information message will display advising that "The Library Import has completed successfully..." followed by the number of items that have been imported. Click OK.
To obtain bonus and manufacturer content using the Library Browser*
*Applies to Chief Architect Premier X15 and newer versions.
- Within the Library Browser side window, ensure that the Include Web Results option is enabled next to the Filters search bar.
- Bonus and manufacturer catalogs can be accessed using one of the following methods:
- Expand the Chief Architect Bonus Catalogs and/or Manufacturer Catalogs subfolder(s), then select the View Online Catalogs
option. Proceed to browse through the list of online catalogs that pertain to the parent folder until you have found a particular object or catalog that you're interested in.
- Using the search bar, search for a manufacturer or an object that you want to use in your plan.
In the Filter Results area, objects that are installed in your library will display with the following icon 
and will appear in the list first, while objects that are not installed will display with a globe icon 
and will appear at the bottom of the list.
- Select an object or online catalog that is not installed, then look in the Details section located at the bottom of the Library Browser to see additional information.
-
Click on the
Download Catalog link located in the Details section, or right-click on the object/catalog and choose the
Download Catalog option to prompt a
Chief Architect Account Login dialog to appear. Enter the e-mail address and password associated with your Chief Architect account, then click
Log In.
- If you have logged in successfully, you will receive a message stating so. Click OK. The library download will now take place in the background. Once it has completed, an Information message will display advising that "The Library Import has completed successfully..." followed by the number of items that have been imported. Click OK.
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To update installed library content
Core, bonus, and manufacturer catalogs are updated periodically by the Chief Architect Content Development team to include new and improved content. Additionally, when product manufacturers update product lines, Chief Architect content may also be updated to align with these changes.
- Navigate to Library> Update Library Catalogs
from the menu or select the Update Library Catalogs tool at the bottom of the Library Browser to update all of the catalogs.
In Chief Architect X15 and newer versions, you will see the following icon 
next to a parent folder, as well as in the top left corner for the applicable child folders/catalogs when an update is available. Follow the process just mentioned above, or right-click on the line item displaying the icon and select Update , as shown in the image below.
- The program will gather information about the installed content, then download any available updates. Once the update process has completed, one of the following dialogs will display:
- If catalogs were updated, you will see a Catalog Update Summary dialog with additional information as to which catalogs were updated. Click OK.
- If catalogs were already up to date, you will see an Information dialog stating so. Click OK.
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