Using the Project Browser

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

I would like to quickly access a saved view, such as a plan view, cross section, CAD Detail, or layout page. How can I accomplish this task?    

ANSWER

The Project Browser is a convenient way access to all of the views saved within a plan or layout. 

To use the Project Browser

1. In your plan, select View> Project Browser  from the menu to display the Project Browser side window if it's not already open.
   
   The name of the plan and/or layout file displays, and below it, the types of views you can open.
   
   

   Plans that are referenced by another plan will also appear in the Project Browser.
   
   

   
   
2. Double-click on a view or object to open it. You can also right-click on a view, page, or object to see a list of available options.
   
   
   Note: On a Mac, hold down the Control key while clicking to initiate a right-click command. More information about right-click commands on Apple input devices can be found in the following Apple resource: Right-click on Mac.
   
   
3. A preview pane displays at the bottom of the Project Browser. This allows you to see a preview of each view when selected, but does not apply to materials lists. Use the Show/Hide Preview Panel  button at the bottom of the side window to toggle the preview on and off, as desired.
   
   
   
4. For plan files, the following categories display in the Project Browser:
   
   
   
   
   • CAD Details - All CAD Details and truss details saved with the plan are listed in this folder. Right-click on a CAD detail to access the following options: Open View, Edit View, Delete, Update Preview(s), Send to Layout*, Rename, Duplicate, Copy**, and Cut**. You can also right-click on the main folder in order to create a New CAD Detail or Paste CAD Detail**.
     
     
   • Cameras - All cameras and overviews saved with the plan are listed here. Right-click on a camera or overview to access the following options: Open View, Save Camera, Close View, Edit View, Delete, Update Preview(s), Send to Layout*, Rename and Duplicate.
     
     
   • Cross Sections - All saved cross sections and elevation views are listed. Right-click on a cross section or elevation view to access the following options: Open View, Save Cross Section, Close View, Edit View, Delete, Update Preview(s), Send to Layout*, Rename, and Duplicate.
     
     

     Deleting a saved camera will delete the view it represents along with any text, dimensions, or CAD objects you have created in that view. Likewise, if the camera view is a cross section/elevation view that has been sent to layout and you choose to delete it, the link between the layout and plan will be broken.

     
     
   • Floor Levels - All floors in the plan are listed, including the foundation and attic. Right-click on a floor level to access the following options: Open View, Update Preview(s), and Send to Layout*.
     
     
   • Materials Lists - All materials lists saved in the plan are listed. Right-click on a materials list to access the following options: Open View, Save Material List, Close View, Edit View, Delete, Rename, and Duplicate.
     
     
   • Plan Views - All the saved plan views in the plan are listed here. Right-click on a plan view to access the following options: Open View, Save View, Close View, Edit View, Delete, Update Preview(s), Send to Layout*, Rename, and Duplicate. You can also right-click on the main folder in order to create a New Saved Plan View.
     
     
     Note: Changing your saved plan views can adjust your layer set, default sets, and other display options. Please refer to our resources on saved plan views to learn more.
     
     
   • Schedules - All the schedules in the plan are listed. Right-click on a schedule to access the following options: Find in Project, Open Object, Delete, Update Preview(s), Add to Library**, and Rename.
     
     
   • Wall Details - All wall details saved with the plan are listed by floor. A wall detail view for each framed wall in your plan is automatically created by the program when its wall framing is built. Right-click on a wall detail to access the following options: Open View, Close View, Edit View, Delete, Update Preview(s), Send to Layout*, and Rename.
     
     
     Note: Wall Details are a special type of wall elevation view in which only the studs, plates, and headers used to frame a selected wall will display. They are also the only views in which Wall Bridging can be created. In addition to accessing these via the Project Browser, a Wall Detail associated with a specific wall can be accessed by selecting the wall in question and clicking the Open Wall Detail edit button.
     
     
   
   * Applies to Chief Architect X15 and newer program versions.
   ** Applies to Chief Architect X16 and newer program versions.
   
   
   
5. For layout files, the following categories display in the Project Browser:
   
   

   In X13 and prior program versions, plans that are referenced by a layout will only display in the Project Browser if they're also open within the program.
   
   In X14 and newer versions, all referenced plans will display in a layout, whether they are open within the Chief Architect program or not.

   
   
   
   
   • CAD Details - Any CAD details saved in the layout itself are listed. Right-click on a CAD detail to access the following options: Open View, Close View, Edit View, Delete, Update Preview(s), Send to Layout*, Rename, Duplicate, Copy**, and Cut**. You can also right-click on the main folder in order to create a New CAD Detail or Paste CAD Detail**.
     
     
   • Layout Pages - Any pages or layout page templates that are in use in an open layout display in numeric order. The three types of pages can be distinguished by the icon to the left of their names, as shown in the image below.
     
     
     
     Right-click on a page to access the following options: Show Page, Open Page View, Close Page View, Edit Page Information, Delete Page, Update Preview(s), Insert Page Before, Insert Page After, Duplicate Page, Exchange With Previous Page, and Exchange With Next Page.
     
     

     Layout page templates allow you to create a title block and border in one place, and then assign them for use on any other layout pages that you wish. Multiple page templates can be created in the same layout file. Add anything to a page template that you want on some, or all, of your printed layout pages, such as a title block, borders, text macros, and imported images such as for a company logo.
     
     If a layout page is specified as a page template, it cannot be deleted, nor will it print as part of a print range. For more information on layout page templates, please see the Related Articles section below.
     

     
     
   • Tables - Any layout page tables in your layout file will be listed in alphabetical order. Right-click on a table to access the following options: Find in Project, Open Object, Delete, Update Preview(s), Add to Library**, or Rename.
     
     
   
   *Applies to Chief Architect X15 and newer program versions.
   ** Applies to Chief Architect X16 and newer program versions.
   
   
   
6. Once you understand the views available and how to use the Project Browser, you may want to move it, such as to dock it to the top, bottom, or other side of the Chief Architect window, or even let it float freely undocked.
   
   You can move the Project Browser around by clicking and then dragging on the tab labeled Project Browser.