Chief Architect X15 New Features Summary
![3D house rendering with dormer, materials list and catalog Library Browser.](https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/images/whats-new/x15/productivity-features-1269x714.jpg)
Productivity Features
- Reference display allows you to superimpose an as‑built on a remodel using offsets. It is no longer important that the two files originate with the same coordinates. The new offset not only applies for as‑built overlays, but also other houses, outbuildings or neighborhoods
- Sorting of schedules has been updated for more flexibility. An automatic sorting option is available to choose columns and to sort them by ascending or descending values. On the schedule itself, you can change the sorting with arrows at the top of each column
- A number formatting panel in schedules is available for each applicable column to control the format display of numbers
- Rooms display the volume and square area in the open dialog. Rooms can be group‑selected to gather the same information. Room volume is a new column available for schedules
- Cabinet door and drawer style columns can be added to schedules to list the face item names
- Rich Text can be linked using web hyperlinks
- Custom arrowheads can be created and then used for line ends
![Contemporary kitchen render with dual islands and bright backsplash listing new Chief Architect X15 features.](https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/images/whats-new/x15/design-features-1711x953.jpg)
Building-Construction Features
- Roof and floor trusses can be automatically generated similar to stick framing
- For floor truss or joist framing, you can eliminate double framing under walls by opening up the wall property and changing the option for floor framing below
- The wall definition dialog used to be organized with tabs below the wall layers category. It is now organized in three separate tabs, making it easier to find the relevant information
- Wall framing can be set up to use U-shaped framing in addition to the other corner framing techniques
- Floating dormers have an added shaft option to include a ceiling opening to the room below — similar to skylight shafts
- Skylights have sizing controls for the shape, width and height. A skylight edit tool, like CAD block editing, is available to customize the skylight, allowing you to create unique custom shapes
![3D rendering of roof truss framing and new Chief Architect X15 features.](https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/images/whats-new/x15/building-construction-features-1270x703.jpg)
Building-Construction Features
- Roof and floor trusses can be automatically generated similar to stick framing
- For floor truss or joist framing, you can eliminate double framing under walls by opening up the wall property and changing the option for floor framing below
- The wall definition dialog used to be organized with tabs below the wall layers category. It is now organized in three separate tabs, making it easier to find the relevant information
- Wall framing can be set up to use U-shaped framing in addition to the other corner framing techniques
- Floating dormers have an added shaft option to include a ceiling opening to the room below — similar to skylight shafts
- Skylights have sizing controls for the shape, width and height. A skylight edit tool, like CAD block editing, is available to customize the skylight, allowing you to create unique custom shapes
![3D night rendering of a house moonlit at twilight. Sunset reflection in the windows and natural looking grass using new Chief Architect X15 features.](https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/images/whats-new/x15/presentation-features-1269x714.jpg)
Presentation Features
- A new procedural grass tool is available to create a simulated 3D grass that is much more realistic
- Physically based rendering has an improved sky model with several new controls. There is an option in the camera setting for an artificial terrain that will extend the terrain to the horizon
- There are new tools to move the sun and moon in 3D. You can also set the star intensity
- For sun shadows, there is a soften option in the rendering technique options for the physically based render camera. With soft sun shadows enabled, the hard line from the sun shadow is replaced with a more natural‑looking shadow line
- Focal blur can be incorporated into 3D views with a depth-of-field setting
- The opacity of glass in non–ray‑trace views can now be adjusted
- Depth cueing is available in elevation views to fog or shade areas that are a specified distance from the camera
- A Hidden Line feature for elevations can be used to differentiate below‑grade surfaces
![Wall framing detail with a materials list takeoff schedule.](https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/images/whats-new/x15/drafting-and-project-management-1269x602.jpg)
![Bathroom wall elevation with dimensions, text callouts and CAD detail for a wall hung toilet.](https://cloud.chiefarchitect.com/1/images/whats-new/x15/draft-and-project-management-features-part-2-1269x647.jpg)
Drafting & Project Management Features
- Reference display allows you to superimpose an as‑built on a remodel using offsets. It is no longer important that the two files originate with the same coordinates. The new offset not only applies for as‑built overlays, but also other houses, outbuildings or neighborhoods
- Sorting of schedules has been updated for more flexibility. An automatic sorting option is available to choose columns and to sort them by ascending or descending values. On the schedule itself, you can change the sorting with arrows at the top of each column
- A number formatting panel in schedules is available for each applicable column to control the format display of numbers
- Rooms display the volume and square area in the open dialog. Rooms can be group‑selected to gather the same information. Room volume is a new column available for schedules
- Cabinet door and drawer style columns can be added to schedules to list the face item names
- Rich Text can be linked using web hyperlinks
- Custom arrowheads can be created and then used for line ends
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