Page 45 - Chief Architect Reference Manual

Preferences and Default Settings

Preferences and Default Settings

Preferences and default settings control Defaults
many aspects of the user interface and tool
behavior in Chief Architect. You can use Most objects in Chief Architect derive their
these settings to customize the program to intial properties from their respective default
suit your personal work style. dialogs.
For more information about defaults and For example, a newly placed Window
preferences, see “Preferences and Default gets its initial values from the Window
Settings” on page 85. Defaults dialog and a newly placed Hinged
Door gets its initial values from the Door
Preferences Defaults dialog.
Preference settings let you change program Once an object is placed in a plan, its initial
behavior to suit your workflow. For example, properties can be overridden, but setting up
you can: your defaults before you begin drawing can
• Turn certain display elements on or off. save you considerable time as you build a
• Choose background and editing feedback model in the program.
colors. Default settings, unlike Preferences, are file
• Set frequency of autosaves, maximum specific.
number of “undos,” and file locking.
Dynamic Defaults
• Set default folders for various files.
• Control the editing behaviors of objects. Most default settings are static: if you change
one, any objects of that type in the current
• Setup the materials list categories, sub- file will not be affected. A few defaults,
categories, and report style, as well as however, are dynamic: they are tied to
manufacturer and supplier information.
existing objects in the drawing and if you
• Set rendering specifications to maximize change the default, those objects may be
efficiency and quality. affected. See “Dynamic Defaults” on page
Preference settings are global, affecting all 88.
plan and layout files.
Template Plans
You can set up an otherwise empty plan with
the default settings of your choice and use it
as your template for new, blank plans. See
“Template Files” on page 97.

45