Help Database

In many cases, the best way to e-mail a plan file to another party is to zip the file before attaching it to an e-mail message.

These instructions, for Windows XP and newer, describe how to save your plan, zip the plan folder, and e-mail the zipped file. 

 

1. Create a new folder on the Windows Desktop and give it a short, descriptive name.
   
   
• If you plan to send the file to Chief Architect Technical Support, name it -YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME-.
  
  


2. Launch Chief Architect and open the plan that you wish to e-mail.
   
   


3. Click File> Save As  from the menu, and in the Save Plan File dialog:
   
   If you have items such as custom materials not included in the Chief Architect library that the other user will not have, then you should instead select File> Export> Entire Plan . Then in the Export Entire Plan dialog, leave the radio button at its default location to Export All Files (Including Textures, Backdrops and Images).
   
   
• In the Save in or Browse For Folder dialog specify the location as the -YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME- folder on the desktop that you just created.
  
  
• The file name and type should remain unchanged.
  
  
• Click the Save or OK button to create a copy of the plan file.
  



4. Select File> Exit from the menu to close the Chief Architect program completely, and then go to the Windows Desktop.
   



5. Right-click on the -YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME- folder and select Send To> Compressed/Zipped Folder from the contextual menu that displays.
   


• This will create a zipped -YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME- folder, also on your Windows Desktop, which can easily be e-mailed.
  
  


6. Open your e-mail program, compose a new e-mail message, and address it as normal.
   
• If you are sending the plan file to Chief Architect Technical Support, register a new account, if you haven't already, or sign in to the Online Support Center to start a new ticket.  Type in a detailed description of the problem that you are experiencing, and use the Browse button to browse to the zipped folder's location on your Desktop.  The Subject line should include the name of the analyst who is assisting you, if the file was requested by a particular technician.
  
  It is often helpful to include what version of Chief Architect that you are using in your message - including what update version is installed - as well as a thorough description of the problem you are encountering.
  
  


7. Attach the -YOUR FIRST AND LAST NAME.zip- zipped folder on your Windows Desktop. 
   
   
• The method of doing this varies depending on which e-mail program you are using.  You may need to select File> Insert from the menu or perhaps click an Attach or Insert button. 
  



8. Type a descriptive subject in the e-mail message's Subject line, write a message, and when you are finished, send it to the recipient.
   
   

NOTE: If you are not using Windows XP, you can follow a procedure similar to the one described here; however, you may need to have some kind of a zipping utility for ZIP files.