Locating Lost or Missing Files on your Computer

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

My Chief Architect or Home Designer file was here yesterday, but today it seems to be missing. Where is the first place I should look for my missing plan or layout* file?

*Layout files are only available in Chief Architect Premier, Chief Architect Interiors and Home Designer Pro.

ANSWER

Chief Architect programs save files to the location on your computer that you have chosen to save them; the program cannot delete files from your system.

In this article, we will discuss how to check your Recycle Bin/Trash for missing files, search your operating system for the missing files, and check the Chief Architect or Home Designer Archives.

To check your deleted items in the Recycle Bin/Trash

1. Often your "lost" files are files that have simply been deleted - either accidentally or intentionally. Check your Windows Recycle Bin or Mac Trash.
   
   

   You should check your Recycle Bin/Trash immediately, as continued write activity increases the possibility of an unrecoverable loss.

   
   
2. For more information on how to use the Recycle Bin/Trash, please see the appropriate link for your operating system below.
   
   
   • Windows 10
   • Windows 8
   • Windows 7
     
     
   • macOS Mojave 10.14
   • macOS High Sierra 10.13
     
     
     Not all versions of Chief Architect will be supported on every operating system listed above.
     
     Please check the System Requirements for your version of Chief Architect or Home Designer if you have any questions as to whether or not your version is supported under your operating system.
     
     The third party information presented in this document was verified at its writing, however, it's subject to change.
     
     
     
   
   

If the missing or lost files cannot be located in your operating system's Recycle Bin or Trash, it is possible they haven't been deleted, but may be at a different location then you initially checked. Use the search function in your operating system to locate them.

To search for files on Windows

1. Open File Explorer by clicking the File Explorer icon on your taskbar. It may also be called This PC. 
   
   
   
   
   
2. In the upper right of the Explorer Window, there is a Search box. The search will look in all the folders and sub folders in the current location. 
   
   
   
   
   • Try searching for the exact name of your lost file.
     
     If that does not work, or if you are not sure of the exact name, use the following WILD-CARD search.
     
     
   • To pull up only files with the .plan extension, type in *.plan
     
     
   • To pull up only files with the .layout extension, type in *.layout
     Layout files are only available in Chief Architect Premier, Chief Architect Interiors and Home Designer Pro
     
     
   • Sort by the Date Modified in order to quickly locate the most recent files if using the WILD-CARD search option.
     
     
   • If the missing files are fromChief Architect 9.5 (Home Designer 6.0) or earlier, the plan will be split intoseparate files based on the floor level in the plan. Floor one will have a .pl1extension, floor two will have a .pl2 extension, etc.
     
     Plan files with the .pl1extension are no longer supported starting in Chief Architect X9 (Home Designer2018). They will need to be converted to .plan files by saving them in aversion of your program that is newer than Chief Architect 9.5 (Home Designer6.0).
     
     All files associated with theplan need to be saved in the same location in order for Chief Architect X8(Home Designer 2017) to open and view the plan. Once the plan has been opened,save the file to convert it from the .pl1 extension to a .plan extension.
     
     Once the plan has been savedwith a .plan extension, it can be opened in Chief Architect X9 (Home Designer2018).
   
   
   
3. To learn more about searching your Windows computer for files, please see the link below.
   
   
   • Searching on Windows
     
   
   

To search for files on Mac

1. Click on the magnifying glass icon located in the top right corner of the Macs menu bar.
   
   
   
   
   
2. Type in .plan to search for plan files.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Scroll down and click on the Show all in Finder option to show every plan file and its location on your system.
   
   
   
4. To learn more about searching for files on a Mac, please see the appropriate link below.
   
   
   • Searching on macOS Mojave 10.14
   • Searching on macOS High Sierra 10.13
     
   
   

Accessing the archives

If you encountered a power failure or forced system restart before you were able to save your most recent changes in the file, you may be able to locate a recent backup which has much of the data still saved in it.

Every time a drawing is saved, Archive files that keep a historical archive of your plan are automatically created or updated.

Files can be archived by hour, day or most recent save. They are renamed according to which archiving option is selected in the Preferences  dialog. However, regardless of what archiving option you select in the Preferences dialog, if you do not save your work regularly, then your archive files will not be updated.

To learn more about utilizing the Archives, please see "Accessing Your Archive Files" in the Related Articles section below.

Seek professional assistance

If you are not able to access your hard drive, or if you are unable to find your missing data, contact a computer professional in your area.

Alternatively, use another computer to search the Internet for a data recovery expert, as you may be experiencing a hard drive failure resulting in data loss that could become more serious as time goes on.

For future reference on how Chief Architect recommends organizing your files, please see the "Guide to File Management" linked in the Related Articles section below.