Home My Library Store The Designers Show Blog Calendar
Info
About Services Contact Us Dan Recommends

Episode 178 - Chief Architect X18: Best New Features and Workflow Tips

Welcome to The Designers Show by Chief Experts, where design isn't just an art—it's a profit center.

Chief Architect X18 is here, but which updates will actually make a difference in your day-to-day work? 

In Episode 178 of The Designers Show, Dan Baumann, John Schrader, Rene Rabbitt, Robin Fisher, and Kevin Transue test X18’s new tools in real time. The panel looks at plan performance, wall connections, terrain references, cross-section fills, framing controls, project organization, WebP support, and several smaller improvements that can eliminate repetitive work.

This is not a walkthrough of release notes. It is an honest look at what works, what still needs refinement, and where X18 can help designers produce cleaner plans in less time.

🔑 Key Takeaways:

  • Diagnose a slow plan before replacing your computer or graphics card.
  • Test materials, patterns, fixtures, furnishings, floors, and individual plan areas to isolate performance problems.
  • Use wall-end auto-connect controls to create short walls, wall extensions, and unusual intersections without fighting automatic snapping.
  • Edit the upper and lower portions of pony-wall intersections independently.
  • Use layer-based fills to create clearer cross-sections and distinguish new construction from existing conditions.
  • Move the terrain surface reference point to coordinate grades, garage floors, driveways, and site elevations more accurately.
  • Control joist direction, type, and size in specific areas while carefully verifying bearing conditions.
  • Pin active files inside a project and save distributed paths to the library for faster reuse.
  • Use borderless schedule callouts to produce cleaner, more professional construction documents.
  • Build X18’s best features into your templates and office standards instead of setting them up again on every project.

📌 Resources Mentioned:

• Chief Experts: https://www.chiefexperts.com
• Chief Experts Pro Academy: https://www.chiefexperts.com/pro-academy-info
• The Designers Show: https://www.designersshow.com
• Rene Rabbitt: https://www.rabbittdesign.net
• Imagine Drafting & Design: https://www.imagine-drafting.com
• Convertio file converter: https://convertio.co
• Prompt Cowboy: https://promptcowboy.ai
• Chief Architect X18

📌 Upcoming Events:

📍Denver, Colorado: October 5–8, 2026

📍Bloomington, Minnesota: October 26–29, 2026

📍California: January 2027

These are small-group, hands-on Chief Architect training events for designers, remodelers, builders, architects, and serious Chief users who want to work faster and produce better plans.

Event information and registration: https://www.chiefexperts.com

Upcoming event details were confirmed on the official Chief Experts website.

 

*********************************************

🖥 Dan's Website

💻 RSVP for The Designers Show

😊 Dan's Social Accounts

 

About the Co-Hosts: