Moving Walls Using Dimensions

Reference Number: KB-01116
Last Modified: February 13, 2019

The information in this article applies to:

Chief Architect Premier or Chief Architect Interiors


How can I move walls precisely using dimensions?


Temporary dimensions will display along the length of a wall as it is drawn, helping you draw walls to the desired length. Although dimensions display as you are drawing, you do not need to position walls precisely when you first draw them they can be easily moved into place at any time.

To draw a structure

  1. First launch Chief Architect and select File> New Plan  to start a new plan.

  2. Select Build> Wall> Straight Exterior Wall , then in a clockwise fashion, click and drag out walls to create a structure. In this example we will use a basic square structure with a bump-out.

    Creating a basic building

  3. Once you have created your structure, use the Select Objects tool to select the left wall, displaying the temporary dimensions between this wall and the one on the right as shown in the image below.

    Showing temporary dimensions for the left wall

  4. When you select a wall, one temporary dimension will display along the length of the wall and and one perpendicular to it until it meets the closest parallel wall.

    In the case of our bump-out, the dimension will be determined by where we have clicked on our selected wall.

    Dimensions based are based on where you click

    Note: Temporary Dimensions will not display if there is a Manual Dimension, Interior Dimension or Auto Exterior Dimension already measuring the distance.

To precisely move walls using temporary dimensions

  1. Use your Select Objects  tool and click on the left wall. You will see the two temporary dimensions display.

  2. Move your cursor over one of the dimensions displayed and you will notice that the cursor turns into a pointing hand cursor .

    Click on a dimension to precisely move the wall

  3. Once you see the cursor change, use a single left click on that dimension to edit it.

    The actual distance displays in a text field.

    Actual dimension distance displaying in a text field

  4. Enter a new value and tap the enter key on your keyboard to close the text field and apply the change so that the wall will move the specified distance.

    Numbers entered with an apostrophe denote feet and the numbers entered with quotes denote inches. If neither apostrophes nor quotes are included, the entered value defaults to inches.

    Left wall has moved to the typed dimension

  5. Repeat this process for the remaining walls as necessary, continuing in a clockwise direction.

    When resizing a house using dimensions, it is important to work your way around the house in one direction. Relocate one wall at a time in succession so that you do not redefine the same dimensions more than once.

To precisely move walls using Auto Exterior Dimensions

  1. Once you have created your structure, select CAD> Dimensions> Auto Exterior Dimensions to generate dimensions around the plan’s exterior in floor plan view.

    Automatic exterior dimensions for all the walls

    • Auto Exterior Dimensions do not generate properly if there is a gap in the exterior walls. For example, sometimes angled walls may not connect properly. If automatic dimensions do not generate, try Build> Wall> Fix Wall Connections .

    • You can check Ignore Interior Walls in the Auto Exterior Dimension Defaults dialog in order to prevent interior walls that intersect exterior walls from being located by the Auto Exterior Dimensions tool.

  2. You can use the same procedure of selecting a wall, clicking the controlling dimension and entering the exact value you want this dimension to be.

    If you are not sure which dimensions are the controlling dimensions you can identify these by moving your cursor over the dimensions. When your cursor turns to a hand  then you are over a controlling dimension for the selected wall.

    Showing a controlling dimension with mouse hand icon

  3. As when using temporary dimensions, you will want to continue in a clockwise direction when moving walls with dimensions.

  4. This same procedure for adjusting walls works with manually drawn dimensions as well, including those drawn with the Manual Dimension and Interior Dimension tools.