topic Re: Add-on suddenly stops working in Archicad C++ API

Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 10:07:37 GMT

I've been working on an Add-on for AC9. Going fine, starting to get the hang of the ACAPI (and C++ 😉 ). Suddenly, ArchiCAD is telling me that the Add-on cannot be loaded. Checking in the Add-on manager, I see:

The file is either not an Add-On or an outdated one that cannot be used with this ArchiCAD version.

I haven't touched the resource files since it last worked, I have all of the required functions in place, and it compiles without error. The AddOnAdmin tool doesn't tell me anything useful, it just won't authenticate it.

I've had this happen before while I was getting started. I ditched that Add-On to get around it. That's not a good solution this time....

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 20:12:30 GMT

Ramblin wrote:
The AddOnAdmin tool doesn't tell me anything useful, it just won't authenticate it.

When you open AddOnAdmin, and load your compiled apx file under the Check tab ... what do you see? You should see a tree structure with green check marks in front of everything. Will it not even let you get that far (when you say "won't authenticate"?)

Karl

PS And, I assume you have only the 6.1 SDK installed?

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 20:33:24 GMT

Right, by won't authenticate,I mean it doesn't do/show anything. Generally, I would think this is because of a bad MDID combo, but I've been using them with no problem and just for kicks I started another project and used the same numbers- works fine. I *wish* it would tell me about what errors it encounters trying to load it.

Honestly, I can't think of what I did to change it. I even diffed with older versions. Nothing but function internals has changed AFAICT (can tell)- mostly stripping them out because I changed to a more modular architecture.

BTW, VS.NET 2003. I've been using the Add-On wizard to get them started.

I just wish I knew what ArchiCAD looks at when it loads to determine that it's not a valid, or outdated, Add-on.

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 20:38:31 GMT

Yes, only the 6.1 SDK

Thanks for taking even a few minutes to look at this. If nothing can be done, I imagine I can get around it by starting a new proj and moving my code, but this isn't the first time so I'd like to know what I'm doing wrong...

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Karl Ottenstein — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 05:03:55 GMT

Ramblin wrote:
Right, by won't authenticate,I mean it doesn't do/show anything. Generally, I would think this is because of a bad MDID combo,

No, even a bad MDID combo will show something in the AddOnManager app.

I just tried loading an 8.0 add-on in it, and it at least displays the path name of the add-on in grey and a message "DevKit Version: Undefined..."

So, just as a guess it seems that your file is not being recognized as an add-on at all, which suggests a linkage problem. The head scratcher is that you said you hadn't changed any of the build settings since starting off with the appwizard.

Try a full clean and rebuild if you haven't. The only glitch I ever had with the API build settings was with one dependence not being correct for a re-make, and a clean build at least got me a successful link.

Also, right-mouse/properties your apx file in Windows Explorer and check the version info. If you don't have a Version tab, then that also suggests a bad build...either from the grc or linker.

Sorry this is not much help. If you don't want to go through the myriad settings dialogs one by one, your idea of merging your files into a new appwizard project might be the easiest ... but since this has happened to you more than once, it would sure be good to figure out what the problem is! 😉

Karl

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Ralph Wessel — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 10:29:52 GMT

Ramblin wrote:
I've been working on an Add-on for AC9. Going fine, starting to get the hang of the ACAPI (and C++ 😉 ). Suddenly, ArchiCAD is telling me that the Add-on cannot be loaded. Checking in the Add-on manager, I see:
The file is either not an Add-On or an outdated one that cannot be used with this ArchiCAD version.

I recommend Karl's suggestion to do a clean and full rebuild. It may help to manually delete all the object files to ensure there are no left-overs. We have had this situation occur a few times, and this procedure fixed it in almost every case.

Otherwise, double-check that the resources for the MDID are actually linked into the finished build. Also, check the export lists for the project (refer to the Compilation and Linking Issues section in the devkit documentation if you need more info).

It's also worth making a debug build and setting breakpoints in the main entry points into your add-on, e.g. CheckEnvironment, RegisterInterface, Initialize, FreeData. See if these are called at all and - if they are - check that the initialisation is successful.

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Apr 2005 13:49:13 GMT

Well, at least it sounds like I've been checking the right things. I tried setting breakpoints on entry/exit points. I've cleaned and built, cleaned and rebuilt....no luck. I used /VERBOSE for the linker, but I still can't see where either project- the generic one that works or mine that doesn't- actually links to the grc/rc2 file that holds my MDID. I see it compile the localized/non-localized GRCs to GRC.RC2s without error, though.

There is no version tab on the broken apx.

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Andras Babos — Thu, 14 Apr 2005 19:08:16 GMT

Ramblin wrote:
There is no version tab on the broken apx.

Looks like somehow the version resource disappeared from your Add-On. Try creating a fresh Add-On with the wizard and copy the 'VERS' resource in the grc files into your original project.
Does this help?

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Fri, 15 Apr 2005 13:04:46 GMT

I went ahead and started a new project and added my code to that. It didn't take too long and it's working fine now.

I did pay attention to what I was changing in the resource files as I moved code. The only thing different in the *Fix.grc was that I changed the 1/1 MDID to my real one. In the other grc I added my menus. The VERS resource stayed the same.

The only thing I can think is something odd like Karl alluded to- that I did some operation that polluted it somehow- perhaps an unusual Rebuild setting- and maybe I missed something while cleaning the project.

I don't understand why the AddOnAdmin wouldn't tell me anything about the Add-On or the problems it encountered trying to check it. Anyone know what might cause this?

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Karl Ottenstein — Sun, 17 Apr 2005 01:13:08 GMT

Ramblin wrote:
I don't understand why the AddOnAdmin wouldn't tell me anything about the Add-On or the problems it encountered trying to check it. Anyone know what might cause this?

I assume that AddOnAdmin checks some basic info to make sure the file "looks" like an add-on. From what Andras said, perhaps this is the VERS info block. Just as Unix/Mac store 'magic numbers' to identify file types, I would guess that without the magic code, AddOnAdmin assumes the file is not an add-on and ignores it...

It's been so long that I can't remember how/where to do it, but there is some kind of option in VS to create an external makefile. If you find that, try creating makefiles for your old and new projects and doing a diff on them...?

Karl

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

stefan — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 07:57:55 GMT

I've had this happening with my first (and only) add-on and it was a combination of not using the correct MDID and not including some defines into the resource files.

However, with the 6.1 SDK I can compile an Appwizard add-on without problems, so the starting point is at least a fully valid plugin.

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Mon, 18 Apr 2005 13:25:26 GMT

Right. I got the same. The wizard worked fine, then I did something it didn't like.

It sounds reasonable enough that it could be an include file problem. I've been trying to feel my way around what is and isn't required, and where the required things should be #included.

Karl, I found in VS a wizard for creating makefile projects, but the description seems to indicate that you start with a makefile based project and create a VS project from it- not what you described. I can't seem to find an option for creating the makefile from an existing project.

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 13:04:33 GMT

I know this is an old thread now, but it seems the best place to talk about this...

I think in my original problem I had managed to hose a resource file somehow. So, I got around that but now I've got a similar problem with a new twist.

In the add-on management tool, my tool shows up exactly the way you said an 8.0 add-on does. The filename is grey and the only line in the verification says "DevKit Version: Undefined (Undefined release)". However, on my computer, the add-on works. On another systems, it also works. ArchiCAD loads the add-on with no complaints. On at least two other systems, however, the add-on will not load, and the add-on management tool in ArchiCAD gives the error message I mentioned in the original problem- that the add-on is outdated or for the wrong version.

I guess I'll try repointing to my ArchiCAD API and recompile, but I'm very puzzled at this point. Can it have anything to do with the presence or absence of external DLLs that the add-on makes use of?

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Andras Babos — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 17:21:37 GMT

What do you exactly mean by

Ramblin wrote:
presence or absence of external DLLs that the add-on makes use of?

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Aug 2005 17:42:34 GMT

So, to answer my own question....the problem was caused by me. I didn't include Oracle's OO4O dlls with the add-on. For some reason, ArchiCAD shows the error message mentioned "...outdated add-on..." and the Add-On management tool refuses to show add-on details.

I removed and then re-installed OO4O to check. When I removed the component, I got the errors; when I re-installed, it worked fine again.

So, package everything you need with the add-on or it will tell you the add-on is outdated.

I'll try to post this just once.

Re: Add-on suddenly stops working

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 20:12:14 GMT

Hi

I have a similar Problem with my Addon.

My Addon works without any Problem on my Machine
Running ArchiCAD 9 Build 2172 German

On an other Machine the Addon was not accepted by ArchiCAD
(outdated or incompatible Addon)

A former Version of this Addon works, but i miss the point when it starts making trouble because on my Machine everything runs well

I guess it has someting to do with the resources in the Addon Admintool
I check the working and the non Working addon and both are bringing up some Code 4 Errors in the GSDG branch, but why it works on the old Version, on my Machine with also the new Version and doesn't work on an other Machine.

So i'am still on this but maybe someone here has some suggestions

regards
Christopher

Thanks to Graphisoft Ungary the problem was solved
I use a Oracle Library in my Addon so that can only works on a machine with that DLL installed. I now will change that to a static linked library.

regards
Christopher