topic 3D model not visible in Project data & BIM

3D model not visible

Carstenem — Wed, 05 Feb 2025 13:39:07 GMT

Hi all

you always come across something new even after all these years !

Got an AC file from a client as .pla version 20. It opens fine in AC 21. I did not extract the library from archive. Floor plans look good it's all there. 3D view is not showing any elements. All layers on. I do get some error messages but nothing major. The model is there ( took a while for the 3D window to come which made me think there has to be something) because I did a select all in the 3D window, then opened edit selection set tool box, see image.

Did all the usual like zoom fit window, played with open GL settings in 3D styles window, changed to vectorial engine, etc.

I did export the model to Max and it's pretty much all there and looking good, ha ! Obviously we can't change anything in 3D which is a pain.

Anybody has an Idea what could be wrong with this file and why it is not visible in the 3D window ?

Cheers Carsten

Re: 3D model not visible

Barry Kelly — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 07:16:12 GMT

So you can select elements in 3D but can't see them?

If changing to the vectorial engine does work then I would say it is not an OpenGL problem.
I was thinking it is the 3D filter, but if that was the case then you wouldn't be able to select the elements either.

The only other thing I can think of is if there is a large element that is involved in a Solid Element Operation with all the other elements.
This won't affect the plan but it will the 3D.

Barry.

Re: 3D model not visible

Carstenem — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 08:48:00 GMT

Thanks Barry,

Yes I even tried drawing my own wall, select it but even this wall did not show in the 3D view. Further more I did a new file with current settings, so using the clients file setting. Even in the empty file if I draw a wall it will not show up in 3D view, which is extremely strange and I have not seen this before, using ARCHICAD for now almost 30 years. I like to add on, when I try to draw a marquee tool in the 3D window or I draw a rectangle with the arrow tool, you usually get visual feedback of the frame you about to draw. Not in this 3D view, the frames don't show either while being drawn.

Interesting in regards to the large SEO, that is a possibility but as mentioned above in the new file it still is not working. It looks like when I click on the roads on the terrain they have used a SEO. Will check this out never then less tomorrow first thing, I might get lucky!

BTW the 3D Studio Max render looks fine, so apart from not seeing the 3D model it sure is there .

Carsten

Re: 3D model not visible

Barry Kelly — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 09:29:30 GMT

This sounds like a job for Graphisoft Support.
You are not the first person to say this has happened, so if you ever find the cause, please let us know.

Barry.

Re: 3D model not visible

Carstenem — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 21:25:17 GMT

As the client obviously has no problems it must have to do with the save as .pla. Something goes wrong there , he probably is using some plugins which could cause problems when saving an Archive.

I did a new & reset all, then merged the project into that new file. Now it works fine in 3D and all looks correct

Cheers Carsten

Re: 3D model not visible

Barry Kelly — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 00:58:22 GMT

Thanks for getting back to us with a solution.

Maybe the 'Open & Repair' option might work.
I always forget about that myself.
Had a file a couple of weeks ago where the walls were not trimming properly in the corners.
This fixed it.

Barry.

Re: 3D model not visible

Laszlo Nagy — Thu, 14 Feb 2019 22:23:34 GMT

If you still want to find out why those element were not visible, here is a list of things to check:

https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=235941#p235941

Re: 3D model not visible

Barry Kelly — Fri, 15 Feb 2019 00:32:12 GMT

LaszloNagy wrote:
If you still want to find out why those element were not visible, here is a list of things to check:

https://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=235941#p235941

I particularly like this one.

Someone who worked with the file had marked some walls (with the mark-UP tool) and his comments were hidden. This made the elements invisible!

It is not something I would have thought of to check.

Barry.

Re: 3D model not visible

Carstenem — Thu, 28 Feb 2019 03:25:06 GMT

Thanks Laszlo and Barry

as absolute no element was visible at all in 3D, there had to be something wrong when coming from a MAC to a PC, or while saving out. It's strange but the only explanation. Don't forget the client had no problems at all viewing the elements in 3D.

Unfortunately got no more time to spend on it too busy !

Cheers Carsten