topic Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab in BIMx

Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

rob2218 — Tue, 09 May 2023 12:53:55 GMT

why are there so many flavors?
see attached as to when to use which one.

Also...if my clients have BIMx and I have migrated to the BIMx Lab, then their files (BIMx files) are all of a sudden outdated...and they can't open them?

Again...why?

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Richard Morrison — Sat, 14 Mar 2020 17:42:42 GMT

To start: https://bimx.archicad.com/en/#compare-apps

BIMx web viewer is essentially the BIMx app on the Web so your client only needs a link rather than downloading and installing the app. The web viewer is platform independent. Either is free.

BIMx Pro just adds some features to the BIMx app, like measuring and printing, and you pay extra for those features.

BIMx Labs is an experimental version of BIMx that can handle the visualization of much larger projects by restricting the generation to only what you are looking at. You probably don't need this one.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

rob2218 — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 03:07:34 GMT

BIMx Lab has a more “refined” beautiful appearance.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Minh Nguyen — Sat, 21 Mar 2020 14:45:06 GMT

Hi Rob,

Thank you for sharing your experience!

As Richard has mentioned (thank you very much, Richard!), the BIMx PRO is a paid version that has certain extra features comparing to the normal BIMx app, which is free. The problem is, both apps are still running based on an old engine with some limitations.

BIMx is under a transition period. The BIMx Lab, which is currently available on iOS, is re-written based on a new rendering engine that supports larger models, and especially has every feature that the BIMx PRO has. If your client is having an iOS device, I highly recommend using this version since its new 3D engine is capable of opening much more complex models on mobile devices.

Later on this year the BIMx Lab will replace the regular BIMx app. We're very sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding!

Have a great weekend, and stay safe!

Best regards,
Minh

P/s: You can read more about BIMx Lab here

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

rob2218 — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 18:44:41 GMT

I hope someone at GS can straighten all this BIMX, BIMX Labs, BIMx Pro stuff out...seriously.

GS, don't let this get out of control like the layer-combination fiasco from version to version....please.

I love the BIMx product line.
I think "THIS" is the next-gen client presentation tool to be used...so get it right this time...please GS.

I'm also very impressed with the graphic quality of the model in an ipad pro for example as you move around the model.......it's stunning...keep it up the good work GS but please........please, get your BIMx line in control.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Stress Co_ — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:22:39 GMT

I want to know WHY, when I'm in BIMx Pro, and I try to import
a model from the BIMx transfer site... it only prompts me to open in BIMx Lab??

Edit: Using iPad Pro, iOS 13.3.1

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Laszlo Nagy — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 12:37:38 GMT

It may be because BIMx Lab was the last installed version and so it associated itself with the BIMx file format. So, when you click the file link, it opens with BIMx Lab. Your operating system should let you modify these file associations, so it opens with BIMx PRO.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Minh Nguyen — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 13:36:16 GMT

Hi Marc,

From my experience with iOS and using BIMx, I assume you open BIMx Pro, and add the model via the model transfer site? From the screenshot, it looks like the site is open in Safari. Due to the restriction of iOS, it seems like once BIMx Lab is installed, iOS will set it as the default application to open BIMx file. I haven't found a way to bypass this restriction and set BIMx Pro to be the default application to open the file with.

There is a way to get around this issue, which is to download the BIMx file directly to your iPad. It's a bit tricky to do so, but it's not impossible:
- First, press and hold the blue "Download model" button, until it "floats" on the screen. While holding the finger on the screen, drag and drop the link to a text editor or a note-taking app (I use OneNote in this case)
- Edit "bimxapplication" to "https"

- Copy and paste the link into a web browser. The bimx file will be downloaded and stored on iPad (it can be found in the Files app)
- Now you can click the file and open it with either BIMx Pro or BIMx Lab.

But my suggestion is, if you prefer to work with BIMx Pro and use it frequently, I suggest removing BIMx Lab to make sure the default application to open bimx files is BIMx Pro. But maybe you'll want to give BIMx Lab a try !

I hope with will help you with the issue!

Have a nice day, and stay safe!

Best regards,
Minh

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

rob2218 — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 15:04:55 GMT

Holy CR*&P!
Such gymnastics to see a BIMx model.
...this is why clients shy away from this wonderful, potential game-changing tool.....it's freakin' too complex to make it work.

I have a client who keeps calling me and asking "Can you help me re-establish the BIMx on my ipad? Seems that it doesn't work anymore"..................hubboy. There's no amount of excuse I can give him that will make ME feel comfortable except..."Sorry, upgrades and (ahem) NEW improvements by the developers........once again, sorry"...........

Guys (GS) you gotta stop.
I'm fully aware of "improvemets"...but for Pete's sake.....stick to a format and hone it. Please.
No BIMx Pro, BIMx Labs, BIMx....sheesh..please.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Stress Co_ — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 06:07:18 GMT

mnguyen wrote:
But my suggestion is, if you prefer to work with BIMx Pro and use it frequently, I suggest removing BIMx Lab to make sure the default application to open bimx files is BIMx Pro. But maybe you'll want to give BIMx Lab a try

Hi Minh:
Thanks for that (and for your frequent posts on these boards).
Yes. I am using safari on the iPad.
I guess it's similar to opening .pln files on my desktop, always defaulting to the latest installed version of Archicad.

I actually prefer using Bimxlab, but have been awaiting a final version before I delete BimXpro & BIMx.
I've found it easier (except for when I share the file with clients or contractors) to save the BIMx file to a local folder and then airdrop it to my iPAD.
Much faster than waiting for it to upload to the transfer site.

Hope you and yours are staying healthy
Cheers,
Marc

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Minh Nguyen — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 08:31:59 GMT

Stress wrote:
Hi Minh:
Thanks for that (and for your frequent posts on these boards).
Yes. I am using safari on the iPad.
I guess it's similar to opening .pln files on my desktop, always defaulting to the latest installed version of Archicad.

I actually prefer using Bimxlab, but have been awaiting a final version before I delete BimXpro & BIMx.
I've found it easier (except for when I share the file with clients or contractors) to save the BIMx file to a local folder and then airdrop it to my iPAD.
Much faster than waiting for it to upload to the transfer site.

Hope you and yours are staying healthy
Cheers,
Marc

Hi Marc,

Thank you very much for your kind word!

On PC/Mac, it is more flexible to select an application to open a file with, or at least we have an option to do so. On iOS, it’s very difficult to alter the OS behavior, unfortunately! The “workaround” I made above is simply for the situation where you are out in the field and have no access to a computer to send the file to your iPad. This is one of the few things I don’t like about iOS, but it’s just so convenient pairing it with Mac!

I wish you all the best, and hope that the current situation will get better soon to everyone around the world!

Best regards,
Minh

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

rob2218 — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 16:59:01 GMT

BIMxLabs has a much more, nicer, well made, textures when the BIMx model comes in......so....I think GS should keep and continue to improve the BIMxLab platform.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Barry Kelly — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 00:18:16 GMT

rob2218 wrote:
BIMxLabs has a much more, nicer, well made, textures when the BIMx model comes in......so....I think GS should keep and continue to improve the BIMxLab platform.

That is exactly what Minh said would happen.

mnguyen wrote:
Hi Rob,
……..
Later on this year the BIMx Lab will replace the regular BIMx app. We're very sorry for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding!
…….
Best regards,
Minh

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

rob2218 — Fri, 03 Apr 2020 14:32:27 GMT

Can't wait to use the better performing BIMxLabs as my standard platform.

thanks GS for creating this terrific presentation tool. Some of my more 'savvy' clients take to this like fish to water and they love it.....especially the VR settings as well.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Stress Co_ — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 16:34:25 GMT

mnguyen wrote:
Later on this year the BIMx Lab will replace the regular BIMx app.

So with the release of the "NEW" BIMx update.... we can delete BIMx lab, yeah?
BIMx Pro??

I'm on the BIMx Pro trial and disappointed to see that the "⭐️" to add to favorites functionality is gone.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Rex Maximilian — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:04:50 GMT

I am completely underwhelmed and disappointed with the new BIMx mobile app. It has a pretty new icon, and... and... and... ummm... well, that's about it.

The surfaces rendered with global illumination in the previous BIMx and BIMx Pro were much better. They seem flat in the new BIMx.

A few items seem to have been deleted:
1) The ability to view a model in parallel projection. You know, where you save a 3D view from ArchiCAD in the BIMx publisher as an "axon" view.
2) The ability to have any other background other than the skybox. I saved a model out with the gradient choice in the options setting, yet it has the sky behind the model in BIMx.
3) ...And this is a biggie for me. They have taken away the ability to view in 3D stereo. This was a widely appreciated feature with my clients. I purchased 50 red/blue 3D glasses from Amazon, just to hand out to my clients to view our projects in 3D stereo. Now what?

Just this past Monday, I distributed glasses to clients for a project and proudly explained how they could walk around the model in 3D while using BIMx. Now, when they go to download BIMx from the App Store, it will no longer have this feature.

Why take AWAY features?

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Rex Maximilian — Thu, 09 Jul 2020 18:07:00 GMT

Stress wrote:

mnguyen wrote:
Later on this year the BIMx Lab will replace the regular BIMx app.
So with the release of the "NEW" BIMx update.... we can delete BIMx lab, yeah?
BIMx Pro??

I'm on the BIMx Pro trial and disappointed to see that the "⭐️" to add to favorites functionality is gone.

Honestly, I would not. It is pretty bad. See my commentary above. Keep it as long as you can. Unfortunately, and clients that you want to share with will be forced to download the new BIMx.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Stress Co_ — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 05:23:02 GMT

As far as I can tell, the updated BIMx is identical/replacement to BIMXLab.

What I can't discern is the difference between BIMx & BIMx Pro.
I'm registered as a pro trial user, but what's different?

Hard to tell when it not, as before, two separate apps.

Rex:
Have you tried using Cardboard VR (on a phone)?
Better (I think) than Stereo 3D, but it can make some
people dizzy (me). Google cardboard viewers are pretty cheap.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Barry Kelly — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 06:05:25 GMT

Stress wrote:
What I can't discern is the difference between BIMx & BIMx Pro.
I'm registered as a pro trial user, but what's different?

After a bit of searching I found this.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/knowledgebase/25712/

Barry.

Re: Why GS...WHY torture me like this? BIMx BIMXPro and BIMXlab

Stress Co_ — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 06:23:45 GMT

Thanks for that Barry.
To clarify, with only one app running (BIMx).
I can't tell what's different, as I can only assume it's the pro version.
BIMx Pro is listed as a current subscription on my Apple account.

Like, does the BIMx app magically become BIMx Pro with the subscription??
I could tell prior as it was two separate apps.
Hopefully that makes sense.

I found this also:
https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/knowledgebase/75565/
And from the apple app store: