topic 3ds in Collaboration with other software

3DS Import

stefan — Mon, 19 Jan 2004 07:45:27 GMT

I used to be able to import OBJ-files into ArchiCAD with surface smoothing intact.

http://www2.asro.kuleuven.ac.be/asro/English/HOME/SBs/tutorial/tips/viz2ac.htm
(Explained with 3DStudio VIZr3, but this will work in Maya as well, since Alias|Wavefront was the inventor of the OBJ-format).

AFAIK, ArchiCAD 8.x doesn't read OBJ-files anymore

Another solution, slightly worse, but better then DXF for that matter is importing it as a 3ds-file (Maya should be able to do that, you might need to download some translator-plugins, though).

This 3ds-import was once mailed to me by some German ArchiCAD user and I can send the full plugin to you if you want (it was free, so I don't think I break any copyrights here).

Re: Translator bug in 8.1?

Anonymous — Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:38:25 GMT

Thanx for the link but for some reason archicad doesn't like the plugin, quote "The file is an outdated Add-on that cannot be used with this Archicad virsion" possibly this plugin was for 7 and not compatible with 8?

Re: Translator bug in 8.1?

stefan — Tue, 20 Jan 2004 15:56:57 GMT

I also have a version for ArchiCAD 7

(The 8-version might be for 8.0 and thus not compatible with 8.1?)

Re: Translator bug in 8.1?

Djordje — Tue, 20 Jan 2004 18:11:14 GMT

stefan wrote:
(The 8-version might be for 8.0 and thus not compatible with 8.1?)

Yep, that is the case. Regretfully.

This import API should be standard!!!!!

3ds

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 21:52:35 GMT

How could one import 3ds in Archicad

Re: 3ds - OK I found the answer

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 22:30:28 GMT

for 7

Re: 3ds

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 22:32:06 GMT

what do you mean "for 7" ?

Re: 3ds

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 23:04:36 GMT

for AC7

Re: 3ds

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 23:05:49 GMT

http://www.graphisoft.com/community/archicad-talk/viewtopic.php?p=6647

Re: Translator bug in 8.1?

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 01:40:01 GMT

please help me out!
I am a new learner for ArchiCAD.
I downlard the folder that you attach, but I still don't know how to use. :oops: Do I just import into the library manager? then I can use .3ds object?

Re: 3ds

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 01:43:16 GMT

thank you! but I still don't know how to import .3ds or .dwg file into ArchiCAD. could you teach me step by step?
Thank you

Re: Translator bug in 8.1?

stefan — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 09:07:52 GMT

Put the Add-on (3ds_in.apx file) into:
C:\Program Files\ArchiCAD\Add-Ons\ (or something similar)

It will be loaded when booting ArchiCAD. I don't remember the exact procedure anymore, since it doesn't work on my version 8.1 ...

From the help file:
Suchen Sie nach dem Befehl "3ds zum GDL Objekt..." unter dem Menü "Extras".

Search for the command "3ds zum GDL Objekt..." underneath the Extras-menu.
It'll turn a 3DS-file into a GDL-object.

Re: 3DS Import

Bricklyne Clarence — Wed, 12 May 2004 21:35:28 GMT

Stefan,

None of those plugins work at all with either AC v7 or 8. It says that they are outdated ot not meant for that specific version of ArchiCAD. Perhaps you might ask your german friend about a bug free copy.

Re: 3DS Import

stefan — Thu, 13 May 2004 07:54:18 GMT

Bricklyne wrote:
Stefan,

None of those plugins work at all with either AC v7 or 8. It says that they are outdated ot not meant for that specific version of ArchiCAD. Perhaps you might ask your german friend about a bug free copy.

I don't have 7.0 and don't use 8.0 anymore, so I can't help you. The plugins are not compatible when the API (the plugin programming part) changes between versions.
For what it's worth, if you need it so bad, try to install an older ArchiCAD version and do the conversion there. Different ArchiCAD versions can exist on the same computer without too much trouble.

Re: 3DS Import

Bricklyne Clarence — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:12:26 GMT

You completely misunderstood me,

What I had meant to convey to you was the fact that the plugins do not work when used with ArchiCAD version 8.0 (for the v8 one) nor with version 7.0 (for the v7 one) . I have all three versions of ArchiCAD installed in my computer (from v7-8.1). I never tried to use them with v8.1 because I already knew that they wouldn't work!!
I was also not trying to place the blame for ArchiCAD's lack of API retro-compatibility on you. I was merely responding to the fact that you repeatedly kept touting those plugins as a solution to importing 3ds objects into ArchiCAD when it seems from your recent posts that you do not even have any idea if they work at all. You said that you only have version 8.1 of ArchiCAD and so couldn't verify if they worked with the previous versions.

you said:

"I don't have 7.0 and don't use 8.0 anymore, so I can't help you. The plugins are not compatible when the API (the plugin programming part) changes between versions."

As I said I was merely clarifying the fact that they don't work, and as such it might not be helpful to others to keep mentioning it as a solution. I hope it is clearer this time

As for myself I already achieved what I needed to through Zoom GDL conversion.

Re: 3DS Import

stefan — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:16:47 GMT

FWIW, I have used them in the past (on 8.0), so I know that they work, if you use them in the right ArchiCAD version. I never tried the 7.0 version, but others on this list did.

Re: 3DS Import

Djordje — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:28:08 GMT

Bricklyne wrote:
What I had meant to convey to you was the fact that the plugins do not work when used with ArchiCAD version 8.0 (for the v8 one) nor with version 7.0 (for the v7 one) . I have all three versions of ArchiCAD installed in my computer (from v7-8.1). I never tried to use them with v8.1 because I already knew that they wouldn't work!!

Hmmm ... could it be the version? US vs Int vs Ger vs Can vs Whatever?

Don't shoot the messenger

Re: 3DS Import

Bricklyne Clarence — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:31:42 GMT

I used the right ArchiCAD version in both cases and I do know what Im talking about despite your implications to the contrary. Besides which I'm not the only person that had problems with them.

keithg wrote:
Thanx for the link but for some reason archicad doesn't like the plugin, quote "The file is an outdated Add-on that cannot be used with this Archicad virsion" possibly this plugin was for 7 and not compatible with 8?

This was after he downloaded the v8 llugin with his v8 ArchiCAD and before you posted the v7 plugin as well. So it was not a version compatibility problem with him either. FYI I got the same message in both versions of ArchiCAD, 7 and 8 with their respective plugin versions. I believe there is yet another person in the forum who also reported the same, although I can't seem to find their post or recal their name at the moment. So it's not just me!

If they worked for you then I don't know under what conditions that may have been in.

In any case as I mentioned before it is a moot point for me because I already have the solution I needed. I was merely pointing it out for the benefit of others. If you are still so convinced about it why not check with a third party who might still have ArchiCAD version 7 or 8, since you perpetually seem to believe and imply that I dont know what I'm doing.

Re: 3DS Import

Bricklyne Clarence — Thu, 13 May 2004 09:35:40 GMT

Djordje wrote:
Bricklyne wrote:
What I had meant to convey to you was the fact that the plugins do not work when used with ArchiCAD version 8.0 (for the v8 one) nor with version 7.0 (for the v7 one) . I have all three versions of ArchiCAD installed in my computer (from v7-8.1). I never tried to use them with v8.1 because I already knew that they wouldn't work!!
Hmmm ... could it be the version? US vs Int vs Ger vs Can vs Whatever?

Don't shoot the messenger

Now that's a real possibility!! Something we (or at least I) never thought about. Good thinking Djorde!!!

Perhaps you might also want to let Stefan in on that last line.

Re: 3DS Import

stefan — Thu, 13 May 2004 11:42:29 GMT

Bricklyne wrote:
Djordje wrote:
Don't shoot the messenger
Now that's a real possibility!! Something we (or at least I) never thought about. Good thinking Djorde!!!
Perhaps you might also want to let Stefan in on that last line.

I don't like the tone this discussion is getting...