topic Re: backsaving...a real convenience... in Collaboration with other software

backsaving...a real convenience...

Anonymous — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 09:23:58 GMT

hi...
i would like to ask if there's any way i could save the file from AC12 to AC 10...?
i've done all of my drawings on AC10, when i installed the new version (AC12) it seems to be it becomes the defalut program for opening .pln files...and when i save the drawings on AC12, it does'nt open on AC10?...

i hope archicad has a backsaving mechanism...

Re: backsaving...a real convenience...

David Maudlin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 13:03:34 GMT

Michael:

You will need to Save As... the 12 file to 11, then the 11 file to 10 (ArchiCAD saves back only one version). Earlier versions can never open later version files, and earlier versions cannot use later version libraries.

You should add a Signature to your Profile (click the Profile button near the top of this page) with your ArchiCAD version and operating system (see mine for an example) for more accurate help in this forum.

David

Re: backsaving...a real convenience...

Richard Morrison — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:05:03 GMT

David wrote:
(ArchiCAD saves back only one version).

This wasn't always the case, though. AC9 saved back to 6.0, and all the versions in between. Guess that was back in the "good old days."

Re: backsaving...a real convenience...

Anonymous — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 08:10:12 GMT

we need to be able to save backwards at least say to version 10 where plotmaker and archicad were merged to one window.

P. Omondi

Re: backsaving...a real convenience...

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 18:05:08 GMT

The read/write options for each version of ArchiCAD are given here:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/ArchiCAD%20versions

There are several threads on this same topic already, including some wishes such as this one:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=25402

It is a big challenge (time=money) for GS to provide wide compatibility options. Personally, I would rather they continue to invest their efforts on bug fixing and new features. But, they might make older versions more easily available somewhere for download to assist in the conversion process - or provide them as a courtesy on the distribution DVD.

Cheers,
Karl

Re: backsaving...a real convenience...

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 08:50:01 GMT

Hi Karl,
Are you part of graphisoft team? how sure are you that it is a challenge to them providing a save facility to earlier versions?
They have always done it, i think they have just turned their head the other side to the fact that users have reasons for saving back to earlier versions.
Why cant Graphisoft post it as an add on.
Cheers all!!

Re: backsaving...a real convenience...

Karl Ottenstein — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 17:57:27 GMT

Paul wrote:
Hi Karl,
Are you part of graphisoft team? how sure are you that it is a challenge to them providing a save facility to earlier versions?
They have always done it, i think they have just turned their head the other side to the fact that users have reasons for saving back to earlier versions.
Why cant Graphisoft post it as an add on.
Cheers all!!

No, I'm not part of Graphisoft nor compensated by them, but from time to time they make me feel part of their team...

They are not turning their heads on the problem; their solution just does not match what you think it should be.

It is challenging and costly. Each version of ArchiCAD has changes not only to the way information is stored in the project file, but also in the internal programming interfaces that access the model. The 'save' routine from an old version of AC cannot simply be lifted into a new version. It would be many person-hours of programming to incorporate this stuff - both to update the code for the new API, but also to add all of the code that deletes new features in the current version file.

Like any company, GS has to prioritize their efforts. GS does offer a method, but it requires that one have 'leapfrog' versions installed on one's system...for going in either direction in the conversion process.

Personally, I think they have their priorities right on this one.

Respectfully,
Karl