topic Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC! in Modeling

Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 07:25:36 GMT

My message of yesterday disappeared ...
Is it unallowed to speak about it?

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Barry Kelly — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 08:45:26 GMT

I just checked and your message was indeed deleted.
But that was because it was not in English and as this is an English speaking forum it was deleted.
Feel free to post it again in English.

Barry.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jul 2014 10:46:54 GMT

Since the first Archicad for PC, there is a very easier way to choose, or change, the layer of a component: a vertical cursor on the right of the list of layers.
In one click you go from the beginning of the list to its end, instantly.

With Archicad for Mac, this cursor is still missing: when you have to change the layer of a wall (for exemple), you have to scroll all the layers with the mouse wheel or with the arrows on top and bottom of the layers window.

If you have many layers, it takes a LONG time!

PC users save a lot of time.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Laszlo Nagy — Fri, 25 Jul 2014 21:42:35 GMT

I might be wrong but I suspect that this is a operating system-specific thing. If this is how every such list in every Mac program works, then it is a system function and all programs use what the system offers them.

There are various interface differences like this between the two platforms. For example, docking on Windows works differently from docking on the Mac.
Or the minimize, maximize and close buttons for windows are at different places on the two platforms. Or you can resize Windows differently on the two platforms.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 01:43:24 GMT

LUTHRINGER wrote:
If you have many layers, it takes a LONG time!

PC users save a lot of time.

And this one thing - lack of a scroll bar - makes you feel that the Mac version is "far behind" the PC version?

I don't have a lot of layers, so this has never bothered me - I have a fast-spin mouse wheel, so its faster than dragging a scroll bar. But, we each have things we like or dislike.

There are lots of things Mac users have that Windows users do not have ... and so I would argue that Mac users save a ton of time over PC users overall. One of the biggest time savers is that for all lists on Mac - layers, surfaces, etc - as soon as you start typing a few letters of what you're looking for, then ONLY the items in the list that match are highlighted. So, with a big list of surfaces, you type "waln" ... or "wood"... and immediately can find the Walnut material or all Wood materials.

Also, Windows is getting closer, but does not have anything as powerful as Expose on the Mac for revealing windows when multiple ones are open by app, or system wide, or across virtual desktops. In Windows, you cannot drag a folder/file from a File Explorer window into a file Open or Save dialog to 'jump to that folder. You have to navigate from scratch. But Mac Finder lets you do that and more.

Just a couple of examples. Mac users save a lot of time compared to PC users. 😉

Far behind? Maybe just 'different' is the right description.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Markus Denzlinger — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 13:33:47 GMT

Using the Shortcut fn - arrow key down or fn - arrow key up brings Mac users to the bottom or the top in any dialog.

regards

Markus

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Karl Ottenstein — Sat, 26 Jul 2014 18:06:05 GMT

Markus wrote:
Using the Shortcut fn - arrow key down or fn - arrow key up brings Mac users to the bottom or the top in any dialog.

Fantastic. Thanks! I see that fn+left/right arrow is also useful in the multi-column list of surfaces, etc. Great to learn this, Markus. Appreciate it!

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 11:14:19 GMT

Strange how Mac users can't ear any critique about Apple, and inversely PC users can't ear any critique about Windows!
PC users dont know what they miss.
Mac users dont know what they miss too.
The fn+arrow key is a good tip...unfortunately the fn key is not on every Apple keyboard!
You go instantly to the beginning or the end of the list and you must have super eyes to catch the right layer during the move.
You can have to manage more than 100 layers, when you get .dwg from outside.
The vertical cursor is very welcome then.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Eduardo Rolon — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:13:28 GMT

Just to clear something up. All Apple keyboards have the "Fn" key.

The problem is not the critique, the problem usually is the sweeping statements indicating that "X" does not work or is inferior because I do things in "Y" way.

One of the things that is nice with Mac is the ability to see all your open AC windows with a gesture and click on the one you want.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Eduardo Rolon — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:17:36 GMT

Also though Mac OS does not show them by default you have the equivalent of the scroll arrows on it. Once the grey bar appears you can grab it and move it or just click on the top or bottom to move one "page" at a time or "Option+Click" at top or bottom to jump to the beginning or end.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Eduardo Rolon — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:22:18 GMT

and if you want you can turn them on "Always".

So in conclusion Archicad is not behind Archicad PC it is way ahead

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Barry Kelly — Tue, 29 Jul 2014 13:54:22 GMT

ejrolon wrote:
So in conclusion Archicad is not behind Archicad PC it is way ahead

Except for the palette docking - I hear that is not as good as PC.

Barry.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Stress Co_ — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 02:48:40 GMT

LUTHRINGER wrote:
If you have many layers, it takes a LONG time!

You could turn on the "Hide Locked Layers in pop-up palettes".

EDIT:
You may want to read THIS post, concerning the use of Hiding Locked Layers.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

DGSketcher — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:40:56 GMT

ejrolon wrote:
One of the things that is nice with Mac is the ability to see all your open AC windows with a gesture and click on the one you want.

Oooh that looks handy!! I'm quite new to the MAC how do you do that Eduardo?

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Eduardo Rolon — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:43:08 GMT

Go to System Preferences -> Mission Control

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Eduardo Rolon — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:45:06 GMT

Open "Hot Corners" and assign the following…

The result is that when I move the mouse to the top right corner while pressing the command key it will show all the windows of the active application.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

DGSketcher — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 16:53:28 GMT

ejrolon wrote:
Open "Hot Corners" and assign the following…

Thank you! I can see me using that for a few apps

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Anonymous — Wed, 30 Jul 2014 18:20:44 GMT

Getting off subject but....

I grew up on PC's and only started using Mac's in my professional career. I still have PC's at home, and use Mac at the office. I now have a high preference for Mac's for a number of reasons.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Anonymous — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 06:57:06 GMT

Showing the Option layers window, Rolon did not understand the problem.
The problem is with the others option windows (wall, slab, roof, .....)

Another says: If you have too many layers, hide them....But I have to work with them, when hidden I can't!

Generally speaking, denying problems is not a way to make Archicad progress.

The vertical cursor on PC is a good thing.
The vertical cursor would be a good thing on Mac too.

Re: Archicad Mac still far behind ArchiCad PC!

Eduardo Rolon — Fri, 01 Aug 2014 11:44:30 GMT

Luth…,

I think I understand now what you mean and in my work flow that is not a problem. For all my tools, I have organized the layers by groups and so I don't need to scroll thru a long list of them. Therefore this is not a situation for me using AC in windows or mac (which I do since I teach the program at the local University).

For BMats and Surfaces I still have not gotten around to organize them and I use Karl's trick of typing the first letters to highlight them.