topic Where is Graphisoft? in Modeling

Where is Graphisoft?

Brett Brown — Sun, 09 Jul 2017 00:02:13 GMT

What really annoys me about the yearly new tools is that we have all these questions on them and now the new stair tool, by power users and god help the novice user, and not one response from Graphisoft.

Why can't one of the Graphisoft developers answer these questions? Think how much time would be saved by all users around the world when trying to use the new tools every year and making it more informative and not frustrating.

I appreciate the time Barry and other moderators spend in answering many questions but as seen in the new Stair tool thread even they can't answer some. Where's Graphisoft staff in this thread and others.

This lack of Graphisoft interaction has been a theme since Archicad was born.

This forum is the main teaching tool for new and existing users and for Graphisoft not to participate is detrimental to all users. Why is this?

Sort of a continuing trend where Graphisoft have no interest in ordinary users wishes. How long have we been asking for the simple thing of a Fill in the beam tool. Just imagine the hours wasted by users doing work arounds. Just not good enough.

Is this because they don't care about the individual user? Most large firms (which this software is mainly aimed at) have there own IT person who can answer there staffs questions, but the individual is left with there reseller who can take days for an answer and more importanly here.

And lets face it the answers here by the Power users are quicker and more to the point, and others users can see the answer and learn something. Also the forum is searchable. I would have thought Graphisoft would have been in here boots and all because that would help users better and of course sales as well.

I don't think it should be left only to the likes of Barry and others who I assume are donating there valuable time to help others.

Love to hear your opinions on Graphisoft's interaction with the average user base and there lack of representation here. I do acknowledge some minor Graphisoft interaction in the mainly technical areas but surely they are the ones who should be leading the teaching of the software especially here.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

DGSketcher — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 10:12:23 GMT

They do pop up on a regular basis when here are bugs or significant issues to address, but I can usually find answers not available on the forum at this excellent GS resource...

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/tips/

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Laszlo Nagy — Sat, 15 Jul 2017 13:22:52 GMT

Brett,

Since ARCHICAD-Talk's inception this is the way it worked.
GRAPHISOFT maintains the Forums but this is still a User Forum where users help other users. GRAPHISOFT never said they would be answering questions.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Brett Brown — Sun, 16 Jul 2017 08:19:52 GMT

Laszlonagy,

I do believe it is 2017 and its way over time for a change in Graphisofts whole outlook on communicating with users wouldn't you agree?

Prime example has been the stair and railing tools. From previous posts from you telling us that the development of these new tools take years to make and implement. So the video department have had that long to get tutorial videos out for the new tools on annoucement day. We are now 10 weeks after that date and still nothing on the railing tool or more comprehensive videos on the stair tool.

From a users point of view I think it has been appalling. This is the time to get new users to invest in the new version and existing users who aren't on a subscription to invest in the upgrade. The way this has been handled is not a good look and Cadimage's stair and railing tools are good enough for me.

I must congratulate Cadimage for there tools which have made Archicad a pleasure to use. There Coverings and Keynote tools should have been taken over and intergrated into Archicad years ago so that every user can experience there huge time saving abilities. Yet another poor decision by Graphisoft.

For such an advertised leader in Architectual software, I can't believe how poorly the company is run through all areas.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Bruce — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 01:24:24 GMT

...and their Door+Window builder: a fantastic tool

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Erwin Edel — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 08:15:23 GMT

I can't speak for other places, but in the Netherlands there is an upgrade course every year for the new release. It is free of charge for those on the yearly upgrade subscription and being offered by the reseller. There are multiple dates, two locations (which is plenty for a country as tiny as ours) and it is offered right around the release of our localisation.

The course generally takes an afternoon, ussually depending on how big an upgrade the new version is.

Personally I wait until after this course to take the plunge on the new versions and even then sometimes a bit longer if it is a very major update (like ArchiCAD 17 most recently) with a shift in how things work and behave.

This might not directly be Graphisoft, but it is their official reseller doing this.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Laszlo Nagy — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 10:36:33 GMT

Brett wrote:
Laszlonagy,

I do believe it is 2017 and its way over time for a change in Graphisofts whole outlook on communicating with users wouldn't you agree?

I don't know, this would mean GRAPHISOFT HQ is supposed to answer the questions of the 70000+ members of ARCHICAD-Talk? Or, if they answer some, why don't they answer the others? I would rather have them focus on the development of the program. Local resellers are supposed to support users, I think you too can contact your local reseller with questions.

Prime example has been the stair and railing tools. From previous posts from you telling us that the development of these new tools take years to make and implement. So the video department have had that long to get tutorial videos out for the new tools on annoucement day. We are now 10 weeks after that date and still nothing on the railing tool or more comprehensive videos on the stair tool.

These 2 things are not really related like that. Maybe they were developed for years, but even in the beta period, much user feedback was received from beta testers and even in the later phases of beta there were changes to these tools and their User Interface based on those feedbacks. Tutorials clips can be created only after all this is finished.

The following Stair clips are already on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLnXY6vLUwlWWIb70Jj3kq1o4dY9ZVuEWh

More are coming and Railing clips are also coming soon.

But Brett, until then, if you have any concrete questions about the Stair or Railing Tool, please ask and I will try to answer it if I can.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Laszlo Nagy — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 12:27:28 GMT

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Brett Brown — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 01:54:28 GMT

Laszo,

You are missing the point. The thread is about Graphisofts handling of the Announcement etc of the new version and the explanations of how the new tools work and the time it has taken to publish tutorial videos.

Its not about me or resellers and I know 99% of users here are intelligent enough to find published content on there own. Its about the lack of published content and communication we are talking about.

When a new version of any software is released, Company's can't wait to explain how it works to there existing and potential new clients. Except one Graphisoft.

There is no reason why in the first few weeks of release Graphisoft staff should have been answering questions especially as they knew how long it would be to publishing tutorial Videos.

When I invest in the best software I expect the best support. Graphisoft is sadly wanting in this area as explained.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Laszlo Nagy — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 09:18:37 GMT

Ok, the original post was about GRAPHISOFT's participation on this forum.
But I understand the point you are making.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Erwin Edel — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 10:08:37 GMT

I suppose I am 'lucky' in the sense that localisation generally pushes back our new release a month or two after the INT (and other major) releases. All the videos popping up for me are teaser previews of what is to come, I do the upgrade course around our release and if I want to, can be productive with the new tools/changes fairly quick.

As said, I do not tend to jump right in with existing projects, unless the upgrade allows for a very smooth transition.

This isn't allways a problem anyway, some version have been rocksolid and I've been working on version side to side before. That said, the transition from 18>19>20 has been very smooth and right now I am only working in 20.

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 15:12:38 GMT

Brett, get real, do you call BMW factory if you have problem with driving? Or do you expect their broschyres to solve your daily routings. No, you go to driving School and use GPS .

To my opinion professionals should not use chat or even YouTube as main learning channels, hobbyists do.

In Finland the independent GS distributor trains hundreds of users in new features and basic courses yearly. There is also public free roadshow going throug country, annually. Only few of Finnish 3400 ArchiCAD users even have account in this Forum. Yes, we do have internet, but trainings is just still much more effective...

This forum is for transparent peer to peer support, which aside shows users challenges to GS. I do believe developers shoud listen to Feedback from here, but leave training for professionals. In Finland the distributor collects and sends bugreports and feedbacks, as part of the maintenance agreement service (SSA).
Graphisoft is where they should be, developing the software... And the car Price, NOR maintenance fee, include driving lessons.
Best regards,
Ville
(20 years of ArchiCAD training experience)

Re: Where is Graphisoft?

Erwin Edel — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 09:26:45 GMT

I will say that the times I have looked up YouTube clips on Cinerender (for example), I find that they serve a nice purpose for highlighting some small feature in more detail. Same goes for morph tool vids back in the day.

Sometimes it is a bit too much of "we'll just increase the luminance channel by 4.65" and I'm thinking "Of course, makes sense, 4.75 would've been wrong", but for the most part they serve their purpose for going in some extra depth.

The reseller course is great for getting your feet wet with the new tools. Our reseller also offers their own written support articles on more in depth procedures.

The help documentation itself is very in depth too and PDF allows for quick searching keywords.