topic Re: ArchiCAD Viewer in Modeling

ArchiCAD Viewer

Chadwick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 19:48:25 GMT

I used to work for a firm that used ArchiCAD and can no longer view some files that I used ArchiCAD to create (because I no longer have access to it). Although I do remember at the time you could install ArchiCAD on an unlimited number of computers to view or use - you just couldn't save your progress unless you had the USB key. This was one of the cool perks with ArchiCAD because you could essentially 'give' it to a client to view their model without them having to purchase a license.

Is this still possible? And how would I go about getting a 'viewer' copy so that I could view my lingering files?

Thanks!

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:27:09 GMT

Every ArchiCAD installation version 10 or 11 will automaticly open in demo mode to view files, unless you have the USB dongle plugged in. You won't be able to save, print, ...

No special AC Viewer involved

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

David Pacifico — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 20:46:34 GMT

This a link to the Educational version (Free)
https://eduregistration.graphisoft.com/

The installer will give you a choice to install the pro version. The you can use it as a viewer. Don't use the educational version as a viewer, becuase if you save it you won't be able to use it in the pro version.

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

Chadwick — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 21:34:19 GMT

Thanks guys - I appreciate the help.

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

stefan — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 10:53:00 GMT

David wrote:
This a link to the Educational version (Free)
https://eduregistration.graphisoft.com/

The installer will give you a choice to install the pro version. The you can use it as a viewer. Don't use the educational version as a viewer, becuase if you save it you won't be able to use it in the pro version.

You can open EDU files in the Pro version. They will have a watermark toggled, which is embedded in the file. I open our students files in my regular version and have only one issue: hotlinked modules in EDU format are not read in the PRO version, since it keeps reopening them to switch to EDU.
(I teach ArchiCAD, but still have my commercial license from my prior commercial work.)

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

Rex Maximilian — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 23:36:05 GMT

This has been a wishlist item of mine for about ten years now. Just a simple PLN viewer app would be nice to distribute. Or better yet, have it installed on a web site as a Java app that loads much like the Project Reviewer.

Anyway, it'll probably never happen, so you have to go through the FULL AC install method.

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:09:33 GMT

3d PDF sort of does what you want at the moment. Have you investigated that perhaps? The navigation is rubbish and the lighting leaves a lot be desired, but it almost works for viewing pure geometry!

What about an IFC based version. There are several free IFC viewers around. What size is an IFC file when exported form AC? I assume you would need to make it read-only somehow also?

I haven't experimented with either method, just thinking out loud!

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

stefan — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 07:03:30 GMT

Peter wrote:
3d PDF sort of does what you want at the moment. Have you investigated that perhaps? The navigation is rubbish and the lighting leaves a lot be desired, but it almost works for viewing pure geometry!

What about an IFC based version. There are several free IFC viewers around. What size is an IFC file when exported form AC? I assume you would need to make it read-only somehow also?

I haven't experimented with either method, just thinking out loud!

You could try http://www.solibri.com/solibri-model-viewer.html

Re: ArchiCAD Viewer

Sightline — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:01:09 GMT

Peter wrote:
3d PDF sort of does what you want at the moment...

Does that option work finally on Mac?