topic Re: PLN OR PMK? in Documentation

PLN OR PMK?

Stephen Dolbee — Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:27:39 GMT

What are peoples preference with this? Create pmk's or link to pln.? What are the advantages/disadvantages? I've noticed considerably larger file sizes with the pln method and it seems to take longer to set up. Any comments?

Thanks,
Steve

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Link — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 06:09:30 GMT

It's got to be a direct link to the model, via navigator views. Sure the files are bigger, but then so is a decent computer

The trick is to create a pre-linked template system, so that you don't have to repeat the procedure all the time. I haven't personally used a ~traditional~ pmk for over a year and never encourage it in my training. That method is going the way of the single-fin surfboard and the spice girls

Just my opinion!

Good luck.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Rick Thompson — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 14:42:47 GMT

Link wrote:
It's got to be a direct link to the model, via navigator views. Sure the files are bigger, but then so is a decent computer

The trick is to create a pre-linked template system, so that you don't have to repeat the procedure all the time. I haven't personally used a ~traditional~ pmk for over a year and never encourage it in my training. That method is going the way of the single-fin surfboard and the spice girls

Just my opinion!

Good luck.

Cheers,
Link.

I'll have you know one of the Spice girls was just on the new Absolutely Fabulous (at least my daughter said it was her)...so....it's not over yet

I am not sure what you say is true in all situations. I have been publishing pmks to a file, then reading a template from that. I am in a bit of a abnormal situation though (sell stock plans)...but still doubt I am doing it the best way in the long run. One of my reasons is I am not dependent on the dongle this way. I can continue to plot without it, which I assume you can't needing to go through BGac. I will often open a lbk to answer questions, and even with the new G5 speed, it still needs to open 2 files (project and details). It seems quicker reading the pmks from the files... a few seconds. Plus, it's so easy to publish to a file. With publishing to file I can plot from a computer without AC installed...or a back-up HD. So, I haven't been convenced publishing into the lbk is best...but I and interested in hearing peoples views on it.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

David Larrew — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 17:27:15 GMT

The linked .PLN-.LBK is the way you want to go with actively dynamic projects. Though we do use pre-saved .PMK files attached (pre-imported) to our template files to handle any static and/or standardized reference content that doesn't change from project to project.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

TomWaltz — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 17:51:39 GMT

We've had significant problems with BGArchicad, and have stuck with PMK's so far.

With the latest service pack, we are starting to test using BGArchicad again, but it's going to take a while to earn my trust again!

Re: PLN OR PMK?

James Murray — Thu, 08 Jan 2004 21:11:21 GMT

I use a PMK for a hidden-line, vector-fills-on perspective, copied from the 3D window, for the cover sheet.

If such a drawing is in a linked view, I have to keep the (15-30,000) lines, increasing the PLN size 8-15MB. Instead I create the drawing, save it as a PMK, then delete the lines.

The only other use for PMKs is boilerplate note text.

As for the slowness of updating in PM, having the libraries on the network is a killer. We have switched to using a local cache library, which has been a huge improvement.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Anonymous — Mon, 12 Jan 2004 22:23:54 GMT

In pre 8 each pmk had a unique name. Using the publisher this is not impossible but very difficult requiring lots of nasty text input. The result could be lots of pmk’s with the same name.

IGS should to tell us wish direction is the development going.

What is the repercussion of linked pln when opening the project on a different machine or platform?

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Aussie John — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 03:17:45 GMT

Adalbert wrote:
In pre 8 each pmk had a unique name. Using the publisher this is not impossible but very difficult requiring lots of nasty text input. The result could be lots of pmk’s with the same name.

IGS should to tell us wish direction is the development going.

What is the repercussion of linked pln when opening the project on a different machine or platform?

Once a viewset is created it can be published as a pmk- hence no naming problems.

I think it is pretty clear GS wish to move to the PLN option and I think this is a good option. Forcing use of the quickviews is good as it makes it much easier to find your way around someone elses file.

There is no problems opening on a different machine. The files are easily relinked to a local PLN file (or across a network)

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Rick Thompson — Wed, 14 Jan 2004 14:01:51 GMT

Adalbert wrote:
In pre 8 each pmk had a unique name. Using the publisher this is not impossible but very difficult requiring lots of nasty text input. The result could be lots of pmk’s with the same name.

IGS should to tell us wish direction is the development going.

What is the repercussion of linked pln when opening the project on a different machine or platform?

Do you have Quickeys? You can make a "tool bar" with all your normal quick views titles so all you have to do is save the appropriate text in Quickeys, save the quick view....click the appropriate Quickey button on the Quickey tool bar (opened from the menu bar), and you have it named without typing anything. I am re-quickviewing all my old plans (but continuously used), and it is very quick and easy by having Quickeys. No text input is needed, except once.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:09:39 GMT

In pre 8 by giving the pln a unique name (i.e. 0386,pln) all pmk’s inherited thos unique name… Now it takes a lot of typing. Thank you GS.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 00:10:01 GMT

In pre 8 by giving the pln a unique name (i.e. 0386,pln) all pmk’s inherited thos unique name… Now it takes a lot of typing. Thank you GS.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Aussie John — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 02:26:55 GMT

Adalbert wrote:
In pre 8 by giving the pln a unique name (i.e. 0386,pln) all pmk’s inherited thos unique name… Now it takes a lot of typing. Thank you GS.

I dont know it is that bad since it was only the plan views that inherited the file name. Since the PLN method of saving doesnt create a folder with files in it, the unique name is not important.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Anonymous — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 16:07:39 GMT

But I can’t abandon using PMK because I an afraid of:
- large projects may no work with direct PLN linking
- loosing file structure if moving from one drive to another

What is GS's advise

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Djordje — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 16:48:34 GMT

Adalbert wrote:
But I can’t abandon using PMK because I an afraid of:
- large projects may no work with direct PLN linking
- loosing file structure if moving from one drive to another

Linking will work; there is no loss of time if you compare direct linking and updating the LBK compared to PMK publishing. Plus, you are rid of the file extension problem.
You are, however, in the need of proper hardware for the project size.

The file structure is not affected; e.g. I recently moved a whole project (the whole project folder with all the subfolders as they were) and the LBK updated without a glitch.

IMHE as always.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

DVH — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 19:12:24 GMT

I like the thought that the time is about the same for PMK & PLN linking.... however, I have had some issues with what may be related to hardware problem. I have had BGArchiCAD time out and tell me ArchiCAD not responding.
I have had a 50% chance of update link success. My machine is a 700mhz G4 Mac with 1Gig memory, I know that 1Ghz is required... but I also know that memory can be used & my Activity Monitor shows that ArchiCAD & BGArchiCAD top out at about 130mb of ram when updating.
Are you saying that this one update process will work on a 1Ghz machine... what about the other issue ? I have heard that if you have alot of PMKs in your layout with the PLN links, that you will have this "time out" problem.
Thanks, DVH: Dwayne Van Horn

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Aussie John — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 23:52:28 GMT

relinking form one drive another is no problem.
Also I dont have problems with updating the whole project at one time (150 files) and my machine is not the speediest ( see sig)

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Miquel Garcia — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 00:31:08 GMT

Djordje wrote:
Linking will work; there is no loss of time if you compare direct linking and updating the LBK compared to PMK publishing. Plus, you are rid of the file extension problem.
You are, however, in the need of proper hardware for the project size.

I have tried the direct linking and I find it slower than PMK publishing. I think I have a good hardware (although it isn't the ultimate computer in the world). Publishing PMKs I am able to update only a drawing at a time, while with direct linking I need to update the whole project.

I don't like, of course, the PMK extension annoying all the time the drawing names: I can't use the title feature in PlotMaker, but this is not essential (I am using ArchiCAD from version 3.3 and this is a very new feature...)

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Dave Jochum — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 02:46:50 GMT

Miquel wrote:
Publishing PMKs I am able to update only a drawing at a time, while with direct linking I need to update the whole project.

That's not true. You can update as many or as few as you want and when you want--or none. You have complete control in the Drawing Usage window of the Navigator.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 16:45:23 GMT

For what it's worth; I was a long time hold out (at least through AC8.0) on adopting the direct link to PLN. I have now switched over wholeheartedly. It is clear that Graphisoft has worked very hard to improve this function in 8.1. So much so that it now seems to be superior in all respects to the PMK method.

Just my 2¢.

Re: PLN OR PMK?

Anonymous — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 19:29:20 GMT

Based on the opinions expressed I will change to direct link