topic Re: Missing plot maker & plt's, cannot open layouts in Documentation

Missing plot maker & plt's, cannot open layouts

Anonymous — Fri, 26 May 2023 00:23:37 GMT

I am retired since 2012.
Old client asked for permit set from 1994. (Done with ArchiCad 4.5?)
Updated and archived project with project library to Archicad 14 then 16 in 2012.
The layouts will not open. Message says "there is no application to open"
I no longer have Plot Maker (seems to have disappeared).
The plt's have also disappeared.
Is there a workaround or other program I can open them with?
I tried Graphic Converter but no luck.
Thanks for any help you can suggest.
John Knibb.

Re: Missing plot maker & plt's, cannot open layouts

Eduardo Rolon — Thu, 10 Jan 2019 00:48:38 GMT

You might find some extra info here

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/?s=Migrating+PlotMaker+Layout+Books&asp_active=1&p_asid=1&p_asp_data=Y3VycmVudF9wYWdlX2lkPTc2MjA2JnF0cmFuc2xhdGVfbGFuZz0wJmFzcF9nZW4lNUIlNUQ9dGl0bGUmYXNwX2dlbiU1QiU1RD1jb250ZW50JmFzcF9nZW4lNUIlNUQ9ZXhjZXJwdCZjdXN0b21zZXQlNUIlNUQ9a25vd2xlZGdlYmFzZSZjdXN0b21zZXQlNUIlNUQ9dXNlci1ndWlkZSZjdXN0b21zZXQlNUIlNUQ9cG9zdCZwb3N0X3RhZ19zZXQlNUIlNUQ9Mzg3NDImcG9zdF90YWdfc2V0JTVCJTVEPTM4MTk3JnBvc3RfdGFnX3NldCU1QiU1RD0zNzE0MyZwb3N0X3RhZ19zZXQlNUIlNUQ9Mzc5OTQmcG9zdF90YWdfc2V0JTVCJTVEPTM2OTk1JnBvc3RfdGFnX3NldCU1QiU1RD0zNTc0NQ==

I just opened a LBK created on 2004 and was able to relink the PLN without issues.
Open AC and then open the LBK file normally

Re: Missing plot maker & plt's, cannot open layouts

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 01:29:40 GMT

Thanks for the suggestions.
I have no .lbk nor .plt files available for the project.
I suppose they were not stored when the project was archived.
This was WAY before we started storing as .pdf files.
If there is no application anyone can suggest to open the layouts my only alternative is to ask the building department for copies of what was submitted for the project back in 1994. LOL.
John Knibb

Re: Missing plot maker & plt's, cannot open layouts

Eduardo Rolon — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 02:10:22 GMT

Hi John,

It is not clear what you want to open. You should either have a PLN, PLA, LBK, MOD or PMK. IIRC there are no other native ARCHICAD files. If the OS cannot guess how to open then you could try choosing the app to use by right clicking on the file and selecting “Open With” or you could open a new AC project and try to import the file in which is the procedure for PLTs.

Check here for a file extension list.

https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/knowledgebase/25765/
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FYI when GS consolidated Plotmaker within AC (10? ) the option was to import and merge the PLN and the LBK going from to files to one. If at that time you only imported the PLN and didn't also merge the LBK without keeping the originals I think that you threw away the data you need now.