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3DS Import

stefan
Expert
I used to be able to import OBJ-files into ArchiCAD with surface smoothing intact.

http://www2.asro.kuleuven.ac.be/asro/English/HOME/SBs/tutorial/tips/viz2ac.htm
(Explained with 3DStudio VIZr3, but this will work in Maya as well, since Alias|Wavefront was the inventor of the OBJ-format).

AFAIK, ArchiCAD 8.x doesn't read OBJ-files anymore

Another solution, slightly worse, but better then DXF for that matter is importing it as a 3ds-file (Maya should be able to do that, you might need to download some translator-plugins, though).

This 3ds-import was once mailed to me by some German ArchiCAD user and I can send the full plugin to you if you want (it was free, so I don't think I break any copyrights here).
--- stefan boeykens --- bim-expert-architect-engineer-musician ---
Archicad27/Revit2023/Rhino8/Unity/Solibri/Zoom
MBP2023:14"M2MAX/Sonoma+Win11
Archicad-user since 1998
my Archicad Book
39 REPLIES 39
stefan
Expert
Options dialog
--- stefan boeykens --- bim-expert-architect-engineer-musician ---
Archicad27/Revit2023/Rhino8/Unity/Solibri/Zoom
MBP2023:14"M2MAX/Sonoma+Win11
Archicad-user since 1998
my Archicad Book
Ben Odonnell
Contributor
Nice work Stefan.
I have never had a problem with the converter not working. It's great to be able to import 3DS file into ArchiCAD. The guys that have done this converter have even done a converter for Lightwave objects. It also works really good.
Cheers.
Ben
Ben O'Donnell
Architect and CTO at BIMobject®
Get your BIM objects from bimobject.com
Eduardo Rolon
Moderator
Steffan can you post a translation of the settings in the jpeg since you already know the language.

I think that having the jpeg as a reference with the options in english might help us spanish speakers with english as a second language and no german knowledge
Eduardo Rolón AIA NCARB
AC27 US/INT -> AC08

Macbook Pro M1 Max 64GB ram, OS X 10.XX latest
another Moderator

Anonymous
Not applicable
Ben wrote:
Nice work Stefan.
I have never had a problem with the converter not working. It's great to be able to import 3DS file into ArchiCAD. The guys that have done this converter have even done a converter for Lightwave objects. It also works really good.
Cheers.
Ben
I can't seem to find the Lightwave importer, where can it be found? Plus, does it work with 8.1?
Ben Odonnell
Contributor
The Lightwave one works with 7.0. But it's possable it's been or going to be redone for 8.1.

I'll find out for you and post my findings here.

cheers
Ben
Ben O'Donnell
Architect and CTO at BIMobject®
Get your BIM objects from bimobject.com
stefan
Expert
ejrolon wrote:
Steffan can you post a translation of the settings in the jpeg since you already know the language.

I think that having the jpeg as a reference with the options in english might help us spanish speakers with english as a second language and no german knowledge
Dutch speaking with French as second language (officially), but English as a practical second language and german as third.

Freestyle translation:

3ds zum gsm konvertieren = to convert a 3ds file into a GSM-library part

Koordinatentransformation = coordinate transformation

Massstab = unit size (that is, how is one unit in the 3ds-file interpreted)

Dezimalstellen = the number of decimals after the "," or "."

Untere Teil aud z=0 setzen = put lower part (of the whole file?) on z=0

Object-Schwerkraftpunkt auf ... setzen = put objects gravity center on ...

Falls erforderlich, SchwerkraftPunkt auf 0 setzen = when needed, put the gravity center on 0 (Don't know what the difference is with the previous option).

Fixpunkt erzeugen = create anchor point (hotspot)

Begrenzungsrahmen = bounding box
Nullpunkt = the origing
Schwerpunkt = the gravity center
Äussere punkte = the outer bounds

Grundeeinstellung = reset
Abbrechen = cancel
--- stefan boeykens --- bim-expert-architect-engineer-musician ---
Archicad27/Revit2023/Rhino8/Unity/Solibri/Zoom
MBP2023:14"M2MAX/Sonoma+Win11
Archicad-user since 1998
my Archicad Book
Eduardo Rolon
Moderator
Gracias
Eduardo Rolón AIA NCARB
AC27 US/INT -> AC08

Macbook Pro M1 Max 64GB ram, OS X 10.XX latest
another Moderator

Gorazd
Booster
Hi.
And to end with a positive note: a link to the updated version of this plugin: now also for ArchiCAD 8.1

http://www.gshelp.de/CDownloads/Downloads81.html
Link you gave is not working. Is there any other location to download 3DS import plugin for AC8.1? Or can somebody please mail it to me?
------

Gorazd Rajh

AC 25, Ryzen 9 5900HS, 48 GB RAM, RTX 3080, Win 11
stefan
Expert
Here is the 8.1 version (APX only, so not usable on Mac).
--- stefan boeykens --- bim-expert-architect-engineer-musician ---
Archicad27/Revit2023/Rhino8/Unity/Solibri/Zoom
MBP2023:14"M2MAX/Sonoma+Win11
Archicad-user since 1998
my Archicad Book
Anonymous
Not applicable
hi,

does anyone have an english version of this add-on for 8.1 int.

thanks