ArchiCad Viewer for non-users?????

[Anonymous]

Is there a "viewer" only software for non-users? All I want to do is view a set of drawings sent to me for reference. I don't need to modify or edit them. Can they be opened in AutoCad????

If Graphisoft offers one, it might be a good idea to put a link on their home page. I've been seaching here for an hour now!!!!

If they do not offer a viewer, where can I get a freeware viewer for the ".PLN" file extension. I do need zoom capabilities as I am not going to plot these drawings.

[Anonymous]

Yes, the files are PLN files. I called the originator and checked. Sorry guys but it works???? These are 2 freeware programs that will view the PLN file.

PicaView - Works in Windows explorer. Once installed, right click on the file in Win Explorer. It will give you a thumbnail preview of the file and options for viewing or converting. (SHAREWARE - register nag screen)
http://www.freedownloadgraphics.com/viewers/picaview.html

IrfanView - it is a multi file extension viewer. Once I changed the file extensions on the PLN files to TIFF it opened them with no problems.
I am using version 3.5, this link is ver 3.97 should not be any difference in operations. (FREEWARE)
http://www.irfanview.com/

[SeaGeoff]

ddrdan wrote:
So, I guess Archicad doesn't have a download for a viewer only???? That's a bad point for the software in an age when file transfer and review is "the" way of business.

This is an important point that I have been trying to make for years, corroborated here by someone who’s primary impression of ArchiCAD is now of an incompatible pain in the ass. True that the original author screwed up by not publishing in a format his clients could actually use. But a viewer would give non (i.e. prospective) users a glimpse of the real power of he virtual model. Something no flattened export can ever achieve.

[Anonymous]

Geoff wrote:
This is an important point that I have been trying to make for years, corroborated here by someone who’s primary impression of ArchiCAD is now of an incompatible pain in the ass.

I whole-heartedly agree! I this on a wish list?

[Anonymous]

Latest verison of Irfan View (and plug-ins) does not allow one to view .pln files if the extension is changed to either .tif or .tiff!!!

[Anonymous]

I was wishing that I could give a contractor a copy of our virtual model for viewing and they would be able to view the model. (for design intent only of course.) If they maintained a computer at the job site, I could load the model and show a 3D view of an area in question to explain what was intended.
Would giving a contractor the Archicad disk without a key be illegal? They would be able to load the program in demo mode and view the file to determine intent in areas that are difficult to document in 2D.

[Nuge]

I think you should have a look at this, download the demo and have a look

http://www.zermatt.se/index.html


Cheers Nuge

[Anonymous]

Nuge wrote:
I think you should have a look at this, download the demo and have a look

http://www.zermatt.se/index.html


Cheers Nuge

Looks interesting, but I would like to give the viewer the option to marquee an area and look areas with a greater detail than just a walkthru.

[Richard Morrison]

Umm, I'm looking at this thread and scratching my head. Wasn't this the whole point of the Project Reviewer environment?

[Aaron Bourgoin]

yes I thinks so. If its drawings you want to share why not publish them as DWF and export the whole mess with the web based reviewer?

It works with internet explorer and, much to my delight, with Firefox 1.04

[SeaGeoff]

Reviewer is 2D only. Might as well just use PDF. The mythic ArchiCAD Viewer allows one to explore the model and extract information (or not) based on permissions. Ideally it would coincide with an overhaul of Teamwork. Then a team member with view-only or mark-up status could use the viewer and receive updates from the live model with no need for other team members to publish. In other cases the design team could send out a .pla with embedded permissions.