PLN OR PMK?

[Stephen Dolbee]

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

[Miquel Garcia]

Dave wrote:

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.

Yes, you're right, but the control of the updates has changed from ArchiCAD to PlotMaker. With PMKs I have the update set to automatic. If I maintain that, all my drawings are updated with a simple change in the AC file. I need to set the update to 'manual' (spanish version) and control every drawing from PlotMaker. If I have a few drawings that is easy, but with 30, 40 or 50 drawings, I think that my control is harder than with publishing PMKs method.

Perhaps I am wrong and all is reduced to change habits. I will check again the direct linking method. Thanks for your comments.

[Dave Jochum]

Miquel wrote:
Yes, you're right, but the control of the updates has changed from ArchiCAD to PlotMaker. With PMKs I have the update set to automatic. If I maintain that, all my drawings are updated with a simple change in the AC file. I need to set the update to 'manual' (spanish version) and control every drawing from PlotMaker. If I have a few drawings that is easy, but with 30, 40 or 50 drawings, I think that my control is harder than with publishing PMKs method.

Perhaps I am wrong and all is reduced to change habits. I will check again the direct linking method. Thanks for your comments.

You're not wrong, but I, personally, have found linking much easier. I didn't come from a background of using PMKs, however. it's always hard to change from a workflow that you've become accustomed to. The one glitch in the linking method, and will definitely affect you with large drawing sets, is that the Drawing Usage window reports a change in a drawing whenever there is any change in a file. Therefore, you have to know what drawings have changed or at least what drawings you want updated. It's something GS has to fix soon.

[Anonymous]

OK then I will kepp using PMKs

Why is that GS does not speak clearly.

[DVH]

Matthew wrote:
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¢.

How the heck are you? Hard to keep upwith all your posts.
I find this topic on PLN linking for plotmaker intersting. I have had a few issues. Seems that processor may be to blame. I just tested a file on the 1ghz Xserve G4 1GigRam and things updating just fine. I tried the same exact thing on my G4 700mhz 1GigRam(numerous times) and found that BGArchiCAD will time out usually with a 50% chance of success.

I also find it interesting that if you make one change in one ArchiCAD drawing and save, that all drawings connected to that model display as modified in plotmaker.... Strange.

I also find it strange that when we put all our time into creating these wonderfull names and systems for layout sheets with numbers that it will publish(Plot, dwg, what ever) with names like Plan, Plan (1), Plan (2), Elevation, Elevation (1) etc. instead of ex. A1-1 Floor Plan. Graphisoft must fix this.
Regards,
Dwayne

[Anonymous]

DVH wrote:
How the heck are you? Hard to keep upwith all your posts.

Greetings,

I'm doing great, and you? I'll do what I can to keep you busy following my various ramblings.

I find this topic on PLN linking for plotmaker intersting. I have had a few issues. Seems that processor may be to blame. I just tested a file on the 1ghz Xserve G4 1GigRam and things updating just fine. I tried the same exact thing on my G4 700mhz 1GigRam(numerous times) and found that BGArchiCAD will time out usually with a 50% chance of success.

This is curious. I am having no problems at all on my 1GHz PowerBook which is consistent with your theory, but a fellow consultant I just spoke to is using a 400MHz G3 PowerBook 768MB RAM with only the occasional "ArchiCAD is not responding" message (he then clicks continue and everything works fine). We are also using an assortment of Macs from a 450MHz Cube to a Dual 1.42GHz G4 (no G5s yet ) with no significant problems. You should try it on one (or more) of your other lower spec machines to see if it is consistent. I have noticed that I seem to be having a lot fewer problems than other folks here since I started beta testing on 8.1. Strange, isn't it?

I also find it interesting that if you make one change in one ArchiCAD drawing and save, that all drawings connected to that model display as modified in plotmaker.... Strange.

This is a pain which will presumably be fixed soon. Even with the major upgrade to PM3.0/3.1 the shared features are still one version behind ArchiCAD. Publisher in PM3 is much like it was in AC7.

I also find it strange that when we put all our time into creating these wonderfull names and systems for layout sheets with numbers that it will publish(Plot, dwg, what ever) with names like Plan, Plan (1), Plan (2), Elevation, Elevation (1) etc. instead of ex. A1-1 Floor Plan. Graphisoft must fix this.

YES! This is one of the most annoying things in PM3.1. Sheet numbers should be included with the names automatically in published sets. It is a serious pain in the neck to have to retype them every time. PlotMaker should also remember the state of the selection in Navigator from one session to the next; i.e. Show Names & Numbers, etc.

[Anonymous]

I've found the most efficient way is linking to a PLA and not the pln or pmk's. This has resolved many issues (BGAC, libraries, etc.) I've experienced and has made my projects extremely portable. The only thing I feel is lacking in PM with this feature is the inability to lock a view (drawing) to prevent it from being updated further when you select update all. I'd like to see the options in the status column like this OK, Modified or Locked. This way you can keep your entire documentation releases in PM without the fear of someone inadvertently updating a drawing of an issued set. Currently I still use pdfs to to provide that security.

[Anonymous]

Direct linking is a beautiful thing. The only problem we have run into is updating our element and component lists.

All of our views and lists are stored in a template but we have found that AC is a bit tempermental about loading the lists. Updating a layout book almost always means the lists were not updated and consequently we export the lists in PMK.

It's a diamond in the rough but a diamond none the less.