PlotMaker/BGArchiCAD is driving me nuts.

[Stuart Smith]

Here's the situation:

ArchiCAD 8.1v2/PlotMaker 3.1v2 (Mac)

.lbk file located on a server, with drawings imported from a .plp located in the same folder as the layout book.

My coworker opens up the layout book and updates the drawings. All library parts from the 'ArchiCad Library 8.1' (which is in the ArchiCAD application folder on her local drive) are missing. However, library parts from the project library (located on the server, in the same folder as the .lbk and .plp) are loaded.

My coworker saves and closes the .lbk and I open it up on my machine, and update the drawings. Everything is as it should be, all library parts are loaded. Hmm.

We try it again on her machine, and the parts are not loaded.

What would cause her copy of BGArchiCAD to not load the ArchiCAD library, while mine loads it just fine? We've tried trashing the PlotMaker preferences as well as all the Graphisoft preferences. We've tried deleting and reimporting the drawings.

The last thing I can think of is that my machine is on OS X 10.3 and hers is on OS X 10.2. Would that do it?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Greg Kmethy]

Library paths are stored in the plp file. The most important thing that has to be remembered when using TeamWork, is that the library paths stored in the plp are the ones saved by the team leader with exclusive access. The team leader with exclusive access is the ONLY person who can modify stored paths. (when you first share a project, then the paths loaded at the time of sharing will be saved naturally)

To have BGArchiCAD work properly with TeamWork, there are two possible ways to set up the libraries:

- paths saved by the team leader with exclusive access should be valid and working for all teammates,
OR
- ALL libraries should be placed locally in the ArchiCAD folder for each teammate.

You must use either of the above patterns, unfortunately you can't mix them. E.g. if one of the saved paths is valid, ArchiCAD will not search the ArchiCAD library for further libraries.

We are aware that this needs to be improved and we are working on the solution.

HTH,
Greg

[__archiben]

greg

yes: the libraries are initially stored in the PLP file when the project is shared or by the teamleader with exclusive access.

but if a teammate uses their library manager to change library paths, these new libraries get saved in the teammates draft preference file, for example:

~/Library/Preferences/Graphisoft/AC 8.1.0 v2/BEN FROST EXAMPLE PROJECT NAME

now: when BGarchiCAD loads the PLP it also reads the draft preferences in the same way that archiCAD does and should still work as normal, however, on occasion the path names saved in the draft prefs don't seem to want to work with BGarchiCAD in the same manner as the paths in the PLP . .

on a similar note (the archiCAD/BGarchiCAD crossover), it is also a real pain in that because BGarchiCAD opens PLP files and rather than signs-in to them, it means that PLP files will show in the "Open" 'recent files' startup dialogue of normal archiCAD. (see screenshot).

i appreciate that BGarchiCAD has to perform many (most) of the same functions as archiCAD does, however there doesn't seem to have been much thought about where the functionality of one begins and the other ends:

• library paths (above)
• 'recent files' list (above)
• teamwork file access privileges: BGarchiCAD doesn't place a LCK file; an archiCAD teammate sending changes conflicts with BGarchiCAD

alternatively . . . !
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=1132

~/archiben

[tsturm]

Andy wrote:
Suggestion. if BGArchiCAD can' find a library couldn't it display the library manager and get the user to find it?

Darn good suggestion. I would really recommend that you put this wish into GS.

I get tired of opening older files after some one "tweeked" the server only to sit around for ten minutes just to get the library manager window.

I know where the libraries are, get me the library manager pronto, and I can get working faster. Not really sure what the Library Manager is spending all that time doing.

[Anonymous]

I had been having this problem on the original release of 8.1 and started reading the drawings from a pla instead of a pln. This method has also proven to be the most effective way of helping me to back up my project frequently and has saved my butt on a few occasions when the bpn didn't. If you use libraries with lots of external macros you have to save as a pla and make sure you aren't including all parts of loaded libraries the first time, if pieces are missing then open the pla load the macros and save as pla with all parts of loaded libraries, each subsequent save as should be done without all parts of loaded libraries as this should not be necessary and will also help keep the file size down. When the project is done you can be confident that it has been properly archived with all the appropriate parts according to the documents submitted. You save the pla and lbk which are already linked to each other and can discard the rest.

FWIW