Using scanned plans in AC

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I'm trying to draw electrical and heating plan on scanned version of old paper plans.

Is there a way to get ArchiCAD actually link to these scans ? I think AC read them once, save them in the file, and is not linked anymore. I need to have these plans ligther than they currently are. but I've haven't seen anymore brightness / contrast adjuster in AC, so I have to edit them manually, save the files, the reselect each plan one by one in AC and re-read them from the newly saved file.

Is there a tehcnique that is more efficient ?

[Djordje]

Geoffroy wrote:
Is there a way to get ArchiCAD actually link to these scans ? I think AC read them once, save them in the file, and is not linked anymore. I need to have these plans ligther than they currently are. but I've haven't seen anymore brightness / contrast adjuster in AC, so I have to edit them manually, save the files, the reselect each plan one by one in AC and re-read them from the newly saved file.

Have you tried to overlay in PlotMaker? That updates.

[Anonymous]

Djordje wrote:
Have you tried to overlay in PlotMaker? That updates.

Yes, but I won't draw my heating plans in PM ! Or is there another way ?

[Anonymous]

Geoffroy wrote:

Djordje wrote:
Have you tried to overlay in PlotMaker? That updates.

Yes, but I won't draw my heating plans in PM ! Or is there another way ?

I think what Djordjie meant is that you can pull one version of the scanned plans in AC for reference, so you know where to place your electrical work, but turn that layer off when you get to PM. Instead, in PM use a separate (linked/overlay) plans which will update automatically.

[Anonymous]

Sergio wrote:
I think what Djordjie meant is that you can pull one version of the scanned plans in AC for reference, so you know where to place your electrical work, but turn that layer off when you get to PM. Instead, in PM use a separate (linked/overlay) plans which will update automatically.

This is what I understood, but what's the point if the version of the scanned plan I use as reference in AC isn't up to date ?

[Anonymous]

Geoffrey,

As I assume you have realized, ArchiCAD does not have the ability to automatically update placed bitmaps, but the manual process is not too difficult.

1. Merge the new image.

2. Match the resolution (dpi) in the settings dialog (assuming the images are the same size in pixels), or stretch the new image to fit over the old (assuming the drawings are of the same extents).

3. Delete the old image.

[Anonymous]

Matthew wrote:
As I assume you have realized, ArchiCAD does not have the ability to automatically update placed bitmaps, but the manual process is not too difficult.

In fact, the manual process is much more easier : select the image, open the properties then reselect the file to read the bitmap from : the image will stay at the right place and will be updated.

The problem is that I'm currently on a project where we have to install central heating in 192 dwellings. A lot of the buildings are the same, but there are at least 40 variations on several storeys. And even if the manual update process is easy, I would prefer a true link to an external bitmap from AC !