3Dconnexion SpaceMouse Enterprise

[Arcadia]

Who uses this device and what do you think of it for archicad? I have the std spacemouse which I love but feel like having all the extra keys on the enterprise might make things more efficient. Does the display show the archicad icons okay?

[Erwin Edel]

At that retail cost, that thing had better become self aware and draft for me during lunch breaks

I'm also sad it doesn't appear to have warp speed capability.

https://www.3dconnexion.eu/supported-software/architecture-construction/archicad.html it should support ArchiCAD though.

[Arcadia]

Erwin wrote:
At that retail cost, that thing had better become self aware and draft for me during lunch breaks

I'm also sad it doesn't appear to have warp speed capability.

https://www.3dconnexion.eu/supported-software/architecture-construction/archicad.html it should support ArchiCAD though.

Yes I know what you mean. For me though I am always looking for incremental improvements to help me get jobs done easier and more comfortably. 15 extremely busy years of drafting and design is taking a toll on me physically so if this took more load off my mouse hand and allowed less keyboard use it might be worth it. The cost of computer hardware, mice etc for me has become essentially irrelevant as long as it does its job well.

[Erwin Edel]

I've got a Logitech gaming keyboard at home with something like 24 macro G buttons, that you can program with any macro keystrokes and possibly direct commands from software. I've never tried using it for ArchiCAD, but you can buy one of those for about a third the price of that mouse. You do not have the 3D navigation bit, obviously, but I personally don't spend that much time drafting in 3D to see myself using it as much as keyboard and mouse.

Also a rock solid brand. My peripherals from Logitech have all easily lasted me more than 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Arcadia wrote:

Erwin wrote:
At that retail cost, that thing had better become self aware and draft for me during lunch breaks

I'm also sad it doesn't appear to have warp speed capability.

https://www.3dconnexion.eu/supported-software/architecture-construction/archicad.html it should support ArchiCAD though.

Yes I know what you mean. For me though I am always looking for incremental improvements to help me get jobs done easier and more comfortably. 15 extremely busy years of drafting and design is taking a toll on me physically so if this took more load off my mouse hand and allowed less keyboard use it might be worth it. The cost of computer hardware, mice etc for me has become essentially irrelevant as long as it does its job well.

I could not agree more. As loyal 3DConnexion Space mouse user for years I can tell you first hand the enterprise version, if complete with Programmed Function Icons would be worth every penny. I just spoke to Sales at 3DConnexion and they said whatever I see in my dropdown button list is what is currently available in their driver (14 functions with no icon). The majority of the functions are not the functions I would choose for the Enterprise display (zoom out, zoom in, etc are already on the mouse wheel. I love using my Space mouse to navigate 3D views but I am looking for more. Graphisoft would have to take the SDK and write their own driver or collaborate with 3DConnexion and to date, the latter has not been done. I will need to explore the Graphisoft site to see if they don't have it there. I figured if the Enterprise addition was being utlized with Archicad there would be more conversations than (4) four.

Dissappointed

[Lingwisyer]

Erwin wrote:
I've got a Logitech gaming keyboard at home with something like 24 macro G buttons, that you can program with any macro keystrokes and possibly direct commands from software.

G15? I rarely make use of my keyboards macro keys, but I do use mouse macros often. I do not think LGS has access to any direct commands into ArchiCAD, but you can just set any random obtuse hotkey combination to a function, than bind that to a key.



Ling.

[Anonymous]

ALL,

I DO NOT WANT THIS THREAD TO DIE. WE NEED GRAPHISOFT TO REQUEST THE SDK FROM 3DConnexion to make the "SpaceMouse Enterprise" FULLY FUNCTIONAL LIKE IT IS IN SOLIDWORKS OR 3DSMAX AND I HEAR NOW REVIT...OUCH!

I too have a programmable keyboard, but don't use it. A few short cuts for Archicad, sure. But there are already far too many to learn only to pile on even more in the form of macros to memorize. One of the many, but certainly key attraction to the Enterprise, is the on screen display showing you the very function. Imagine, no more mouse clicking toolbars two or more levels down to get to your desired feature. all could be programmed to one press of a button.

I do use the two buttons on my 3D Space mouse Wireless for W and ESC programmed to the only two buttons on the unit. In this way I don't have to remove my hand from the 3DMouse while drawing - Hence the GAME CHANGING BENEFIT/FEATURE of the ENTERPRISE 3. (see picture below)

According to 3DConnexion Tech Support, the current Drivers supports the Enterprise package - meaning the display will support the icons for all the available functions. The unverified issue I have is "What functions are available? I have tried to customize Macro for my two button Space Mouse and have only been successful with existing keys. From my experience, their system does not appear to work like a typical macro recorder - you can't put it record mode and pick keyboard and or mouse clicks to build a multi-step macro (not that I have found). We need Graphisoft so request the SDK (Software Developers Kit) from 3DConnexion and program all the tool bar functions complete with icons so we can choose what we want and assign it to one of the 6 buttons beneath the color display (see picture below). I'm not sure of the qty available but I believe you can select several layers of buttons to store in the display making virtually all the tool bar icons at you finger tips of your left hand. Image reducing all the mouse movement and pet pallet selecting, we do now, to 1 or 2 clicks of a button right below your fingers.

I love my 3DConnexion Space mouse. Flying around a complex model for drawing, editing, and client walk-through of a model is PRICELESS. You can certainly navigate in a similar fashion with the mouse but it is nowhere as smooth and fluid as the SpaceMouse and you also lose your mouse functionality during the move. I can fly around with my left hand while pointing at elements in the model with my mouse cursor in my right hand. People who have not seen or experienced this are amazed. Now, combine 6-Degrees-of-Freedom (6DoF) with on screen display keys of the Enterprise unit, and you have an entirely new level of productivity.

[Anonymous]

Personally I would rather Graphisoft not use their resources to write a connection for a piece of hardware used by only a few users.

If it is important to those who use this device and they get great productivity gains maybe they could invest in having an add-on authored.

Scott

[Anonymous]

Scott,

Thanks for chumming in. What I know from experience is Markets are Made so, making the Enterprise Unit fully compatible with archicad May have an unexpected positive affect for Graphisoft as well as 3DConnexion. People often don’t think about peripherals such as this one unless they see or hear it mentioned by others or not marketing materials. This is an incredible tool and the programming required could be done, by a knowledgeable programmer with the right access, over a lunch break. Assuming Graphisoft does not care to put resources of the SDK perhaps they would make the required information available to the public so we can attempt it ourselves. Hopefully the forum moderators will pass this on, and at the very least, provide us an official response from Graphisoft.

This forum is one of the best resources available for Archicad users with so many great people, like yourself, willing to share their knowledge with the community. I am confident with more of you all showing some level of interest we may just realize how beneficial the Enterprise can be in our workflow.

Thanks again,

[Lingwisyer]

On your comment about markets, this should be thrown over to 3DConnexion as for them it would open up a new market of users. On the other hand, for Graphisoft, I doubt it really makes any difference to their market, as you generally do not chose to use a software of this scale based on compatibility with a specialised piece of hardware produced by a 3rd party... As long as Graphisoft opens up the API to allow for it, it should be up to 3DConnexion and their existing user base to do all the groundwork and structure in creating an addon.

I too have a programmable keyboard, but don't use it. A few short cuts for Archicad, sure. But there are already far too many to learn only to pile on even more in the form of macros to memorize. One of the many, but certainly key attraction to the Enterprise, is the on screen display showing you the very function. Imagine, no more mouse clicking toolbars two or more levels down to get to your desired feature. all could be programmed to one press of a button.

Ask 3DConnexion for customisable icons on the display, and allow for custom macros? Would this not be more efficient as then it is essentially limitless as long as a the user can access the action via a key press(s) regardless of the program?


Ling.