Need to reinstall AC9. Will it mess up AC11?

[R Muller]

I need to open some old files that can only be read with AC9. I am using AC11. Unfortunately, I removed AC9 from my system some time ago.

Question: can I re-install AC9 from the CD without messing up AC11?

[Laura Yanoviak]

I don't see why not. Just make sure (and it should prompt you) that it is installed in it's own folder within the Graphisoft directory.

[TomWaltz]

The only thing I can think of is that AC9 might become the default for when you double-click PLN files.

Why can't you read the files with AC11?

[Laura Yanoviak]

TomWaltz wrote:
The only thing I can think of is that AC9 might become the default for when you double-click PLN files.

Yes this can happen, although I was told (I don't remember by whom -- maybe I read it on this forum?) that this was bad practice -- ArchiCAD should be initiated first, and the desired file opened from the dialog.

[R Muller]

Thanks, guys, I'll give it a try and let you know what happens. I am worried that some preferences might clobber my new AC11 ones.

I think I need AC9 to open old .lbk files that were created with AC8.1 and earlier. I guess that I will need to keep AC9 forever to open these archived projects. I just hope my hardware and operating system will continue to allow AC9 to run.

I also have an 8.1 .pln file that crashes AC11 when I try to open it. I think if I upgrade it to AC9 first, I may have better luck.

[TomWaltz]

Laura wrote:
Yes this can happen, although I was told (I don't remember by whom -- maybe I read it on this forum?) that this was bad practice -- ArchiCAD should be initiated first, and the desired file opened from the dialog.

I'm not sure about Windows, but I've never had a problem with that on Mac (me or anyone here, not just me).

[TomWaltz]

R wrote:
I think I need AC9 to open old .lbk files that were created with AC8.1 and earlier. I guess that I will need to keep AC9 forever to open these archived projects. I just hope my hardware and operating system will continue to allow AC9 to run.

It's a pain, but I'm in the process of updating all our 8 and 9 projects to the AC10/11 format with integrated layouts, partially so I can get rid of Plotbreaker