Printing keyboard shortcuts from AC 9

[SeaGeoff]

When I first installed AC 9 I successfully printed the default shortcuts from the WE dialog box via Safari. Now after building my custom set I go to view them and nothing happens. I don’t know what I did that might have killed this useful feature but everyone in our office who shares the same installation has the same problem. Is there some file or preference that I might have changed or lost that effects this? Thanks.

[__archiben]

have you fiddled around with the default browser settings, or set some other application on the machines to be the default XML file reader?

if i recall correctly, both of these can affect the display of the keyboard shortcuts in your browser. unfortunately, i can't remember all of the exact details . . .

sorry!
~/archiben

[SeaGeoff]

I haven't fiddled that I know of, not intentionally anyway.

Now that this is not working I cant remember how it did work. Does the browser just fire up with the list? Is the XML file written out somewhere I can find it? Is there an ArchiCAD setting that defines the default browser or are you referring to the OS setting?

[__archiben]

it's a strange one. i have a feeling archiCAD generates an XML file on-the-fly and fires up the OS default browser rather than the one set in archiCAD. at least i get the keyboard shortcut list in safari and that's definitely not available in archiCAD internal prefs.

does changing the archiCAD's internal browser result in some confusion at the time you press the button?

one other thing - you haven't by any chance installed apple's plist editor on your machines to hack the archiCAD preference file? as soon as that's installed on mine it becomes the default XML file reader . . .

i'll investigate a little further later . . .

~/archiben

[SeaGeoff]

I have the plist editor installed at home but no one has it at the office, so that’s not it. I created a custom install, placed it on the server, and that’s what everyone who’s moved up to 9 is using, so I’m guessing I deleted or moved something I shouldn’t have. But to the best of my knowledge all I modified was the default library (replaced AC 9.pla with AC 8.1.pla) and added our third party add-ons. Instead of me trying to determine by process of elimination what I MAY have screwed up I’d sure just like to know how the browser view thingy works so I have half a clue where to look. Seems like no one knows and the Graphisoft boys don’t seem to be hanging around much. I guess it’s time for tech support.

BTW, how do you change ArchiCAD’s internal browser?

[__archiben]

Geoff wrote:
BTW, how do you change ArchiCAD’s internal browser?

Options>Preferences>Publisher (i think!)

...but you only have the option of IE and netscape. this can't be the place archiCAD looks to launch the keyboard shortcuts as a web page because it fires up safari for me . . . puzzling

let us know how you get on . . .

~/archiben

[__archiben]

geoff

i had a fiddle with this earlier . . .

archiCAD actually makes a temporary html file and stores it in

/private/tmp/501/TemporaryItems/ShourtcutLayout.htm

so . . . first thing that springs to mind is that you cannot write to the /private/tmp/ directory. i often find that this is one of the directories that consistantly needs its permissions repairing whenever i run disk utility.

try that and let us know . . . ?

HTH
~/archiben

[__archiben]

to add to this . .

by chosing "View Source" in your browser when you've actually got it on screen, you can copy and paste the code into a text editor. from there you're free to create an html document that you can access at anytime from the Help menu by creating a URL file . . .

of course the danger is that you update your keyboard shortcuts but forget to update the html file. and i guess that it really only cuts down on a couple of clicks doing it this way. but somebody may find it useful.

maybe graphisoft could write a Help menu command that actually does create the shortcut layout from the current set . . . ?

anyways. off to lie down. all this thinking is playing havoc with my time on the beach . . .

~/archiben

[__archiben]

and to clarify one of my earlier posts up there . . .

setting the default browser from within archiCAD used to be done in the work environment: preferences: "Web Options". i say used to be done because it was there through most of the beta period, but now no longer exists.

i actually believe this is better because archiCAD finally uses the system default browser instead of limiting to a choice between IE and netscape.

however! if you look through the help files, this option apparently still exists! the screenshot is from a PC, so maybe there has been no change on this for PC users? graphisoft?

~/archiben

[SeaGeoff]

Dude you've been busy on that hammock

Here's what I know so far:
As Ben pointed out, when the button in WE is pressed files are created and placed in HD/private/tmp/501/TemporaryItems. (These folders and files are normally invisible but can be seen by searching for invisible items.) Three files are required for the system to work, ShortcutLayout.htm, ShortcutLayout.xml, ShortcutLayout.xslt. The last two appear to be created by ArchiCAD itself, the first by XslTransformer.jar, found in the ArchiCAD application folder. It's this file, ShortcutLayout.htm that is displayed in your browser. After it's created it can be opened directly (if you can find it). And it is this file I was missing.

I reinstalled ArchiCAD, choosing a typical installation, fearing some customization was to blame. That's not it. In fact my investigation revealed that ArchiCAD can run with it's install folder stripped of everything save the Lib files. Next i suspected XslTransformer.jar was some how corrupted, or it was a permission error, but so far haven't figured it out. I had one ArchiCAD installtion that worked right along side another that didn't. And at one point my new, working installation went south and developed the same bug. Now I'm on my third install and it seems to be holding for the moment. Still a mystery.