Archicad 25 file opened in Archicad 29 – Archicad 29 Library not available

[arsyy]

Hi everyone,

I’m having an issue with libraries when opening an Archicad 25 project in Archicad 29.

When I open the file in AC29, the Library Manager only shows the Archicad 25 Library. The Archicad 29 Library does not appear, so I can’t use any of the new objects from AC29 in this project.

Details:

• Project originally created in Archicad 25

• Opened directly in Archicad 29

• Only Archicad 25 Library is loaded

• Archicad 29 Library is not available

• I want to continue working using Archicad 29 objects

Thankss.

Operating system used: Windows

[Djordje]

In general:

Since the library management and workflows have changed with 28, it is advisable to work on 27 and older files in 27. That is the last version that manages the libraries the "usual" way.

If you really need to work in 29, a session of reloading the libraries and extensive library management work is on the cards.

You will find the workflows here https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Libraries-objects/tkb-p/tkb-library

BTW, all older versions of Archicad will work with the current commercial license, unless the corporate gods of cloud licensing decide otherwise, but that is another topic... 

[Barry Kelly]

There is no migration of library parts from 27 to 28, it is a completely new global library.

So if you have a file created in 25, you can open it in 28/29, but keep using the old 25 library.

The only way to migrate is to manually swap each old object for the 28/29 equivalent.

You would do this for your template so you can move forward, but it would be a very big job to do for each old file.

Keep working in the old version or use 29 but keep the old libraries.

You really don't want to load the old and new libraries at the same time, as that will just get confusing.

Barry.

[JaredBanks]

A bit late to this thread, but I recorded a video on migrating a project from pre-28 libraries to post-28 libraries:
https://shoegnome.com/2026/03/09/migrating-a-project-to-the-global-libraries-in-archicad-29/

I agree with what was said above though. If the file was started in Archicad 25, upgrade the library to Archicad 27 (if you want) and no further.
Work in Archicad 28/29 or newer, but stick with the Archicad 27 or earlier libraries. Transitioning from 25 to 29 will be a slow, manual process.

[Patrick M]

even AC28 didn't have it's own library; it used the library 27.lcf...
just load the 27 library and migration libraries. 

[Patrick M]

you can work in 29 with the 27 libraries... technically...

[Lingwisyer]

You would need to install AC27 or AC28 to get the library, or have someone send them to you as the AC29 installation does not include it.