New User Looking for help on how to add GSM and LWA files

[Anonymous]

I am a first time user to ArchiCad (I have Ver 9) and have been getting around pretty well until I decided it was time to add to the library of GDL Objects and Materials that was provided with the software. I have a ton of stuff I have scavenged from the internet from vendors and have no clue as how to add them. I cannot find anything in the learning materials provided nor the Training materials that just says "To do this ..... First click here... Then do this..." I have a bunch of GSM and LWA files but absolutely no guidance as how to add them. If anyone can help please respond to post or email me at msantacroce@hotmail.com. Thanx Much.

[Anonymous]

msantacroce,
Put the .gsm files in a folder, name the folder, put the
folder at the same level as the AC library folder in your
file directory, go to the library manager, click on local lan,
find the fold, select it and hit the add button.
Peter Devlin

[Anonymous]

msantacroce

Your LWA files have to be located in the following archives folder:
c:\Program files\Graphisoft\ArchiCAD9\Add ons\Visualisation\smdata\archives (pause for breath).
Once they are in there you open your Materials settings, make sure you create preview with LightWorks Rendering Engine, then select "Load settings from archives" button. And you're away laughing.
HTH

[Anonymous]

Mr Devlin,
Words cannot express my gratitude. Although now I feel akin to a simpleton as the answer was right there the whole time, I guess I was making it to complicated for myself, but hey I have only been using the product for a month !. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

s2art
The same go's for you ! I now see how it works basically.

But this brings another question. Is there a way to have all the new materials appear by default so they are always available ? We are a small shop doing mostly renovations / additions, some new construction. With the dynamics constantly changing from project to project it seems there should be an easier and less time consuming way to have access to the new materials without having to go through all these steps each time. Thanx again !

[Dwight]

In the case of WORDS not being adequate to express gratitude, this usually means that you'll be sending a GIFT.

May I suggest a preorder of my only six weeks away book "LightWorks In ArchiCAD." 200, 8 1/2x11 full color wire bound pages with everything an ArchiCAD users needs to operate in LightWorks.

PM for details.

[Anonymous]

s2art,

Attached is a .jpg screen shot of my Archives directory. Basically I am trying to figure out if all in the directory can be displayed at once or grouped and displayed. ie a way to setup something similiar to a folder hierarchy that the materials can be catorgorized and grouped simply.

If someone from Graphisoft is reading this, this would be one GREAT upgrade to the software !

[Anonymous]

msantacroce
This is where my assistance stops I'm afraid. I only have about 10 LWA files, so don't have the same problem you do (must get more). I'm not sure if you can have sub-folders within archives, as there is no option to navigate within that folder.

Cheers

[Anonymous]

Further to this I have downloaded (from lightworks-user.com ) more LWA files, and RPC people. Does anyone know where to put / how to use RPC content please?

Thanks

[Dwight]

Easy enough.

To use RPC content you buy or steal one of these:

"leading visualization vendors like Autodesk, Bentley Systems International, Inc., Maxon, Robert McNeel and Associates, LightWorks and SGI have all adopted RPC technology as their preferred image-object solution."

So while LightWorks appears to use RPC, it is one of many non-implemented aspects in ArchiCAD.