new ac 9 (us only) special edition library is posted!

[aahatimo]

the long awaited us library is here:
http://tr.graphisoftus.com/
has anyone tried it out yet? i will wait, like directed, until i have a new project. btw, how would one work on pre-se projects, after it is installed, just not load it?

[SeaGeoff]

Point well taken Ransom. I am happy to see GS put out a mid-cycle release other than a bug fix. And I look forward to discovering more improvements. I too am an early adopter and was in the process of doing exactly what they warned against, update an existing project. But it's my own house so there is no professional impact. I work on the model from time to time and use it to test new stuff. I was grumpy, as my earlier post shows, because swapping in the new windows was the first thing I tried.

As I said I am pleased GS has begun to address the deficiencies in the stock library. It is an area where ArchiCAD can really distinguish itself from the competition. And it's an area where there is still a great deal of room for improvement, which will be much appreciated by new and existing users alike.

[Tibor Szolnoki]

NOELDESIGNS wrote:
Any news from GS whether or not the new US Special Library is going to be fixed to work correctly, and also to address the issues raised in this forum.

Thanks,

Grant

Dear Grant,

GS will release a corrected version of the SE Library in the near future. Please note the library was released only two weeks ago so we'd like to give more time for the users to report bugs. Most of the issues raised on this forum are user interface and usability problems and not really killer bugs. We'll inform you when the corrected library is available.

Best regards,

[Tibor Szolnoki]

Let me reflect to some of the criticism related to the UI of the SE doors and windows. Please note that currently the size of the UI tab page is limited to 444 x 266 pixels. It doesn’t help if you try to enlarge the the window setting dialog the UI will remain the same size.

Our goal with the new UI was to help novice users in navigating between the parameters and also to give a visual feedback of their function. We also tried to set up a nice structure for the UI but the main focus was on better usability. I have to admit that on some tab pages the UI design is not satisfactory; however I think the new doors and windows are way easier to use then the old ones. Nevertheless we are open to any new ideas to improve the UI.

As you can imagine it was very difficult to arrange more then 150 parameters on such a limited space. Also please consider that the number of parameters appearing on a tab page is very much depending on the actual values of other parameters. See the attached pictures. In this example you can see that if you choose the custom size option for certain frame members new parameters will appear on the UI dialog. We’ll revise the UI for the next AC version and try to make larger parameter fields if possible.

The slider that appears on the UI if you widen the window setting dialog is a bug in the MAC version of AC. It can’t be fixed in GDL. I have reported this problem to the developers.

Regarding the missing features (e.g. different materials on the interior and exterior sides) please post your wishes on this forum and we’ll consider them for the next US library.

Thanks

[SeaGeoff]

Thanks Tibor. It's very encouraging to get straight talk right from the source.

[Anonymous]

I read this thread from top to bottom, and I still can't decide whether it is better to use the Special Edition library, or the updated ArchiCAD 9 library.

Why a "Special Edition"? Why not just make the stanadard library better? Are the differences that radical? Is the SE libarary intended for serious use in R9, or are they thinking of using the SE library in R10 (meaning this is just a beta)?

My biggest concern is regarding implementation in a large office that is already working in two versions. What I'm reading in this thread indicates that one you select a library for a project, you should use that library for the rest of the project. I'm already maintaining an R8.1 library (for legacy projects that are almost done) and an R9 library for current projects. If I decide to give new projects the option of using the SE library, it sounds like I'm setting myself up for a lot more headaches. Is it worth it, or should I just wait until R10?

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

I am getting a 'Page not found' at tr.graphisoft.com when I try to download the mac/sitx version. zip is downloading OK and I would guess there are no differences.

[Question: is there any point in having a separate sitx download when Stuffit Expander will also expand zip?]

[Anonymous]

Question. Is there an ability to use wall thickness to define door/windor frame width as in the regular library. I can not seem to find it and have to manually adjust for different wall thicknesses.....
Am I missing it?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

Don't know if all are aware but there is an Anderson Window Library at the US GS homepage,.... http://www.graphisoftus.com/index.html They do look like the ones at GDL central though.

[Djordje]

g.h.design wrote:
Question. Is there an ability to use wall thickness to define door/windor frame width as in the regular library. I can not seem to find it and have to manually adjust for different wall thicknesses.....
Am I missing it?

Yes there is, at least in the International version. See attached.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Djordje....