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?

[Anonymous]

As this is a completely new library, based on what is stated in the Special Edition Manual, it would appear that transferring window/door settings from one project to another is impossible since you can't use both libraries.

We have completely setup standards for doors/windows. Any suggestions on how to get the U.S. Library standards into the Special Edition Standards without having to redo every door and window type we use.

Does loading the new template transfer existing working environments, or does all that have to be reset/redone also.

Thanks,

grant

[Karl Ottenstein]

aahatimo wrote:
btw, how would one work on pre-se projects, after it is installed, just not load it?

Yes. Just continue with the libraries as currently loaded in your projects.

Now, if you loaded the FOLDER for the archicad libraries instead of the PLA, then if you place this (and other libraries) in the library folder, they will all be loaded and you'll have a mess. If you see something strange happening (lots of messages at library load time at start-up), just fix things in Library Manager, or your file system, or both.

Karl

[Karl Ottenstein]

NOELDESIGNS wrote:
Does loading the new template transfer existing working environments, or does all that have to be reset/redone also.

Work environments are independent of PLN files or libraries, so no change is required there. HOWEVER, a variety of preferences are by file, not by environment - and so if you start a new project with the new US Startup Template, the preferences will likely not match your own. Generally, I would think that only new users would start out with the US Startup Template, as existing users would have their own template(s) from prior projects.

[Anyone who doesn't have a template customized for their workflow is well-advised to work on one, perhaps based on the US Startup Template, download one (such as Rex Maximillion's), buy one [such as Eric Batte's - but I don't know that it has been updated for the SE library yet], or hire someone (like Link) to help them make one. There is no one-size fits all template - depends on your practice, type of work performed, etc.]

I think we'll hear more about what is in the new library when GS makes the official announcement ... perhaps on Tuesday. 😉

Karl

PS Grant, you probably know this, but Work Environments are 'fragile' unless saved. Each category in the work environment turns to 'custom' if it is modified. All such changes will be lost forever if another work environment is activated without have saved or redefined those 'custom' changes. Further, once each scheme is redefined, the entire work environment consisting of all of those schemes should be exported somewhere and backed up (or transferred to your other computers, where it can be imported). Following these steps avoids any concern about loss of work environment. 😉

[Anonymous]

Karl, thanks for the feedback. The other part of my question was regarding existing doors/windows.

As I have defined most of the doors/windows in multiple projects, if I now use the Special Edition libraries, the doors/windows will not be setup as currently used. As both libraries can't be loaded at the same time, do you have any ideas of how to get the settings for doors and windows from the US libraries to the Special Edition libraries.

I have considered simply copying a wall that has an existing door and/or window from a current plan, but don't know what types of problems that will occur. I assume if I copy from a PLN that uses the US library into a PLN that uses the new Special Edition library that the door/ window will not show up since the correct library will not be loaded.

I like the new Special Edition library, but don't want to have to recreate all the doors/windows that are setup as our standard.

Grant

[Karl Ottenstein]

Hi Grant,

Yeah, I ignored that part of your question because I don't know the answer.

IF the new SE library had used unique names for the objects and macros, then we could have used both libraries at the same time, and used parameter transfer to transfer common settings from old parts to new ... and then finished adjusting the new parameters.

(The windows/doors have lots of new parameters, the wall type parameter being one that would definitely make old projects look different. The 'stud wall' type - not the default - seems to match what we have now most closely, but the other wall types allow for generation of much improved graphics depending on the wall construction.)

I had what I thought was a brilliant idea - opening two copies of ArchiCAD so that I could eyedrop parameters from one and syringe them into the other, but alas that does not work as the eyedropper does not place its information on the clipboard. Oh well. Sure would be a handy feature, though, regardless of this library issue!

So, I can't think of any convenient way to re-use existing standards with this new library...

Karl

[Laszlo Nagy]

Karl wrote:
I had what I thought was a brilliant idea - opening two copies of ArchiCAD so that I could eyedrop parameters from one and syringe them into the other, but alas that does not work as the eyedropper does not place its information on the clipboard.

Karl, can you copy-paste the element you want attributes from from one file to the other file, and then transfer the settings with the eyedropper and syringe?
That should work.

[Anonymous]

Karl, thanks for your reply. While I have tested and like the new Special Edition libraries, I think someone at GS should have found a way to make the two libraries(old and new) compatible.

I understand the logic of using the new libraries, but to say the least, the process is time consuming and cumbersome to recreate the variety of doors and windows used in the old libraries to the new libraries.

I would have thought someone at GS would have considered this and had a solution before bringing out the libraries. I don't know how difficult it would be, but perhaps GS can consider a quickie conversion program that takes all the parameters(doors/windows) from the US library to the Special Edition library.

Thanks again for your feedback.

Much appreciated.

Grant

[Karl Ottenstein]

laszlonagy wrote:
Karl, can you copy-paste the element you want attributes from from one file to the other file, and then transfer the settings with the eyedropper and syringe?
That should work.

This cannot work for library parts. (For building elements, it is fine.)

For a D1 door, for example, if you copy the wall/door to the other file ... the D1 door now references the loaded D1 library part in that other file ... which is the new library.

But, there is something more mysterious going on ... as within a single new file using the new SE library, I cannot use parameter transfer to copy params from one door to another within the object settings dialog. I'll report my findings to GS...

Karl

[Laszlo Nagy]

I see what you mean.
Thinking of that, I just recently had a similar problem of not being able to transfer parameters. I modified a Window Marker, saved under a new name and wanted all my Windows to use the new one. I had to save it under a new name because the original was included in the ArchiCAD.dll file so there is no way of overwriting that. Parameter Transfer cannot be used on this, although the Marker object is GDL just as a Window. Have to do it manually