Blank 3D Window and error message. Please help.

[Anonymous]

I have opened the drawing and when I press 3D window button I get screen number 1. After i click OK i get screen number two.
Anybody know what is going on?
Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

Second window

[Anonymous]

It appears you have a library part or add-on that is looking for a text file. Search your hard drive for the file and make sure it is in your loaded libraries.

Failing that, go to >Options>Preferences>Imaging and Calculation... and make sure that "Interrupt with error messages" is turned off. This might avoid the interrupt (User Break) and at least get you a 3D model to look at.

It is possible that there are some elements you are depending on which need the text file. In this case you will have to find it, or replace those parts.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for your reply.
The drawing originates from a colleague that saved the project in *.pla and after i opened it (and extracted the library that he had saved with the pla file) i get this error message. I do not understand why, since he attached the library and therefore it should include all relevant information in regard to this project.
Also you told me to go to >Options>Preferences>Imaging and Calculation... but i do not have that option.... (see attached image).

I had asked this once before, but nobody really answered my question:
If somebody wants to send you a project they have worked on they are supposed to save it as a *.pla file!? In Archicad it asks you where to extract it... now my question: Does each project have its own library or does Archicad have one single "mother" of a library that feeds all projects?
Our office is located in two different towns and we will have to swap projects very often, how do you sync library to ensure everything works smooth?

[Anonymous]

The Save as... Project Archive has a critical flaw. I doesn't include macros that are called by use of a variable name. In your case it is also failing to include the text file that the library part is referencing.

One solution is to select "Include all parts of loaded libraries" in the save as options. This can be problematic since the archive file will probably become quite large, and you will begin to create many multiple copies of the libraries.

A better solution for you would be to set up some file synchronizing or backup software to keep the libraries at both locations up to date. It would be best to set this to run automatically at night so it doesn't occur while people are actively using ArchiCAD.

If you were on Macintosh I would recommend using a .mac account as a remote server for total simplicity and security. There are also online backup services for PCs which could serve the same role (though probably not as easily). The advantage of using an offsite backup service is it saves you the trouble of setting up a VPN. If you already have one then you might as well use it.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your reply!
I am a new user and I am amazed that within a week I have found a major flaw with the file management of Archicad files.
1. You told me to go to >Options>Preferences>Imaging and Calculation... but i do not have that option.... (see attached image, post below).
2. Does each project have its own library or does Archicad have one single "mother" of a library that feeds all projects?

[Anonymous]

Not sure on question one - still running 8.1, but some input on question 2:

Libraries commonly vary from project to project. A common practice is the use of a master library for objects used in the majority of projects and then an additional project library for project specific library parts. In our office, we use 3 libraries per project (the Archicad 81 Library, a company library, and then a project library). Keeping all the library parts in one file would create too large a file to make it's use impractical and would also cause a delay of loading at drawing startup.

[Anonymous]

patricprz wrote:
Thank you for your reply!
I am a new user and I am amazed that within a week I have found a major flaw with the file management of Archicad files.
1. You told me to go to >Options>Preferences>Imaging and Calculation... but i do not have that option.... (see attached image, post below).

I was thinking of 8.1. The preference is now set (in 9) in the Work Environment. See attached image.

2. Does each project have its own library or does Archicad have one single "mother" of a library that feeds all projects?

There are many ways to organize libraries. Essentially, all libraries are external to the project and so may be shared among many. The easiest way is to have one standard library that is used for all projects. This usually contains a folder for Out of the Box (GS & 3rd Party) libraries, another for office standards, and one for project specific libraries.

There has been much discussion of library management here, so a quick search should net you a lot of info.

[Karl Ottenstein]

Matthew wrote:
The Save as... Project Archive has a critical flaw. It doesn't include macros that are called by use of a variable name. In your case it is also failing to include the text file that the library part is referencing.

One solution is to select "Include all parts of loaded libraries" in the save as options. This can be problematic since the archive file will probably become quite large, and you will begin to create many multiple copies of the libraries.

Another solution, oriented towards the CAD/IT manager and not the typical user, is a new GDL command (copying from the reference guide):

FILE_DEPENDENCE "name1" [, "name2", ...]

You can give a list of external files on which your GDL script depends on. File names should be constant strings.
All files specified here will be included in the archive project (like constant macro names used in CALL statements and constant picture names
used in various GDL commands). The command works on this level only: if the specified files are library parts, their called maro files will not be
included.
The command can be useful in cases when external files are referenced at custom places in the GDL script, for example:
ADDITIONAL_DATA file parameters, data files in file operations.

This is only useful if you know the names of the macros and other files that you need, of course. Or...include the FILE_DEPENDENCE command in scripts that take an object name as a parameter.

I haven't tried it; DNC pointed it out to me.

Karl

[Djordje]

patricprz wrote:
I am a new user and I am amazed that within a week I have found a major flaw with the file management of Archicad files.

Yep, nothing is perfect ... the way to achieve this is to rigorously write the GDL objects. This has been extensively discussed earlier.

patricprz wrote:
1. You told me to go to >Options>Preferences>Imaging and Calculation... but i do not have that option.... (see attached image, post below).

As discussed, this depends on your Work environment; please check that. Plus, you ae probably in International version, while Mat and Karl are on US. That also differs.

patricprz wrote:
2. Does each project have its own library or does Archicad have one single "mother" of a library that feeds all projects?

Both

In general, as advised before, your library management should be based on four standard types:

- standard library that came with ArchiCAD, best left alone
- 3rd party libraries (Web, or bought)
- Office specific library (developed inhouse, used in all the projects)
- Project specific library (e.g. staircases, moldings, railings and other special stuff)

Now, IF your offices are on line all the time, probably the best place to keep the office library would be on the (respective) server(s), that get synchronized outside the office hours. Keep the standard library on local disks as installed, the project specific libraries in the project's library folder.

Unless you plan to adjust and modify the standard library, it is best kept in its original PLA form.

As for the file transferring: PLA is OK, BUT I personally prefer to archive or just copy to a flash drive the project folder; as the PLN, all the modules and project specific libraries are in the subfolders of the same folder, there is no danger. Of course, the rest of the general use libraries have to be synchronized.

If your offices share projects, some sort of virtual Web would probably be a good idea, so that it does not really matter where the files are, as long as someone knows where the files really are and how is the whole thing set up - or as long as it is documented.

I would recommend that your office(s) set up a system, and adhere to it. Quite a few people around the Talk are dedicated CAD managers, and do share their experiences. If you don't really have extensive file managment system, some 3rd party consulting might prove beneficial.