Detail Tool use causes all data to be lost

[Anonymous]

I am running an Intel iMac 20" and ArchiCAD 10 for intel.
When I use the detail tool in section, the detail indicator appears normally on the section when I complete the operation, but when I go to look at the detail in its window, there is nothing but a partial grid showing. Clicking back into any other window or story shows absolutely nothing. All data in all windows has apparently been lost. I used the Organizer/layout editor both times when I attempted to open the detail window.

As a test, I took an earlier version of the same file, opened it on my old G4 Powerbook, created a detail normally and saved the file. When this altered file was opened on the iMac, the detail appeared normally and I was able to place it on a layout and crop it as you would expect.

Please suggest diagnostic / preventative proceedures I might persue to investigate and / or repair the problem. I have not tried opening the drawings using the emulated version using Rosetta. If this would be useful for you, I will reload it and give it a shot.

Thanks so much for all your hard work on the Intel Mac version. It really is a vast speed improvement over the Rosetta version.

Chris Ellis

[Anonymous]

Chris here again.

Writing up the problem caused further reflection and investigation. I opened a fresh version and tried creating a new detail and and opening it by double clicking on its icon in the left column of the organizer / layout editor window. The data loss problem reoccurred.

I quit, did not save, reopened the drawing, created a detail and then used the view menu>navigate>details>open detail drawing to open the detail. I was successful this time and the data remained in the drawing and was not lost as before
.
I was also successful using the mininavigator toolbar to access the detail.

WATCH OUT FOR THE ORGANIZER WINDOW !

[Anonymous]

Have you tried selecting the detail marker, right-click > Open Detail drawing?

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Stuart,

That technique works as well. I was just getting used to having the organizer open and clicking on the layout I wanted when the detail drawing / data loss thing started happening. As with most processes in Archicad, there seem to be a number of ways to accomplish things. I just wanted to know if others had seen this problem, or it was mine alone. Having a bunch of work arounds is great, but it would still seem to be an unexpected booby trap. Having everything disappear after days of work is a bad feeling. Didn't want others to get that feeling.

Thanks for the suggestion.

Chris Ellis

[Anonymous]

Chris

I was wondering if it was a Layer issue, so if you select the detail from the plan, right click to open, you at least know the layers that are visible are still on, whereas if you double click a saved view you might have inadvertantly changed the layer combo somwhere (although this shouldn't happen if you are using the project map to navigate, just a saved view set).

If you go to one of your details with missing info, turn all layers on, zoom extents, is there anything there?

[Anonymous]

Stuart:

You are a genius ! When I double clicked the new detail, it was blank as before, but in going to the layers palette, all the visbility eyeballs were turned off as you thought they might be. When turned on, all is good !

Why that would happen is a good question, but knowing the cure is 98% of the solution. Is there a setting that governs new windows or new detail windows buried somewhere ?

Thanks, Chris Ellis

[Anonymous]

My guess would be that if you get to your details via Project Map in navigator, the current layer settings (or layer combination) would apply. Alternatively, when you navigate via a saved view, the layer combo saved with that view is applied, along with other settings (scale, display settings, 3D settings, etc.)

Simple answer: when you first view your newly created detail, set the scale, layer combination, display options as you want them, "Save current view" in View Map, and use this saved view to navigate back to the detail. You can change these settings using the "Get current window's settings" button in View Settings if you need to. I (and probably most others) sort my views into separate folders for Plans, Sections / Elevations, Details and 3D views, and very rarely even go to the Project Map.

[Anonymous]

Many thanks.