Documentation
About Archicad's documenting tools, views, model filtering, layouts, publishing, etc.

U3D and xml file

Anonymous
Not applicable
I am trying to make a working vector pdf as per this link https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/user-guide/77264/... which is great up until the last step when you select the file you saved in step one then the archicad tells you you need the .xml file ( which is there but you have no way to use import add or do anything with it... the file was made by archicad when I made my U3d file but it seems to have forgotten it already has it. I cant make a pdf from it and can not combine the two files... )
9 REPLIES 9
Since Archicad allows the export of BimX file, the pdf 3D has more interest because it:
- is more complex to set up
- is heavier to use than a bimX
- does not contain spatialized graphic parts in the model
- handles very little textures and shading
- etc. ...
The 3D pdf is the ancestor of the BimX which exists for more than 6 years and which is completely free and very intuitive

How to : https://helpcenter.graphisoft.com/user-guide/65681/
What does it means : https://bimx.archicad.com/
Christophe - FRANCE
Archicad Designer and Teacher
Archicad 15 to 27 FRA FULL

OS 11.6 Big Sur - MacBook Pro 2017 - 16Go RAM
"Quality is never an accident ; it's always the result of an intelligent effort" John Ruskin
Anonymous
Not applicable
We know. But we need PDF specific files for a client. Anyone... any help on this would be great.
Barry Kelly
Moderator
Are you sure you are following these steps?
I just tried and it is working fine.
Can you show an image of where you are getting stuck?

Barry.
One of the forum moderators.
Versions 6.5 to 27
Dell XPS- i7-6700 @ 3.4Ghz, 16GB ram, GeForce GTX 960 (2GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11
Anonymous
Not applicable
Hi Barry

I can follow these steps up to the last one where you load the created file - the *.xml file is saved separate, but nowhere does it allow you to import them both. It doesn't ask for the *.xml file, it simply states that it can't find the file. This I explained in my initial query.

Can you please help?
Barry Kelly
Moderator
I am lost by '*.xml' file.
There are no xml files involved?

You save the 3D view as a U3D file.
Then save the 3D view on a layout.
Create a Publisher set for that layout to publish a PDF.
In the PDF options you turn off 'PDF/A', enable 'Embed 3D Content' and then 'Browse' for the U3D file that you saved.
Then Publish.

Barry.
One of the forum moderators.
Versions 6.5 to 27
Dell XPS- i7-6700 @ 3.4Ghz, 16GB ram, GeForce GTX 960 (2GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11
Anonymous
Not applicable
I have made videos of what I do and what happens...

The files are too big to upload so I have added them to dropbox here..

https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ndoh46wg1mszkof/AAC_OTr1ZgOK7saifKEGgENha?dl=0
Barry Kelly
Moderator
It may have something to do with the size of the U3D file.
The message warns you that there will be problems if the file is over 5MB.
Your file is over 127MB.

Turn off all of the layers that you won't see (i.e. internal furniture).

But really this U3D in a PDF is very limited.
You are much better off with a BIMx file.

Barry.
One of the forum moderators.
Versions 6.5 to 27
Dell XPS- i7-6700 @ 3.4Ghz, 16GB ram, GeForce GTX 960 (2GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11
Anonymous
Not applicable
Thanks Barry,

I managed to reduce the file (closed all layers not seen) but can only get to 34.5MB. It still makes a .xml though...


Regards
Karen
Barry Kelly
Moderator
Ignore the XML (I think it is just an info file of some kind) and just add the U3D file.

Maybe using simpler textures in the surface materials will help reduce the file size further, but that probably defeats the purpose as you will want to see the proper textures.

I think you may still be struggling.
I remember doing it with a house many years ago and never had much luck.

Barry..
One of the forum moderators.
Versions 6.5 to 27
Dell XPS- i7-6700 @ 3.4Ghz, 16GB ram, GeForce GTX 960 (2GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11