Interim Releases

As we go through support tickets and emails, we often get reports of ‘issues’ in the tools that we need to patch up. Often this doesn’t take very long, but the process of fixing everything that has been reported takes time, as does getting the completed package properly tested and ready for release. We appreciate that in some cases, having to wait a month or two is just too long though, so that’s why we’ve introduced Interim Releases.

The Interim Releases will be issued much more frequently than the Official Releases so that you can get your ‘fix’ as soon as humanly possible. The interim releases will be given a basic check-over to make sure that they don’t do anything horrid to your ArchiCAD setup or your projects, so you can be confident in using them on production computers.

We’ll be working to get issues you report into an interim release as soon as possible, but sometimes we may not be able to fit all the fixes in before we make an interim release. You’ll be able to see which things are fixed in the Release Reports (in the Help Centre), and which are still outstanding. If in doubt, you can always just contact us (via support ticket, email, facebook, twitter, skype etc). At the moment, you can only download the latest available Interim Release for each tool, but we will be allowing access to the full history of all Interim Releases shortly.

To get an Interim Release, go to the Downloads page and click on Interim Releases from the sidebar on the left.

You’ll then see a grid of all the available Interim Releases. Simply click on the Windows or Apple logo to download the Windows or OSX files, and once the download is finished, you can install as normal (follow the instructions here if you’re unsure).

If you do encounter any problems while using an interim release, please let us know which one/s you are using when reporting issues.

Tags: interim, interim releases, releases

Downloads Page Updates

We’ve just made some pretty major changes to our Downloads page to make it not only easier to use, but to allow you to access even more than you could before. We’ve also added completely new Interim Release and Manual Installation sections to really help you get the most out of the Tools.

The Downloads page now has 4 options in the sidebar on the left, allowing you to access each section.

Current Releases

The Current Releases are the latest versions of the tools for the current ArchiCAD version. At the time of writing, this is ArchiCAD version 13, and the current releases are almost all version 13.1.

Anatomy of the Page

The Green area is the sidebar, which lets you choose which section you want to see. The Purple area indicate which Operating System version you have selected, and allows you to change it. The Blue area shows the tools or suites that you actually own. Tick the boxes on the left of any of the list items to include that in the download. The Yellow area is the tools or suite that you don’t own, but you can tick the boxes on the left of any of those to get a 30-Day free trial of them. Finally, the Red area is the Download button. This will start the download process.

The Interim Releases are explained here.

Tags: downloads

Profile Management Enhanced

With the recent release of Update 1 we have overhauled our Profile Management System in response to customer feedback.

Without boring you with all the detail Profiles are now stored within the project file (PLN) so the need to search for text files is almost forgotten.

Text files still come into play if you want to move profiles from project to project or to share them with other 3D Profiler customers. However entire collections of Profiles can be imported and exported from a single file.

We suggest you review the information in our Help Centre:

• Create a Profile
• Edit a Profile

For those of you who have created large libraries of Text File based Profiles we have ensure you can migrate easily to the new system - just follow these steps.

Please note: Our Rapid Details Tool also uses Profiles and we are now in the process of transitioning this to work with the above system as well.

Update #1 for Cadimage Tools

Late last week we uploaded our first Update for our ArchiCAD 13 Tools.

This update addressed a number of issues discovered during the first 8 weeks of customer use. Thank you to all the customers who notified us about these issues and for your patience in this matter.

A complete overview of the updates can be viewed in our Help Centre.

In conjunction with the Update we also under took a major overhaul of how we manage the Profiles used in our 3D Profiler Tool based on customer feedback – more on that here.

During the last 8 weeks we have also improved our Internal Development processes and our Web Download Delivery System to help provide you with a better and simpler process and one which will enable us to release minor updates in a timely fashion. We still have the finishing touches to add to this new system so keep an eye out for more information soon.

Buy One and we’ll give you another!

Cadimage Tools is pleased to wish you a very Happy November! Starting right now, if you buy any one Tool or Suite from us, we’ll give you another one (of the same or lesser value) completely free!

Just buy any Tool or Suite from now until the 13th of December, and then email customer.care@cadimagetools.com to let them know what you’d like as your free gift. You don’t even need to make it something different, it could be another license of the same product if that’s what you want.

Note: You are not limited to one free Suite/Tool; for example, if you buy 5 Design Suites we would give you 5 Documentation Suites - Free - if that’s what you wanted!

Also: This offer doesn’t apply to upgrades, only full Tool/Suite purchases.

Tags: 2 for 1, promo

Cadimage Tools – Support Bulletin

It has now been over 6 weeks since we started shipping the Cadimage Tools for ArchiCAD 13. The upgrades have been flowing in and inevitably so have the support issues.

During the last 6 weeks there have been a handful of commonly asked Support questions so we decided to consolidate them into a support bulletin.

ArchiCAD 13 Migration – Recommendations and Common Issues

Libraries

It is very important that only Cadimage Libraries for ArchiCAD 13 are loaded. Loading Cadimage Libraries for ArchiCAD 12 will lead to issues like “Can’t find Cadimage Macros” or a variety of other issues that appear when you try to produce a 3D View.

Work Environment

We also recommend using an ArchiCAD 13 based Work Environment. At times you will be required to use the Observe Elements command (see below) this command does not appear if you are using an old Work Environment.

Some Tools require additional settings in the Work Environment. Refer here for more information.

Observe Elements

Once you have opened your ArchiCAD 12 project in ArchiCAD 13 and loaded the 13 Libraries you will need to use the Observe Elements command on your Doors and Windows to ensure they work correctly.

Background: The Observe Elements process was implemented as part of our Speed and Portability enhancements. It only needs to be performed once on the Project. As part of our next Hotfix we have updated the process to work on the entire project rather than a selection of objects.

View Only Objects

If at any point an object shows the ‘View Only’ dialog and suggests you purchase the Tool you will need to simply re-load the Libraries. This issue commonly occurs when you close a second session of ArchiCAD. The View Only mode was implemented as part of our Portability Enhancements.

More…

Information regarding Migration is available in our Help Centre so keep an eye on this page for further updates: http://help.cadimagetools.com/#ins-transition-to-ac13

Activation Issues

We have started a Trouble Shooting page in our Help Centre regarding potential Activation Issues. If you experience any issues please visit this page first to see if it can help.

Stair Builder

A major enhancement to Stair Builder for ArchiCAD 13 was the introduction of the Assemble Stair command. In short this command takes all the individual flights, landings and railings of the Stair and assembles it into a single Object. This Object can then be saved as a favourite, dragged, mirrored etc but most of all is significantly faster to use.

This enhancement has raised a couple of frequent questions:

How do I change the Pen Colours of my Stair?

How do I turn off the Label for my Stairs?

The answers to these questions are in our Help Centre (click on the question to go there directly) as the next Hotfix will address these issues in an improved manner and therefore the Help will also be updated to reflect these changes.

Tags: ArchiCAD 13, Support

World Architecture Festival

Many of you will be aware that the World Architecture Festival is on again in Barcelona over the next few days.

In conjunction with the Festival is a series of WAF Awards. There are 47 Awards this year in 42 different categories.

Being a New Zealand based company we decided we should highlight the New Zealand entries that have been short-listed which in itself is a great achievement:

• Yellow Tree House Restaurant – Pacific Environments NZ Ltd
• Ironbank - RTA Studio
• NZi3 Innovation Institute – Warren and Mahoney
• Wilson School – Opus Architecture
• Wintergarden at The Northern Club – Fearon Hay Architects Ltd