Important Note: ArchiCAD Hotfix and Cadimage Tools

The new ArchiCAD Hotfix conflicts with the Cadimage Tools in OSX, and in some cases, may stop the hotfix process from completing.

NOTE: This only applies to Apple computers running OSX, with ArchiCAD 13 and the Cadimage Tools. Specifically, the 3D Profiler, Design Suite, or Structural Suite.

To avoid this problem, navigate to Macintosh HD:Applications:Graphisoft:ArchiCAD 13:Cadimage Tools Extras, and rename Profiler to Cadimage Profiler before running the hotfix.

If you have already installed the hotfix and are experiencing problems, navigate to the following folder, Delete the Profiler file and then Rename the Profiler.backup folder to Cadimage Profiler.

When you are done in either case, your folder should be left looking this:

Once this is done, run the ArchiCAD Hotfix installer again to complete the process.

Tags: Hotfix

Following the Outline of a Mesh with 3D Profiler

As you may know, the 3D Profiler tool can extrude a profile along a path. This path can be drawn on the fly, or you can draw a path with polylines and extrude along that.

But did you know that it can extrude a path along the edge of a Mesh? All you need to do is select any mesh you have drawn, and choose the Extrude along Selected Elements command from the 3D Profiler menu.

After you’ve chosen which profile you want to use, it’ll create an extrusion all the way around the edge of the mesh, following any contours you have in it.

As usual with 3D Profiler, the extrusion is done using the anchor point you select in the settings, and the profiler remains vertical all the way along the mesh edge. This makes it ideal for things like fencing around the edge of a site, but can also be used to more easily create complex extrusions by creating a mesh outline first instead of having to trace a path and then elevate each point.

Tags: extrude, mesh

3D Profiler Dynamic Editing

As you probably know, the 3D Profiler tool allows you to extrude a profile along a path. But did you know that once you’ve done that, you can also Dynamically Edit the path?

To do this (edit dynamically that is), you need to use the 3D Profiler’s Edit Modes, which you get to from the Cadimage – 3D Profiler menu.

There are several different edit modes, each for doing a different operation.

XY Edit Mode lets you shift nodes around in Plan view.

Planar Arc Edit Mode lets you do the same, but with Arcs instead.

Spline Edit Mode lets you edit the path as a spline, letting you do crazy stuff like this.

For more information on the Edit Modes, check our Help Centre here, or just have a go yourself. Once you’ve tried using them, you’ll figure them out pretty quickly.

Tags: editing, profiler

Cadimage Preset Manager – The Screenshot Tour

If you’ve stopped by the blog anytime in the last couple of months, you will no doubt have seen one or two posts about the new Profile Management system.

“I realize that you guys think this new system is amazing guys, but honestly, what does this thing even look like?” is a question that you may have been asking yourself at the time.

Well, wonder no further dear readers! I present for you, in spectacular technicolour, the screen-shot tour!

(Click on an image to see it full sized)

Figures 1 & 2 show that creation of a new Profile, which so far looks the same as it always has. However, after entering a Name for the profile (no file saving necessary, just give it a name), you can see in figures 3 & 4, how to get to the Preset Manager and what it looks like.

Figure 5 shows the dialog that is displayed when clicking the ‘Edit’ Button, and figure 6 is just showing off the profiler in 3D.

Finally, figures 7 & 8 illustrate the Import/Export system, which works by allowing you to import or export multiple profiles (or the whole set) into or out of just 1 DAT file. This means you can easily send sets of Profiles to others, or move them between projects!

Tags: preset, profiler

Rapid Details & 3D Profiler Interim Release is Online Now

The Interim Release for 3D Profiler and Rapid Detailer mentioned last week (here) is now online.

Just login and go to My Account – Downloads – Interim Releases to grab the 208 builds.

Please Note: If you own both 3D Profiler and Rapid Details, you will need to install both of the Build 208 interim releases, as they make changes to each other. If you only own one tool which has a build 208 release, then you’ll be fine with just that release.

Tags: interim

Interim Release – Rapid Details & 3D Profiler

We’re just finishing work on a pair of new Interim Releases for the Rapid Detailer and 3D Profiler Tools. We’ve brought the Rapid Detailer up to speed with the enhanced Preset/Profile Management system that we integrated into the Wall Framing and 3D Profiler tools a month or so ago.

Major changes are:

• Presets are Embedded in Detail Elements

• Link to relevent Help articles firectly from within the tool’s interface

• All available presets are loaded in the Preset Files list.

• No need to browse for presets anymore!

• You will, however, need to import presets before you start working with the new system.

• Always save presets to the correct folder (ie. you can’t forget where you saved a preset)

We are planning to have the new releases out early next week, so keep watching the Blog, FaceBook Page, or Twitter to find out as soon as it goes live.

Tags: interim release

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.

Madrid Airport

The most rewarding parts of all the travelling I do is a mix of:

1. Being able to meet our customers – a fairly uncommon event for Internet Software  companies

2. Getting to experience world architecture

Last week I was in Madrid and arrived at Barajas-Madrid Airport. While experiencing this amazing building I couldn’t help but think this building provided an answer to an extremely common question we receive “What does 3D Profiler do?”

Over time I have decided that unlike our other Tools 3D Profiler really needs to be described by examples not words.

Recently we uploaded a number of youTube videos that used a bus shelter as an example to show the many uses of 3d Profiler.

Below are some images of both the airport and a very quick model. Apart from some slabs, columns and curtain walls, the majority of the structure was created with the various Tools within the 3D Profiler Tool:

Check back soon as there may be some more images uploaded.

Cadimage Tools Hotfix 3

We are pleased to announce the release of the Third hotfix for the Cadimage Tools for ArchiCAD 12. This update brings a number of fixes as well as the introduction of Steel Framing into the Wall Framing Tool. We have also updated the installer to support English, German, Spanish, French, Russian and Norwegian localised versions of ArchiCAD. Get the latest versions here:

http://www.cadimagetools.com/myAccount/downloads.aspx

And make sure to read the release reports to find more details on what has been done.

Tags: Hotfix

Deutsche Cadimage Tools herausgegeben!

Cadimage Tools ist stolz bekanntzugeben, dass von heute an fünf der Cadimage Tools als örtliche deutschsprachige Versionen verfügbar sind.

Die folgenden ArchiCAD 12 Tools sind heute herausgegeben und sind ab sofort zum Kauf und Download erhältlich:

• 3D Profiler
• Key Notes
• Landscaping Tool
• Revision Manager
• Stair Builder

In Verbindung mit der Veröffentlichung, wurde die Cadimage Tools Webseite komplett überholt und ist nun auch als örtliche Webseite auf Deutsch vorhanden.

Das Übersetzen, Entwickeln und Instandhalten der Tools in mehrfachen Sprachen stellt das Entwicklerteam vor zusätzliche Herausforderungen. Wir sind jedoch der Auffassung, dass die Vorteile regionaler Versionen diese internen Herausforderungen bei weitem überwiegen.

Zu diesem Zeitpunkt wird unser Online Support noch auf Englisch angeboten. Wir werden allerdings die Nachfrage unserer deutschsprachigen Kunden beobachten und ständig unser Hilfsangebot überprüfen.

Wir werden mit ortsansässigen Graphisoft Partnern in Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz zusammenarbeiten, um diesen grossartigen Anlass zu fördern.