1. Art.lantis 3.5.apx Add-On for ArchiCAD 6.5 has a new feature. When you save your file to Art.lantis 3.5 from ArchiCAD 6.5, in the Image menu / Create Fly-Through dialog, choose Art.lantis 3.5 file in the Result pop-up menu. After the Save, all the Fly-Throughs will be present in Art.lantis 3.5, with all cameras in the same position they held in ArchiCAD.
2. 2. Art.lantis 3.5.apx Add-On for ArchiCAD 6.0 has a similar feature. You can save your file from the Fly-Through dialog box as an Art.lantis 3.5 file. The small difference is that in Art.lantis 3.5 you will see as many cameras as frames were set in ArchiCAD 6.0 to create a Fly-Through. In every frame-create position, a camera will be placed in Art.lantis 3.5.

GSReport files have been a tremendous help to our developers when searching for the cause of a problem. We have summarized below some important points about our experiences.

It is extremely useful when the problem description field is filled in. In version 1.2, which will be shipped with R2/v2, an alert comes up if this field remains empty. Please communicate to your users that this is a key issue.

We have received GSReport files where the Exception Info is in the Description tab. In these cases, either the GSReport.exe is not in the GSReport folder, which is located in the ArchiCAD folder, or it is coming from a Macintosh user. Due to technical reasons, the GSReport program can not be started automatically on Macintosh computers and the RPT file can not be generated either.

Sometimes we get a series of report files and in the worst case they all are called GSReport.rep, sometimes they are numbered. It is a good solution if you name it after your company. A more descriptive name is also highly appreciated (like 3D_Window_Crash.rep).

We'd also like to stress that we don't want our users to send these report files directly to us for two reasons:
- We don't want them to skip you (the distributor or dealer knows the client best)
- We don't want to be flooded with letters from users.

If they know our direct e-mail address they will inevitably start writing to us in other cases as well, not only when sending a bug report. To ensure that these files are not sent directly to Graphisoft, the user is given only two choices after filling out the report:

1. Save it to a file and send it to the local ArchiCAD representative (you) either by e-mail or on a floppy disk.

2. Print it and send it to the local ArchiCAD representative (you). This method, however, is NOT preferred, since it generates a huge amount of paper and it is very inconvenient for the programmers to work with. We are presently working on a third possibility of sending it through the Internet, but we will still want these messages to be filtered through you.

If a problem arises, please send it to Technical Support using the following e-mail address: techsup@graphisoft.hu.

You will receive the following automatic reply: "We received your email at Graphisoft Technical Support. This email is an automatic response and does not require a reply. Please include the following line in all future correspondence concerning this issue:

Follow-up: 011143
Thank You,
The Graphisoft Technical Support Team

******************************************************************************

Original Message Follows:
Subject:..."

Following this, R&D's Technical Support will respond to the sender by e-mail within two days, saying either

1. A bug is confirmed. In which case the sender will get a reference number (TestTrack No.) and a confirmation;
   
2. The bug is not confirmed. In this case, TechSup will specify any extra information that is needed from the sender;
   
3. Development needs more time to investigate this problem. TechSup asks for patience, and promises to keep the sender informed.

When/If you reply to TechSup's email, please send it to the person you received it from, e.g., by using the Reply button in your e-mail software. Otherwise, we cannot keep track of the issue in our new database. In the rare case that there is NO answer to your bug report within three days, please let us know:

Bence Kovacs: bence.kovacs@graphisoft.hu
Antal Krepler: akrepler@graphisoft.hu
Miklos Szovenyi-Lux: miklos.szovenyi@graphisoft.hu

and cc. to:
Nadine Béchara <nadine.bechara@graphisoft.hu> (PMD Assistant)

Please make sure that you send your report to techsup@graphisoft.hu; otherwise, we can not take responsibility for any discrepancies from the above process. Also, it is very important that you only include one problem per email.

Thanks to the new OpenDWG development library from the Open DWG Alliance, ArchiCAD 6.5 R2/v2 can read and write AutoCAD 2000 format DXF and DWG files as well.

In the R2/2 subrelease of ArchiCAD 6.5, there are two engines for handling the DXF I/O: the one we used until now, and the new OpenDWG version. By default, the old method is active. The new engine can only be switched on by a special new line in the Config text file: #NEWDXF

This is a simple line that can be placed anywhere in the configuration file. As a default, this line will be part of future configuration files (after R3/v3), but it will be commented so it will be not in effect. Placing/uncommenting this line in the configuration file will make it effective the next time the configuration file is used for conversion. (You can switch it off by commenting the line by placing an exclamation mark before the #.)

This also means that when you open/save a DXF/DWG file without a configuration file, the default (non-OpenDWG) method of conversion will always be used.

We recommend that you use the new engine only when saving DXF in AutoCAD 2000 is needed, because:
- Opening AutoCAD 2000 format DXF files is possible with the old engine; although, proxies and images will be missing.
- The I/O process is longer because of the new engine, even if you use the R14 or R13 formats.

On the Mac PlotMaker, it is not possible to write AutoCAD 2000 format. Due to an error in the OpenDWG code library, it is currently not possible to save as AutoCAD 2000 DXF or DWG. We hope that the developers of OpenDWG will fix this soon, so we will be able to incorporate this feature into the program.

DXF files not saved with OpenDWG are not read in AutoCAD 2000. It is an unfortunate fact that AutoCAD 2000 simply doesn't read any DXF files that were not created with the OpenDWG method in ArchiCAD. So if you want to give a DXF file to a consultant that is using AutoCAD 2000, please be sure to use a configuration file for the save operation and uncomment the #NEWDXF option in it. If you use an older configuration file that doesn't include this option, simply insert this line into it.

If the DXF file is saved with the OpenDWG method, AutoCAD 2000 will read it without any problem from version R12 up to version R15 (AutoCAD 2000's version number).

Note: For DWG conversion, the OpenDWG source was already built into ArchiCAD 6.0 already, which caused some slowdown. Further slowdown is not expected with ArchiCAD 6.5 R2/v2.

Some clarification is needed following our earlier notes. In DWG format we can communicate with AutoCAD 2000 without the need to use the configuration files. You only need to select the AutoCAD 2000 format in the save dialog when saving. At opening, ArchiCAD will automatically recognize AutoCAD 2000 format files and handle them accordingly. (The only exception is PlotMaker on the Mac platform. It is not possible to write AutoCAD 2000 format" in DXF or in DWG format.)

You can write DXF files for AutoCAD 2000 from ArchiCAD either by choosing the R12 format, or by pasting the #NEWDXF line into the configuration file to be used and then selecting the proper configuration file in the Save and Open dialogs. All other formats created by our default Add-On are rejected by AutoCAD 2000.

Opening AutoCAD 2000 DXF files works without the use of the #NEWDXF option. However, bitmaps and proxy graphics (placeholders representing proprietary ARX data if present) will be omitted; only standard DXF data is read in. Opening and saving DXF data with the #NEWDXF option enabled will result in slower reading and saving performance and will require substantially more memory, but on the other hand:

• AutoCAD 2000 will read all versions of DXF (R12-R15)
• bitmaps and proxy graphics will come through into ArchiCAD when this conversion method is used.
  

A new version of the GSReport application (version 1.2.13) is shipped with the ArchiCAD 6.5 R4/V4 subrelease. Unlike with the versions before (1.2.10), it is not possible to open a GSReport file by simply starting GSReport.exe (The application will begin checking your computer every time for creating a new .rep file.) To open these files, you must go through a few extra steps.

On the Windows platform

To open a file by dragging it over the GSReport.exe icon, first do the following (as before):

1. Choose the Run command from the Start menu, type Regedit.exe and click OK.
2. Find the "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Graphisoft\GSReport" key.
   Note that if you have several GSReports of different versions on your computer, they all have an own folder for their keys. These keys apply only to the dialog box's position and size. The techsup mode key is stored only once in the folder mentioned above.
3. Double-click on "techsup" in the right-hand side of the window.
4. When the dialog window appears, make sure the "value data" is set to "1".
5. You can then open the report files by dragging them on top of the GSReport.exe icon.

To open the existing GSreport file by double clicking on the .rep file, you must first follow these steps:

1. Choose the Run command from the Start menu, type Regedit.exe and click OK.
2. Find the "My computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.rep" folder.
3. Delete this folder (named "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.rep").
4. Start Windows Explorer (Start menu Programs).
5. Go to "ViewMenu/Options/FileTypes".
6. Click on "new type".
7. In the appearing window, type ".rep" as an extension into the "associated extension" field.
8. Click on "new".
9. In the appearing window, type "open" in the "action" field.
10. Click on browse and find the program "GSReport.exe".
11. Confirm the dialogs by clicking on "close".
12. The icon of the .rep files should change.
13. You will then be able to open the *.rep files by double clicking on them.

On the Macintosh platform

To open the file by either method, please follow these steps:

1. Make sure that the TYPE of the report file is "REP " and the CREATOR of the report file is "GSBR" using ResEdit or DropInfo.
2. Go to the Preferences folder in your System folder and open the "GSReport Prefs" file in a text editor program.
3. Type "1" in the line "techsup" and save the file.
4. You can then open the report file either by double clicking on it or by dragging the file on top of the GSReport application icon.

As we informed you in FF #117, Graphisoft stopped shipping USB dongles for Network License sites because the keyplug reliability did not meet Graphisoft Quality Assurance standards.

Rainbow Technologies has since developed a new series of the dongle that solves the reliability problem. Our long-term usage tests verified this, so Graphisoft will resume the shipping of the USB dongles for Network License sites beginning with the first the pending orders.

Soon the Network Licensing Software will be shipped on CD for USB dongles, as the Macintosh computers used as a Network USB dongle server do not have a floppy drive.

We recommend the USB Network License option as a safe, affordable and convenient ArchiCAD solution for middle-sized and large architectural offices.

A new driver for Xerox plotter models 8825 and 8830 is available on the graphisoft.com/support page:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/new/printplot/plotdrivers.html

Previously, you could only plot to these plotters by using an HP DesignJet driver or the generic HPGL/2 driver. The driver is cross-platform, it works for both PCs and Macs. (The downloaded file is in .HQX format. You can extract it with WinZip 6.3 (Windows) or StuffIt Expander (Mac and Windows).) Put the extracted file "Xerox.GPD" in your PlotWare folder. If you want to use the driver immediately, you will have to restart ArchiCAD or PlotMaker if it is already running.

Recently we have got several reports about "can't save" error messages and occasional disappearance of .PLP files. Two cases have been already published on the ArchiCAD-Talk. We managed to find out that the problem is caused by multiple people saving to the same folder and various Team Projects being in the same folder. It means that if you save .PLA, .PLN, .PLP, or .PLC files into the same folder at the same time one of the saved files might disappear in extremely rare cases. The reason is the identical name of the ArchiCAD scratch file which exists only for a short time.

We made a fix for it in ArchiCAD 6.5 R3/v3, but until then the entirely safe workaround is to keep files in separate folders especially TeamWork PLPs and PLCs, where it is by nature the most frequent that several people are working on different files of the same project. Incidentally, it is more safe to store ArchiCAD project files in separate folders, because it also helps to avoid accidental overwriting of others files.

As a follow-up to the TechSupport News of the last Fast Facts, technical people might find the following information concerning ArchiCAD's Save operation of ArchiCAD interesting:

1. There is a file already with the given name, the Original file.
2. A new file is created alongside the original file called ArchiCAD.src on (Windows), ArchiCAD.scratchon the MacOS
   (If the name is already taken by a locked file, ArchiCAD 6.5 R3/v3 will try to save ArchiCAD.scr1 or ArchiCAD.scr2 and so on. If the scratch file is not locked, it will be deleted.)
3. Data is accumulated, compressed and written out to ArchiCAD.src
4. The file is closed, the original file is either moved to a back-up folder, renamed to a back-up or deleted.
5. The scratch file is renamed to the original file's name.

This sequence is desirable, because if at any point of the saving process the file is not written out correctly, the process is aborted, and the original file is retained. There are safeguards built into the process, the interaction of those plus a specific timing sequence is responsible for a possible mix-up that may potentially delete the original file and not create a replacement. If, however, two people save to the same folder at the same time in versions up to ArchiCAD 6.5 R2/v2, either the scratch file can't be written out properly or, if they are timed in a certain way, the process can be fooled. That is why we suggested in the last issue to keep project files in separate folders.

Let's recommend you to do the following steps:

• select one or more elements for any modification (like drag, stretch or change by a Settings window)
• do the change
• activate the Undo command of the Edit menu (you realise that you did something wrong)

After the Undo dimensioning chains associated with the previously selected elements become selected as well.

Note:
If someone does not realise that the dimensioning chains became automatically selected (or does not see all of them), hitting the <Delete> or <Backspace> key or activating the Clear command of the Edit menu can lead to unwanted loss of dimensioning chains.

A nasty TeamWork related bug was discovered in ArchiCAD 6.5 R3/V3. If the user is working in a .PLP or .PLC file and copying any element from a story below the zero (either by selecting one or more element there or using the multi-story marquee) ArchiCAD crashes. The bug might appear on both Macintosh and Windows platforms.

To fix the bug, patches were created for versions already on the market. There is a separate patch for Japan and one for updating full copies in the rest of the world. Separate patches will also be made available for the EDU and the UNIV version.

After updating the Macintosh version, "© Graphisoft 1984-2000 (Subvers: 58)" will appear in the Information window below the program name. On Windows, you will see "6.5 R3 (2758)" in the Properties/Version.

The patch for theUS version is available on the GSUS Website http://www.graphisoft.com/support/updates_downloads/patches/us.html

There is a problem with the new HP Designjet 500 and 800 plotter models: their internal '61N Jetdirect card' seems to be incompatible with AppleTalk. The plotfile can be partially or entirely sent but nothing comes out from the plotter.

There are two workarounds:

The plotters will plot via an external jet direct box using the Graphisoft HPGL2 driver (choose any model, e.g., HP Designjet 650C or 750C and use the Custom paper size until specific drivers with appropriate margin presets are released). The 500PS/800PS models include a Postscript card and a Postscript driver for the Mac, so at least you can print, even if plotting via Appletalk is not possible.

On Windows you can use the same plotters with TCP/IP or NetBEUI protocols without problems using the Graphisoft HPGL2 driver (choose any model, e.g. HP Designjet 650C or 750C and use the Custom paper size until specific drivers with appropriate margin presets are released). Check in the Downloads area for new plotter drivers!

1. Set up your layout in PlotMaker.
2. Go to File/Plot Setup and choose an HPGL/2 based plotter such as the HP 350C. If you have a raster plotter then your current driver is probably ok.
3. Go to File/Plot and click the radio button for the Destination to be File.
4. Click on the Save button in the Save As dialog that comes up name the file and note which folder you are saving it into.
5. Open a new Layout.
6. Go to File/Add Drawing and in the File Open dialog that comes up choose File of type (or file format) as HPGL (or plotter file). Find and open the file you saved in step 4 above.
7. With this drawing placed on the layout, select it if it is not already selected. Go to the File menu and go down to Open "blank" (where blank is the name of your drawing).
8. The drawing will open into its own window. Do an Edit/Select All, then do an Edit/Mirror to mirror the whole drawing.
9. Go to File/Save to save the new mirrored copy of the drawing and then go back to the layout where the drawing should now be changed.

Make sure you have QuickTime installed with the "recommended" option chosen at installation and not with the minimal option selected. Uninstall QT then reinstall it with the recommended option selected.

Another way to tackle this is to make use of ArchiCAD's offer at startup (this comes once a day) to install QuickTime's Authoring Tools. Choose 'Do It Now' (as seen on the screenshot below) to download and install the required components.