ArchiCAD Plug-in

[Buggsy]

You know there is a chance I would believe in Santa if the EIAS team could create a plug-in that allows me to link my .fact model file directly to my ArchiCAD project file. I use an extension layer set in ArchiCAD for my 3D model and was wondering if it could be used in a way that means I don't have to spend arduous amounts of time re-importing a model and re-linking master materials and re-appling animation key frames and re-applying sampling levels and re-applying every@#?!thing else that needs re-doing because there is a revision to the 3D model.:dodgy:

Whats the chance of this? The believe in Santa bit, that is cause I "know" (trying to sound convincing) that you guys could make a plug-in. I can't see myself being the lone ArchiCAD/EIAS user on the planet but I could see everyone's life who uses ArchiCAD and EIAS being somewhat improved by something like this. I have used EIAS since version 2.9 and I was told at the time by the Australian reseller (Rob Keeping) that he had been instrumental in having the current EIAS plug-in implemented inside of ArchiCAD. The main reason here is because I am relying more and more of generating an income from EIAS that I am finding myself needing to be price competitive in order to secure architectural work and this would certainly make it far easier to be competitive.

Hope this is a possibility! Maybe everyone else who would like this should comment or respond here.

Michael

[mishmish]

Hi Michael,

I just saw this post. I haven't been here for a long long while. For many reasons, mainly because I gave up sweating blood the way you do, and described above. We have the same issue in the office and I sent this request to the development but the answer was that, not many people using ArchiCAD with EIAS. I don't think that stands so much the truth but let's say, ok, it's true. I would also wonder how many people are still using EIAS anyway following the late release of 9 and ownership change etc, but that's an other story. However I still love it, it's powerful, but I had to cut out from our working process and the reason we kept it updated because I personally hoping that EIAS 9 will be updated and maybe the working flow in EIAS will be better and counterbalance the time setting up materials especially when changes are happening in the ArchiCAD model.

The ideal plug-in should work similar to Maxwell plug-in (which we use, not so happy with that but for stills it's good, and saves time with the material setups however for animations even with our 48 core farm maxwell takes waay too long)

so something like the maxwell plugin- where I can select the EIAS engine as rendering and shoots out to the camera app or renderama. the only isse i hate is that the AC camera is really bad for animation and rather use EIAS cameras. but for that you need a good way to update changes in the model. OR the cinema4D plugin for archiCAD is also pretty good, but i hate fact that i loose the layer structure, that's when i decided not to bother with c4D.

i also have problems with normals. AC has a bad FACT export so all the normals usually BAD (inside pointing) and i always use transporter to fix it. extra process... actually we all should be happy that Graphisoft left the FACT export in ArchiCAD. somebody needs to revamp it. So i don't' even know if that FACT 2.9 format will import good in EIAS 9 - when finally EIAS 9 will be released.

So let's cross our finger for one thing. that fact format will work. otherwise the OBJ and 3DS export is a hell, loosing the layer and material structure with those.

now what we can do is just keep crying and maybe somebody will write a proper export or plugin. untill, we loose production time or not use EIAS. have to choose. or just use in combination with others. I learned that over that 6 years using AC-EIAS combo.

[Tomas Egger]

Ola my friends,

We are working really hard here, its our first upgrade, so, we are doing as much as possible to make our user base workflow easier :)

About ArchiCAD plug-in, lets release 9 and after that take a closer look in this issue.

Thanks

Tom