ArchiCAD versions
Version |
Year |
OS |
Features |
Radar CH |
1984 |
Apple Lisa |
Separate 2D and 3D module |
1986 |
Apple Macintosh |
Integrated 2D and 3D module |
|
ArchiCAD 3.0 |
1987 |
Apple Macintosh |
Colors |
ArchiCAD 3.1 |
1988 |
Apple Macintosh |
|
ArchiCAD 3.3 |
1989 |
Apple Macintosh |
|
ArchiCAD 3.4 |
1990 |
Apple Macintosh |
|
ArchiCAD 4.0 |
1991 |
Apple Macintosh |
Rendering |
ArchiCAD 4.1 |
1992 |
Apple Macintosh |
|
ArchiCAD 4.16 |
1993 |
Windows 3.1 |
First Windows version |
ArchiCAD 4.5 |
1994 |
Apple Macintosh |
CameraTool, LampTool, Merge |
ArchiCAD 4.55 |
1995 |
Apple Macintosh, Win 3.1, Win95 |
First version to appear on both platforms |
ArchiCAD 5.0 |
1996 |
Apple Macintosh, Win95, WinNT |
ZoneTool, ColumnTool, Splines, QTVR, Editable Sections |
ArchiCAD 5.1 |
1997 |
Apple Macintosh, Win95, WinNT |
|
ArchiCAD 6.0 |
1998 |
Apple Macintosh, Win95, WinNT |
|
1999 |
Apple Macintosh, Win95, WinNT, Win2000 |
||
2001 |
Mac OS8/9/OSX, Win98,NT4,2000,XP |
||
2002 |
Mac OS9/OSX, Win NT4,2000,XP |
OpenGL, SolidElementOperation, Navigator, LayoutBook |
|
2003 |
Mac OSX, Win 2000,XP |
||
2004 |
Mac OSX, Win2000,XP |
RichText, LightWorks rendering engine |
|
2006 |
Mac OSX (PPC), Win XP |
Integrated layouting, Slanted/Profiled elements, pre-selection, tracker, guidelines |
|
2006 |
Mac OS X (Intel) |
First version for Intel based Mac |
|
2007 |
Mac OS X 10.4 (PPC and Intel); Win XP, Vista |
Virtual Trace, Worksheets, curved profiled walls, new Interior Elevation tool |
|
2008 |
Mac OS X 10.4 and 10.5 (PPC and Intel); Win XP, Vista |
Curtain Wall tool, 3D Document, Partial structure display, New Hotlink management, Multithreading |
ArchiCAD file and hardware protection compatibility
Read indicates which is the earliest file format that the program can read
Write indicates which is the oldest file format the program can write
Protection indicates the oldest Archicad version that runs with the protection key supplied with the program
Version |
Read |
Write |
Protection |
ArchiCAD 4.12 (Mac only)1 |
1.x- |
4.12 |
4.1 |
ArchiCAD 4.16 (Win only)2 |
4.16 |
4.16 |
4.1 |
ArchiCAD 4.5 (Mac only) |
4.1(Mac)- |
4.5 |
4.5 |
ArchiCAD 4.55 (Win&Mac) |
4.1- |
4.55 |
4.16-(Win)3 |
ArchiCAD 5.0 |
4.1- |
5.0 |
4.16-(Win)3 4.55-(Mac)4 |
ArchiCAD 5.1 |
4.1- |
5.0- |
4.16-(Win)3 5.0-(Mac)4 |
ArchiCAD 6.0 |
4.1- |
5.0- |
4.16-(Win)3 5.1-(Mac)4 |
4.1- |
5.0- |
4.16-(Win)3 6-(Mac)4 |
|
4.1- |
5.0- |
6.0r5- 6.5r4-5 |
|
5.0- |
6.0- |
6.5r5- |
|
5.0- |
6.0- |
6.5r5- |
|
5.0- |
6.0- |
6.5r5- |
|
6.5- |
9- |
6.5r5- |
|
6.5- |
106 |
6.5r5- |
|
8- |
10 |
6.5r5- |
|
8.1- |
11 |
6.5r5- |
Notes:
- Versions earlier than 4.12 existed only on Mac. They could read file versions from 1.x- and could not write earlier file versions
- 4.16 was the first Windows version. This could not read Macintosh files, but there was a converter tool that ran on Mac and converted Mac archive (PLA) files to windows format and 4.16 Windows files to Mac format.
- From 4.16 till 6.5r4 on Windows platform the Sentinel protection key was used. The sentinel key could run earlier Archicad versions also protected by Sentinel. (e.g. a 6.5 key could run Archicad 4.16)
- The Mac protection key (type Microguard for versions 5 and 5.1 and type Rainbow Sentinel for versions 6.0 and 6.5) was not backward-compatible, however the Archicad Install CD contained the previous ArchiCAD version recompiled to run with the new protection key
- From ArchiCAD 7.0, WIBU protection key was used on both platforms. WIBU is platform-independent, the same key works on Windows and MAC. The ArchiCAD 7.0 CD contained a special version of Archicad 6.0 (r5/v5), Archicad 6.5 (r4/v4), which runs with WIBU key.
Since ArchiCAD 10 MacTel version is the first ARchicad on this platform, it can not save earlier file formats. More on this topic: TechNotes/AC10 Mactel version does not have option to save version 9 PLN
Converting old files
Archicad 7.0 - which runs on any platforms with any WIBU key - can open files from version 4.1. Older files have to be opened and saved with Archicad 4.12, then they can be opened with ArchiCAD 7.0. For more information read TechNotes/Converting old ArchiCAD project files