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, Editable Hotspots (Library) |
|
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 OSX 10.4 (PPC and Intel); Win XP, Vista |
Virtual Trace, Worksheets, curved profiled walls, new Interior Elevation tool |
|
2008 |
Mac OSX 10.4 and 10.5 (PPC and Intel); Win XP, Vista |
Curtain Wall tool, 3D Document, Partial structure display, New Hotlink management, Multithreading |
|
2009 |
Mac OSX 10.5 and 10.6 (Intel only); Win XP, Vista, 7 |
New teamwork concept with BIM Server, annotated schedules, oriented view, embedded libraries, slanted slab edge, soft insulation |
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
INT, USA and GER versions of ArchiCAD 9 and ArchiCAD 7 may be downloaded here. These special conversion versions are ready-to-run installations, but do not include the libraries. If your older projects are not archives (PLA), then you will need to find a copy of the original libraries.
For Mac users, note that the programs are for PPC, not Intel. If you are using Snow Leopard, and do not have the Rosetta environment installed which allows running these older PPC programs, you will be prompted by Snow Leopard to install it. If you are running Leopard or Tiger, no extra action is required. Also note that while you can run ArchiCAD 9 by simply opening the disk image (dmg) file, ArchiCAD 7 will not run unless you copy the contents of the disk image onto your disk, such as into your Applications folder. These versions will run with a WIBU protection key only; they will not run with a Codemeter key. Even with a WIBU key, you may need to download the file WkMAC.LIB from here and install it as directed.