Notes on EDU/STUDENT/FULL version files

The incompatibility between STUDENT and FULL ArchiCAD Project files (i.e. that the STUDENT version can open the project files saved by the FULL but not vice versa) was a marketing decision and the conversion process is not supported at all. Furthermore, PlotMaker will also change to STUDENT mode automatically when you import a drawing saved from an ArchiCAD STUDENT version, and will stay in STUDENT mode until restarted. Every PlotMaker file (i.e. drawings and layouts) saved in STUDENT mode from PlotMaker [no matter what the origin of the file was] will be saved as a STUDENT version file and can not be re-converted to FULL version anymore.

But: Library Parts are version-neutral, i.e. they are compatible with both STUDENT and FULL versions, so there is no need to convert any libraries from STUDENT to FULL format. The same Library Parts can be used without any restrictions with both STUDENT and FULL versions at any time. Archive files cannot be transferred, but after extracting the library from an Archive file with the same type of ArchiCAD (STUDENT or FULL), the Library Parts can be used with the other version as well.

Page last updated: Friday, September 17, 2004