Migration Guide

Summary: This document tries to help with the 64-bit transition from ARCHICAD 13 on.

  1. Introduction
  2. Installation of 64-bit tools
    1. on Windows
    2. on Mac
  3. How to use
    1. on Windows
    2. on Mac
  4. Hints
  5. Notes

0. Introduction

As the size of projects created with ARCHICAD grows, so is the need for a 64-bit version of the application. With API 12, the first steps have already started (e.g. introduction of our own type definitions). From API 13, we will ship a 64-bit version of ARCHICAD on Windows. In ARCHICAD 15 we switched to 64-bit on Mac as well. From API 17, we will ship only the 64-bit version of ARCHICAD on Windows.

Let’s see step-by-step what this means to YOU.


1. Installation of 64-bit tools

Windows/Visual Studio

The steps below cover the installation for 64-bit Visual Studio 2010 Professional Edition.

  1. Go to “Add or Remove Programs”
  2. Select your Visual Studio Installation
  3. Click Change/Remove
    Install 64-bit tools
  4. In the installation dialog, select “X64 Compilers and Tools”
    Install 64-bit tools

Mac/Xcode

You are all set; the Mac Developer Tools already contain the 64-bit version of the compiler and linker.


2. How to use

on Windows

If the installation was successful, then you’ll be able to select a new x64 platform in any projects’ Configuration Manager:

  1. Open the Configuration Manager dialog, and select <New…> from the Active solution platform popup.
    Active configuration
  2. In the next dialog, select the x64 platform
    New x64 platform
  3. You can copy your settings from the Win32 target
    Copy Win32 settings

Now your project is ready to use for x64 development.

on Mac

You have to select the x86_64 architecture in the project. (You may have to add this to the Architectures (ARCHS) build setting beforehand.)

Active architecture Build settings

Please also note that we are using the 10.6 SDK now, as ARCHICAD 17 runs only on Mac OS X 10.6 (Snow Leopard) and higher.


3. Hints


4. Notes

Modified in 14 All examples now support 64-platforms.

The Add-On Wizard now includes 64-bit targets as well (there’s a new checkbox when you create a new Add-On project; the default is OFF).