How to move the ARCHLine.XP Environment?

The program allows you to copy files created in the course of your work, to copy them from one machine to another or to a new version of the program.

Import objects, materials, styles from previous version

If you want to make previously set parameters from version 2023 (or older) available for 2024 on the same machine, you can do this in the "Import objects, materials, styles from previous version" dialog box that appears when you first start the program, as you did in previous years. This function can also be called later from the File -> Options -> Open and Save dialog -> Import custom settings and files from previous versions.

Moving the environmental package

It is possible to move your working environment from one machine running 2024 to another machine running 2024. Typically, this might be the case when we will continue to work on a new machine in case of a machine change. The function is available from the File -> Options -> Open and Save -> Transfer Environment from One Computer to Another dialog box, or from the File -> Import -> ARCHLine.XP -> Environment Package location.

Creating an environmental package

You can start the command from the File -> Options -> Open and Save -> Transfer Environment from One Computer to Another dialog box, where you first have to select whether you want to export or import the environment package. When exporting, you can export all data and settings, or just the ones you select individually. Once you have specified the location on your computer where you want to save, the program will create the environment package. If you want to export only certain types of data, for example, only your textures, you must select the Custom option. When importing from the environment package, you have the option to load the entire environment or select individual elements of the environment and copy only the options you need.

The supported data are:

Material libraries - user-created materials with textures and all material properties
Object libraries - user created or downloaded objects, doors, windows, profiles, groups
Styles - styles created by the user and saved in the User category (e.g. Wall, Slab, Column, Monolithic Suspended Ceiling, etc... styles)
User line styles, User hatches, PenColour file, Command aliases, Location names/pictures, User light styles, Custom user interface profiles, and Displays.

Importing the environment pack

We have to make sure that after the .environment file of the environment package is exported, it has to be physically transferred to the other computer, and then we can start reading it. One of the methods already mentioned can be used to read the .environment package file. When importing from the environment package, you have the option to load the entire environment or to copy only the options you need, selecting individual elements of the environment. If the program finds objects or materials that already exist on this computer, it will ask you to confirm whether they can be overwritten. More detailed information about the files can be obtained by clicking on the View items button.

If there are styles in the environment file, the program will never overwrite styles with the same name on the computer, but it will copy the ones that do not conflict to the User category. At the end of the import, the program must be restarted to ensure that all the data is in place.

Only transfer objects or materials from one computer to another

It is possible to select any number of objects or materials in the Object Centre and export them to an .environment file. These can be read as an environment package with 2024. In this case, the package will contain only the specified objects and no other data of the kind listed above.

You can also import a package with the .environment a extension from the gear menu in the Object Center. You can also import such files by dragging and dropping them onto the ARCHLine window from the Windows Explorer.

When upgrading to 2024, how can data from the old version be moved to the new computer?

1. Install the new version of the software you have purchased on the old computer and accept the automatic import of the environment in the pop-up window when you start the program for the first time.
2. Use the Move Environment Package - Export command and save the .environment file.
3. Locate the saved .environment file in your computer's directory and copy it to the new computer using an external media.
4. When you start the new version of the program on the new computer, use the Move environment package - import option.
5. Once the changes have been made, restart the program on the new computer and the elements of the old environment will immediately appear.