ARCON Home
Design FAQ
For instruction on how to Activate you software please refere to the link below.
How to Activate
1. Error
messages on loading
Whilst
every effort is undertaken to ensure that all of our software is
simple to install and easy to get up and running, occasionally
different configurations of pc can cause rare issues.
Some
users may experience messages on loading the software such as 'No
connection to calculator' and 'Failed to create time edit control'.
These issues are a result of .dll files (component parts of the
software) not being correctly registered within the registry of the
pc. This generally occurs because virus protection software which is
active during the installation prevents these files from being
correctly registered. There are two methods to correct these
problems:
1) The simplest method
is to uninstall the software. Once this has been done, temporarily
disable your anti-virus software and re-install your Arcon product.
This should allow all the files to be correctly registered and once
complete, you can then re-activate your anti-virus software.
2)
A utility within Windows can be used to register each dll file that
is causing an issue. Firstly, identify the name of the file that is
causing the problem (this should be given in with the error message).
You will then need to find the location of this file (try c:\program
files\eleco\arcon.....). Once you have found this open another
explorer view and locate a file named regsvr32.exe (this should be in
c:\windows\system32 but use CTRL+F to locate if you are
having difficulty). Once you have this file and the dll file on
screen, simply use the drag and drop method to place the dll file on
to the regsvr.exe file. Repeat this for any further dll files that
are causing issues.
2. Use
Arcon on more than one machine?
Question:
I
have purchased a product from your range and have installed it on my
deskptop. Now I want to put the same product on my laptop. Can I do
this?
Answer:
We
undertake a long project to design, develop and test each title prior
to release for sale. Each title requires time and resources to create
and accordingly, we make use of copy protection systems to ensure
that our software is not illegally sold, copied or redistributed.
As
a part of this system, all our software is sold under the terms and
conditions specified in the license agreement, to which users agree
prior to installation. The license agreement clearly defines that
each product sold may only be activated on a single (1)
machine at any one time. Accordingly, the software protection system
will not allow multiple installations of the same software and our
pricing of the software has been designed with this in mind.
3. Manual
Activation?
Question:
The
computer I wish to install my Arcon software on does not have an
internet connection. How can I activate the software?
Answer:
The
software can be activated manually as follows:
1)
On start-up you will be presented with an activation dialogue box
2)
Click on 'Activate'
3) Enter the
serial number that came with your software and click 'Activate'
4)
You will then have a choice of automatic or manual activation
5)
Select 'Manually'
6) You will then be
given a hardware code. Make a note of both this hardware code and the
serial number you entered earlier
7)
Contact our helpdesk by telephone or by email at
arconsupport@eleco.com
and provide us with both of these numbers in order that we can
generate the activation code for you.
Please
be aware that during busy periods, it can take up to 24 hours for us
to obtain the activation code for you.
4.
Selecting an object?
Question:
Why
can't I select an object?
Answer:
Within
Arcon 3D Architect, there are a number of objects which you may find
that once placed, cannot be selected again to edit, move or delete
(eg. dimensions, roofs etc).
This
is because, in default mode not all object types are selectable. This
is however, fully customisable to suit your own requirements.
Using
the menus, navigate to:
Options >
Program > Snap and Select > In Construction Mode...
(shortcut
CTRL + Spacebar)
Select the
'Selectable Elements' tab. You will see a variety of object types.
Ensure those you require are ticked and press 'OK'.
5. 3D
object locatation?
Question:
Where
are my 3D objects located?
Answer:
Your
3D objects are located in your 3D design mode, to enter this press
hotkey F12.
Notice on the top right hand corner a icon that
looks like an open book.
Click on this a menu will appear on the
right hand of your screen.
This is your Textures/Objects
Catelog.
If you see only File System and Drives you will need to
drag the right hand side border of the catalog so you can view the
object files/texture files.
From these files you can simply
Drag and drop your objects/texture into your projects
6.
Defining a texture for the Floor and Ceiling
Question:
When
i texture the floor the ceiling texture takes on the floor texture
too, is it possible to define separate textures for the floor and
ceiling.
Answer:
Yes
it is. To do this double-left click on the floor space of a
room in 2D construction mode.
From
the room textures dialog select the Texture button
This
will bring up a Floor and ceiling parameters dialog
Notice
you have a Floor and ceiling tab, use the Texture: drop down
menu to select a texture for the floor/ceiling.
Click
Ok
7. Adding a
texture to a single wall
Question:
In
Design mode the whole room is always coloured or textured. Can I also
colour or texture individual walls?
Answer:
Change
into Construction mode and double-click to open up the Wall
dialog.
Within this dialog uncheck
the Use Lower Wall Texture( Only for outside Wall)box.
This
will make the texture drop down box active, this is where you can
select a colour for your wall. If you wish to use a texture that is
not contained within the drop down menu, click the arrow next to the
drop down menu which will display a cascading window,select Browse
to view alternative texture.
8. Postion
the walls internal/extrernal wall sides
Question:
When
placing walls I can position the wall axis by clicking. Can I also
position wall sides?
Answer:
After
the first click when placing a wall, press Ctrl+W to switch
between the wall axes: left side wall and right side wall. Press
Ctrl+Q only at the beginning of the wall to change between the
wall axis and the two wall sides; press Ctrl+E at the end of
the wall to change between the three possibilities.
9. Error
activating product
Question:
I
get an error while trying to activate.
Answer:
Error
activating product (no / limited internet connection)
If
you have chosen to manually activate ARCON 3D or you have been unable
to activate
automatically due to an error, please follow the
instructions below:
To obtain you activation key manually you
will have to send an email to arconsupport@eleco.com
with
the following:
Hardware Code
Note: A different
Hardware Code is generated each time you run the software.
Serial
Code supplied with the box
Once you have received an email
from us with you new activation code please do the following:
Using
the Back button will return you to the Automatic activation failed
page.
Finally clicking on the Next button will take you to the
following dialog box:
Here you can enter your Activation Key
that you have obtained online.
Note: If the Activation Key is
entered incorrectly you will be made to re-enter until it's
correct
or go back to previous options where you can obtain
the correct one.
10.
Split Levels
Question:
I
would like to use different room heights in a floor. Can that be
done?
Answer:
Yes,
by using new building feature you can create split levels.
11.
Greyed out Floors in 2D plan mode
Question:
I
designed several floors in Construction mode.
The
current floor is shown in black but the other floors are also shown
– in grey. I want to see only my floor. How do I do that?
Answer:
Select
the menu Floor > Visible floors... and select
Current floor in the dialog box.
12. Window
Length
Question:
I
know that I can design corner windows by using one of the two
freely-constructable windows and check Miter left or Miter right in
the suitable dialog box.
I would now like a trapezoidal porch
with windows in such a way to disguise the fact that all the windows
are pushed directly together. From where do I learn how long the
window of the medium side of the porch should be, so that it fills
out the whole side?
Answer:
Use
as the default window width a dimension which is longer than the
wall, and check both Miter left and Miter right. If you now position
the mouse into the relevant wall, the window is automatically set to
the correct length.
13.
Texturing Windows
Question:
I
would like to create a plan with windows like mine; the windows are
the correct size but I would like to have plastic windows instead of
wood windows. Do I have to click each window after placing it, in
order to change the textures accordingly?
Answer:
No.
Click before placing the first window, right-click the window icon
and adjust the textures as you desire. The desired textures are then
used automatically for newly placed windows.
14. Screen
Display Relatively Slow?
Question:
When
walking through a complete house the screen display is relatively
slow. What can I do?
Answer:
There
are several possibilities to accelerate the output.
Reduce
the number of areas shown when walking through by limiting the number
of polygons, for example, 2000 in the General options dialog box.
Reduce the picture in which you
move. The smaller the picture, the faster the display rate.
Use
for the view ARCON™s High Colour mode.
You
can change this with the menu:
Options>Program
>Program Setup.
Also
remember to change the setting in Windows.
Reduce
the view quality, for example, by switching the view type to wire
frame.
15. ARCON
3D System Requirements
For
ARCON to run you will need the following requirements:
Windows
XP(SP2)/Vista, 1.32 GB Free Hard Disk Space
16. Does
it run on Windows Vista?
Question:
Does
it run on Windows Vista?
Answer:
Yes
indeed the Software was specially developed to run on Windows Vista,
although it also run on Window XP.
