ArCon or cadvilla – Which product is right for me?
Have you explored our ArCon and cadvilla pages and are now deciding which product to choose? Here you will find the key questions customers often ask before purchasing.
(Note: Click each item to learn more.)
Reasons to choose ArCon planTEK
- No need to relearn the software
- Familiar toolbar interface
- You already know the software’s capabilities and how to use it effectively
- ArCon planTEK runs on Windows 11 as well as Windows XP, 7, 8, and 10
- Lower hardware requirements compared to cadvilla
- Note: The user interface from ArCon planTEK is available only in german language.
Learn more about ArCon planTEK
Reasons to choose cadvilla
If you’re open to adopting a new application with a modern ribbon interface and can invest about two to three days to get up to speed, there are many reasons to choose cadvilla.
- More advanced options for creating floor plans
- Work in parallel across multiple views (e.g., 2D, elevation, 3D) for faster insight into complex floor plans
- Multi-layer construction for ceilings, walls, and floors
- Lighting and shadow rendering (ray tracing) with soft ambient shadows
- Note: The user interface from cadvilla is available in German, English, French, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Russian, Slovakian, Spanish, Turkish and Hungarian. The manuals and support videos are available only in german and english.
From cadvilla basic plus (in addition to the points above):
- Automatically generate vector line drawings directly from a project view (e.g., 2D view or side view). These line drawings can be edited freely and prepared for printing—for example, adjust line lengths, change colors, or delete individual lines.
From cadvilla professional (in addition to the points above):
- Import older ArCon projects that meet the requirements (see: Which projects (*.acp) can be imported?)
- Plan layouts with multiple stories/floors and elevations on a single sheet
- Create custom 3D objects (e.g., a carport or a bespoke balcony)
- Import 3D objects from major libraries (e.g., SketchUp’s 3D Warehouse with 500,000+ models)
From cadvilla professional plus (in addition to the points above):
- Complex intersections of multiple roofs and complete roofscapes
- Design walls using timber/wood frame construction
Note: To make the most of these advanced features, you should be willing to learn the new tools. Our extensive getting-started video tutorials will help. Also note that cadvilla benefits from more powerful hardware for smooth performance.
Because ACP project files can originate from different architectural programs, we first summarize the requirements for importing projects into ArCon planTEK and cadvilla.
Which projects (*.acp) can be imported?
- Projects from older ArCon versions (up to ArCon +6.30)
- Projects created with ArCon versions from mb Software AG (company insolvent since 2001)
- Projects from ArCon [planTEK]
How does importing into ArCon planTEK work?
If the above requirements are met, you can open the project in ArCon planTEK and continue editing it.
If the project includes furnishings, the related items must exist on your hard drive in *.ACO or *.O2C format to be imported. This is because ArCon project files store only the file paths to 3D objects/furnishings, not the objects themselves.
How does importing into cadvilla work?
Importing ArCon projects that meet the above requirements is available starting with cadvilla professional. Ideally, the entire floor plan—including walls, ceilings, windows, doors, stairs, and roofs—is converted to the cadvilla file format and can then be edited and extended. Terrain defined in ArCon cannot be imported into cadvilla.
Because cadvilla uses higher numerical precision, minor adjustments to the floor plan may be advisable after import. These usually take only a few minutes.
To import furnishings from ArCon projects, the items must be available on your hard drive in *.ACO format. Importing 3D furnishings in *.O2C format is not supported.
ArCon 3D objects in the standard *.ACO format can be read and reused by ArCon planTEK and by cadvilla (starting with cadvilla professional).
The term “ribbon” refers to the menu band used in modern Windows applications—a graphical interaction concept that unifies menus, toolbars, and dialogs.
Since Windows 7, most modern Windows applications have used a ribbon interface. cadvilla also adopts this modern UI
Here you can see cadvilla’s ribbon interface with its main tabs.
The classic toolbar interface stems from the Windows XP era and is not supported anymore. However, we generally recommend using the modern ribbon interface, as it is easier to navigate and is also used throughout our training videos.