Tips to open PLA file
Can't open the PLA file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PLA files as well as a list of programs that support PLA files.
PLA file extension
| File Name |
ArchiCAD Project Archive |
| File Developer |
Graphisoft |
| File Category |
CAD Files |
The PLA file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PLA files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PLA file on each system platform.
What is PLA file?
The file with the extension PLA is the CAD Files file type. It was designed by Graphisoft. Additionally, the CAD Files category contains 158 of other files. ArchiCAD Project Archive appears on 2 operating systems as a functional file. Although it can be found with greater or lesser success on any operating system, it will only be useful on Mac OS, Windows. The main program that supports this format is ArchiCAD. This was created by Graphisoft. This file type can also be opened by 1 other programs.
How to open PLA file?
The main problem with ArchiCAD Project Archive is that the PLA file is incorrectly associated with programs. Thus, when you open PLA, the program selection wizard or some other program starts. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PLA file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install ArchiCAD
In this case, you should first verify that the ArchiCAD application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name ArchiCAD into the system search engine. If we do not have this program, it is worth installing it, as it will help you automatically associate the file PLA with ArchiCAD. Below is a list of programs that support the file PLA.
Programs to open PLA file
Remember to download programs supporting PLA files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of ArchiCAD with PLA files
If the application is or has been freshly installed, but the PLA file still does not use the ArchiCAD program, it means no association. The association can be created using the drop-down list available by right-clicking on the file and selecting Properties. The displayed window will contain information about the program that supports this type of file. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the PLA file with the ArchiCAD program.
Step 3. Update ArchiCAD to the latest version
If, despite the association of the ArchiCAD program with the ArchiCAD Project Archive file, the file still does not open, check the program version and possibly update it to the newest version. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Graphisoft website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PLA file
Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. This could be due to the file itself, the cleanest issues are:
The affected file may be 0 KB or smaller than expected. Usually this applies to PLA files downloaded from the Internet in case the download did not finish properly. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The operating system may be infected with a computer virus. Perform a virus scan using available and up-to-date anti-virus software. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the PLA file that we want to open. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover PLA files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
This can happen especially when the program is dynamically developed and the structure of the PLA files changes over time. These problems are known and are often very easy to fix using the software developers's website.
There can be many reasons for the failure. The repair method must be adapted to the type of file and damage. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair PLA file corruption. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Graphisoft, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted PLA files can be used by the device on which they were encrypted, on any other device it is required to have the appropriate cryptographic key and decrypt the file before its recovery.
Some of the system directories are excluded from modification. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the PLA file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. You may find that another program you are using is preventing you from working with the file. Closing other programs should help. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PLA file again. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If this does not work either, restart the device.
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