Windows 7 Tips

http://www.solidworks.com/pages/screencasts/windows7_player/Windows7.html

There is also a summary PDFsheet you can download with basic  key commands to help you negotiate windows more efficiently!

ArchiCAD HELP (not on Internet Explorer)

http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm

is a link to a web based help that you can use from Chrome, Firefox etc!

Shell Tool

AC15 online Help reference:
http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac15_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm

Wiki reference:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/ShellTool
Skip past the modelling example for useful "how to" movies.

Easy Creation of Shell Geometries

• Extruded: Extrude a Shell between any two points in space
• Revolved: Create a Revolved Shell
• Ruled: Make a Ruled Shell between hand-drawn profiles on any two planes in space

Graphical Editing for Full Design Freedom

• Edit Shell profile graphically in any window: extrude, distort, tilt, rotate or revolve the Shell to fit your needs.
• Freely define the Shell outline by drawing its contour by hand. Add skylights, fitting them smoothly to a flat or curved surface.
• Create holes of any shape in any part of the Shell.
• Customize any edge of the Shell.

Accurate Geometric Display on the Floor Plan

• Shell display on the Floor Plan reflects its real geometry in 3D.

Which all dovetails nicely with this reminder from Cadimage about their Extrusion tool

http://blog.cadimageworld.com/2011/12/need-a-wavy-beam-to-hold-up-that-shell/

Work environment tip

If you prefer to configure your own Work Environment and you use Teamwork, consider adding this to it.

Set to auto "release all" once the project is "Closed"...so you do not accidentally keep items reserved when closing a project


This has been added to the latest GBA work environment.

BIMx

http://www.archicadwiki.com/BIMx

BIMx is now available for office use.
The steps for saving out a model for adding on to a iPad are contained in the following link:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/BIMx/Workflow

Renovation Tool

http://www.archicadwiki.com/Renovation

A good read for an overview of this new tool

Communicating your design using iOS and Android

Recently two interesting products have been launched - what do you think?

BIMx

• Add on to ArchiCAD, exports a 3D model to a suitable format (care must be exercised in model size etc)
• App on mobile device allows for navigating 3D model in real time
• Navigation controls even allow for stairs etc to give a lifelike experience
• The whole model can be accessed 
• http://www.graphisoft.com/products/bim-explorer/

iVisit3D

• Contained within Artlantis 4.0, exports rendered views and plans to a suitable format
• App on mobile device allows for navigating linked 3D panoramas, including rendered floor plans showing locations
• As all rendering has already been done to the quality of a typical Artlantis rendering, there is less work for the device to do.
• Only nominated panoramas can be accessed. There is no need to work on parts of the model that will remain unseen from the selected locations.
• http://artlantis.com/1224_abvent-announces-artlantis-featuring-ivisit-3d.html
• http://itunes.apple.com/en/app/ivisit-3d-lite/id465950816?mt=8
• http://www.ivisit3d.com/

Modelling tip

Great little tip
(ref http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=196676#196676)

1. Slab with hole
2. Multiply slab
3. Add Shell for SEO
4. Hide Shell and there you go

Guidelines in AC15

http://www.youtube.com/user/EricBobrow#p/c/1/E99TsG6jJ1E

lots of useful tips on the 'new' method

Align labels

aligning-labels link
(WH)

Coupled with vertical guidelines in the layout (i.e. on a layer that can be toggled), this can be quite powerful.
Right click on a view in Navigator and select 'Open source view with layout as reference'

AEC Bytes review of AC15

Quite a good article from AEC Bytes reveiwing AC 15.

http://www.aecbytes.com/review/2011/ArchiCAD15.html

(WH)

ArchicadWiki - Sketch render

Did you know that the ArchicadWiki has useful summaries of various tools.

http://www.archicadwiki.com/SketchRender

iPad apps

Click on the link for a list of architecture, engineering and construction project management software apps for contractors, project managers and architects. 


http://www.softwareadvice.com/articles/construction/the-best-construction-management-apps-for-the-iphone-and-ipad-1082510/

Create 3D models from photographs using the web.

OVERVIEW

Capturing the reality as-built for various purposes (renovation, rapid energy analysis, add-on design, historic preservation, fun, etc.) is now possible using your standard point and shoot digital camera thanks to advanced computer vision technologies made available through Project Photofly.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Allows anyone with a digital camera to create near accurate 3D models from photographs using the web.
• Utilizes common point and shoot digital cameras.
• Harnesses the power of cloud computing to translate photos into detailed 3D models.
• 3D models can be manipulated by design software (e.g., AutoCAD, Inventor, 123D).
• Allows sharing through YouTube, iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch.

http://labs.autodesk.com/utilities/photo_scene_editor/

BIM - liability issues

http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2011/05/110519-BIM-Lawsuit-1.asp

ArchiCAD 15

Want to see where it is going?

http://www.graphisoft.com.au/products/archicad/

and here

http://www.archicadwiki.com/ArchiCAD15

For a live demonstration of ArchiCAD 15, register for the
 “BIM and DESIGN” Webinar on June 7, 2011.

Groups in ArchiCAD

Thanks to shoegnome - link added.
Repeated here FYI:

1. The enable/suspend groups button should always be visible.  If the button looks like the image below, then groups are enabled. Otherwise they are suspended.
2. It’s a good idea to have shortcuts for enable/suspend groups, group, and ungroup. This is what I use:
   command+G: groupoption+G: enable/suspend groupscommand+option+G: ungroup
3. When groups are enabled, you move the group as one unit. When groups are suspended, you can move individual elements within the group while maintaining the existence of the group. Ungroup means the elements remain, but the group is gone.
4. If groups are enabled and you group 2 (or more) existing groups (lets call them A & B), the subgroups remain within the larger group (lets call this C). What that means is that if you ever upgroup the new group (C), groups (A) and (B) will remain. However if groups are suspended, all groups are suspended, not just the outer most group. This means to move group (A) in relation to group (B) you either have to ungroup group (C) or suspend groups and move the elements individually. It would be awesome to suspend group (C), but keep groups (A) and (B) enabled. But there are more important things in life. Note, if you make group (C) from groups (A) and (B) with groups suspended, the subgroups will be lost. Note, when groups are ungrouped while they’re suspended, they will all become individual elements, regardless of whether they were in nested groups.
5. If groups are enabled and you move/rotate/copy/mirror a group, all the elements are effected, even ones on hidden layers. If some of elements are locked and groups are enabled, the entire group can still be moved, rotated, etc. If you have groups where not all the elements are visible at all times, make sure you know when groups are enabled/suspended (see point 1). Otherwise you will be angry and annoyed.
6. Groups can span multiple stories. You can’t group 3D objects in section/elevation, but you can group them in 3D. So if you group elements from the 3D window, you can have a group that contains a wall on the first story, a slab on the second story, a column on the third story, etc. If groups are enabled and you move part of the group on one story, the rest of the group on the other stories moves as well. In version 14 (maybe earlier versions as well), when you move/rotate/etc. the group in plan you will see the ghost of the grouped elements from the other stories as well.
7. If you group 2D and 3D elements in plan, then group multiple 2D/3D groups in the 3D window, you will be able to have 2D elements within the multi-story group. If you then suspend groups, delete all the 3D elements (in plan, section, elevation, or 3D window), and then enable groups again you will end up with a multi-story group containing only 2D elements. Try it.  Similarly you can group two elements then delete one, leaving just one single grouped element. Such an element cannot be edited without suspending groups. This could be as bad as it is good.
8. Grouped elements can be changed even with groups enabled, by way of parameter transfer (syringe).
9. Groups are represented by eight colors on the following order: olive, dark blue, burgundy, green, blue, dark red, wine, plum. Quite the smorgasbord and after that they will repeat! 
10. Grouping of 3D elements can only occur in plan or 3D. Grouping of 2D elements with other 2D elements can occur in any view or layout (including master layouts).
11. The following cannot be grouped: all dimension tools, all viewpoint tools (including cameras), zones, labels, doors, windows (including corner windows).
12.  Drag/rotate/multiple/mirror/etc. a copy of a group with groups enabled, the copy stays a group. Drag/rotate/multiple/mirror/etc. a copy of a group with groups suspended, the copy is no longer grouped.
13. Copy a group from one file to another (or within a file using cmd+c/cmd+v) and it remains a group regardless of whether groups are suspended/enabled in either file.
14.  Inserting a new node to a wall, beam, or line creates two elements. If the original element is part of a group, the new element is also part of the group. Use the split command to cut elements into pieces and everything also remains in the group.
15.  Unifying 2 (or more) polylines/lines: If the last element selected is part of a group, the new unified element will remain in the group (and also take on any other properties of that element–layer, color, etc.). If the last element selected is not part of an existing group, the new unified element will not be part of a group. This is actually more a function of unify than of groups. The final element to be selected is the element that all the others become a part of.
16. Linework/Fill Consolidation: This is a bit of a mystery to me. If all the linework or fills are part of one group, then the consolidated element will be part of that group. If there’s a mixture of grouped and non-grouped elements, sometimes the final object is part of the group and sometimes it’s not. And if there are elements from multiple groups, it varies on which group the final element is part of. I have yet to figure out the pattern. Maybe someone else can.
17.  Autogroup: If the Autogroup command is on, chained polygonal and rectangular elements (such as PolyWalls, PolyRoofs, etc.) will automatically be created as a group. Components of exploded elements will also be grouped. (#17 is straight from the ArchiCAD help menu and worthy of being on this list).

Scanning to BIM

Yes, it is finally coming...(unfortunately not ArchiCAD at the moment).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGH0_u1z4aE&feature=player_embedded

Impressive

CADIMAGE channel on youtube

(click on title!).