ArchiCAD Tips & Tricks: AC15

Showing posts with label AC15. Show all posts

Friday, June 28, 2013

BIM Objects APP for ArchiCAD

If you are interested, there is another source of objects...

http://info.bimobject.com/archi-cad/21892/Page

The BIMobject® app for ArchiCAD is easy to install and will create a new tool bar (menu tab), where you can reach all of the real BIM objects from real manufacturers in a easy and convenient way.

The APP lets you quickly and easily browse the BIMobject® cloud database online and filter among all objects from building- and interior manufacturers. A simple click on download and the BIM objects appears in the ArchiCAD users project and ready for placement and further configuration.
Newly added content is visible immediately from within the ArchiCAD application.

The installation file has been placed in
05 Project Resources\05.100 Archicad Support\05.102 Archicad Reference\AC17\2 Add-ons\1Copy to desktop and Run these installers as administrator\WIN OS

The following page guides you through registration and installation.
http://info.bimobject.com/archicad-help

Remember to Copy the install file to your desktop, right-click on the file and select "Run as Administrator".
(You will need to have registered at BIM Object so that you have an API key ready when you next use ArchiCAD, as outlined on the help pages).

Note that the code you are given is unique to you, and that it can also be used in other software such as Artlantis, Revit, SketchUp and so on!

Monday, January 23, 2012

Floor Cut Plane - TIP

The floor cut plane height can be set per view:

(Thanks Damian)

Procedure for Updating Standard Details on GBA Teamworkfile

Categories for details:

SC secure categories

Procedure for updating standard details:

a. Log in to teamwork file in Brisbane (Brisbane BIM server)

i. Open ArchiCAD 15

ii. Go to open…Open/join teamwork project

iii. Click on ‘Choose BIM Server’ and select the Brisbane server (Melbourne users must have Z: drive mapped. When browsing for server go to Z:\05 Project Resources\05.100 Archicad Support\05.102 Archicad Reference\Link to BIM server BNE for the link. Once connected remember that the first time a file is opened it will be slow, so leave overnight - NEVER try this during the day).

iv. Log in with your credentials

v. Then you can pick the ‘GBA Standard Details’ file and work on it.

b. Process for adding details

i. Note: This will be a separate instance of ArchiCAD – note that if you are using different versions of ArchiCAD you will be using two licences – occasionally this might be a problem if all available network licences are in use. If so you must open and close files one at a time.

ii. In the source file select all the elements of a detail.

iii. Press ‘Alt+Shift+T’ and in the dialog box select ‘ArchiCAD layer’ (this puts everything on ArchiCAD layer – best for details. Don’t save when you Exit this file)

iv. Without deselecting then copy the elements

v. In the target file (BIM server file as listed above) go the ‘Navigator-Project Map’ and create a new detail*. (Right click on ‘Details’ and select ‘New Independent Detail’).

vi. Reference ID of detail is to include a code that conforms to folders in view map, e.g. an internal wall detail will be WI- followed by a unique number that is sequential to the last detail created under that code. The name is to be descriptive of the detail (e.g. plan/ section detail etc). See below for numbering system.

vii. Set the scale of the detail window to suit your detail, and then Paste copied detail into the view.

viii. Go to the ‘Navigator-View Map’ and save the view into the appropriate folder, in numerical sequence

ix. Now tidy up detail for future re-use:

1. Copy and paste from an existing detail the bold reference text box and edit to suit new detail – this aids referencing of the detail when printed etc.

2. Font generally should be Arial Narrow 2.5mm as per latest GBA standard. Also check that there is NO distortion to text spacing, height etc - all should be on 100%).

3. Check library parts are OK – if used some may not ‘translate’ from older ArchiCAD versions and may need to be replaced with parts from the BIM server 15 library.

4. Tidy text so text boxes align (TIP – use the adjust command on labels and it will align the text box edges to the guide you draw – you can do this with multiple labels selected)and are of a consistent width (50mm wide when printed to scale on layout. TIP- Show A3 layout as trace and you can check width matches 50mm spaced lines on that layout).

5. All abbreviations should conform to latest office standard. By using a standard set of abbreviations we can confidently reuse details between projects

c. Remember to release all when you sign out!

Numbering system for Standard details.

All relevant details can be saved in one view per detail type, i.e. steel window details, steel door details, joinery details, UA cell vanity details, secure grille details. (Note that all the details need to be at the same scale).
As a result, when publishing modules we do not need to publish multiple modules per detail type, instead we publish one MOD. file that includes all relevant details for that type.

Having multiple details in one view makes the file easier to manage and copy across into the project file.
Details that are relevant to each other are all located within in one view/module file.
Within each view, each detail must be numbered with the following tag:

#DrgID-01. (#DrgID -AUTOTEXT) - 01(02,03,04…) sequential number of the detail in this view - Drawing ID BOLD
DOOR FRAME SECTION Name of detail BOLD
TO CAVITY BLOCKWORK EXTERNAL DOOR SWING Detail description
1:###. Scale set as (AUTOTEXT) BOLD

Details from one view may be spread across multiple layouts so that they can be published on A3 sheets for review. Please ensure that when cross referencing details to use the detail tag number nominated in the view rather than the layout ID/title.

The layout ID and Title must reference the detail numbers on the sheet and the view/module file title. (EX: SC-D1008-1,2,7,8,10 DOOR DETAILS)

Using Standard details

a. A publisher set will be maintained of all details, creating PDF and MOD files of each detail

b. To browse details either open Teamwork file or PDFs in the relevant folder located at: 05.102 Archicad Reference\AC15\7 Reference

c. To use a detail drag and drop the relevant MOD file from Windows Explorer straight into the ArchiCAD file where you wish to use it. As all items are on ArchiCAD layer and from a detail window (i.e.2D only) it will not corrupt your target file, and as it is native ArchiCAD components you can edit it easily to suit your project, if required.

_____________________________________________________________________

* - for those who are interested:

Archicad - Worksheet vs. Detail ~ the difference?

While creating a Worksheet based on the source model is similar to creating a model-based Detail, the Worksheet is optimized for creating partial floor plans and partial sections.

Unlike the Detail tool, the Worksheet tool has a single-click “capture” geometry method which reproduces the entire contents of the current window as 2D elements in the Worksheet viewpoint.

Consequently, when transferring all or part of a source model view to a Worksheet window:

· Annotation elements and dimensions will, by default, appear in the resulting Worksheet, in addition to construction elements exploded into 2D components. (In contrast, a Detail viewpoint created from the model will - by default - contain the 2D-only copies of construction elements only, without the source model’s annotation/dimension elements.)

· The resulting Worksheet will have the same scale as the source. (In contrast, a Detail is created, by default, at half the scale of the original.)

Friday, January 13, 2012

HAPPY New Year...

A New Year offers new opportunities, and is also a good time to look at how we do things.

Even though the office has a QA system sometimes the simple things are missed!

REMEMBER:

Transmittals

· The use of Transmittals is not optional. Except where pre-agreed alternatives are in place, such as Team binder.

· They must be filled out when drawings are transmitted. Good practice is to include a PDF copy with the sent drawings.

Drawings

· Drawings must not leave the office without a revision (email/print). If there is any contractual dispute, document identification is absolutely essential.

· A drawing (print, PDF, DWG etc. output) filename must include the project number. This requires editing output names in publisher , so as to avoid editing filenames every time.

· A drawing (print, PDF etc.) must contain the revision letter in the filename. This can be manually done after publishing, or before by editing filenames in publisher.

This is all spelt out in the GBA Office Manual, in the Essential Procedures section

GUIDES:

Wanting to get up to speed with ArchiCAD? The ArchiCAD interactive training guides are a great resource of material, and are downloaded on our server for your use:

-05 Project Resources\05.100 Archicad Support\05.102 Archicad Reference\AC15\8 Archicad Interactive Training Guides.

Some are a little old (dating from v12 and 13) but the Collaboration Guides are for 15. Launch 15, open the pla files and follow the guides…(for all guides ignore instructions about running exe files – just place in your Graphisoft folder as per instructions).

Perhaps you don’t have the time to work through these? The corresponding “eGuides” in PDF format have been copied out for casual browsing with minimal setup headaches – in the eGuides folder, and have also been made available on the GBA iPads. A5 size booklet sets of each has been printed and bound, available for reference too.

Monday, December 12, 2011

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/

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

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

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/