topic Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations in Project data & BIM

Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Tue, 30 May 2023 10:55:14 GMT

I'm attempting to compare another software package with ArchiCAD. I've come across several functions that I'm relatively sure ArchiCAD can do but I haven't found any evidence of it yet and I have a time limit. I would appreciate confimation for or against these functions and a brief description of how to do it if it is possible. Any help with even one would be appreciated.

1.) Is there a way to view inside the model without using the marquee tool and still be able to pan, zoom and rotate?

2.) Can an entire model be easily reversed or flipped? i.e. they want the garage moved from the right side to the left side and the entire model needs to flip with the garage.

3.) Can specific composite wall layers be edited separately? You have a composite exterior wall with siding on a 2x4 stud with sheathing, can you make the siding have a 4" overhang?

4.) Once you've created some parametric objects for a specific contract can you lock the parameters so the general drafters under you can't change the size but still retain the ability as the manager to make further changes down the road?

5.) When you are working in 3d can you "open" a wall so you have a 2d vertical image of the face of a wall, edit each layer of the wall manually, "close" the wall and have the changes you made in 2d reflected on your 3d model? (similar to the "Edit in place" command for walls in Architectural Desktop)

6.) Can ArchiCAD turn on a selection filter in 2d so you can't select certain elements like walls or roofs or where you can only select certain elements like windows?

Sorry this is so lengthy but again I appreciate any input you can give.
Thanks

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:13:06 GMT

Seraphim wrote:
1.) Is there a way to view inside the model without using the marquee tool and still be able to pan, zoom and rotate?

You mean in 3d? Yes.

Seraphim wrote:
2.) Can an entire model be easily reversed or flipped? i.e. they want the garage moved from the right side to the left side and the entire model needs to flip with the garage.

Yes

Seraphim wrote:
5.) When you are working in 3d can you "open" a wall so you have a 2d vertical image of the face of a wall, edit each layer of the wall manually, "close" the wall and have the changes you made in 2d reflected on your 3d model? (similar to the "Edit in place" command for walls in Architectural Desktop)

I think the answer is no! In ArchiCad, one wall => one layer. But do you mean compositelayers, then you have to change the composite, you can't edit a wall separate.

Seraphim wrote:
6.) Can ArchiCAD turn on a selection filter in 2d so you can't select certain elements like walls or roofs or where you can only select certain elements like windows?

Yes, Find & Select is a great tool with alot of features.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 14:39:41 GMT

Thanks a ton! Can you give me a direction to look for the reverse capability and the view of the interior in 3d?

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:03:35 GMT

Seraphim wrote:
3.) Can specific composite wall layers be edited separately? You have a composite exterior wall with siding on a 2x4 stud with sheathing, can you make the siding have a 4" overhang?

You can do this either with Complex Profiles or with a Solid Element Operation (SEO).

Seraphim wrote:
4.) Once you've created some parametric objects for a specific contract can you lock the parameters so the general drafters under you can't change the size but still retain the ability as the manager to make further changes down the road?

Yes -- I've done this to several objects in our library.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:07:46 GMT

Seraphim wrote:
Thanks a ton! Can you give me a direction to look for the reverse capability and the view of the interior in 3d?

"reverse capability" = mirror

view of the interior = place the viewpoint inside the model

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Gerald Hoffman — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:14:15 GMT

Laura wrote:
Seraphim wrote:
Thanks a ton! Can you give me a direction to look for the reverse capability and the view of the interior in 3d?
"reverse capability" = mirror

view of the interior = place the viewpoint inside the model

If you want to reverse the whole project which includes several storeys you can use the thick marquee and make sure you have included all of the storeys and then just mirror it. There will be some issues with dimensions having to be adjusted especially if you have moved any of the dimension text. Otherwise it works pretty good.

Cheers

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 15:16:58 GMT

Awesome!

That was just what I was looking for on the reverse!

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:20:29 GMT

Laura wrote:
Seraphim wrote:
3.) Can specific composite wall layers be edited separately? You have a composite exterior wall with siding on a 2x4 stud with sheathing, can you make the siding have a 4" overhang?
You can do this either with Complex Profiles or with a Solid Element Operation (SEO).

I've generally used SEOps, but the Complex Profile method has a variety of advantages. It is illustrated here:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/TechNotes/Composite_Walls_with_Varying_Skin_Heights

I disagree with one aspect of the method presented there. Rather than draw the wall skins after a "New" command, you can "Capture" the skins of an existing (selected) composite wall as a starting point. Then, simply edit the skin heights (using the offset button of the pet palette when on the edge of a fill).

Karl

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:23:41 GMT

Laura wrote:
view of the interior = place the viewpoint inside the model

To clarify for Seraphim (a non-user / new user): You cannot get 'inside' the model if your 3D window is in axo mode. You must switch to perspective mode. Then, you can freely walk through your walls and look around inside. (You should be in shaded OpenGL 3D mode to do this fluidly. If in internal engine, shaded or hidden line, performance can be quite sluggish.) Note that the camera also appears in your 2D Nav Preview window, and you can drag the camera there as well.

Karl

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:28:48 GMT

Seraphim wrote:
5.) When you are working in 3d can you "open" a wall so you have a 2d vertical image of the face of a wall, edit each layer of the wall manually, "close" the wall and have the changes you made in 2d reflected on your 3d model? (similar to the "Edit in place" command for walls in Architectural Desktop)

To add to TurboGlider's response:

If you really mean 'face', and visual 3D editing, then 'no'.

If you mean merely editing the skin widths and heights, then yes - although the skins are not visible in any 3D mode - only in section.

If the wall is a composite, when you edit the composite, all walls using that definition are updated.

If the wall is based on a complex profile, same thing - edit the profile, and all walls are updated.

If the selected wall(s) should be treated specially, either duplicate the composite or the profile and assign it to the selected wall(s).

If the selected wall(s) should have different skin heights, as in your other question, then you need to capture the existing wall skins and edit the heights in the complex profile editor and then apply the new profile to the wall(s).

None of this is an ideal, user friendly process - and it is a shame that the skins are not visible in 3D - but it is at least possible, if I understand the question.

Karl

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:14:07 GMT

Thanks for all of the responses and especially for the clear directions on how to accomplish these tasks. So far ArchiCAD is really giving Vertex BD a run for its money in my eyes. Vertex BD seems to be a more user friendly software package on usability but I've only found 2 significant categories that Vertex wins hands down on and both of those (optioning and the direct 2d wall edits) sound like you CAN accomplish it in ArchiCAD but not without a good deal of struggle. Vertex also seems like a more complete package out of the box whereas ArchiCAD needs alot of add-ons/plug-ins to get similar functionality. At the same time its easier to add functionality to ArchiCAD than Vertex because of that same add-on availability. For me the more powerful software is still up for grabs.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:14:00 GMT

Saraphim -- what do you mean by "optioning"?

Seraphim wrote:
Vertex also seems like a more complete package out of the box whereas ArchiCAD needs alot of add-ons/plug-ins to get similar functionality.

Like what, for instance?

BTW -- sorry if my previous responses were too brief, but you did ask for "quick answers"

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Karl Ottenstein — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:37:25 GMT

Laura wrote:
Saraphim -- what do you mean by "optioning"?

Hi Laura,

I talked with her offline about the discontinued Options Manager and the potential use of Markups for representing different options - say to stock homes in a subdivision.

I didn't mention (offline) TeamWork drafts or alternate hotlinked modules as other methods - so maybe someone else would address those.

Thanks,
Karl

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 19:51:32 GMT

Vertex BD is a rather expensive building/architectural piece of software. the initial cost of one seat is roughly 4 times the cost of 1 seat of AC 11. It's number 1 feature that makes people willing to pay so much is the ability to create one base house and then create various options for it pretty much to your hearts content. We regularly have models with between 4 and 9 different front elevations. We've had projects (based off 1 base house) that have as many as 80-90 different options. Almost all of the projects we work with will have multiple options that interact with each other as well as the various elevations. We also have the ability to create as many sub-options as necessary. Some examples might be as little as a bump out at the back of the house, a different size dishwasher in the kitchen, an optional fireplace in the living room or they might be as big as 2 garages on the same house that increase from holding 3 cars to holding 5, the entire front elevation changing not only wall types, windows, trims and roof design but even the basic foot print, or having an optional second flr.

Once an optioned house is complete the client can select the options they want and usually within 1 hour we can return a complete construction set showing only the options they selected ready to go to the field.

The flexibility Vertex offers with optioning allows us to make updates or changes once and have it effect all occasions when that option is chosen.

As far as the "out of the box features" the base Vertex product includes framing, panelization, ability to create new objects either by modeling in 3d or by writing script and has the same parametric abilities as AC, and a wide library of most components used on a model from various exterior trims, appliances, mechanical, electrical, to fancy windows and doors and furnishing. It has built in commands allowing you to select one or more doors and windows select from a list of trims and trim is automatically placed. Same for roofs, select one or all of the roof slabs and select a trim and it is automatically placed or the user can place it one piece at a time. It also has wide selection of roofing techniques allowing very quick creation of complex roofs.

I could go on but this is already way more info than you were probably looking for. Here's a url if you want to know more.
http://www.argos.com/products/about_vertex.htm

Sorry for the long post, I have not met anyone on this forum who seems to have even heard about Vertex BD. I could probably write an equally long post singing the praises of ArchiCAD which says alot since I have about 12 days of AC11 trial version under my belt. (The two-weeks using 8.0 doesn't really count )

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Laura Yanoviak — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 20:11:54 GMT

Karl wrote:
...potential use of Markups for representing different options... TeamWork drafts or alternate hotlinked modules as other methods - so maybe someone else would address those.

Ah -- I would have made the same suggestions. I have never heard of Vertex BD, either -- interesting, because I read A LOT of press on BIM. It appears to be very powerful; although "optioning" is totally possible with AC, it appears the ease of "optioning" with Vertex is unmatched.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:18:54 GMT

VertexBD are a software made for smallhouse industry with a specific standard. (or it was when I looked at it for 6 years ago). It is a very nice cad-software if you are building alot of houses because you get bills of materials, cuttinglists for CNC and so on.
But VertexBD isnt a software for an architecture office, too much money and too small flexibility. But it's a really great software for the industry.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Thomas Holm — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:36:30 GMT

I completely agree with Turboglider. Vertex BD and packages like it (we have more of them here) are custom-made for the industry that delivers prefabricated one-family homes for the domestic market. It's not very well suited for a general-practitioner architect.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:32:20 GMT

@Thomas

Is that software Vertex BD well known in Sweden?

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Anonymous — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:36:45 GMT

Back in 2001 ArchiCAD was called "Vertex BD's biggest competitor in Finland." But as far as Sweden today goes I'm not sure.

Re: Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

Thomas Holm — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 14:43:32 GMT

Archi wrote:
@Thomas

Is that software Vertex BD well known in Sweden?

No. I just happen to have heard of it. We're neighbors to Finland you know!

I do think other solutions for the home manufacturing industry is more widespread here, but I'm not sure about that.

What I do know is that I haven't heard of even one architect outside of that industry that's using this package. But I have no scientific data to that effect

I'd also like to add that if you have the best part of your work in related areas, you may find the program suits your style of work.

Maybe one of our Finnish colleagues can spread some light?