topic Re: What my employer says about Archicad.... in Libraries & objects

What my employer says about Archicad....

rob2218 — Fri, 26 May 2023 10:18:24 GMT

take it for what it's worth folks....but it appears he is getting frustrated.

We are trying to create "study elevations" with brick patterning.
seems that the windows/doors/trims/casings/shims, etc...are giving my client a hard time.

I'll need to somehow make this right....

Thanks Rob. To be honest, this file is not well-suited to working out the problem in autocad. I'd almost have to redraw the entire elevation. I'm really getting frustrated at how hard it is to use ArchiCAD as a design tool. It seems to be an obstacle rather than a tool in dealing with many of the problems that we need to resolve. I hope we can figure this out soon.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Steve Jepson — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 21:56:48 GMT

Trying out different brick patterns is something we can do in ArchiCAD in several ways. One of the newest ways is in collaboration with the Grasshopper plug-in for Rhino. We have a Grasshopper add-on for ArchiCAD now. Very interesting toy.

ArchiCAD seems like a great tool for trying out brick patterns.
What is the specific difficulty?
Can you show a picture of what you need?

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

DGSketcher — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:02:07 GMT

Less is more in AutoCAD!

I gave up trying to export my layouts for further editing. Best solution I found was to set up publisher to export DWGs with a stripped down export filter e.g. hatch off, from the VIEWs. That way only the basic and required information was being supplied. I did also include layout PDF's for the finished drawings so the recipient had a full set of information to reference.

AC does a pretty good job of exporting to DWG but it does have problems when exporting everything.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

rob2218 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:14:45 GMT

is the "Grasshopper" add-on a free or paid add-on?
Also, is it more for 3D or 2D or both?
I'll see if I can post up a graphic screen snapshot to show you what is being requested of me.

Steve wrote:
Trying out different brick patterns is something we can do in ArchiCAD in several ways. One of the newest ways is in collaboration with the Grasshopper plug-in for Rhino. We have a Grasshopper add-on for ArchiCAD now. Very interesting toy.

ArchiCAD seems like a great tool for trying out brick patterns.
What is the specific difficulty?
Can you show a picture of what you need?

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Steve Jepson — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 22:32:45 GMT

As of now it is free - And so is Rhino 5 for 70 days of trail use.

http://www.graphisoft.com/info/news/press_releases/graphisoft-introduces-rhino-grasshopper-archicad-connection.html

http://3dmdarchicadobjects.tumblr.com/post/131810874516/wip-on-archicad-grasshopper-connection-using

http://www.graphisoft.com/archicad/rhino-grasshopper/

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

rob2218 — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 23:22:57 GMT

free huh......umm....70 day trial use.
doesn't sound too "free" to me but I'll look into it.

Seems all software is going by way of Sketchup, "try it...for (ahem) free"...then once you have a grasp of it.....well, then pay up".

But thanks Steve. I'll certainly look into this software.
I'm trying to make sure I am able to provide my clients with the best possible service I can....so we'll see.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

rob2218 — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 01:46:26 GMT

So, here's a typical comments redline.
the lining up of the brick header to the brick sill...not a problem, that's an easy one.
The "making the door jamb and shim spacing" to be EXACTLY the same as the window shim and frame sizes...umm...well, so many different parameters between the door and window that makes it a bit tough finding that EXACT little dialogue box that adjusts what you need but that can be found.

Now, the BIG question I have is.....the architect wants to have TWO or THREE DIFFERENT BRICK PATTERNS shown side by side in views.

Now, My initial thought was, create 3 different model files, import the views from one to the other while adjusting the "brick fill" pattern that's being used in the specific surface I'm showing in elevation.

Because there's no way I can show 3 different brick patterns on the same model in ALL the walls...no way no how.
Fills wont cut it either cause I'd be filling around, on top of, in between, creating holes in the fills, just to show 3 different brick patterns.

So....how would you all show 2 or 3 or 4 different brick patterns on ALL the walls without having to continuously be adjusting the name of the building material and surface material each time?

See...this is the kinda demands I get and on top of that I get to hear "...in autocad we'd just copy the elevation 3 times and change the hatch pattern on three different elevations".........which here in archicad that aint cuttin' it.

Also I guess I could do a "detail" and create a 2D flat FAKE elevation of a portion of the fascade to "study" the brick pattern but then I'd be tripling my work because not only would i have to adjust the 2D detail elevation but I'd have to be messing with the model pattern until the client can get his act straight (the owner of the building I mean).

So folks....what say you?

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Steve Jepson — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 04:21:50 GMT

rob2218 wrote:
free huh......umm....70 day trial use.
doesn't sound too "free" to me but I'll look into it.

Seems all software is going by way of Sketchup, "try it...for (ahem) free"...then once you have a grasp of it.....well, then pay up".

But thanks Steve. I'll certainly look into this software.
I'm trying to make sure I am able to provide my clients with the best possible service I can....so we'll see.

Delete from computer after 70 days. Download again to different email... ... Actually, Rhino takes a long time to learn and the grasshopper is not a simple thing to use. I don't expect that I will find it useful for what I am doing.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Steve Jepson — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 04:30:30 GMT

DGSketcher wrote:
Less is more in AutoCAD!

I gave up trying to export my layouts for further editing. Best solution I found was to set up publisher to export DWGs with a stripped down export filter e.g. hatch off, from the VIEWs. That way only the basic and required information was being supplied. I did also include layout PDF's for the finished drawings so the recipient had a full set of information to reference.

AC does a pretty good job of exporting to DWG but it does have problems when exporting everything.

There is a good Clean Template for that -- free

http://www.masterscript.nl/epages/78066077.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/78066077/Products/101

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 06:05:35 GMT

Rob

Don't ever use the same pen for material fills as the wall geometry mate!
It's the same philosophy as in autocad just assigned to the material itself
in lieu of an autocad fill!

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Steve Jepson — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 10:13:12 GMT

rob2218 wrote:
So, here's a typical comments redline.
the lining up of the brick header to the brick sill...not a problem, that's an easy one.
The "making the door jamb and shim spacing" to be EXACTLY the same as the window shim and frame sizes...umm...well, so many different parameters between the door and window that makes it a bit tough finding that EXACT little dialogue box that adjusts what you need but that can be found.

Now, the BIG question I have is.....the architect wants to have TWO or THREE DIFFERENT BRICK PATTERNS shown side by side in views.

Now, My initial thought was, create 3 different model files, import the views from one to the other while adjusting the "brick fill" pattern that's being used in the specific surface I'm showing in elevation.

Because there's no way I can show 3 different brick patterns on the same model in ALL the walls...no way no how.
Fills wont cut it either cause I'd be filling around, on top of, in between, creating holes in the fills, just to show 3 different brick patterns.

So....how would you all show 2 or 3 or 4 different brick patterns on ALL the walls without having to continuously be adjusting the name of the building material and surface material each time?

See...this is the kinda demands I get and on top of that I get to hear "...in autocad we'd just copy the elevation 3 times and change the hatch pattern on three different elevations".........which here in archicad that aint cuttin' it.

Also I guess I could do a "detail" and create a 2D flat FAKE elevation of a portion of the fascade to "study" the brick pattern but then I'd be tripling my work because not only would i have to adjust the 2D detail elevation but I'd have to be messing with the model pattern until the client can get his act straight (the owner of the building I mean).

So folks....what say you?

It looks to me (can't see the image that well) that the extra lines, sills than have different slope, reveal... all of what I think I see are just a matter of settings and configurations.
Lots of ways to do the pattern options.

I think I would use fills patterns on different layers.

You can copy the elevation using the marque tool and past it off to the side. Select the brick fills and make copies you can use for each pattern option. Using the Disorted Fill option will give you handles you can use to move pattern layouts, start locations, etc.

You can make a Composites with different materials or simply over ride the surface material to show different brick patterns.

You know all of that I am sure.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

DGSketcher — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 10:19:21 GMT

ArchiCAD will do anything AutoCAD does and usually better. If you aren't viewing the patterns in 3D then output the elevations to a WORKSHEET and overlay the hatching patterns on the worksheet. Cut & paste into a new WORKSHEET and edit the previous hatching to the alternative designs you want to present.

You can try too hard to show everything in 3D when the output and general expectation will be 2D drawings that will be reinterpreted by the various trades to what should be best practice.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Anonymous — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 18:43:02 GMT

Rob, I have the same issue. I am trying to place simple windows and struggle with how to make them look right. 3-2862 DH w/ 24" transoms should be easy, or 3-3080 w/ 24" divided arch transom should be easy.

I have tried to gang the windows together but in the homes we do, we have 4" mulls. It looks messy, pieced together and yes of course if I pay monthly I can get another program to attach and it will draw simple windows. (kind of like paying for a steering wheel in a car).

I made this sale to my employer and I am working before and after work to figure out work around for the simplest of tasks that take 30 seconds in AutoCAD. I love the 3D aspect and modeling.... but it is less of a tool like your boss said.

Just letting you know...I can relate.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

rob2218 — Wed, 28 Oct 2015 23:34:38 GMT

look I'm not the only one and I'm a huge advocate of Archicad. I think it "IS" a great tool. What seems to happen is the typical scenario.....the person to whom you 'show' Archicad to sees all it can do and teh one time you can't figure something out in 5.5 seconds....they make the ever so 'blood curdling" statement that "oh...I guess it's not suchd a good design tool afterall".................ridiculous. But as my old client used to say.."he who has the Gold Rules"......
So I guess I just have to do the best I can and shake off those types of remarks.

I'd still like to know how best to accomplish my initial question.

JLKilgore wrote:
Rob, I have the same issue. I am trying to place simple windows and struggle with how to make them look right. 3-2862 DH w/ 24" transoms should be easy, or 3-3080 w/ 24" divided arch transom should be easy.

I have tried to gang the windows together but in the homes we do, we have 4" mulls. It looks messy, pieced together and yes of course if I pay monthly I can get another program to attach and it will draw simple windows. (kind of like paying for a steering wheel in a car).

I made this sale to my employer and I am working before and after work to figure out work around for the simplest of tasks that take 30 seconds in AutoCAD. I love the 3D aspect and modeling.... but it is less of a tool like your boss said.

Just letting you know...I can relate.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Richard Morrison — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 02:42:28 GMT

This might help with trying out different brick patterns: http://www.bobrow.com/archicad-tutorials/archicad-tutorial-material-schemes/

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Erwin Edel — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 08:21:29 GMT

For a quick reference to show different patterns and keeping it '3d', I would probably hotlink the whole PLN out to two new files to change the surface settings and having 3 different patterns to show with the original PLN and the two new files together.

Mini rant:
This won't help you in any way, but whenever boss / client starts asking for detailed drawings to show a study in materialisation, I try to point out that this is the least efficient way to do that. Take a look at reference photos etc Unless billable hours are suddenly trivial?

I just imagine the folks doing this sort of drafting by hand back in the day and client walks in and says, yes, but can you show it to me with such and such brick bond?

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

DGSketcher — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 09:42:39 GMT

Fantastic illustration Erwin, if you look at it you start to appreciate where modern architecture fails. Clearly the author has an appreciation of his materials, their dimensions and how to assemble them into a co-ordinated arrangement with panels and stops.

Re: What my employer says about Archicad....

Erwin Edel — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 10:31:14 GMT

Sorry for going further off-topic: it is just a random page from the book Victorian Brick and Terracotta Architecture. Well worth a purchase.

Back to the topic: the suggested method of making Worksheets for the elevation studies would be a smart way. If you unify fills with Fill Consolidation (using Find & Select to grab all the similar fills), you would very quickly be able to swap out fills. Alligning textures will be faster too and once a decision has been made to go for one of the options, you can amend the live model to reflect it.