topic Re: Help with the very basics in Licensing

Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Thu, 25 May 2023 16:11:35 GMT

I have just installed and watched the ArchiCAD 12 tutorials. I need to create a 3D model of a house along with all the windows, doors and services for a University Portfolio.

Are there any books and help that I can get to help with the very basics and getting started, as the tutorials are all pre-loaded with configurations and favorites.

I would be very very grateful of any help given.

Thank you

NStocks

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:55:01 GMT

there are training materials for archicad

http://www.cadgarage.com/archicadbooks1.html

beside purchasing those materials,

I think this forum is an alternative for learning archicad

you may search(next to FAQ) around here, or ask any question that you are facing or confusion, the guys here would be pleased to help you as much as they could.

Re: Help with the very basics

Djordje — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 03:57:28 GMT

Did you go through the Interactive Training Guide?

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 10:21:27 GMT

I went through the ArchiCAD essentials, and that helped me a little, but that was only because the videos showed you how to do each step, ad they were also aided with pre-loaded designs and favourites what had already being made.

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:48:38 GMT

Are you an architect or a student?

With what you know now, what would be your steps to creating the building?

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:56:50 GMT

I am a student, and have had about 2 weeks working with AutoCAD at college.

If I wanted to create the building it would :

Create a slab, but I don't know how to input the specific measurements i.e. length and width.

Then I would use the wall tool, and double-click it so that I can add a specific height, then draw around the perimeter of the created slab.

i would copy and past this to the above story to create the second story and hope that the slab would be placed directly on top of the ground floor walls.

... this is probably the 'worst' way to do it, but I a unsure what to do. Next I would re watch the tutorials on crating open spaces for windows, doors and the staircase. Install the services by selecting the Line tool, as I don't know how or where the 3d elements are i.e. pipework.

NStocks

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:23:09 GMT

I have a tear of bitter nostalgia in my eye to hear that you are so lost.

Is there no one who can take five minutes to show you the tricks?
I hear that Archicad users are easily seduced by free beers.
Not that i would know.

SO:
you can start with the walls, you can start with a slab.
you can start the roof, but that is not fab.

See "Magic Wand" to see how edges can be sought and voids filled automatically. [Wall seeking and tracing edge of slabs, for instance]

Here is why it is difficult to explain rather than demonstrate, since even the most basic of inputs prsents a series of infuriating pitfalls to the beginner:

To make a specific slab:

Set input coordinate method to "relative" not "Absolute"

1: Activate slab tool.
2: Choose rectangular slab option.
3: click [or numerically enter coordinates for] the slab start point,
4: input "x" [keyboard]
5: put in your x distance
6: input "y" [keyboard]
7: put in your y distance.
8: return

x
10
y
10
RETURN

You should now have a rectangular slab of some size.

If you use the polygon slab option, you can draw a series of edge segments with the series:

x
enter value
y
enter value
RETURN
x
enter value
y
enter value
RETURN

until you run out of nodes.

A second RETURN closes the polygon.

Keep playing.

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:29:18 GMT

Ok, first question, where can I find the input method ?

I need to create a 3d document, so what sort of document do I use... Document > 3D document > Create 3D document ?

Thanks

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:38:52 GMT

input method see attached.

The 3D Document is a way of making a live 3D view that supports notes and dimensions.

You probably only need to save a 3D window view as an image file.

Keep playing.

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:42:08 GMT

oops. input relative/absolute is here - a toggle

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:42:28 GMT

Where is attached? ( I take it you meant a attachment on this forum post ?)

I need to create 2 stories, so would I just double the height of the first story and somehow put another slab in ?

and sadly, my College tutors, well only one of then is ' qualified ' to use such software properly, and there is no chanc he would help me out... it's like getting blood from a stone asking for any sort of help from my tutors

... Can't wain until next September when I go to University.

NStocks

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:46:27 GMT

Have you got it now?

Where are you in England?
There's got to be someone close by who can show you some Archicad tricks.

These things are so easy once seen and so long to explain.

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:50:40 GMT

Yeah got it now, but not sure I can see the exact boxes that you can see.

So because i need to create 2 floors, do I create the first floor first, then build up from there ?

I have looked on the internet if there is anyone who is in my area, but it hasn't come up with anything. And I live in a town on the north east of England... Lincolnshire.

... This is like Photography, there were so many different tools and I had no idea how to use them but after months of someone from America email me back and forth I soon got the hang of it... I think CAD is more complex though !

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:58:29 GMT

You are probably out of luck finding help up there.

My colleagues at Archicad University in Nottingham say nobody in Lincolnshire would have Archicad. They tell me people there still draw with graphite sticks on sheepskins and build with dried dung.

For storeys, look into the Storey tool.

You must have missed some of the tutorials......

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:04:47 GMT

Ha, that sound exactly right. My college made up draw a load of perspectives on paper, they said that we need to know how to draw on paper as it will be required in the business. ( I'm on a National diploma in construction course, so they we have to learn about all sorts from surveying, building regulations to economics and health and safety. Not really relevant to the career I'm taking )

And I'm going to watch all of the tutorials again... I am already exploring, I now have 4 walls with white painted interior walls and red brickwork !

Thank you so much, will be on here regularly I would think... I have 3 weeks to get this completed

NStocks

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:11:18 GMT

All that stuff will come in handy, even if it only gives you respect for the challenges of other professions.

For instance, they taught us sausage stuffing in architecture school. I never realized how useful that would be until i did public housing.

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:14:30 GMT

On the tutorials, as you may know there are favorites within each tutorial. Are these favorites just like settings of each elements, that I would change myself ?

Re: Help with the very basics

Dwight — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:17:14 GMT

yes.

It is always a good idea to experiment a little before asking.

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:39:55 GMT

I am watching the tutorial again, so that I get more experience with it all. The ' zone ' tool, is this just like a outline as to where other elements will be places, and built up on, For instance, when they place a grid across the whole zone, as soon as another element is selected i.e. column, it will place a column at the intersection of the zone and grid ?

Re: Help with the very basics

Anonymous — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 16:47:35 GMT

Dwight wrote:
...If you use the polygon slab option, you can draw a series of edge segments with the series:

x
enter value
y
enter value
RETURN
x
enter value
y
enter value
RETURN

until you run out of nodes.

A second RETURN closes the polygon.....

My apologies for interupting this tutorial, but isn't the above way a bit 'longwinded' for the beginner?

It's much quicker to have the tracker box and guide lines turned on generally.

- Click to start a line/wall/slab etc.
- Point the cursor in the direction you need.
- Make sure you're hovering over a guide line so it 'sticks' to it.
- Simply type a distance into the keyboard (it will appear automatically in the tracker) and hit return.

Repeat the last three as often as needed.

Hope that helps!