topic Re: 3ds and ArchiCAD in Collaboration with other software

3ds and ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 14:00:25 GMT

Hi All,

Do any of you have any experience on importing geometry from Studio Max and using them as objects in ArchiCAD? Any advice?

Cheers,

Matts

Re: 3ds and ArchiCAD

Chazz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 14:59:48 GMT

Discussed many times here before so a search will pay you some dividends.

But I will summarize all of them for you here: the beset way to import 3ds data into AC is to follow these steps:

1) Print out some pictures of the object, showing all aspects of its geometry. Dimensions help.
2) Hold these printouts up next to you computer monitor.
3) Use ArchiCAD's modeling tools to create the object (this part can be hard and time consuming)
4) Save the result as a .gsm (this is the easy part).

The beauty of this approach is that it's fully cross-platform supported and because it takes so damn long, it guarantees a large work backlog in these tough economic times.

HTH, good luck

Re: 3ds and ArchiCAD

Erika Epstein — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:47:48 GMT

Hi Matts,
When you are new to a program relying on bringing in objects you created in another program can help you stay on schedule (and budget). Also, there are some freeform shapes which archicad doesn't do well, so use these other programs.

Bring them in as objects (library parts). They won't be parametric, but that might not be required. At some point you may want to learn some GDL.

As you have the time, as Chazz notes, challenge yourself to recreate the objects using just archicad. You archicad modeling skills will grow exponentially as you explore and you will have fun

HTH

Re: 3ds and ArchiCAD

Chazz — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 17:02:31 GMT

I was, of course, being completely facetious. There is a way to import Max stuff using the free (but not included!) ArchiCAD plug-in. It's just that you probably won't like the result. Again, other threads have much more info on this and I have spoken my peace there (too). Good luck.

Re: 3ds and ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:16:11 GMT

Does anyone know how to import .max files that are for sale on the internet without having the 3D Studio app.?
I use SketchUp to import 3ds (clean up to reduce the polygons before loading in AC) but I have no idea about .max

Re: 3ds and ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:31:26 GMT

Thanks for the responses guys.
@ Erika - see, you've been able to help me out already )

Joeri,

as far as I know .max files can only be opened in Studio Max.

Cheers!

Matts