topic Re: Connecting walls / window opening in Modeling

Connecting walls / window opening

13senpai — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 00:16:00 GMT

Hi, can someone help me with this please?

I made an example to "illustrate" the problem. If you look at the screenshot, there's wall 1 and wall 2. Wall 2 is hosting a window - an opening for the window is cut automatically.

Now, if I move the window into wall 1, the window does not cut wall 1.

In Revit, if 2 different walls are connected, joined or embedded into each other, the window recognizes them as 1 and automatically cuts it. Here's a screenshot of the same situation I made in Revit. What is the best solution to achieve this in Archicad?

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Mahmoud Qenawi — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 01:55:23 GMT

Try using SEO,
select the wall 1 then right click and choose connect - solid element operations then set the selected wall to be target & the window to be operator then subtract the window from the wall, I didn't face this before but I hope that works.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

13senpai — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 02:45:41 GMT

Can't even do that. Tried it. A window can't be set as an operator.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Mahmoud Qenawi — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 05:05:51 GMT

There's a workaround to select the window and from connect again choose create opening from selection that will create an opening just stretch the opening to the full width of the window then press the plus button to add the second wall to the cut elements.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Marc H — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 06:59:17 GMT

May I suggest looking at the problem differently? I would think through how you expect the design be built, and use AC to support that to the extent possible. With that, my view of your AC screenshot suggests there will be, for some reason, a structural wall break in the middle of a window frame. (Otherwise, why not have a single continuous wall across the whole building length?) I expect the break is not your intent, but just how you modeled to this point.

I suggest thinking of how you want this built. For example, if the break in the walls represents the start of a building addition (common scenario), then we would expect the contractor to cut back the existing wall far enough to put in a whole new window frame. In AC, then, you would split your existing wall at that cut back point, then change the inclusive portion to Demo status. Then, you would put in a new wall in its place in which the new window frame wholly sits.
Alternately, if this model situation is purely to model the subtle design change in the wall trim at sill (as seen in your Revit screenshot), then again, I would think instead how you see this carried out in the field. Perhaps a new ledge component run from the building corner into the new window reveal replacing or extending the trim.

Either of these changes would also cascade appropriately to your material quantity take-offs.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

mthd — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 02:16:09 GMT

Have you tried having the one same wall going all the way through at first, then place your window and then split your wall and change that part of the wall that you want to be different ?

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Marc H — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:02:44 GMT

That might work well for a wall that will have a continuous core structure, with perhaps minor differences in finish (e.g, exterior plaster color change or transition to say, thin-set tile, or an interior finish transition, etc). One just has to take care to resolve any constructibility issues with major finish material transitions (e.g., exterior plaster to ledgerstone, etc.) at the break point with their variable assemblies, thicknesses, behaviors, and potential impact on the window.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Mahmoud Qenawi — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 11:36:47 GMT

I tried this way but found that it's duplicating the window creating one window for each wall.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Marc H — Sun, 23 Jul 2023 13:02:26 GMT

Good catch, Mahmoud. One would have to tag the window for exclusion from scheduling. I notice it also offsets the duplicate window if any difference in skin thickness.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Barry Kelly — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 00:28:33 GMT

A door or window can only belong to one wall.

If you were to drag that window completely from one wall to the other (and the reference lines line up) the window will automatically cut the second wall and no longer the first.

But if it spans across two walls, it will only cut one.

The same happens when you move the window vertically as well.

When spanning 2 walls you must add another opening in the second wall.

Easiest way was to right click and create an opening as Mahmoud explained earlier.

Barry.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Lingwisyer — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 01:21:16 GMT

Unless something has changed, you should not need to stretch anything, the created Opening from Selection should match the size of your opening and automatically cut the bounding walls.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

mthd — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:07:07 GMT

Good to know what’s happening with this try. I will keep that in mind. Thanks for the feedback.

Edit: There should be a way to join these two walls at the junction so that Archicad sees it as one wall although made up of two different sections ? Then you can place an opening (window or door) that spans the two different parts of the wall.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

13senpai — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:51:11 GMT

If I use the"opening" tool, it just cuts a hole in the wall. But it doesn't "wrap" the internal finish skin. If you understand what I mean.

An "empty" window does wrap the skins. (See screenshots).

Oh well... Archicad has it's limitations I guess 😛

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Mahmoud Qenawi — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 03:28:28 GMT

You can adjust the opening to peneteate any skins you like and change the perimeter surface to be as the external skin (Reveal), that will let you avoid error & duplication in windows schedule.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Lingwisyer — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 08:48:23 GMT

Aaanyway, back to this Wish, possibly related to the Door & Window listing on the roadmap.

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

13senpai — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 09:37:52 GMT

Do they actually listen to these "wishes"? I mean, howmany of those have acually come true? xd

Re: Connecting walls / window opening

Lingwisyer — Tue, 25 Jul 2023 01:26:46 GMT

There is that... it is also impossible to track any of them, some of them which are for major shortfalls that are still unresolved after many years... I am optimistically hopeful that this one is related to the Door and Window listing on the roadmap.

Ling.