topic Re: Changing default pen thicknesses? in Modeling

Changing default pen thicknesses?

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 11:40:07 GMT

We have just started trying to use ArchiCAD 10 in the office after using previous versions and have always found the default pens too thin ie there are no line thicknesses that are greater than 0.35mm thick. So we have been changing the first 8 pens to different thicknesses. But our CAD supplier has told us that this is not a good idea as these pen thicjknesses are supposedly related to AutoCAD thicknesses etc

Is there any way to change the default pens so that the thicknesses are more varied WITHOUT altering any pens that ArchiCAD uses to draw its default wall constructions and other objects? Ie: what pens doesnt ArchiCAD use? Or does it use them all?

We have also found that the default pens seem to draw some objects far too thick has anyone else found this problem and if so what did you do to get over it?

Any help appreciated.

Nats

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Scott Bulmer — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 14:34:34 GMT

Search for pen standards which will return a raft of info, but you can start here: http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=65589&highlight=pens#65589

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 08:17:37 GMT

Thanks but this topic has just confused me even more. The pens shown on this topics are nothing like the pen colours we have. perhaps the UK and american version is different?

Either way isnt is marvelous that nobody seems to know which pens are used for what?

What exactly is Graphsofts game here??!

All I know is when using the default pens the library parts come out really thick and look terrible which is bloody ridiculous.

Nats

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

owen — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 09:29:48 GMT

nats wrote:
Either way isnt is marvelous that nobody seems to know which pens are used for what?

What exactly is Graphsofts game here??!

All I know is when using the default pens the library parts come out really thick and look terrible which is bloody ridiculous.

Nats

Mostly I have to agree with you on this .... the default pens in many of Graphisofts library objects are all over the place. One of the fun jobs here is to go through all the objects we put into our library and tools in our template file and change the default pens when required.

One of my favourites are the 2D people in the AC9 library (not using the 10 one quite yet) ..... Pen 4 (0.35mm) is the default So 2D outline people are given pen weight on par with a cut masonry wall ...

They look tops punching out on the set of otherwise fine lineweight elevations I just printed out

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 10:52:31 GMT

But you don't need to change the default pens
you can make a copy of the "Pens & Colors"
and then you can switch between them..
theres no need to change the default!

but that's what iäm thinking

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Ernest Atanasiu — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 16:41:37 GMT

recent wrote:
But you don't need to change the default pens
you can make a copy of the "Pens & Colors"
and then you can switch between them..
theres no need to change the default!

but that's what iäm thinking

how, please tell. i haven't found anything abouth this.
how do you change the pens&colors settings without having to modify them individually and/or per-project?

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Scott Bulmer — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 18:37:04 GMT

uisanata wrote:

how do you change the pens&colors settings without having to modify them individually and/or per-project?

Pen colors and thicknesses are modified in the Documents>Pen Sets>Pens & Colors, and can be 'Stored As' a custom defined set. You can only modify a group of pens to either one color or thickness at a time. Otherwise for the most part, you typically modify one pen at a time (sorry). HOWEVER, once set up for one project (and it doesn't take long), using Options>Element Attributes>Attribute Manager you can 'Save As' or export the pen sets for use in other projects. Pretty straightforward. HTH
Scott

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Ernest Atanasiu — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 19:59:11 GMT

thank you

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Link — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 22:16:35 GMT

nats wrote:
Thanks but this topic has just confused me even more. The pens shown on this topics are nothing like the pen colours we have. perhaps the UK and american version is different?

Either way isnt is marvelous that nobody seems to know which pens are used for what?

What exactly is Graphsofts game here??!

All I know is when using the default pens the library parts come out really thick and look terrible which is bloody ridiculous.

Nats

Graphisoft's game is to provide a flexible pen system.

While it is not officially documented, Graphisoft use mostly the first 20 pens and pens 91-100. Take a look at the image I posted at http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=11296.

Keep in mind that every pen has it's own description in AC10, so you can flick through them and get a better idea.

Overall, we have many different pensets and yes they are probably are different for each localized version of ArchiCAD (of which there are about 25 I think). Basically you only need 2 pensets: a modeling penset and a publishing penset, where the publishing penset just turns most of the standard pens of the modeling penset to black. You assign that penset to the drawings, once placed on layouts. In addition to that you may have specialized pensets for dealing with DWG's or special plans, etc. For example, you may want your electrical information to jump off your electrical plans, maybe in a certain color. So you can create an Electircal penset that is only assigned to your Electrical drawings, once placed on layouts. That penset will differ from your publishing penset in that it will have a different pen weight for your Electrical pens, and may not map them to black.

It's really very intuitive once you get used to it, and can be set once in a template for all projects.

Good luck,
Link.

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 10:07:51 GMT

owen wrote:
nats wrote:
Either way isnt is marvelous that nobody seems to know which pens are used for what?

What exactly is Graphsofts game here??!

All I know is when using the default pens the library parts come out really thick and look terrible which is bloody ridiculous.

Nats
Mostly I have to agree with you on this .... the default pens in many of Graphisofts library objects are all over the place. One of the fun jobs here is to go through all the objects we put into our library and tools in our template file and change the default pens when required.

One of my favourites are the 2D people in the AC9 library (not using the 10 one quite yet) ..... Pen 4 (0.35mm) is the default So 2D outline people are given pen weight on par with a cut masonry wall ...

They look tops punching out on the set of otherwise fine lineweight elevations I just printed out

I agree! I must admit only really using AC8 & 9, the new pen sets in 10 need getting used to. When i learnt ArchiCAD we were told by the training course not to change them as they can cause brain ache! So now they are different in 10, im back to square one. I hear that there is a new V10 pen set that replicates V9. But im still waiting for our pass word from our UAS dealer. Doh!

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 11:38:19 GMT

"I agree! I must admit only really using AC8 & 9, the new pen sets in 10 need getting used to. When i learnt ArchiCAD we were told by the training course not to change them as they can cause brain ache! So now they are different in 10, im back to square one. I hear that there is a new V10 pen set that replicates V9. But im still waiting for our pass word from our UAS dealer. Doh![/quote wrote:

Yeah we were similarly told not to change them by the UK dealer (probably the same one!) but we did anyway becuase you cant use the pens in AC9 as they come. But the AC10 pen sets are so numerous I wouldnt know where to start to change them. Hopefully they will all print out ok now but somehow I doubt it.

I dont know how its so difficult for GS to just change all of their pens they use for objects to a fine line except for outlines etc.

Sounds like the capabilities of the program are starting to outweigh the capabilities of the manufacturer to use them! Or maybe theyre just gettting too complicated for their own good!

Re: Changing default pen thicknesses?

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 15:04:08 GMT

I personally do not alter the pen weight of the first 20 pens and use the second row for everything I draw/model. The default weights that Archicad uses for these first 20 pens is limited and not well thought out, but the result of leaving these weights alone is that library parts that use these pens have a better chance of looking reasonable when printed. Ultimately favorites are created which re-assign the pen weights to your standards to objects that you use repeatedly.