topic Re: Hotspots in Modeling

Hotspots

Anonymous — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 18:49:13 GMT

I've been using ArchiCAD for some time now, and would regard myself as someone that knows most of the program's features.

But I have never used hotspots, as I don't see the point point of them.

What am I missing here? What do you use them for?

Re: Hotspots

Djordje — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 19:03:09 GMT

SuperJasE wrote:
I've been using ArchiCAD for some time now, and would regard myself as someone that knows most of the program's features.

But I have never used hotspots, as I don't see the point point of them.

What am I missing here? What do you use them for?

As reference points, for example. They also can show projected intersections of elements that otherwise do not intersect. You can also use them to align placed views in PlotMaker ...

BTW, nice hardware! Started with AutoCAD 2.62 on just that ... ahem ... years ago 😉

Re: Hotspots

__archiben — Tue, 09 Mar 2004 23:36:29 GMT

Djordje wrote:
As reference points, for example.)

but do you actually use them day-to-day as construction reference points?

i've never thought about it before, but i don't use hotspots either and have been using archiCAD for some time! occasionally i will use them to align plotmaker files, or DWGs from consultants that have ignored the project origin . . . but that's about it.

~/archiben having a very emoticon kinda evening (i may even use capitals tomorrow . . . )

Re: Hotspots

TomWaltz — Wed, 10 Mar 2004 01:41:07 GMT

We use them for any kind of fixed reference point in a building, such as an axis of symmetry, a survey starting point, or to mark insertion points of neighboring views.

While they are not *placed* every day, we do *use* them every day.

Re: Hotspots

Anonymous — Wed, 10 Mar 2004 04:22:45 GMT

I use hotspots all the time for setting up alignments and snap points in PlotMaker. I use them only rarely otherwise. Improvements in ArchiCAD overall have eliminated most of the old reasons to use them.

Re: Hotspots

Djordje — Wed, 10 Mar 2004 18:01:49 GMT

~/archiben wrote:
Djordje wrote:
As reference points, for example.)
but do you actually use them day-to-day as construction reference points?

Who mentioned construction? I said REFERENCE

Mostly I have to remember to delete them as I seem to be prone to generating them in millions, whether I want it or not ...

~/archiben wrote:
~/archiben having a very emoticon kinda evening (i may even use capitals tomorrow . . . )

Light up ... 😉

Re: Hotspots

Link — Wed, 10 Mar 2004 19:14:08 GMT

Bit triggy happy with the Ctrl button Djordje?

I personally think the hotspot tool is a waste of space on the tool bar. Along with the Wall End tool, the Figure tool, and the Corner Window tool. I'm sure many of the other 2D tools could be unified too - but that's just my opinion!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Hotspots

Karl Ottenstein — Thu, 11 Mar 2004 03:55:21 GMT

I don't use them extensively, but do use them in the ways already mentioned (reference points, plotmaker alignment).

The place where I've used them most often has been with the Patch Tool ... to insert additional hotspots at meaningful locations to make it easier to place additional copies of the patch, or even just to make it easier to select. Ditto 2D GDL symbols.

One place where I find myself using it from time to time is when the special snap points just won't seem to activate. I can't remember at the moment what kinds of operations I'm doing at the time to cause that to happen, but it would be something like dragging a copy of something to snap at the midpoint of another element and the darn midpoint won't 'turn on'. Cancel the operation, stick a hotspot at the midpoint and repeat the operation, snapping to the hotspot-that-should-not-have-had-to-be-there.

Karl

Re: Hotspots

Djordje — Fri, 12 Mar 2004 06:38:46 GMT

Link wrote:
Bit triggy happy with the Ctrl button Djordje?

More than a bit 😉 More like machine gun fire ... 😉

Re: Hotspots

Daniel Lindahl — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 04:32:55 GMT

I'm a bit late adding to this topic. My immediate thought was that I don't use them much either, but on reflection I realise that is not true!

I have used hotspots for (among others) the following:
1) plotmaker alignment;
2) AC printing windows;
3) special dimensioning points - e.g. for boundary offsets I place a hotspot on the building corner closest to the boundary line, then I select the hotspot and move it out to the line where I see the perpendicular cursor. Then I can dimension between the hotspot and the corner;
4) on arc centres for easier working;
5) in GDL objects, either scripted or placed in a fragment;
6) in modules that have a repeat pattern to them, so I can multiply room modules from hotspot to hotspot;
7) etc. etc...

Re: Hotspots

tsturm — Tue, 23 Mar 2004 15:12:53 GMT

Daniel states some very good uses for the Hotspots.

I do many of them. I like to set the important ones on a reference points layer and then LOCK it. Then I reset the tool to place them on the ArchiCAD layer.

This way anyone placing them for helpful reminders of center spots or alignments all over the drawing sets can be erased with confidence by shutting off all layers and doing a quick set all and delete.

Once even used them to remember construction grid intersections when the coordinate lines and columns were shut off. Easier to dimension to in this way than a center of a steel column with five hotspots of it's own.

I agree with LINK regarding some of the other tools, however I do see the necessity of the Hotspot tool in the tool palette.

IMHO

Re: Hotspots

Anonymous — Wed, 24 Mar 2004 19:09:48 GMT

Well.. I was the one who asked the original question. Since then I have started using them with the Patch Tool, which I've recently started to use.

I also see that they could be useful to me if I start making my own GDL objects - which I might as well start doing soon, as I have DaNC here to help!