topic Re: AC Versus Revit in Modeling

AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 01:37:01 GMT

All,

I know that this topic has been discussed in the past, however, what I am trying to decide is whether to move my office to ArchiCAD or Revit.

Currently we are using SketchUp for the design process and Autocad LT for the documentation portion of our projects.

We have decided that using software applications like ArchiCAD will yield efficiencies in our organization on a number of levels; however, we are trying to decide between AC and Revit.

I have obtained trial copies of both and have gone through tutorials and sample projects. What I am looking for is opinions from this forum as to why AC is better than Revit - what can't Revit do that AC can?

Incidentally, we specialize in residential and light commercial work with a modern emphasis.

Thanks in advance for everyone's assistance,

DJ Landreneau

Re: AC Versus Revit

__archiben — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:04:19 GMT

djlandreneau wrote:
I know that this topic has been discussed in the past

...

Thanks in advance for everyone's assistance...

dj - what you really need to do is a search: use the 'Search' link at the top of the page and you'll find all of those past discussions - each running into several pages of posts on the topic.

they invariably end up as a my-cat-is-blacker-than-your-cat spat. rather than begin another one of those, try these to begin with....

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=10348&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=11010&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=68244
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=11957&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

there are many more . . .

djlandreneau wrote:
what can't Revit do that AC can?

the trouble with questions like that is finding someone qualified enough with both softwares to be able to answer it! the majority opinion on this forum will be based on assumptions of the other (and vice versa on the augi forums i'm sure! )

~/archiben

Re: AC Versus Revit

Djordje — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:52:40 GMT

djlandreneau wrote:
What I am looking for is opinions from this forum as to why AC is better than Revit - what can't Revit do that AC can?

My opinion has always been that the software can't do anything. We can.

So it is down to how easy it is for you to learn and implement, and, something maybe even more important, is there anybody at a shouting distance who can help you while you toddle around.

When you start walking, running is not so far away ...

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 02:57:19 GMT

I have been using both applications from a learning perspective, ease of use, etc.

What I am trying to figure out is based upon the wealth of knowledge amongst the users here what things does everyone find that they can't do, or are difficult to do in their day to day tasks with AC.

DJ

Re: AC Versus Revit

Djordje — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 03:00:06 GMT

djlandreneau wrote:
I have been using both applications from a learning perspective, ease of use, etc.

What I am trying to figure out is based upon the wealth of knowledge amongst the users here what things does everyone find that they can't do, or are difficult to do in their day to day tasks with AC.

DJ

Well ...

Archicad users have 15 years more of dealing with the real world.

Re: AC Versus Revit

Rakela Raul — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 12:52:41 GMT

this type of software "virtual or BIM) rely a lot on libraries, special part, elements and the like...and AC has an exuberant library along with all the objects for sell in 'objects on line' and many other sites.....
specially and specifically for the residential market !!

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 13:55:55 GMT

Rakela wrote:
this type of software "virtual or BIM) rely a lot on libraries, special part, elements and the like...and AC has an exuberant library along with all the objects for sell in 'objects on line' and many other sites.....
specially and specifically for the residential market !!

Rakela,
I beg to differ regarding objects available for "specifically... the residential market". I find that the "exuberant libray" is somewhat lacking in many basic residential components. If you're talking about furniture and things like that I guess it's OK...but if you're talking about miscellaneous trim & finsih items, framing components, etc. required to do standard residential exterior envelopes, the available library leaves something to be desired.

I spend alot of time creating "custom" brick and stone details around entrances and windows...and even more time trying to create soffit and rake items,etc. This is time I would rather spend designing...not scripting or manipulating Archiforma. These are items that should already be developed and ready to use parametrically from an "exuberant library." We need more things like a full library of Fypon components and/or other manufacturer specific off-the-shelf components.

I'm not complaining...I love using ArchiCAD in my work...I just find it misleading to represent the available residential libraries as "exuberant" If I have some time in the near future, maybe i'll start a thread to discuss all the items I feel should be readily available as parametric library components.

Attached is an image of a house I'm currently working on. I'm barely halfway through developing all of the tirm components in Archiforma...Its great that we have add-ons like Archiforma to do this kind of detail, but it would be better if we had more parametric trim components already pre- developed in a true "residential" library.

Dan K

Re: AC Versus Revit

Rakela Raul — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:04:48 GMT

in my humble opinion it is exuberant compared to the revit library.....moreover,
there are residential libraries for sale like the medley libs, trims something by others, that provide alot of trim details.
agree, they should be included in the ac lib or archiforma should be part of ac also.
BTW, what a beautiful residence, congrats dan

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 14:43:09 GMT

I have found that in Revit if I need a trim detail or some component that isn't available as a "family" I can do a workaround by using the massing tool available within Revit. If there is time a family, which is a parametric AEC object, can be created. Is there something like this availalbe in AC?

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 18:39:49 GMT

Dan.
What was the reason to use ArchiForma here? Just ease of work? I don't see a real need for it. Nice design BTW.

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Wed, 20 Sep 2006 20:16:55 GMT

Miki wrote:
Dan.
What was the reason to use ArchiForma here? Just ease of work? I don't see a real need for it. Nice design BTW.

Miki & Rakela,
Thanks for the nice compliments!

There are many reasons why I use Archiforma. the best one to describe with the attached image is the ability to ceate an element that can curve in two directions...see the image for description.

The other main reasons are: ease of use, editability and I don't need to maintain project specific libraries if I create things out of archiforma.

I do alot of projects that require detailed half-timbering...I the past, I would model a whole wall of this half-timbering and then save it as an object to apply to the face of the building. It became cumbersome maintaining the various parts and especially cumbersome if I ever needed to edit them. When I discovered Archiforma, all that hassle was eliminated.

Dan K

Re: AC Versus Revit

Rakela Raul — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:21:44 GMT

There are many reasons why I use Archiforma. the best one to describe with the attached image is the ability to ceate an element that can curve in two directions...see the image for description.

Dan, would you mind, if u have a chance, sharing your procedure to create
a double curve profile using archiforma ??

Re: AC Versus Revit

Mats_Knutsson — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 12:25:01 GMT

djlandreneau wrote:
All,

I know that this topic has been discussed in the past, however, what I am trying to decide is whether to move my office to ArchiCAD or Revit.

Currently we are using SketchUp for the design process and Autocad LT for the documentation portion of our projects.

We have decided that using software applications like ArchiCAD will yield efficiencies in our organization on a number of levels; however, we are trying to decide between AC and Revit.

I have obtained trial copies of both and have gone through tutorials and sample projects. What I am looking for is opinions from this forum as to why AC is better than Revit - what can't Revit do that AC can?

Incidentally, we specialize in residential and light commercial work with a modern emphasis.

Thanks in advance for everyone's assistance,

DJ Landreneau

Do try to find some offices working with AC and some with Revit and interview them. Evaluate learning curve, productivity, communication to other software, how it is to own...and you have a no brainer...called Archicad. It's not interesting at all what a software can do. What's interesting is what a user can do with the software...period.

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 14:52:35 GMT

Advise what program need beginning designer

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 17:54:47 GMT

freya wrote:
Advise what program need beginning designer

What kind of design?

What is type and size of firm?

More info is necessary for a meaningful response.

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 14:17:00 GMT

Rakela wrote:
Dan, would you mind, if u have a chance, sharing your procedure to create
a double curve profile using archiforma ??

Rakela,
It sounds more cumbersome than it really is...below is the process I used to create the window surrounds in the image I posted previously...so here goes:

1. Generate a 3d projection of the desired window and copy the line work out.

2. Paste the linework down on the floor plan and use ArchiCAD's polyline tool to trace the window outline...be sure and add extra nodes along the arc part (I usually add at least 8-12 evenly spaced nodes along the arc.)

3. Draw the desired profile using archicad's fill tool...select the polyline and the fill and use ArchiForma's "Tube-Sweep" tool to loft the profile around your polyline.

4. Place a section elevation marker at the top of your new profile (note: your profile is laying flat and you will be viewing an elevation view of the top of it.)

5. Go to the floor plan view of the window and draw a polyline or arc of the curved portion of the wall where the window is...copy the arc and paste it back into your elevation view.

6. Line the pasted arc up with the profile...select the profile and graphically stretch the notes to meet the curev of the pasted arc.

7. When you're finished editing the nodes, go back to the floorplan and rotate the profile up using ArchiForma's "Rotate" tool.

8.You're done...after you do this a few times it becomes pretty easy and quick to do...Good Luck!

Re: AC Versus Revit

Rakela Raul — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 15:23:10 GMT

thanku Dan v much !!!

i think your procedure should be posted in a special place
in this forum

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:02:39 GMT

This is a crucial moment for Graphisoft to win new clients. Autodesk in on the aggressive to keep old clients. Revit-9 is hitting the market with an aggressive price plan. If you have an old autocad, you can upgrade for under 1500$ and get both Revit-9 and a full autocad 2007. People wishing to leave autocad for archicad will have hard time, as archicad 10 is priced 4250$. I recommend GS to revise its prices, be aggressive and advertising. I noted that most resellers, including GS itself, do not list the price in their websites, thus forcing people to ring. This is an old-fashioned approach that has long lost ground. The prices must be upfront, and must be competitive. We are about to close the evaluation period, and thus will decide on the revit-vs-archicad knowing that we already have autocad...

I shall wait for Graphisoft's new prices until October 15, and draw the line.

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 16:41:34 GMT

jdk wrote:
If you have an old autocad, you can upgrade for under 1500$ and get both Revit-9 and a full autocad 2007.

As I recall about 14 years ago ArchiCAD offered a competitive upgrade from AutoCAD for $1500. I don't know how successful it was then but perhaps now would be a good time to try it again.

Re: AC Versus Revit

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 17:36:52 GMT

If you have a recent version of autocad, the upgrade costs 1100$. If you add SketchUP (500$) and cinema4d (600$), you are slightly above 2000$ in total, which sound extremely sweet. By comparison, archicad+sketchup+c4d sums up to about 5400$. If you consider that revit is not that different from ac, and that in both cases you need SP and C4D for rapid development and proper rendering, then the battle reduces to price comparison. Autodesk's offer ends next October 18th. If Graphisoft wants to gain new clients, it should make a similar offer, and be quick too.