topic Re: Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD? in Modeling

Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD?

Anonymous — Mon, 23 May 2011 05:52:13 GMT

Hi All,

I've just started using ArchiCAD again after working primarily in AutoCAD for the last 8 years.
I am used to XREF's. If I was working in AutoCAD and was rubber stamping buildings over a site masterplan, I would draw a building in one file, then xref it and others into the masterplan drawing. Then, if the building needed to change, I could do this in the original drawing and the change would be reflected in all instances of that building in the masterplan drawing.

As far as I can see this is not possible in ArchiCAD.. Please let me be wrong.
Thanks for any help or feedback..
Nick.

Re: Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD?

Barry Kelly — Mon, 23 May 2011 06:28:02 GMT

NickMcLeod wrote:
As far as I can see this is not possible in ArchiCAD.. Please let me be wrong.
Thanks for any help or feedback..
Nick.

You are wrong.
It can be done in two ways.
The "proper" Archicad way is called Hotlinking.
You model your buildings in separate files and then "hotlink" these into you master file.
Any adjustments are done in the original files and affect all placed instances of the hotlink.
So just like your Xref.

THe other method is to do it as an Xref - appearently just the same as in Autocad.
I have never used the Xref method so I can't say what the difference is but they sound pretty much identical to me.

Both are found in the FILE > EXTERNAL CONTENT menu.

Barry.

Re: Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD?

Anonymous — Mon, 23 May 2011 07:09:30 GMT

Beautiful..
Thank you so much. This is just the thing to solve about 5% of my headaches.. More to come later. 🙂
Yours,
Nick.

Re: Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD?

Laszlo Nagy — Mon, 23 May 2011 10:53:00 GMT

If you come from an AutoCAD background then the following book will probably save you a lot of time and effort:

http://www.cadgarage.com/arforauusbo2.html

Re: Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD?

Anonymous — Mon, 23 May 2011 11:34:18 GMT

Kapow!
That is a valuable looking purchase. I'm on it.
Thanks!
Nick.

Re: Anything like XREF's in ArchiCAD?

James B — Mon, 23 May 2011 12:22:14 GMT

NickMcLeod wrote:
I am used to XREF's. If I was working in AutoCAD and was rubber stamping buildings over a site masterplan, I would draw a building in one file, then xref it and others into the masterplan drawing.

I'm also using AC for masterplanning and have for the past 6-7 years. I'm currently working in an office 99% Autocad
So Archicad works very well with xref Autocad drawings, and for 3d models as Barry said, use Modules (hotlink them in). It's basically placing an Archicad file inside another Archicad file