topic What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD proj in Documentation

What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD proj

Anonymous — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 11:02:19 GMT

I am starting to build a fairly extensive library of detail drawings that I have drawn in ArchiCAD. Right now I have each detail drawn in separate PLNs. Up until now I have opened each detail drawing PLN so that I can copy and paste the detail drawing into each new ArchiCAD project. This doesn't seem like it is the best way to do this.

What is the best way to insert previously drawn details into an a new ArchiCAD project?

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:42:53 GMT

For years I have inserted previously drawn details into
a project by saving the individual detail drawings as
modules (.mod) files then when I need to insert a detail
I use the merge command from the file menu. No need
to open another project and copy and paste. I keep all
the module files in one folder.
Peter Devlin

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:50:22 GMT

Peter wrote:
For years I have inserted previously drawn details into
a project by saving the individual detail drawings as
modules (.mod) files then when I need to insert a detail
I use the merge command from the file menu. No need
to open another project and copy and paste. I keep all
the module files in one folder.
Peter Devlin

Aloha Peter,
How does merging modules differ from importing a drawing via "File > External Content > Place Drawing"?
After asking my question I have been experimenting with the import method and it seems to be working. Using the import routine also gives me the ability to directly open the original PLN.
Thank you,
John

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:41:53 GMT

Hello John,
The difference seems to be that you can only place
image files that are not editable in Archicad.
Merging either a module or a whole project inserts Archicad
elements into the project. These elements are editable.
The modules I use are standard details made with
lines, fills, text, dimensions, and lib parts that are all editable
in the project since there's no such thing as a "standard detail".
Peter Devlin

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Richard Morrison — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 15:37:32 GMT

See THIS for a good tutorial on detail libraries.

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Laszlo Nagy — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 11:48:36 GMT

You can also save Views of those details in the other file and simply place those external Views onto your Layouts by drag-and-drop in the Project Organizer Window of the Navigator. They will be placed as Drawings on the Layouts.
Of course, this is good only if you do not need to modify anything in those details.

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 18:31:08 GMT

laszlonagy wrote:
You can also save Views of those details in the other file and simply place those external Views onto your Layouts by drag-and-drop in the Project Organizer Window of the Navigator. They will be placed as Drawings on the Layouts.
Of course, this is good only if you do not need to modify anything in those details.

Aloha Laszlo,
Please explain how to do this.
I have the two projects open side by side. In the detail.pln I have saved a view of the detail that I want to show in the project.pln. I've tried to drag and drop the view of the detail from the detail.pln to the project.pln but I have not been able to drag it from one PLN to the other. Please explain how to do this.
Mahalo,
John

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:17:17 GMT

Kia Ora John

You do this in Organizer, with one file (detail file) open in the left panel, the other open in the right, as opposed to having two instances of Archicad open. Top left button in Organizer is called Project Chooser, click it then Browse to your detail PLN file. Then drag views from Detail file view map on left side, to appropriate Layout on right side.

Hope this makes sense.

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 20:20:33 GMT

What I am doing now is the compile all of my details in one master details.pln. Each of the details is saved as an independent detail in the detail.pln. When I want to use one of these details in an ArchiCAD project (project.pln) I use the File/External Content/Place External Drawing command to place the selected details directly onto one of the layouts in the project.pln.

I like working this way because I can use the "Open external source View" command to open the independent detail in the detail.pln. Once this is open I can modify the source independent detail so the detail keeps getting improved each time I work on it. Alternatively, if I want to make changes to the detail that will be unique to a particular project I can cut and paste the drawing elements of the detail into the project.pln. In this second case I could also create a new independent detail in the detail.pln so I have the new, unique detail as part of my detail library.

This system seems to work for me now but I would also like to get other user's feedback, improvements and tips on how they build a detail library for use in their ArchiCAD projects.

I would also like to know if this process can be streamlined by dragging and dropping the independent details directly from the details.pln into the project.pln.

Thank you,
John

I would still like to

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Anonymous — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 21:18:48 GMT

s2art wrote:
Kia Ora John

You do this in Organizer, with one file (detail file) open in the left panel, the other open in the right, as opposed to having two instances of Archicad open. Top left button in Organizer is called Project Chooser, click it then Browse to your detail PLN file. Then drag views from Detail file view map on left side, to appropriate Layout on right side.

Hope this makes sense.

Kia Ora Stuart,
That works great! Thanks for the tip. I like it a lot. You've shown me how to make this process much easier. I appreciate your help.
Mahalo,
John

Re: What is the best way to insert details into an ArchiCAD

Arcadia — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 22:38:26 GMT

Here's what I do: I have 5 different worksheets set up in my template file each worksheet with a different series of details (ie for different construction types). I keep these updated as I keep my template updated (if I create a new detail on a proect I copy it into my template for future use). On each sheet I have up to about 15 details drawn into frames that I have sized to fit 4 to a sheet on my layout and I just resize the layout drawing as required for the details I want on my layout. This means I can customize details on the fly if needed for an individual project and I don't have to have multiple files open and be cutting and pasting etc.

I don't like the idea of using module files because if you update the source file then the target module in a drawing file can update and then you have a slightly different set of drawings to what was issued to your client.

I also don't like the idea of using external drawings from another pln file. What happens if your folder tree structure changes down the track? Will the link be lost and also what if you want to customise the detail later.

I think its better to keep everythng in one file.