topic Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD in Documentation

How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

Mr Architect — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:33:52 GMT

Hello everyone,

Can anyone advise me on adjusting my line weights in sections and elevations?
Thanks and regards,

Abdul.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

Laszlo Nagy — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 20:38:28 GMT

You should look into Graphic Overrides. You will not be able to adjust the lineweight of individual lines, but Graphic Overrides will be able to override the Pens of elements (Pens define both color and thickness), but be aware that Graphic Overrides can override only whole elements, not individual lines within elements.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

mthd — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 07:51:46 GMT

Hi, this issue above and many others concerning the quickly changing of line weights has been of great concern to me ever since I started using Archicad way back at V7. If there was one thing right at the top of my wish list, it would be the ability to quickly change the line weights.

Right now when we right click to enable true line weight, the program knows exactly how to display the correct weights. Why not ask GS if they can also link a quick line weight change directly to the true line weight display command ? In other words a pop up on screen or a direct link to edit line weights on the screen view. It could even act like the edit mode we have with the railing tool when it is turned on. All we need is a direct link to those lines on screen on the view that we are looking at to quickly change them so they look right.

We all know we can set up a template or use graphic overrides but that takes way too much time and it gets confusing and complicated. I have already made a wish last year but I persist with what we have at present.

Maybe a webinar on this issues on how to set up a template with our line weights or how to use GO’s to do this would be much appreciated until they can give us something more simple as I have just mentioned.

Thank you.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

jl_lt — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 14:14:47 GMT

In the old days we produced the drawings from which You got the 3d model.

Now we produce a model from which you can get drawings. But more and more we have been asking ourselves, why?

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

mthd — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 08:09:10 GMT

Hi @jl_lt, these days we like to get both with not doing too much extra or unnecessary work.

Maybe we could right click any view in the navigator and go directly to all those lines making up that particular view and change them from there ?

Right now when we get a new version with new library parts and elements like doors and windows, some or most of us spend hours setting the pen weights and line types etc. We know where to find those pens to change them because we spend so many hours setting up a template. The dialogue boxes contain almost double the info these day and so it takes even longer to find and set those line weights. Then at times we don’t exactly know which ones are actually showing on the view then add GO’s to the equation to confuse everything even more.

Why does it have to be so complicated and difficult to change a line weight on a view ? ? ?

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

jl_lt — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 22:37:25 GMT

Thats the point. We decided to stop worrying too much about that. Is not that we don't care, is just that GO are slowly replacing penset mindset. But also more in the sense that we tell the contractors "there is a 3d model, use it d****t!"

I think eventually all those documentation workflows and hassles, along with the need to print anything should tend to dissapear, as it becomes integrated and extracted automatically from the 3d model on demand; as it is today, but like without pain..

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

jl_lt — Sun, 25 Feb 2024 19:24:41 GMT

To the OP, a nice penset with all black and grey and a judicious selection of lineweight per element should do the trick. A Graphic override can do it too.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

mthd — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 01:24:32 GMT

The current methods only serve to confuse and complicate the process. I would like an easy to use, easy to find global control of all my line weights, types, colors in any view. Is that too much to ask ?

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

Barry Kelly — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 01:38:28 GMT

@mthd wrote:

The current methods only serve to confuse and complicate the process. I would like an easy to use, easy to find global control of all my line weights, types, colors in any view. Is that too much to ask ?

Isn't that control just your pen set?

Change a pen colour or thickness and it will change in every view that uses that pen set.

Need to change colour thickness in just a few views, then duplicate the pen set, change them there and use that new pen set in the views you need it.

I would only use Graphic Overrides if I want to control a specific element rather than the entire view.

But be aware, the entire element is overridden, not just a single pen colour in part of that element.

The original poster could also just set up an alternate pen set as jl_lt has suggested.

Duplicate the coloured pen set.

Change the colours to black with the same thickness (if you are happy with the thickness).

Some pens can be shades of grey if you want light and dark, and of course keep the white pens as white so they don't print.

I actually use the black/grey/white pen set for my layout drawings so i don't have to say print as black and white or greyscale (I don't print in colour).

Barry.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

MitchD — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 01:54:22 GMT

I use the elevation/section marker settings to achieve that look.
It's a simple as a typical un-cut pen, thicker cut pen and they grey distant elements.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

mthd — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:04:03 GMT

Here is a video to showing how to do what @MitchD, is suggesting above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ohy-ofjBe1c

Hope that helps.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

mthd — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:12:51 GMT

Hi @Barry Kelly, I understand that view pen set method and I personally do not use it because I prefer to set up everything in my model including the elements in my template.

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

jl_lt — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:33:19 GMT

Could you explain a bit your workflow? Im really not super fond of pensets either, but sometimes not fighting the software and going with flow helps a lot. Once you have it, you really dont need to think about lineweights that much. Or what is it you are finding difficult?

Re: How to adjust lineweight in Sections and Elevations in ArchiCAD

mthd — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:59:52 GMT

When creating a template and setting up my wall types first. The composites are set with lines there and then, that’s it, all done, forget about it. Then the doors and window line defaults are set up for each view or cut, that’s it, forget about it. (Of course you also set up all your other elements too)

A new version comes out with windows with pink fills (Should just be a MVO), where are they so I can change them ? The dialogue box gets greater and greater and I start looking for the lines and fills to change them, it takes a very long time.

Pen sets for each view, GO’s, when you start applying these levels of complication, it gets very messy when you need to look to change a single line. Hence my suggestion to have the onscreen true line weights leading to a list of lines showing on my screen so I can quickly edit an offending line. Without having to go for a search through endless dialogue boxes to find that offending line. Can take up to 1/2 hour sometimes especially with CI tool elements.

I live with it because every software will have things we don’t like about them. Yes in CA all lines are on the layer with each element and very easy to find and change when opening up your layers dialogue. AC doesn’t have to be so complicated when it comes to looking for offending lines to change them. AC is my preferred CAD software program and it’s great.

That’s what concerns me.