ArchiCAD to Timberline

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with getting useful estimating information out of Timberline using a ArchiCAD 8.1 model. We are looking at new accounting/estimating software, and I am hoping to get a handle on how much effort is involved in getting numbers that mean anything. Is it easier than writing property scripts for everything I want estimated?

Or, are there any other really good options out there?

Any help with this would be great.

Thanks,
Joe

ArchiCAD 8.1v2 MacOS 10.2.8

[Steve Jepson]

Great topic. I would also like to know more about using ArchiCAD and the Timberline CAD integrator and e-planTakeOff.

http://www.timberline.com/industry/comm-industrial/estimating/applications/cad_integrator.aspx

[Anonymous]

"Steve Jepson" wrote:
Great topic. I would also like to know more about using ArchiCAD and the Timberline CAD integrator and e-planTakeOff.

I recently had a demo of timberline done by the distributer in my office, and asked this very question. His answer was, technically yes, but in practice no. He suggested it was easier to get the data from show element information or calculate. This was just his opinion and maybe it was just his lack of knowledge on how to operate the program. I personaly would love someone to come up with a QS API where you could easily do estimates and quotes.

Richard.

[Aaron Bourgoin]

I have had similar experiences here in Canada. I don't think Timber line HQ is doing a great job of promoting the technology to their consultant dealer network. I haven't found anyone at a local level who can tell me much about it. Quite the other way round, they want to see how its done.

[Karl Ottenstein]

I'd also like to hear about any actual experiences. Looking through the Timberline web site's limited info and screenshots, it looks to me as though using the Calculate menu (and appropriate property scripts) and exporting to a database could be just as much, if not less, work. Neither eliminates the possibility for user error... but perhaps Timberline has a mechanism to check for any elements that aren't included in the take-off and to point them out graphically. Can't do that with native AC.

Karl

[Anonymous]

I guess the real question is do you really want to turn the designer/Architect into an estimatior?And from my Professional experience the answer is NO.All esimating packages should be independent of the deign/Model package.The interfacing program ie,spreadsheet/database,will allow for data to be manipulated and extrapolated and error checking,efficiency ,cost,analysis etc,etc, prior to exporting toTimberline,databuild,ordering,accounting etc.We successfully export quants, data and analysis from vectorworks,and the program is flexible enough for estimators,schedulers,administrators etc, to use it and run scripts to check drawing/build integrity,You see we don't rely only on the 3D Model ,I developed the process of QUESTIMATING ,It has revolutionized the way in which we design,build and work .Sorry to say ,your solutions aren't real using this program?

[Erika Epstein]

Has anyone talked with Kurt Ameringer (hope I got your last name correct)?
In his talks for Graphisoft he's mentioned using Timberline for costing on a project so he would know the process

[Link]

I submitted a report to Viktor Bullain (GS Architectural Representative, similar to Kurt) about this topic, very early this year. A firm I was working with was considering using IFC & the RCC template system in an attempt to get information out to Timberline.

Anyone using AC in the US can go to ArchiCAD (8+) \ArchiCAD Templates\Additional Templates\RCC Estimating Template and read the documentation there.

The conclusion of my report was that the process was so fraught with problems that it was too impractical to use. I recall one of the biggest problems was that only a select amount of ArchiCAD elements would accept the IFC definitions. Anyway, the company quickly dropped the idea and returned their CAD Templates to their own standards. It was quite a painful exercise to be brutally honest, but I'm sure Rich Creveling & GS have improved it since.

Hope that helps (somehow)!

Cheers,
Link.

[Erika Epstein]

Good to have you back Link
We were getting worried

[Karl Ottenstein]

Link wrote:
It was quite a painful exercise to be brutally honest...

Yes, welcome back, Link! 😉

Don't know about any new improvements, since 9.0 ships with the same files.

Reading through the "Rcc Favorites Library User Guide", particularly page 26 ... it sounds like the "RCC Uniformat Database", which is essential to the IFC/Timberline integration, is not included and presumably must be purchased from RCC. Is that right?

Karl