Collaboration, Architectural / Structural Offices using AC?

[Anonymous]

Hi,
Would like to get some idea on what is the best way to collaborate/coordinate between an Architectural office and Structural office, both using ArchiCad, managing the Model & the Construction Documentation?
Thanks,
Joseph

[Anonymous]

Got my answer by a little thinking and lots of help from Erika Epstein,

1. The Structural side creates a file with attributes needed. This should be done with collaboration with the Architectural side.
2. Structural places the architectural plan as a Hotlink in a new created layer e.g. A | Module. All non Archicad Objects to be loaded, also. All attributes of architectural are brought into the structural plans. The modeling and construction documentation is done and saved as structural plans.
3. Architectural places the structural plan as a Hotlink in a new created layer e.g. S | Module. Goes to Hotlink Manager and checks No Nesting after high lighting the structural link. All non Archicad Objects to be loaded, also.
4. At this point all attributes of structural plans are carried over, but no views or layouts.
5. Go to top of the Manager click on the fly out arrow and open the structural file as the link.
6. On the left hand side is the view/layouts of the structural plan (linked) and on the right side the layouts of architectural plan (active).
7. Now the architect can drag/drop the structural views/layouts of structural to his layouts; or double click the views of structural to open another copy of ArchiCad.
8. Any time structural is modified upon opening of the architectural an updated is requested and one is good to go.

Thanks,
Graphisoft and Erika,
Joseph

[Erika Epstein]

Joseph,
Thank you.
A clarification though. Modules only bring in the attributes they use. If you want ALL the attributes of the other person's file, then merge a .pln file. Better yet, start your structural file from one of the architects. You will add what you need structurally, coordinating in advance as necessary.