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How to Place Doors and Windows in ARCHICAD 17

automata
Graphisoft
Graphisoft

The principles of the door and window placement

The placement of openings is still done with two clicks:
  • The first click for the longitudinal positioning in the wall and also for the determination of the reveal side.
  • The second click for the opening direction and orientation.
In ARCHICAD 17 a wall has two detection zones.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--detect_zone.png
When the user selects the Door/Window tool and moves the cursor close to a wall (closer than 15 pixel) then the wall is highlighted, and the feedback about the wallhole and the reveal side appears. A small sun indicates the reveal side, that is the outside.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--klikkelott.png
Three Geometry Methods are available (in ARCHICAD16 only two: centre or side) before and during the input: center, side1, side2. In certain cases the reveal side must be changed and it is available by pressing the TAB key. After the first click the feedback of the opening appears and the selection of the Opening Direction and Orientation becomes available. Moving the cursor around the wall indicates the highlight of the opening's final position.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--klikkutan.png
In ARCHICAD 17 the Opening Direction option has been removed, only the Flip command is available which was relocated to below the Preview Picture.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--preview.png

Opening placement in 3D

In 3D the cursor must be positioned on a wall surface where the opening will be placed. The first click defines the position of the opening, the second click defines the Opening Direction and Orientation. The Reveal side can be changed with the TAB key.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--opening3d.png
Flip command is not available with certain openings e.g Historic Windows. For these openings the flip option is not eligible due to the opening's structure. The rule for the openings accessories is that the reveal side=outside, the users can associate to it from the sun sign. Certain features (casing, material, masonry arch, etc) are linked to the reveal side. When we define the reveal side during the input, the casing and other structures follow this rule. The remaining Flip command changes only the position of the door leaf. Materials, grill and other features stay at the original position.

Overlapping Detection Zones

In case if the cursor is in the position of overlapping detection zones, the highlight shows which is the edited wall. Also the Info Tag displays the properties of the highlighted wall. Switching between the walls is possible with TAB key.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--overlapping.png

Partial Structure Display

When Partial Structures Display settings is Core only or Without Finishes the first feedback of the opening appears with the entire element allowing the expressive placement.
wp-content_uploads_archicadwiki_techtips-placedoorwindowinac17--partialstructure.png

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