Keep several design alternatives in the same file
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2017-04-08
02:23 PM
- last edited on
2023-05-26
04:34 PM
by
Rubia Torres
During the initial design phase it frequently happens to have two or three alternative solutions on several design problems.
Let's say I am designing an apartment and I want to show to my client two different bathroom layout or room position, keeping the rest as it is.
Working on two different files is not a solution because I still want, let's say, the living room to be updated on both the plans...
Is there an easy way to keep several design versions in the same file?
Another related example is editing a part of the drawing but keeping a backup copy of the previous design. I don't want to create a new file every time!

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2017-04-10 02:54 AM
Layers - duplicate layers and turn them on/off for alternative designs.
Modules - save each design as a module that you can swap in and out - again you can have a new master layer for each module that you can turn on/off. This way you only need one extra layer for each module.
Renovation filters - not recommended but some have use existing, new and demo to display up to 3 alternate designs.
Barry.
Versions 6.5 to 27
i7-10700 @ 2.9Ghz, 32GB ram, GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11
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2017-04-10 09:06 PM
I would prefer not to duplicate layers because it creates a mess!
I'm going to try the module solution! Never heard about it!
There is also someone using the Model View to swap between versions. I still didn't get exactly how but it look as interesting as your solution!
Here is a screenshot
Thanks again
A

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2017-04-11 03:00 AM
This allows you to save the same plan with any of these options set differently.
So for example it is the quick way to change between floor plans using different a layer combination that shows the different plan options without having to manually swap the layer combination yourself.
You can then place each of these views on a layout to show each of the alternate designs at the same time.
Using modules allows you to model each of the alternate designs in the same layers but when you place the model you will need only one new layer for each design so that you can place them in this 'master' layer which can be turned on or off as required - again save each design as a new view with a different layer combination.
Each layer combination turns on all your regular layers plus one of the 'master' layers. This way you will have a layer combination for each alternate design and you save multiple views of the plan - each using a different layer combination for your alternate designs.
Barry.
Versions 6.5 to 27
i7-10700 @ 2.9Ghz, 32GB ram, GeForce RTX 2060 (6GB), Windows 10
Lenovo Thinkpad - i7-1270P 2.20 GHz, 32GB RAM, Nvidia T550, Windows 11
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2017-04-11 03:22 PM
It will depend on the extent of the various design options which would work best in each case. For room layouts I would look at the renovation or layers option and keep everything in one file.

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2017-04-12 09:45 AM
I marquee and copy the room in question to a worksheet, named say Option A or B, do my proposed layout then overlay it on my floor plan.
Once the client agrees to Option A or B, I overlay the trace on my "Live" floor plan and delete the worksheets.
Win 10 64-bit
AC27

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2017-04-12 12:59 PM
Looks like it was killed because it wasn't compatible with Teamwork.
GeForce GTX 745 4g HP Pavilion 25xw
Windows 10 Archicad 26 USA Full
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2017-04-18 12:56 AM
horeau wrote:Not when you use the layer extensions in archicad - or at least it's "less" messy
Thank you Barry for kind reply!!
I would prefer not to duplicate layers because it creates a mess!
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2017-04-18 06:03 PM
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2017-05-05 03:09 PM
Barry wrote:I will investigate the Modules method...I have although a question about annotations:
To keep it all in one file you could try ...
Layers - duplicate layers and turn them on/off for alternative designs.
Modules - save each design as a module that you can swap in and out - again you can have a new master layer for each module that you can turn on/off. This way you only need one extra layer for each module.
Renovation filters - not recommended but some have use existing, new and demo to display up to 3 alternate designs.
Barry.
How annotations behave with modules lets say you have keynotes on one of the details from option A when you swap to Option B what happen to those notes do you need to set up specific layer combinations per option?
Thanks in advance for any help - I started ArchiCAD (v20) 2 months ago after 15 years on Revit...