Redundant lines generated in Elevation/ Section Drawings

[Anonymous]

Something that has frustrated me for a very long time when working in ArchiCad is the amount of clean up required when converting a 3D model to 2D elevations and sections. I have tried numerous ways to reduce this problem. My primary method now is to drag a copy of the lines and fills generated from the model up a given distance (i.e. 100') and then changing the layers of these lines and fills to layers that relate to my 2D elevations/ sections and that can relate to line colors so that when I need to share the drawings with someone using AutoCAd it is easier. The biggest problem with the cleanup is redundant lines on top of each other that have come from composite walls, slabs, roofs etc. I spend a lot of time deleting many of these lines in order to easily work with the 2D drawing. Is there some better way to eliminate all lines that occur on top of each other so that only one line exists. Maybe the solution is out there and I do not know about it, if not I think it is a very important problem that needs a solution.
David Rulon

[Eduardo Rolon]

Possible workaround that I use with SketchUp and might work with AC though I have not tried.
->Publish the elev-sect as a pdf or EPS
->open in illustrator
->saveas as DWG
->import to AC and rescale if necessary

All extra lines should be gone. It is also possible that it works with pmk's substituting PM for Illustrator.

[TomWaltz]

jdrulon wrote:
Something that has frustrated me for a very long time when working in ArchiCad is the amount of clean up required when converting a 3D model to 2D elevations and sections.

Then don't. Believe it or not, it is perfectly possible to create elevations and sections without unlinking them or converting them to "drawing" mode.

It requires a little more discipline when building your model (pens, snaps, materials, etc) and you do have to darken a few things (usually polylines around the outline of the building), but gets around a lot of 2D/conversion headaches, and actually allows you to make changes while working in elevation view.

[Djordje]

jdrulon wrote:
Something that has frustrated me for a very long time when working in ArchiCad is the amount of clean up required when converting a 3D model to 2D elevations and sections.

Only if you are not careful when doing the model. Take care of dimensions and snaps, assign materials properly, and do NOT think about the submission DRAWINGS before you have the BUILDING.

When the building is properly built, the drawings are a breeze.

Think of it as being on site - if you start properly, it might take a day/week or two before progress is visible to the nervous owner. After that, it is plain sailing. BUT, if you rush it out at the outset, so that the progress is visible, you will face many a snag afterwards, and therefore lose more time.

Reconsider your way of doing things; going to the dentist also hurts for a short time, but that perpetual nagging pain is gone.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for your advice. Unfortunately the type of work we do requires very precise and detailed 2D drawings on which we work a long time. I have spent an enormous amount of time on the model getting it very precise but there are many things that cannot be done in the 3D model. The parametric library parts are great but limited to what they are programmed to allow you to modify. For instance I have created all of my own casework with drawers etc in order to be able to control all of the dimensions. Another example is that casement windows do not allow you to have different top and bottom sash dimensions. The list goes on. In the end takes too long or is impossible to draw everthing in 3D. This is the reason for my request to have some way to eliminate all of the redundant lines that are generated from the model. Maybe an add on program could do this.
David Rulon

[Anonymous]

Check for duplicates tool in add ons...

[Anonymous]

I cannot find "duplicates tool" in Add Ons. Does it have another name? Cannot I download it from somewhere? Thanks for your help.

[Anonymous]

I found it in the "Goodies" folder. That is terrific. I cannot believe I have suffered for so long without asking the question. Thank you very much.

[Anonymous]

Youre welcome .
Wow! This is the first time I could actually help someone, Im usually the one that needs help. I must be progressing...

[Anonymous]

I would like to say this tool is the magic bullet but unfortunately it gets some of the lines but not nearly all of them. It seems that the lines have to be exactly over each other with the same length. It seems that many lines that come from composite walls, slabs and roofs create redundant lines and a lot of these are not removed by this Add-On. In any case thank you for your help, at least it removes a number of lines and I guess other 3d duplications in the plan window.
David