how do you realize variants?

[Anonymous]

I am planning an existing building that gets some stories added to it.

I want to try different variants of these stories and different roofs..

how do you realize variants in planning your buildings?

[Anonymous]

I like the method Ignacio suggested but the project is actually a little more complicated...

I got a building in L-shape.
While the left side has 3 existing stories the right side has only 2.
Adding new (modern) stories with different heights than the existing ones results in different story heights of the two sides from the 3 level up which is a common problem in ArchiCAD.

A solution to this is, as I already found out, using .mod files and hotlinking them to a project file. That said I have two mod-files each containing one of the sides..

In this case the solution Ignacio suggested seems impossible to me..

[Anonymous]

Barry wrote:
You still only have the 3 renovation status but you have always been able to create as many filters as you want.
You can then set your element to show only for that specific filter.
You actually aren't using the status.
Leave every thing as new or existing and so long as that filter you create shows new or existing (not override or hide) and your element is set to show on that new renovation filter (not 'All relevant filters') then you should be able to turn elements on/off by simply changing the filter.

Barry.

Hi Barry
This sounds quite interesting. Could you expand on this? What "filter" are you referring to? Don't the renovation filter limit you to three status'...?

[Barry Kelly]

You can create as many filters as you want.

Barry.

[Anonymous]

Yes - I got that part. It is the point "You can then set your element to show only for that specific filter." that I don't see how it works.

[Barry Kelly]

Then you tag your elements to show only on one particular filter.

So now when that filter is active that element will show.
If a different filter is active it will not show.

Set up multiple views of your plans, sections, elevations, etc., - each one set to show a different filter.

Barry.

[Anonymous]

Ah - got it. Fantastic, thank you.

Would this work if you had 3 house design options on the same site, modelled all in-situ, using three different renovation filters to control viability. Wouldn't they try to intersect with each other and create all sorts of issues?

[Barry Kelly]

So long as they are set to show only in a particular filter then they do not seem to interact with other elements set to show in other filters.
They do interact with anything set to 'show in all relevant filters' or other elements in their own filter.

So in theory you could have as many versions as you want.

Just be aware there is no way to show everything on screen all at once.

Barry.

[Anonymous]

Interesting - I will certainly have a go, thank you.

The other way we were taught of how to achieve multiple options in a single file was through the use of "spare" stories way up in space, then saving them as modules, and placing them in-situ. The modules get linked to a publisher set, so if a change is required, they are amended in their source in the spare stories, then you re-publish the module, go to the Hotlink Manager, click update etc.

[Barry Kelly]

Here are a couple of examples.
As you can see elements and annotation in plans and elevations can be controlled.

Option 1.

Barry.

[Barry Kelly]

Option 2.

Pay no attention to the dimension in plan.
These also need to be tagged for each filter.

Barry.