2D drafting Tips an tricks

[Steffen]

HI
I am an old Autocad user. The tools for drafting 2D lines, circles and so on are quite different in Archicad. Are there any good video tutorials that you can recomend that gives a good set of tips an tricks on how to use the tools the best way for efficient drafting in 2D? 

If you have a link to a youtube video please let us know. 

Thanks in advance  🙂 

[Barry Kelly]

Archicad is not a 2D drawing package.

Most of the '2D' drawings you need are automatically generated from views of the 3D model.

They are really just for adding a little extra annotation to a view.

The Help > reference manual will explain the tools.

https://help.graphisoft.com/AC/28/INT/index.htm?rhcsh=1&rhnewwnd=0&rhmapid=#t=_AC28_Help%2F070_Docum...

If you are trying to create fully 2D documentation without a 3D model, then Archicad is the wrong software.

Barry.

[Mahmoud Qenawi]

Hi @Steffen,

If you like to use Archicad for 2D drafting I can tell you that it’s the best choice (IMHO) with all respect to Barry’s opinion.

Archicad is much easier for drafting than AutoCAD & many other drafting software.

For sorry, you won’t find this sort of YouTube videos but rather you can find 3D modeling & documentation ones.

The only solution for that is to use the help guide which will comprehensively describe all 2D tools, pen sets & colors, layers, favorites & how to publish/print your drawings as DWG/PDF.

[Steffen]

Thanks for advice. Iam sure I need to use the tool. #D is great, and I use it, but there are situations where 2D is needed.

- 1:5 detaling - almost impossible to produce 3D detalls. 
- I also use 2D in early sketches in initial sketches. To get the measurments and concept right. Starting in 3D  early in a project is for me difficult. I dont bother if the stairs are 170 mm and if i want railings or not. I need the freedom to get a "feel" for the project. In Autocad I was very quick and only used shortcuts. In archicad I am forced to use buttons on the screen. It slows me down.

But surely it is probably only me. I have to practice more..... 🙂 

[Hmooslechner]

i have made several tutorials in german for 2D-Drafting but if You aren't able to use german, its not very useful to link it here for You. The first thing to consider in 2D is to use some keyboard shortcuts - not much  -about 10 are suficiant enough for speed-drafting. Also very important is to know the three ways to set the vector-coordinates in drawing, the use of the automatic helplines and to notice the mouse-curser reactions on given elements.  Use more hatches than lines in drawing. Know the hatch-editing commands - then you speedup drawing much faster than in Autocad. Know the function of Alt+Klick and CMD+Click. and so on. Knowing all this, You also speedup Your drawing-Skills in 3D - its the same.

Beginners:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q59anKABMMs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1S3PAhKaGFQ

Shorts:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYasTnopPsI 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAiVhUtRtCs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8Z_K-7DDwY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec5iwK45yUA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRGKHWejLfo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8z4XKJXcgs

[Steffen]

Thank you very much ! 
I will look into these videos. I understand German.

Yes shortcuts i need to develope. It like playing piano. I have to learn a new instrument after 30 years with autocad 🙂 
Maybe use my old ones, bit they interfer with the standard ones in archicad. 

Is there a command for "repeat last command" ? In autocad I used Space for this. Very handy

[Steffen]

Why are the shortcuts in Archicad so complicated?  These are the ones i use in Autocad Just one push

c = circle
ctrl+c = circle copy
l = line
p = polyline
o= offset
ctrl+o = offset copy
f=fill
d = drag
ctrl+d = drag copy
r= rotate
ctrl+r = rotate a copy 

[Hmooslechner]

You can change them in the settings.

[Karl Ottenstein]

As @Hmooslechner said, you can change  shortcuts in the Work Environment (be sure to save those settings with a name… and export to your file system in case you need to re-import them later due to reinstalling, or making a change that you regret).

But, seriously, it is not reasonable to change to a different manufacturer’s software and expect the shortcuts of another.   For example, Adobe does not use the same shortcuts as Microsoft,   Etc,  yet, if it helps you transition, Archicad lets you customize shortcuts, menus and more in the Work Environment panels.

[Steffen]

You are right I suppose.   I have to practice and learn the new way 🙂 

[Mahmoud Qenawi]

I’m sure you’ll enjoy your learning journey with Archicad, in addition to all the a/m topics you’ll have to accustom new items like windows Fonts rather than shape fonts in AutoCAD, pen set, line weight & (Archi) objects versus (Auto) blocks, also you will need to study well DWG Translators.

The best part is that you can open a DWG file directly in Archicad according to the translator you choose & you’ll find all layers, lines, fills, colors, dimensions the same as in AutoCAD.

Wish you the best in your journey.

[vistasp]

I recall that, when I was first contemplating using Archicad, I was also quite concerned about how drafting would work, since everything seemed so radically different.

As you learn Archicad, you will get used to the 2D tools but, if you're using the software correctly, you will also need to use those tools much less. The best advice I can give you — something I learned from the stalwarts on this forum — is to model it as you would build it. Stop giving primary importance to the drawing output (like you do in AutoCAD) and, instead, think about creating an accurate virtual model. The drawings will follow…

[Mahmoud Qenawi]

Hi @Steffen,

If I can ask you why you chose Archicad rather than AutoCAD Architecture?

I feel this transition would be much easier for you, despite I see Archicad is more powerful regarding performance & capabilities than all CAD Architecture software.

[mthd]

You can still import and export dwg files between applications and also overlay them in Archicad if you are faster in AutoCAD for now. I import 2D drawings from surveyors and engineers and place them as notes in my project browser.

I started off learning key boards then I went to electric guitars and learned how to shred. You have to start off slow in Archicad and gradually get faster before you can shred in Archicad lol.

I came from Chief Architect and they had a set of 2D tools to draft with. Archicad also has 2D drafting tools in it and 2D shape modifying tools. You can explode and re-combine line segments as well.

Most of all have fun getting up to speed.

P.S. For detailing, I use a similar approach like Jared Banks uses in his excellent learning tutorials. Please see below.

https://youtu.be/uCqFJ70v-xM