Dear Community members,
We present to you the Tip of October, a joint contribution in our forum from our moderator @Karl Ottenstein and Scott J. Moore (@scottjm), BIM Manager and Associate at Fulton Trotter Architects. The tip itself is originally from an ARCHINTENSIVE 2023 presentation on Attribute Management by Scott.
In his presentation, Scott goes into the intricacies of Attributes, starting with the basics and moving all the way up to possible management issues with hotlinking. Along the way, he includes plenty of recommendations on how to get a foolproof set of Attributes across your projects, even in larger teams.
Karl emphasized the relevance of the material for BIM Managers and users alike. The video is a gem that encapsulates years of Attribute management discussions in one compelling presentation.
Learning objectives
- Understanding the inner mechanisms of Attribute management, providing a comprehensive explanation of how it can lead to project disruptions.
- Techniques to prevent issues in your project, especially with Hotlink Modules.
- Introducing Python and Excel to help clean up and make bulk edits to Attributes (particularly interesting for large-scale projects).
Read along for key takeaways and other resources.
Scott’s recommended techniques to manage attributes
- Hotlink Management - use the Iceberg Method (see brief explanation below)
- Pay attention to the Teamwork file’s “underline” indicator for new Attributes
- Leverage Archicad 26 and newer versions’ folder structure
- Use a project master Attribute file (your single point of truth for Attributes) for each project
- Lock Teamwork permissions for more control over Attribute changes
- Set up an office master Attribute file
- Pay attention to index numbers
- Manually sync your Attributes with XML files
- Avoid doing a Hotlink Module update without first verifying if your Attributes are synchronized
- Have patience, prepare to spend some time rationalizing your Attribute Management
The Iceberg Method
This method of Hotlink Management includes the host model and its Hotlink Modules in the same file. The main model, in this case, is just the tip of the “iceberg”.
The sources for the Hotlinks are literally under the surface in negative stories. Virtual trace is an advantage of this method as well - we can use Trace Reference to display columns, building boundaries, elevator shafts/core, or essentially any relevant model element.
If you are interested in learning more about Hotlink Management, check out our workflow guide here.
Central Attribute Management in Archicad 27
Take full advantage of the latest Attribute improvements in Archicad. In addition to Scott’s presentation, you can gather further insights on managing a solid and sustainable set of Attributes across all projects from Benedek Gászpor, BIM Manager at Tecton Kft. Benedek shared his experience bridging the gap between the design and the BIM team in his Building Together Learn presentation.
Thanks goes to Scott J. Moore for sharing his insights at ARCHINTENSIVE. A special mention and thank you also goes to @Nathan Hildebrandt FRAIA, the organizer of the event, for orchestrating a phenomenal gathering of Archicad users and BIM specialists from around the globe.
May Scott’s and Benedek’s expertise on Attribute Management guide you through your Archicad endeavors, ensuring your projects unfold with precision and clarity.
See you next month!
Graphisoft Community Team
