Matthew wrote:
Since ArchiCAD puts so much of the functionality into keyboard controls (shift contrains, option locks, etc.) and cursor responses (check mark, mercedes, perpendicular and tangent) which are not readily apparent to new users, there is a need to provide this information in a more obvious, up-front way. Perhaps a thin manual titled "The Most Important Techniques to Know in ArchiCAD" to be included with the program.
A big part of the problem is that much of the elegance and function on these methods arise from the many ways they work together to make complex tasks simple and immediate. This is more difficult to document and explain than just the basic functions.
I remember the first time I used ArchiCAD : I clearly said "It's the most difficult program I've ever used"... 2 days later, I was presenting a complete project in 3D to a new client...
I then used ArchiCAD for a month, and missed the AutoCAD tools a lot, until I worked for 3 hours with a "fluent" ArchiCAD user that showed me how to extend walls without any menu command, connect roofs, and even create GDL objects... I was convinced.
All I can tell is that I had already tried to learn this by myself after having read the manuals, but there were so many exercises I couldn't do correctly I was rather disappointed (
so I select the first wall with the selection tool, then select the wall tool and ctrl click on the reference line of the wall I want my wall extended to...
)...
There should be a small video made and display the keyboard shortcut used to achieve it !
Matthew has the right term when you can use ArchiCAD : "Elegance"...
