Libraries & objects
About Archicad and BIMcloud libraries, their management and migration, objects and other library parts, etc.

Arched window, unequal legs

Tom Krowka
Enthusiast
An arched window with unequal legs does not seem to be available in the Archicad Library, or am I missing a control somewhere. Can be fixed, movable, a door, I don't care.
Tom Krowka Architect
Windows 11, AC Version 26
Thomas@wkarchwk.com
www.walshkrowka.com
9 REPLIES 9
Erika Epstein
Booster
What is an arched window with 'unequal' legs?
Erika
Architect, Consultant
MacBook Pro Retina, 15-inch Yosemite 2.8 GHz Intel Core i7 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3
Mac OSX 10.11.1
AC5-18
Onuma System

"Implementing Successful Building Information Modeling"
Anonymous
Not applicable
Have you tried Cadimage's Window Builder?
Tom Krowka
Enthusiast
Arched window with unequal legs is similar to the quarter round window, except the curve does not terminate at the horiz. member. Instead there is a vertical leg like on the opposite vertical size, except the vertical dimension is different. The top arc of the window connects the two legs.

Am trying to avoid third party software as multiple machines and licenses are a hassle to keep up with. Trying to keep it simple.
Tom Krowka Architect
Windows 11, AC Version 26
Thomas@wkarchwk.com
www.walshkrowka.com
Anonymous
Not applicable
Try Petri's "Free form Window" object found
in the Depository under doors and windows.
I made an arched window with unequal legs
using Petri's object. It worked very well.
I drew the frame shape with lines and arc,
set the magic wand settings for the resolution
of the arc and set "straight segments" then
magic wanded the lines and arcs with the
polyline tool selected. I copied this polyline
into the Section/Elevation window and placed
it in front of a wall,in plan I inserted Petri's window
into the wall, went back to the Section/Elevation window
and using the editable hotspots shaped the window
to fit the polyline. Please see attached.
Peter Devlin
FreeForm Window.jpg
Tom Krowka
Enthusiast
Thanks for the heads up. Have not seen that tool before, but will include it in my toolkit.
Tom Krowka Architect
Windows 11, AC Version 26
Thomas@wkarchwk.com
www.walshkrowka.com
JaredBanks
Mentor
Peter,

So the image you're showing has no curved lines? Just little segments? Great trick. Any idea if there's a better solution in future versions? I'm in v11, so I assume not, but I have a feeling I'll see this same problem in v14 later this year.

Glad I kept searching before asking the same question! The free form window is a great object. I've used it a lot for other odd shapes.
Jared Banks, AIA
Shoegnome Architects

Archicad Blog: www.shoegnome.com
Archicad Template: www.shoegnome.com/template/
Archicad Work Environment: www.shoegnome.com/work-environment/
Archicad Tutorial Videos: www.youtube.com/shoegnome
Anonymous
Not applicable
Hello Jared,
As you know, In Archicad all curves in 3D are resolved
in to short straight segments. This is true of all tool elements,
library parts, or any element that has a 3D representation.
You can verify this assertion by looking carefully at a curved wall
or curve edged slab in the 3D window and you will see that
the curve as drawn in the plan as a true curve is resolved into
short straight segments. AFAIK this is still true in AC 13 and AC 14.
One great thing about Petri's object is that you can create
as many hotspots or nodes as you want to make the "curve"
appear as smooth as you want.
Peter Devlin
JaredBanks
Mentor
Good point. I didn't think of that. I made my window and it looks great, but for some reason the glass is showing up white. I'm looking into that right now. It looks like the top corner frame isn't cleaning up right.
Jared Banks, AIA
Shoegnome Architects

Archicad Blog: www.shoegnome.com
Archicad Template: www.shoegnome.com/template/
Archicad Work Environment: www.shoegnome.com/work-environment/
Archicad Tutorial Videos: www.youtube.com/shoegnome
JaredBanks
Mentor
Fixed it! If you put a node along the curve over the frame going up and down (so close to the top corner), the window gets unhappy. I just moved the node over a half inch and everything looks good.

My one issue with the free form window is its floor plan symbol is horrible. But there's solutions to that.
Jared Banks, AIA
Shoegnome Architects

Archicad Blog: www.shoegnome.com
Archicad Template: www.shoegnome.com/template/
Archicad Work Environment: www.shoegnome.com/work-environment/
Archicad Tutorial Videos: www.youtube.com/shoegnome