AC IS WORST SOFTWARE EVER!

[Anonymous]

I have tried all day to draw elevations using a hatch to block certain areas out.

in order to do so, i have to rely heavily on the send backwards, forwards, to back, to front commands.

i have used alot of different software for illustration and drafting. these commands are messed up and lie!

i have lines in front of something, and send it to front and it tells me that the operation is not possible because it is already at the front.

this is nearly the last straw.

just thought i would vent hoping someone would straighten me out and make eat my words.

[Karl Ottenstein]

The display order of elements in AC is a bit limited, but shouldn't be a problem with what you describe ... unless you really mean DRAW your elevations rather than have them generated from your model and just cover up some portions (the covering up is often better done via viewport cropping in the layout).

See this help page that lists the default stacking order of elements:
http://www.graphisoft.com/ftp/publishing/ac16_help_INT/Files/wwhelp/wwhimpl/common/html/wwhelp.htm#h...

If something is already at the front, your only choice is to send the other thing backwards one level. But, there are insufficient levels compared to something like Illustrator / InDesign as you say... This thread (which includes a link to a no-longer-existing Wiki article) discusses what you've run into:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=115975

Here is an old wish related to display/stacking order:
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=11356

[Erich]

Since it sounds as though you are just trying to mask elements of the elevation, you might investigate the patch tool as well.

[NCornia]

knosaj,

Sorry that this has caused such frustration for you. I will bring this topic to our developers' attention.

Best regards,

[Anonymous]

If you send something to the front, and something else to the front, I believe it uses the first thing you sent to the front as the one it shows on top. You can always send one back one step. This can be slightly frustrating. Having a number associated with the display order would be great. But I don't believe this alone makes it the worst software ever.

[Anonymous]

The better you get at modeling the less you will have to put "patches" or "fills" on your model-generated elevations. Yes, "bring forward" "send back" have a long way to go in ArchiCAD however sometimes you need to "send back" in order to "bring forward". Also, use the command that brings forward or steps back one step at a time. Even though you're from Texas, I think you can get the hang of it.

[rocorona]

As far I can remember, in ArchiCAD there are only 14 "levels" for the 2D display order.
Elements assigned to the same level are shown in a predefined order ([top] Annotations > 2D line elements > GDL elements > 3D elements > 2D poligonal elments > Figures [bottom])

[Anonymous]

Steven wrote:
... This can be slightly frustrating. Having a number associated with the display order would be great. But I don't believe this alone makes it the worst software ever.

My two cents:
Having struggled with these stacking levels many times, I like the idea of having stacking numbers associated and viewable somehow.
Maybe marquee-ing an area with option to have a visual map pop up showing
the status of stacking in the area?
Maybe even in 3D?
Is it really that hard to do?

[Arcadia]

I agree that the stacking is awful and you should be able have a limitless stack order like other 2D drafting software. However as others have said you find this less of a problem the more competent you get with the software as you model much more and draw much less.

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure what you're doing specifically but I used to be in the same boat but now I hardly ever have problems.

One thing I do is instead of bringing objects forward is I try sinking the items I want behind first. The higher levels tend to fill up pretty quick if you always bring objects forward.

And the last placed item is higher than earlier placed items so remembering to drop stuff in sequence sometimes helps.