AC Versus Revit

[Anonymous]

All,

I know that this topic has been discussed in the past, however, what I am trying to decide is whether to move my office to ArchiCAD or Revit.

Currently we are using SketchUp for the design process and Autocad LT for the documentation portion of our projects.

We have decided that using software applications like ArchiCAD will yield efficiencies in our organization on a number of levels; however, we are trying to decide between AC and Revit.

I have obtained trial copies of both and have gone through tutorials and sample projects. What I am looking for is opinions from this forum as to why AC is better than Revit - what can't Revit do that AC can?

Incidentally, we specialize in residential and light commercial work with a modern emphasis.

Thanks in advance for everyone's assistance,

DJ Landreneau

[__archiben]

djlandreneau wrote:
I know that this topic has been discussed in the past

...

Thanks in advance for everyone's assistance...

dj - what you really need to do is a search: use the 'Search' link at the top of the page and you'll find all of those past discussions - each running into several pages of posts on the topic.

they invariably end up as a my-cat-is-blacker-than-your-cat spat. rather than begin another one of those, try these to begin with....

http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=10348&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=11010&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?p=68244
http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=11957&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

there are many more . . .

djlandreneau wrote:
what can't Revit do that AC can?

the trouble with questions like that is finding someone qualified enough with both softwares to be able to answer it! the majority opinion on this forum will be based on assumptions of the other (and vice versa on the augi forums i'm sure! )

~/archiben

[Djordje]

djlandreneau wrote:
What I am looking for is opinions from this forum as to why AC is better than Revit - what can't Revit do that AC can?

My opinion has always been that the software can't do anything. We can.

So it is down to how easy it is for you to learn and implement, and, something maybe even more important, is there anybody at a shouting distance who can help you while you toddle around.

When you start walking, running is not so far away ...

[Anonymous]

I have been using both applications from a learning perspective, ease of use, etc.

What I am trying to figure out is based upon the wealth of knowledge amongst the users here what things does everyone find that they can't do, or are difficult to do in their day to day tasks with AC.

DJ

[Djordje]

djlandreneau wrote:
I have been using both applications from a learning perspective, ease of use, etc.

What I am trying to figure out is based upon the wealth of knowledge amongst the users here what things does everyone find that they can't do, or are difficult to do in their day to day tasks with AC.

DJ

Well ...

Archicad users have 15 years more of dealing with the real world.

[Rakela Raul]

this type of software "virtual or BIM) rely a lot on libraries, special part, elements and the like...and AC has an exuberant library along with all the objects for sell in 'objects on line' and many other sites.....
specially and specifically for the residential market !!

[Anonymous]

Rakela wrote:
this type of software "virtual or BIM) rely a lot on libraries, special part, elements and the like...and AC has an exuberant library along with all the objects for sell in 'objects on line' and many other sites.....
specially and specifically for the residential market !!

Rakela,
I beg to differ regarding objects available for "specifically... the residential market". I find that the "exuberant libray" is somewhat lacking in many basic residential components. If you're talking about furniture and things like that I guess it's OK...but if you're talking about miscellaneous trim & finsih items, framing components, etc. required to do standard residential exterior envelopes, the available library leaves something to be desired.

I spend alot of time creating "custom" brick and stone details around entrances and windows...and even more time trying to create soffit and rake items,etc. This is time I would rather spend designing...not scripting or manipulating Archiforma. These are items that should already be developed and ready to use parametrically from an "exuberant library." We need more things like a full library of Fypon components and/or other manufacturer specific off-the-shelf components.

I'm not complaining...I love using ArchiCAD in my work...I just find it misleading to represent the available residential libraries as "exuberant" If I have some time in the near future, maybe i'll start a thread to discuss all the items I feel should be readily available as parametric library components.

Attached is an image of a house I'm currently working on. I'm barely halfway through developing all of the tirm components in Archiforma...Its great that we have add-ons like Archiforma to do this kind of detail, but it would be better if we had more parametric trim components already pre- developed in a true "residential" library.

Dan K

[Rakela Raul]

in my humble opinion it is exuberant compared to the revit library.....moreover,
there are residential libraries for sale like the medley libs, trims something by others, that provide alot of trim details.
agree, they should be included in the ac lib or archiforma should be part of ac also.
BTW, what a beautiful residence, congrats dan

[Anonymous]

I have found that in Revit if I need a trim detail or some component that isn't available as a "family" I can do a workaround by using the massing tool available within Revit. If there is time a family, which is a parametric AEC object, can be created. Is there something like this availalbe in AC?

[Anonymous]

Dan.
What was the reason to use ArchiForma here? Just ease of work? I don't see a real need for it. Nice design BTW.