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

[Anonymous]

Miki wrote:
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.

Miki & Rakela,
Thanks for the nice compliments!

There are many reasons why I use Archiforma. the best one to describe with the attached image is the ability to ceate an element that can curve in two directions...see the image for description.

The other main reasons are: ease of use, editability and I don't need to maintain project specific libraries if I create things out of archiforma.

I do alot of projects that require detailed half-timbering...I the past, I would model a whole wall of this half-timbering and then save it as an object to apply to the face of the building. It became cumbersome maintaining the various parts and especially cumbersome if I ever needed to edit them. When I discovered Archiforma, all that hassle was eliminated.

Dan K

[Rakela Raul]

There are many reasons why I use Archiforma. the best one to describe with the attached image is the ability to ceate an element that can curve in two directions...see the image for description.

Dan, would you mind, if u have a chance, sharing your procedure to create
a double curve profile using archiforma ??

[Mats_Knutsson]

djlandreneau wrote:
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

Do try to find some offices working with AC and some with Revit and interview them. Evaluate learning curve, productivity, communication to other software, how it is to own...and you have a no brainer...called Archicad. It's not interesting at all what a software can do. What's interesting is what a user can do with the software...period.

[Anonymous]

Advise what program need beginning designer

[Anonymous]

freya wrote:
Advise what program need beginning designer

What kind of design?

What is type and size of firm?

More info is necessary for a meaningful response.

[Anonymous]

Rakela wrote:
Dan, would you mind, if u have a chance, sharing your procedure to create
a double curve profile using archiforma ??

Rakela,
It sounds more cumbersome than it really is...below is the process I used to create the window surrounds in the image I posted previously...so here goes:

1. Generate a 3d projection of the desired window and copy the line work out.

2. Paste the linework down on the floor plan and use ArchiCAD's polyline tool to trace the window outline...be sure and add extra nodes along the arc part (I usually add at least 8-12 evenly spaced nodes along the arc.)

3. Draw the desired profile using archicad's fill tool...select the polyline and the fill and use ArchiForma's "Tube-Sweep" tool to loft the profile around your polyline.

4. Place a section elevation marker at the top of your new profile (note: your profile is laying flat and you will be viewing an elevation view of the top of it.)

5. Go to the floor plan view of the window and draw a polyline or arc of the curved portion of the wall where the window is...copy the arc and paste it back into your elevation view.

6. Line the pasted arc up with the profile...select the profile and graphically stretch the notes to meet the curev of the pasted arc.

7. When you're finished editing the nodes, go back to the floorplan and rotate the profile up using ArchiForma's "Rotate" tool.

8.You're done...after you do this a few times it becomes pretty easy and quick to do...Good Luck!

[Rakela Raul]

thanku Dan v much !!!

i think your procedure should be posted in a special place
in this forum

[Anonymous]

This is a crucial moment for Graphisoft to win new clients. Autodesk in on the aggressive to keep old clients. Revit-9 is hitting the market with an aggressive price plan. If you have an old autocad, you can upgrade for under 1500$ and get both Revit-9 and a full autocad 2007. People wishing to leave autocad for archicad will have hard time, as archicad 10 is priced 4250$. I recommend GS to revise its prices, be aggressive and advertising. I noted that most resellers, including GS itself, do not list the price in their websites, thus forcing people to ring. This is an old-fashioned approach that has long lost ground. The prices must be upfront, and must be competitive. We are about to close the evaluation period, and thus will decide on the revit-vs-archicad knowing that we already have autocad...

I shall wait for Graphisoft's new prices until October 15, and draw the line.

[Anonymous]

jdk wrote:
If you have an old autocad, you can upgrade for under 1500$ and get both Revit-9 and a full autocad 2007.

As I recall about 14 years ago ArchiCAD offered a competitive upgrade from AutoCAD for $1500. I don't know how successful it was then but perhaps now would be a good time to try it again.

[Anonymous]

If you have a recent version of autocad, the upgrade costs 1100$. If you add SketchUP (500$) and cinema4d (600$), you are slightly above 2000$ in total, which sound extremely sweet. By comparison, archicad+sketchup+c4d sums up to about 5400$. If you consider that revit is not that different from ac, and that in both cases you need SP and C4D for rapid development and proper rendering, then the battle reduces to price comparison. Autodesk's offer ends next October 18th. If Graphisoft wants to gain new clients, it should make a similar offer, and be quick too.