ArchiCAD is dying

[Bruce]

I know that's a controversial subject line, but I believe it's true. Not because I want it to be, but because Autodesk is an advancing monster; ArchiCAD firms are switching to Revit, and Revit-based firms are buying ArchiCAD firms...and switching them to Revit.

ArchiCAD is a great program, but if it keeps going the way it is, I fear it will gradually dwindle until it's finally gone. On a level playing field, it comes out more or less even with Revit (I have done a detailed analysis that has been vetted by Revit experts) - but it's not a level playing field.

In my opinion, Graphisoft needs to do a handful of things to even the odds (yes, I will compare to Revit, as that's the main competition):

1. Rebrand & revamp the UI: CAD is an obsolete term. Even though ArchiCAD was BIM way before the term was even coined, I think the "CAD" in the name does it a disservice. Also, the user interface is old and tired. Should it go to the ribbon? No way. Should it be brought into the 21st century? Absolutely - there are plenty of excellent examples out there. Blender, a free 3D program, is undergoing its second UI redesign in about 5 years. If Blender can do it, Graphisoft can.

2. Introduce type-based elements. At the moment, pretty much everything is instance based. If you place 100 doors 900mm wide throughout the project, you have to select and change every single instance (this is an example, so please don't tell me the workarounds - that misses the point). Essentially, this is extending the attributes database to other objects. This makes project-wide changes so much more consistent, with no fear of missing an element.

3. Easier creation of parametric custom content: A beginner user in Revit can create a basic parametric object by using geometry and dimensions. It is intuitive and accessible. This does have its limits, but GDL is completely inaccessible to any but the advanced user with a programming mind...something architects and drafties generally don't have - otherwise they'd be programmers. A mix of the two would be extremely powerful - maybe an interface similar to Visual Basic, or Grasshopper? Not only for 3D elements, but also for 2D labels.

4. Better labelling & keynote tools: At the moment it's one label per element per view. What if I want to tag more than the ID? What about material, thickness, height etc. Revit is excellent in this regard, and also in the ability to create your label format as specific as you please. Key notes are also critical.

These are only four key improvements that I think are critical. There are many others that I could list, but this post is already too long. I say the above not to criticise ArchiCAD, but to try and help (misguided however it may be).

I could be wrong - I would be happy to be wrong...but the Autodesk monster is advancing...

These changes should be done the Graphisoft way: not to match what Revit does, but to equal and better it.

[Laszlo Nagy]

mthd wrote:
I like to use one hand on the mouse and my left hand with a number pad.

Yes, I do the same, mouse and keyboard, that is the fastest for me.

You guys who started in ArchiCAD can shred allot faster than I can at the moment on simple designs.

Which means you too can get a lot faster in ArchiCAD, right? And even on more complex designs.

[Anonymous]

mthd wrote:
I like ArchiCAD the best too!

It's not a question of liking, it is a question of finding the best tool for the job

mthd wrote:
And why should engineers dictate Revit over ArchiCAD?

If you havent noticed Autocad (Revit and inventor) are moving onto Multiphysics simulations... the type you can do in solid works, which incidently has made Solidworks a world class program
BTW, my clients LOVE MULTIPHYSICS DATA PRESENTATIONS.
Its just too bad we cant import the results into Archicad

mthd wrote:
I still think we have weaknesses in ArchiCAD that we need to fix though?

Agreed,I think the whole Nemetsheck board needs a kick in the pants...what are they waiting for!

[Anonymous]

laszlonagy wrote:

mthd wrote:
I like to use one hand on the mouse and my left hand with a number pad.

Yes, I do the same, mouse and keyboard, that is the fastest for me.

You guys who started in ArchiCAD can shred allot faster than I can at the moment on simple designs.

Which means you too can get a lot faster in ArchiCAD, right? And even on more complex designs.

No one s taking about shreding projects here...
Its a case of you have to get the projects in the first place.

[Laszlo Nagy]

DesignEngineerBIM wrote:
If you havent noticed Autocad (Revit and inventor) are moving onto Multiphysics simulations... the type you can do in solid works, which incidently has made Solidworks a world class program
BTW, my clients LOVE MULTIPHYSICS DATA PRESENTATIONS.
Its just too bad we cant import the results into Archicad

Can you explain a bit more of what you mean by this? And how this works in Revit? I am not familiar with this area, or maybe just don't know exactly what MULTIPHYSICS means and what kind of data it produces that architectural programs should import.

[Anonymous]

DesignEngineerBIM wrote:

laszlonagy wrote:

mthd wrote:
I like to use one hand on the mouse and my left hand with a number pad.

Yes, I do the same, mouse and keyboard, that is the fastest for me.

You guys who started in ArchiCAD can shred allot faster than I can at the moment on simple designs.

Which means you too can get a lot faster in ArchiCAD, right? And even on more complex designs.

No one s taking about shreding projects here...
Its a case of you have to get the projects in the first place.

By Shredding I mean super fast CAD drafting as in guitar soloing.

I agree about Nemetcheck CAD program's needing GUI overhaul.

[Anonymous]

laszlonagy wrote:

mthd wrote:
I like to use one hand on the mouse and my left hand with a number pad.

Yes, I do the same, mouse and keyboard, that is the fastest for me.

You guys who started in ArchiCAD can shred allot faster than I can at the moment on simple designs.

Which means you too can get a lot faster in ArchiCAD, right? And even on more complex designs.

Yes probably and using a guitar analogy again some guitars are designed for faster soloing, the frettboard is not as wide and the strings are closer together and neck joint is further up and smoothed and not too thick as well.

[Anonymous]

laszlonagy wrote:
Can you explain a bit more of what you mean by this?

Multiphysics is a FEA analysis coupling it's relatively newly being redefined

laszlonagy wrote:
And how this works in Revit?

Autocad are insisting that these MP programs now translate Rvt file
But the workflow is rubbish, eventually Autocad will incorporate their own Multiphysics directly as a matter of course..similar to solidworks/comos eventually ironing out the problems

laszlonagy wrote:
I am not familiar with this area, or maybe just don't know exactly what MULTIPHYSICS means and what kind of data it produces that architectural programs should import.

Google Multiphysics -> images and what you see is data poorly presented.
Honestly I cant wait for you (IFC guys, AC,VW,NAG)... so its pointless trying to convince you here

I suggest you follow it here, as they say first in best dressed

https://plus.google.com/u/2/communities/115195196112205285216

More examples, video and real AEC MP solutions will follow

[Anonymous]

mthd wrote:

laszlonagy wrote:

mthd wrote:
I like to use one hand on the mouse and my left hand with a number pad.

Yes, I do the same, mouse and keyboard, that is the fastest for me.

You guys who started in ArchiCAD can shred allot faster than I can at the moment on simple designs.

Which means you too can get a lot faster in ArchiCAD, right? And even on more complex designs.

Yes probably and using a guitar analogy again some guitars are designed for faster soloing, the frettboard is not as wide and the strings are closer together and neck joint is further up and smoothed and not too thick as well.

LOL..Goodluck with the new career move

[Anonymous]

DesignEngineerBIM wrote:

mthd wrote:

laszlonagy wrote:
Yes, I do the same, mouse and keyboard, that is the fastest for me.
Which means you too can get a lot faster in ArchiCAD, right? And even on more complex designs.

Yes probably and using a guitar analogy again some guitars are designed for faster soloing, the frettboard is not as wide and the strings are closer together and neck joint is further up and smoothed and not too thick as well.

LOL..Goodluck with the new career move

Was doing that job in the late 80s and gave it up for a real job.

[Anonymous]

BTW ArchiCAD is by far the best 3D CAD product on the market for Architecture.

It was designed and purposed built for CAD of Buildings.

It needs a few tweaks here and there, and we will get them in time.

ArchiCAD did not have to shell out 133 million bucks for a 3d api to make Autocad 3d.

ArchiCAD will be around when many others are gone like Revit was snapped up by Autodesk.