Archicad 10 is announced

[Greg Kmethy]

Dear Talkers,

You can read Graphisoft's announcement on Archicad 10 here:
http://www.graphisoft.com/products/archicad/ac10/

[TomWaltz]

Erika wrote:
I guess I was unclear. I was wondering how in teamwork in 10 you handle/control access to the layout book? Do you name one team member "Layouts" so anyone but only one person can work on the layouts?

You probably could if you wanted to.

The idea is that you can sign out layouts and place views on them or move them around. Supposedly anyone can add a view to a layout, but that layout has to be in your workspace if you want to move/modify any placed views.

It really is kind of Plotmaker with Teamwork added in. Just keep in mind that signing out a Layout only gives you the "page layout", not all the layers and view windows that make it up.

(you're sneaking up on the Top 10 poster list!!)

[Anonymous]

Going back to the curved profiles. GS are we gonna hear some explanation here ? No one will say anything ? If I will want to put window in rotunda (obviously round) what do I do ? If I will create wall from small segments (to preserve circle) I will be unable to insert window in that kind of small wall segment. Walk around with SEO again ? Can you still fix it ?

[Bricklyne Clarence]

Miki wrote:
Going back to the curved profiles. GS are we gonna hear some explanation here ? No one will say anything ? If I will want to put window in rotunda (obviously round) what do I do ? If I will create wall from small segments (to preserve circle) I will be unable to insert window in that kind of small wall segment. Walk around with SEO again ? Can you still fix it ?

Yes, it's interesting how everybody keeps dancing around this issue, despite the fact that the new Profile Manager is one of the featuerd and heavily advertised front-and-center "improvements" of ArchiCAD 10. Granted, none of the developers have actually chimed in, and all the comments thus far have been from Beta-testers, but the silence from GS side speaks volumes; and rather unpleasant volumes at that.

It seems, as someone else suggested earlier on, that the intention was to introduce half a tool in version10, and then the other half in version 11 ( if we're lucky; don't forget that the interior elevation tool is now spanning almost three versions, as a half-baked feature).

IMHO they were better off leaving it off version 10 altogether until they were able to get it working the right way in all convceivable situations without the need for having to resort to clunky Add-ons, including the in-the-box Add-ons.

[stefan]

Profiles are indeed only "halfway there". They are also not fully integrated with the rest of the BIM Model, which is something GS has to tackle in a following release. More modeling freedom is welcomed, though. Profiles in curved walls is indeed a disappointing omission.

My biggest disappointment with a tool such as MaxonForm is not being handled: the freeform geometry is "only" a GDL object. At the moment, you have to use workarounds to re-edit it with the original C4D parametric objects, but it's possible (save as C4D, reload it again when re-editing). But the generated geometry is not a part of the BIM model. When you modify a wall with Maxonform, it's not a wall anymore. When you import a NURBS surface in Revit, you can at least turn it into a building object. You can not create it in Revit (which will happen someday, probably), but you can integrate it;

PlotMaker integration is warmly welcomed.

No improvements on SEO handling. I sorely miss an overview of all SEO's in the project. Something like the schematic view in 3ds max or some spreadsheet-like listing would at least give you access to manage them and find them back.

No improvements on rendering, but given the fact that Lightworks is OK, I'm not really complaining here. They should have added Radiosity, but I fear that this would also slow down everything with regards to rendering, since the models are already complex as they stand.

Guidelines are very usefull. It's visual and accurate at the same time. Alas, only in 2D! SketchUp is still the reference to follow here.
Combined with more visual feedback from the Tracker window and the selection highlight popup, you are more informed and need to open less dialogs to do your everyday work.

Add-ons need to be recompiled. It's a shame and it might disrupt your work flow if a vendor stops or is slow to upgrade them. They might charge you for it, but not everybody does it. It's the nature of evolving software and that is something you cannot solve easily, unless the API stays fixed for eternity and the compiler also stays the same.
It would be slightly less problematic if there would be "open source" plugins, which you could then upgrade if needed, but this is not happening in a commercial CAD world.
But rest assured that Cigraph and others are working hard to upgrade everything for 10. But it's the nature of the beast: there are still some old plugins, such as EON Fastview and AxisVM which have been stuck in release 7.

If I would have to give a rating, i'd give AC10 a "good" but not an "excellent", mostly based on the limitations in Freeform modeling and the stagnation of some other aspects (rendering, materials, SEO, GDL editing..).
But PlotMaker integration, Freeform modeling additions, improved user interface, introduction of Tracker and Guidelines, better integration of Interactive Schedules and a better overall workflow make this a fine update. Despite all the negativism on the first announcements.

And to end with Frank Gehry: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K8lUO8KCts0

[Thomas Holm]

I get depressed when I see so many people write down a new program version they haven't seen yet. I know I shouldn't be. Being a Mac user, I know what happens before each and every pre-announced event in the Mac world - a huge mountain of expectations, very seldom met, and disappointment expressed oh so loudly everywhere. Everybody seems to know what should have been done, what features should have been added or improved, but nobody seems to realise that most of us have our own pet peeves, and it would simply be impossible for any developer to satisfy them all - it's just too much!

On the other hand, our feelings of course show how important we think the program is, and how much we want it to be the ideal tool - I hope that's what Graphisoft sees.

I've also beta tested AC10. I'd just like to add that I have also had my disappointments, but I think overall this is a very important upgrade. There are a lot of small improvements that don't show in the feature lists, but feel good when you experience them. Like now, walls clean up with slabs (of the same material) like never before. This time, the rewrite has obviously reached deeper than before, and there are improvements under the hood that not only allow for the tracker, guidelines and new selection options but obviously also lay a foundation for future versions.

The workflow during the test, even in the early betas, felt much smoother than before, and it was not funny to have to go back to 9 when project work required. If a person earns his/hers living by Archicad, there is no question - upgrade!

[Djordje]

Let's not forget one more thing:

The development team is a very, very hard working bunch of professionals. Although I also have my list of unfulfilled wishes, 10 is at least an excellent first step. Towards what? Well, let's be constructive and positive. Then we will all achieve what we want.

The girls and guys worked very hard; let's recognize that effort, and keep them reminded of what still needs to be done, but in a manner of constructive contribution, not whining.

We all care. That is why the feelings run hot.

[Anonymous]

Bravo.

[Petros Ioannou]

Djordje wrote:
Let's not forget one more thing:

The development team is a very, very hard working bunch of professionals. Although I also have my list of unfulfilled wishes, 10 is at least an excellent first step. Towards what? Well, let's be constructive and positive. Then we will all achieve what we want.

The girls and guys worked very hard; let's recognize that effort, and keep them reminded of what still needs to be done, but in a manner of constructive contribution, not whining.

We all care. That is why the feelings run hot.

I think everyone agrees to that.
The actuall reason for whining:

"Sh*t , this profile wall tool looks pretty cool, can't wait 18 months to have it complete! I want it now, now, now! "

Petros

[Anonymous]

Djordje wrote:
Although I also have my list of unfulfilled wishes, 10 is at least an excellent first step. Towards what? Well, let's be constructive and positive. Then we will all achieve what we want.

Djordje we are not talking about personal wishes. AC has some MAJOR drawbacks. They decided to fix some. The profiling was a very important missing feature. They add it. Why did they leave curved profiles out? GDL supports such action. So this is not a case. The ONLY reason for doing so, is leaving it for another version, to have easy features to add. There is not other excuse. If there is i would like to hear it.

Second. They introduced a primitive SEO feature set, and then left it.
Please show me an BIG project with MASSIVE use of SEO. Its simply not possible. After a little while you are lost.

Noone say AC10 is not a good upgrade.
If i rate the upgrade of AC9 (on 1-10 scale) i would give it a 2 , where AC10 would propably get a 7 or 8.

It would be so easy to get a 10

[Fabrizio Diodati]

Philippe wrote:
In June 2005, Fabrizio wrote "We are working on a new tool that provide the user with... let me call it a "Nurbs simulation".
The good news is that it use a technology (I mean a GDL description) which result will be a solid shape, that means more flexibility ad a lot of possibilities... "
Everybody with me:
Fabrizio
Fabrizio
Fabrizio
Fabrizio

And here I am.
Unfortunatelly all our new add-on releases have been delayed by ArchiCAD 10.
Yes this new tool will be available soon (before the summer).
You will be able to buy it as ArchiSurf (I like this name but I'm not sure it will be the final one) but it will be included also in the next major update of ArchiForma (version 3.0).

I hope that as soon as I will have some time (after AC 10 release) I will be able to post here some example about it...

Friendly
Fabrizio