Archicad drawings

[KeesW]

I am still disappointed by the elevations that are generated by Archicad 10 when choosing the 'section' tool. There are too many stray lines, and line thicknesses of elements often vary because they are created at different times, with different paramenters. When a plan includes an item with sloping walls (ie in plan, not elevations), door and window frames dominate because there are so many lines and they all show.

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I do elevations - especially sketch drawings - having multiple lines close together creating a nearly black splodge is not what I want. Of course, one could explode the elevation, convert all lines to hairline thickness, delete redundant lines and draw 2D lines of required thickness over the top of existing lines to create a decent looking drawing. So much extra work!

Is there a technique that experienced users have to overcome this problem? This is fundamental productivity stuff - much more important than being able to create shaded colour backgrounds.

I can't help mentioning that Revit solves this problem by being able to choose a simplified line presentation in elevations, and being able to change the appearance of lines of entire library parts (eg roof elevation outlines) without affecting or changing the underlying lines of these parts or projections.

Come on Archicad - get real and stop stuffing around with cosmetic tweaks! Check out the opposition!

KeesW
Archicad 10, XP Pro (Archicad user since v5.5)

[Anonymous]

KeesW wrote:
I am still disappointed by the elevations that are generated by Archicad 10 when choosing the 'section' tool. There are too many stray lines, and line thicknesses of elements often vary because they are created at different times, with different paramenters. When a plan includes an item with sloping walls (ie in plan, not elevations), door and window frames dominate because there are so many lines and they all show.

This is why it is so important to setup, use and maintain good pen standards. I have been able to get many of my clients to the point where all the sections and elevations need is some outlines to "pop" the depth perception and, of course, notes and dimensions - the rest is drawn automatically from the model.

I don't know about the rest of you, but when I do elevations - especially sketch drawings - having multiple lines close together creating a nearly black splodge is not what I want. Of course, one could explode the elevation, convert all lines to hairline thickness, delete redundant lines and draw 2D lines of required thickness over the top of existing lines to create a decent looking drawing. So much extra work!

Is there a technique that experienced users have to overcome this problem? This is fundamental productivity stuff - much more important than being able to create shaded colour backgrounds.

The key here is to have pens set according to their function. The doors and windows are a problem due to all the detail they contain. If they are all drawn with the same pen in 3D (and that pen is used solely for that purpose) then this pen can be adjusted according to the scale of the drawing (using the pen sets). If the parts are too detailed this may be small consolation - but in this case hairlines with a single heavier outline added can do the trick.

I can't help mentioning that Revit solves this problem by being able to choose a simplified line presentation in elevations, and being able to change the appearance of lines of entire library parts (eg roof elevation outlines) without affecting or changing the underlying lines of these parts or projections.

This is also possible in ArchiCAD but depends on the authors of the library parts. Unfortunately developments of the capabilities/possibilities of GDL have far outpaced improvements in the tools and methods for developing and managing them so that they have become in many cases unmanageably complex. I (and many others) are very much hoping for improvements in this area.

[Steve Jepson]

KeesW,

"especially sketch drawings" "black splodge" ?

Show a pictrue of what you mean.

[Anonymous]

Hello Steve
You can find out example files on this site.
I am sure, you will find many advantages with AC.
But it takes time, to test every function.
Believe me