Archicad for drafters not architects.

[Anonymous]

I'm kind of tired of using Archicad already. It's so hard to do simple things and I'm constantly thinking about how to trick Archicad to represent my design correctly, than actually thinking about my design. There are endless settings and settings, how to fix this and that and how to show that stupid window between two stories, how to paint a wall in horizontal stripes without having to create 10 walls one over another and what to show in plan, what to hide in layer combos. Endless time consuming technical specifics that are required to make very simple things. I'm frequently adjusting my ideas so I can make them happen on Archicad. it's very frustrating. Unfortunately there isn't better alternative yet, but I hope one day there will be a software that will be able to help architects to be architects and not a software geniuses who are constantly looking to overcome the software limitations while creating their design.

[felcunha]

I agree somewhat with you. Sometimes it's painful...
Maybe it's because you're not aware of all the workarounds other users have found to deal with your situations... For example, you can create a complex profile wall to make your horizontal stripes...
it depends also on what you think architects want to be... I've tried some other softwares and realised Archicad is the less dumb. Even if it's getting more and more complicated.
Sometimes I dream of a two-step interface: easy and expert, so people could concentrate on designing in the 80% and toggle to make more tricky things the other 20%.

[MrC]

IMHO Archicad is like any other tool; as you use it, the greater your skills develop. Its the new normal for all designers and drafters that we have to be proficient with one software version or other. As Felipe points out, if you stumble upon a limitation in Archicad, then there's usually a workaround somewhere. Archicad is a learning curve for sure, but easily worth the effort and time!

[TMA_80]

I agree that the points highlighted by the original poster could and should be made easier . Making modications graphically (on the go) easier and flexible could only enhance the user experience.

The flexibility of Archicad is it's strenght and selling point.

[KeesW]

I don’t disagree with you. As a 20 year long Archicad user I am still frustrated by its inability to do easy things simply. One can draft in Archicad but the temptation is always to do things in 3D because it’s is so much fun. If you can resist this, Archicad has all the tools to produce good, and quick, 2D drawings - but that is not what it is designed for. Have you looked at Vectorworks?