Developing walls template and looking for advice

[Anonymous]

I am a new user having just switched from Acad to AC 11 - these forums have been really useful as I've been learning the program.

I do all residential work - I’m now setting up a template drawing and right now I’m working out how I want to handle walls. If anyone can offer any advice or insights, I’d be grateful – here’s what I’m thinking:

Walls (using composites, I think, but I’m looking at complex profiles too) will have a core that corresponds to the wood studs and then inner and outer layers for drywall and sheathing. All that doesn’t really show at ¼” scale but seems like it will be helpful for accurate sections.

I’ve worked out using different pen sets to get the lines heavy on the core or the outer lines depending on plan type. It would be nice if I could turn off the outer lines at times but I don’t see how that can be done except maybe with pen sets.

Then, I’m looking at the Cadimage accessories tool to add the outer shell – siding, stucco, brick etc. I like that they produce 3 dimensional materials. I have the demo version running right know and it seems to work but I do have concerns about it’s flexibility – it has brick/block option but no stone that I can see for instance.

So the questions that leap to mind are:

Is this level of detail workable & useful for residential scale projects?
How good is the cadimage accessory tools? What limitations have people run into?

Any insights are appreciated – as a new user, the manuals and other materials are great but they don’t tell you what the software won’t do or what roadblocks you hit 10 steps in to the process…..

[Dennis Lee]

nats wrote:
If your objects consist of lines, circles, objects, and say text you have to select the new layer you want to change these onto four times before you get everything onto that one layer, once for each type of object.

I am a self learner, and I admit I did do what you are saying before, but try to search / read more on this forum with an open mind, and you'll find out that AC isn't that bad.

This button will give you a pleasant surprise, I guess. It's right next to the layer button on the info bar.

[Anonymous]

Actually, ignore my post on the other "nats" thread. He/she's nothing like me at all.

One-sided forum - wonder why it's called Archicad-Talk?

[Anonymous]

Nats - while I appeciate the effort to help me, um, endure archicad, I don't think that that board needs "balance". It's purpose is not, after all, to debate the merits of some new political position, but to figure out how best to use the tool we have chosen (or forced to chose apparently).

Honestly, the other posts offering me advice and tips are far more useful (thanks everyone!) than telling me what's wrong with no attempt at a solution. Of course, as a result of this I've learned about the 'edit section' tool which will is great.

Also, I do agree that deleting everything on a layer is a bit dangerous - it would be nice to have the ability to move such objects to a default layer as sketchup does - I use that all the time to keep my sketchup drawings organized.

[Link]

Chris wrote:
Also, I do agree that deleting everything on a layer is a bit dangerous - it would be nice to have the ability to move such objects to a default layer as sketchup does - I use that all the time to keep my sketchup drawings organized.

The ability to delete an entire layer and all of it's contents is a fantastic feature IMHO. What a simple and quick way to purge information you may no longer need. As with anything you need to use a certain level of caution using it.

As for purging layers in general, we are able to use the 'Edit Selection Set' command to move all elements to a particular layer, 'Find & Select' for even greater control, 'Active Layer' to assign the default layer of all tools to just one layer, and the Attribute Manager to purge unused layers.

It's just a matter of opening one's mind and then learning how to do it!

Cheers,
Link.