Modeling
About Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Elevations: Below Grade dashed etc...

Anonymous
Not applicable
So I am working on elevations, and I am wondering if there is a way that I can use the 3d model rebuild mode and still show the below grade stuff as dashed etc.
I find that if I change the elevation to a drawing I can go ahead and change line wights, and types to show as they are supposed to , and use partial hatching which I learned how to do through you guys, thank you.

The thing is hough that when I do this if the building or model changes a little bit the elevations are not updated. Also, if I go ahead and update my drawing then I lose most of my changes that I made in elevation.

Does any one know a better way to do this? Or is this just how it is done?

Thank You
Jess
8 REPLIES 8
Anonymous
Not applicable
Jesikuh123 wrote:
So I am working on elevations, and I am wondering if there is a way that I can use the 3d model rebuild mode and still show the below grade stuff as dashed etc.
I find that if I change the elevation to a drawing I can go ahead and change line wights, and types to show as they are supposed to , and use partial hatching which I learned how to do through you guys, thank you.

The thing is hough that when I do this if the building or model changes a little bit the elevations are not updated. Also, if I go ahead and update my drawing then I lose most of my changes that I made in elevation.

Does any one know a better way to do this? Or is this just how it is done?

Thank You
Jess
See also : Installation / New user : Modeling Vs. Drafting
Anonymous
Not applicable
Cutting and pasting elements in a section elevation window will "detach" their connection to a model such that if a sect/elev window is "re-built", everything you have been working does not revert back.
Anonymous
Not applicable
I recently came up with a solution for this that pleases me to no end. This, after struggling with the problem for years.

Create a vector fill made up of diagonal lines. Then create a pen that is a really fat white line.

In your section window, still attached to the model, snap vertices to place a fill covering the area below grade. Turn the fill's outline off, and set the fill pen to fat white, make sure the fill is "on top" of the modeled information, and you will be very happy.
Anonymous
Not applicable
RobertNichols wrote:
I recently came up with a solution for this that pleases me to no end. This, after struggling with the problem for years.

Create a vector fill made up of diagonal lines. Then create a pen that is a really fat white line.

In your section window, still attached to the model, snap vertices to place a fill covering the area below grade. Turn the fill's outline off, and set the fill pen to fat white, make sure the fill is "on top" of the modeled information, and you will be very happy.
To make sure I understand, what you are suggesting will just cover up the model so you dont see it, correct? And then I am just 2D drawing over it?

Thank you , i am going to give this a try, and I am also going to try the previous suggestion.
Anonymous
Not applicable
That's correct. The model is still a dynamic 3d thing, and you are simply putting a 2d mask over it.

The pattern of the mask (diagonal lines) makes the modeled lines behind appear dashed. All your changes to the model come through with no fuss, unless you change your ground line, then you get to tweak the fill coverage.
TomWaltz
Participant
RobertNichols wrote:
That's correct. The model is still a dynamic 3d thing, and you are simply putting a 2d mask over it.

The pattern of the mask (diagonal lines) makes the modeled lines behind appear dashed. All your changes to the model come through with no fuss, unless you change your ground line, then you get to tweak the fill coverage.
We've been doing this for some time and found that it's a good idea to extend the mask a good bit beyond the actual building on each side in case it grows.
Tom Waltz
Karl Ottenstein
Moderator
I use and teach this fill method as well, also using it on plans to dash 'walls below' for framing (place framing plan on top of ghosted/striped walls-below on the layout, snapping via hotspot).

Elevation/Section or Plan, a problem arises with non-rectilinear things. If you have something that is at a similar angle to your diagonal fill, it will either not be dashed, or will disappear altogether. Thus, if you have sloped grade beams/struts in your foundation, e.g., you may need a mirror of your striped fill and will have to place several fills to get the desired effect, rather than just one. This breaks down if the model is modified and the fills no longer align properly...

AC does require a number of workarounds like this to get the desired documentation from 'live' views, but once you've learned them it doesn't slow you down.

Cheers,
Karl
One of the forum moderators
AC 28 USA and earlier   •   macOS Sequoia 15.2, MacBook Pro M2 Max 12CPU/30GPU cores, 32GB
Anonymous
Not applicable
As Tom and Karl point out many people have been using this method to good effect for a long time. It has a bit of the feel of a workaround, but as I always remind people who complain about them; what if there weren't any?