Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on for ARCHICAD 23

[Ghaleb Khadra]

We released the newest Grasshopper - ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on on October 3 2019 with many new features and improvements. Please read the article to learn more.

New Features:

• Upgraded Performance:

Element updating in ARCHICAD is now even smoother and provides a more fluent experience. Sending multiple elements from ARCHICAD or modifying parameters in Grasshopper is significantly faster on both ends.

• Extract BREP/Surfaces from Referenced ARCHICAD Elements:

Users can extract pure geometrical information - BREP or Surfaces - from building components referenced from ARCHICAD to Rhino-Grasshopper. This feature allows the use of this extracted info as input for any Grasshopper component which accepts surfaces or other 3D geometry.

 NOTE: This feature does not apply to ARCHICAD Library Parts (Including Door/Windows).

• Static Text Placement & Control:

It is possible now to place and control basic parameters of the Text "object" in ARCHICAD using the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on.

 NOTE: Rotating the Text using Grasshopper components is not possible.

• GDL Block Parameters Enabled:

The GDL block parameter handling has been enabled in the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on.

• Complex Profile Parameters Control Enabled:

Enjoy greater and more in-depth control of Complex Profiles straight from Grasshopper! It is now possible to control the Offset Modifiers within Complex Profiles using Grasshopper components.

• No Automatic Lock on ARCHICAD Elements:

With this new feature, all new elements created via the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on are no longer automatically locked in ARCHICAD. It is possible to directly jump into editing the elements right after being placed.

New BIMcomponents Objects:

We have added 2 new BIMcomponents Objects, which you can find and download directly from there:

1. The Sweep Object which allows you to Sweep a cross-section along a 3D path. For more information, please read the dedicated Grasshopper Connection Object Guide - Sweep Object article.
2. The Loft Object which allows you to create a continuous surface or body from multiple cross-sections. For more information, please read the dedicated Grasshopper Connection Object Guide - Loft Object article.

New Installer for Windows:

It is now possible to choose whether to install the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on on all user accounts or just the administrator user account on Windows 10.

If you are using Rhinoceros 5:

• If the Grasshopper Add-on was initially installed for all users, then the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on will be installed for all users as well.
• If the Grasshopper Add-on was initially installed for only the current user, then the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on will be installed for the current user only. (Given that they are the administrator)

If you are using Rhinoceros 6:

• Rhinoceros 6 already has the Grasshopper Add-on installed by default. This means that the Grasshopper ARCHICAD Live Connection Add-on will be installed for all users.

Fixed Issues:

211580: Wall Settings Node - Reference Line Offset should be controlled by Grasshopper.

246213: Complex Profile parameters are not handled by the Add-on and Rhino crashes.

249212: ARCHICAD crashes due to the Favorite Node with the HUN template.

252571: "Core Dimension 1" parameter in Column Node always uses meters regardless of the units specified.

253303: Crash - Placing Curtain Wall using Grasshopper.

256480: Crash - Google Analytics causes Rhino to crash when there is no internet.

262116: "The former layer of the ... has been deleted. Please open the ... Default Settings dialog in ARCHICAD and choose another Layer" after updating the Add-on.