Rotating project true north

[Anonymous]

Lets say I start modeling my building, a box for all intents and purposes. The box is parallel to the screen. This means my north is to the top of my computer screen. What is I now decide the my box (project) need to be rotated 20deg E. ? How is this done in Archicad?

I am presuming this is something that is done in the model viewports since it is the TRUE orientation of the model.

[Erwin Edel]

Mats_Knutsson wrote:
Would like to slightly bump this. I'm not really sure what the north direction is for? I always model in x-y and rotate the views ona layout or to ifc/dwg via hotlink. I haven't figured out how to use the North Direction for renders... so I think I really don't understand how to use it!?

If you know the direction and can draw it in floorplan with something like a line for temporary reference: go to Options > Project Preferences > Set Project North and you can set the direction using the line as a guide.

You will probably also want to set the location, I find it easy to grab the latitude and longitude from Google Maps, just press the litte arrow pointing right (left of Cities) to change it decimal degrees, as this is what google maps uses.

The point you are setting up is your project origin. I alwlays have this as one of the corners of my building grid, so I can get a pretty good and close coordinate this way.

[Mats_Knutsson]

Erwin wrote:

Mats_Knutsson wrote:
Would like to slightly bump this. I'm not really sure what the north direction is for? I always model in x-y and rotate the views ona layout or to ifc/dwg via hotlink. I haven't figured out how to use the North Direction for renders... so I think I really don't understand how to use it!?

If you know the direction and can draw it in floorplan with something like a line for temporary reference: go to Options > Project Preferences > Set Project North and you can set the direction using the line as a guide.

You will probably also want to set the location, I find it easy to grab the latitude and longitude from Google Maps, just press the litte arrow pointing right (left of Cities) to change it decimal degrees, as this is what google maps uses.

The point you are setting up is your project origin. I alwlays have this as one of the corners of my building grid, so I can get a pretty good and close coordinate this way.

Still don't get it.... We add location and model in x-y at the correct height above sea level. If I enter say 60 degrees like in attach what ca I use it for other than having a symbol showing north?

[Erwin Edel]

Well, you were asking about renders, you can set up the sun to be correct, if you also setup the location coordinates. This is also helpful for sun studies, which are sometimes required.

In BIM regards I suppose it is important to set a known reference point with correct orientation too, but for most of our small residential projects this is of very little consequence.

[Mats_Knutsson]

Erwin wrote:
Well, you were asking about renders, you can set up the sun to be correct, if you also setup the location coordinates. This is also helpful for sun studies, which are sometimes required.

In BIM regards I suppose it is important to set a known reference point with correct orientation too, but for most of our small residential projects this is of very little consequence.

I need to figure this out later. we only do large projects following a BIM/CAD-manual.