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Learn to manage BIM workflows and create professional Archicad templates with the BIM Manager Program.

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

Show penetration lines

Eduardo Bell
Enthusiast
Is it possible to see the penetration lines in 3D hidden line mode in AC9/Mac?

For what I read in previous posts, it is possible to set it up from the Work Environment. However I can't see it in the Menu list, and can't get it to show up.

Up to 8.1 re-starting with the Opt+Cmd keys down would summon it up. No longer that easy?

Thanks, Ed
USA v4.55 to v28-03 (3120) OS Sonoma v 14.6.1
MacBookPro 8-Core Intel i9 16GB ram
AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB vram
Perpetual License Subscriber
7 REPLIES 7
Anonymous
Not applicable
Follow this tread: Special Menu?

Post again if you have further questions.

Woody
Eduardo Bell
Enthusiast
Hi Woody,
thanks for the tip, that was the tread I had followed. I get stuck at step 3, since in my list in "All Commands by Theme" the "60-Special" menu does not show up. Do you know how do I get it to come up?
Thanks
Ed
USA v4.55 to v28-03 (3120) OS Sonoma v 14.6.1
MacBookPro 8-Core Intel i9 16GB ram
AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB vram
Perpetual License Subscriber
Anonymous
Not applicable
Try this:

On Mac you need to edit the plist file:

Open Users / username / Library / Preferences / com.graphisoft.AC 9.0.0 USA v1.plist file, find the Special Menu key and set value TRUE instead of false (just rewrite in the file, and save), then start ArchiCAD 9.

Do not do a New and Reset

The Special Menu should appear
Save your WE with the Special Menu showing

To quote from an earlier post:
Matthew wrote:
Remember that the special menu is a developer toy that most companies would not even let us use. There is a bunch of junk in there that we don't even want. Let us accept that we get access to a few half implemented features for those of us intrepid/foolhardy enough to use/need/want them and not complain about lack of documentation. Graphiisoft needs to focus on the real development of official features for the next version. We can can handle the impromptu documentation of the special menu ourselves.
Ben Odonnell
Contributor
May I please point out that you should use the special menu at you own risk

There are lot of tings that are under development under the special menu. Please beweary that funny things can and may happen whilst using the special menu.
Ben O'Donnell
Architect and CTO at BIMobject®
Get your BIM objects from bimobject.com
Anonymous
Not applicable
Ben wrote:
May I please point out that you should use the special menu at you own risk
I'll second that!

Never have been able to understand why ArchiCAD users always want to show the Special Menu. There are a few things there that one might use on rare occassions but most of it is of no value (I almost typed very little) to the end user.

I think they want it because they think it will give them knowledge of Good and Evil... BEWARE...

Woody
Eduardo Bell
Enthusiast
Thank You guys for the tips and warnings, I'll try it next. May I point out the only feature of the special menu I'm interested in is the "Show penetration lines". I use it all the time when showing hidden line 3d views, since 'perfect' modelling can get too time consuming it's proved to be a great time saver for me. It has been around for a long time and I don't know why it hasn't been officially implemented yet. I'm sure it is used by many of us. Maybe I should add it to our wish list...
USA v4.55 to v28-03 (3120) OS Sonoma v 14.6.1
MacBookPro 8-Core Intel i9 16GB ram
AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB vram
Perpetual License Subscriber
Eduardo Bell
Enthusiast
Yes, it worked, many many thanks, it is awesome to have this forum.
Ed
USA v4.55 to v28-03 (3120) OS Sonoma v 14.6.1
MacBookPro 8-Core Intel i9 16GB ram
AMD Radeon Pro 5500M 4GB vram
Perpetual License Subscriber