Hotlinks or different tool for "smaller projects" that need time efficient tool.

[cocoloco]

Hi

In our interiors, we often work on many small details, from wall finishes to furniture and rugs. I thought Hotlinks might be useful for these smaller elements, not whole buildings.

Sometimes I place elements in the floor plan to set them up, but then prefer to work on them in a different part of the floor plan window. Usually I copy and paste them back to their original location, but I sometimes I lose some details in the process (many things can get wrong lets say). 

I looked into Hotlinks, but it seems way too complicated. It appears I first have to save elements as a separate file and then pull them back, which feels lengthy for small details. I also read about using groups: copy-paste to another part of the plan, edit there, and then use “Paste Special.” In Archicad 28, I don’t see a “Paste Special” option. I’m also unsure what happens if I do other work in between — do I lose the ability to paste it back correctly?

Is there another workflow or tool I could use? Hotlinks are a good idea, but for our use case they feel too cumbersome for small details.

[SeaGeoff]

Please take a look at this wish: https://community.graphisoft.com/t5/Wishlist/Make-Modules-Great-Again-1-In-Place-Module-Management/i...

[Barry Kelly]

If you don't like hotlinks (the link can be broken and then the elements can be moved separately), then try a master file.

Have all the various bits and pieces set up in the master file (they can be 2D or 3D).

They can be individual objects/elements, or in sets for various rooms.

Then just copy and paste from that master file to any other project you need them in.

You obviously need 2 sessions of Archicad running on the same machine to do this.

If you are in an office and others need access, then the master file just needs to be somewhere that you can all get to it.

More than one person can have the file open, but only one can edit it if need be.

I can't say I have ever use 'Paste Special'.

I just checked in 28 and it seems there is no such command ...

Or you can save a whole bunch of objects.

But this is only good for individual elements (not room layouts).

They won't be adjustable unless you know how to script.

And if you explode them, you will only get the 2D part.

Barry.

[Ignacio Azpiazu]

For simple things to be used on the file itself, this is fairly straightforward: 

- copy paste your elements into a Workshop story (you can have a Modules Factory area with all neatly aligned with names etc., if more than one user)

- save the elements as a module into a project MODs folder, okaying to the elements on the Workshop story getting replaced by the module; you can then copypaste that module around the project as if it were an object, only it has layers etc.;

- if at any point you want to modify the module, select the module on the Workshop story and break its hotlink, modify the elements as needed, and save again as module to the same location with the same name. 
On the Workshop story you may want to have some locked lines as positioning reference, because you don't want to move the elements around by mistake, or when you do you want to be able to notice and correct it.