Looking for quick answers on ArchiCAD's limitations

[Anonymous]

I'm attempting to compare another software package with ArchiCAD. I've come across several functions that I'm relatively sure ArchiCAD can do but I haven't found any evidence of it yet and I have a time limit. I would appreciate confimation for or against these functions and a brief description of how to do it if it is possible. Any help with even one would be appreciated.

1.) Is there a way to view inside the model without using the marquee tool and still be able to pan, zoom and rotate?

2.) Can an entire model be easily reversed or flipped? i.e. they want the garage moved from the right side to the left side and the entire model needs to flip with the garage.

3.) Can specific composite wall layers be edited separately? You have a composite exterior wall with siding on a 2x4 stud with sheathing, can you make the siding have a 4" overhang?

4.) Once you've created some parametric objects for a specific contract can you lock the parameters so the general drafters under you can't change the size but still retain the ability as the manager to make further changes down the road?

5.) When you are working in 3d can you "open" a wall so you have a 2d vertical image of the face of a wall, edit each layer of the wall manually, "close" the wall and have the changes you made in 2d reflected on your 3d model? (similar to the "Edit in place" command for walls in Architectural Desktop)

6.) Can ArchiCAD turn on a selection filter in 2d so you can't select certain elements like walls or roofs or where you can only select certain elements like windows?


Sorry this is so lengthy but again I appreciate any input you can give.
Thanks

[Anonymous]

Seraphim wrote:
1.) Is there a way to view inside the model without using the marquee tool and still be able to pan, zoom and rotate?

You mean in 3d? Yes.

Seraphim wrote:
2.) Can an entire model be easily reversed or flipped? i.e. they want the garage moved from the right side to the left side and the entire model needs to flip with the garage.

Yes

Seraphim wrote:
5.) When you are working in 3d can you "open" a wall so you have a 2d vertical image of the face of a wall, edit each layer of the wall manually, "close" the wall and have the changes you made in 2d reflected on your 3d model? (similar to the "Edit in place" command for walls in Architectural Desktop)

I think the answer is no! In ArchiCad, one wall => one layer. But do you mean compositelayers, then you have to change the composite, you can't edit a wall separate.

Seraphim wrote:
6.) Can ArchiCAD turn on a selection filter in 2d so you can't select certain elements like walls or roofs or where you can only select certain elements like windows?

Yes, Find & Select is a great tool with alot of features.

[Anonymous]

Thanks a ton! Can you give me a direction to look for the reverse capability and the view of the interior in 3d?

[Laura Yanoviak]

Seraphim wrote:
3.) Can specific composite wall layers be edited separately? You have a composite exterior wall with siding on a 2x4 stud with sheathing, can you make the siding have a 4" overhang?

You can do this either with Complex Profiles or with a Solid Element Operation (SEO).

Seraphim wrote:
4.) Once you've created some parametric objects for a specific contract can you lock the parameters so the general drafters under you can't change the size but still retain the ability as the manager to make further changes down the road?

Yes -- I've done this to several objects in our library.

[Laura Yanoviak]

Seraphim wrote:
Thanks a ton! Can you give me a direction to look for the reverse capability and the view of the interior in 3d?

"reverse capability" = mirror

view of the interior = place the viewpoint inside the model

[Gerald Hoffman]

Laura wrote:

Seraphim wrote:
Thanks a ton! Can you give me a direction to look for the reverse capability and the view of the interior in 3d?

"reverse capability" = mirror

view of the interior = place the viewpoint inside the model

If you want to reverse the whole project which includes several storeys you can use the thick marquee and make sure you have included all of the storeys and then just mirror it. There will be some issues with dimensions having to be adjusted especially if you have moved any of the dimension text. Otherwise it works pretty good.

Cheers

[Anonymous]

Awesome!

That was just what I was looking for on the reverse!

[Karl Ottenstein]

Laura wrote:

Seraphim wrote:
3.) Can specific composite wall layers be edited separately? You have a composite exterior wall with siding on a 2x4 stud with sheathing, can you make the siding have a 4" overhang?

You can do this either with Complex Profiles or with a Solid Element Operation (SEO).

I've generally used SEOps, but the Complex Profile method has a variety of advantages. It is illustrated here:
http://www.archicadwiki.com/TechNotes/Composite_Walls_with_Varying_Skin_Heights

I disagree with one aspect of the method presented there. Rather than draw the wall skins after a "New" command, you can "Capture" the skins of an existing (selected) composite wall as a starting point. Then, simply edit the skin heights (using the offset button of the pet palette when on the edge of a fill).

Karl

[Karl Ottenstein]

Laura wrote:
view of the interior = place the viewpoint inside the model

To clarify for Seraphim (a non-user / new user): You cannot get 'inside' the model if your 3D window is in axo mode. You must switch to perspective mode. Then, you can freely walk through your walls and look around inside. (You should be in shaded OpenGL 3D mode to do this fluidly. If in internal engine, shaded or hidden line, performance can be quite sluggish.) Note that the camera also appears in your 2D Nav Preview window, and you can drag the camera there as well.

Karl

[Karl Ottenstein]

Seraphim wrote:
5.) When you are working in 3d can you "open" a wall so you have a 2d vertical image of the face of a wall, edit each layer of the wall manually, "close" the wall and have the changes you made in 2d reflected on your 3d model? (similar to the "Edit in place" command for walls in Architectural Desktop)

To add to TurboGlider's response:

If you really mean 'face', and visual 3D editing, then 'no'.

If you mean merely editing the skin widths and heights, then yes - although the skins are not visible in any 3D mode - only in section.

If the wall is a composite, when you edit the composite, all walls using that definition are updated.

If the wall is based on a complex profile, same thing - edit the profile, and all walls are updated.

If the selected wall(s) should be treated specially, either duplicate the composite or the profile and assign it to the selected wall(s).

If the selected wall(s) should have different skin heights, as in your other question, then you need to capture the existing wall skins and edit the heights in the complex profile editor and then apply the new profile to the wall(s).

None of this is an ideal, user friendly process - and it is a shame that the skins are not visible in 3D - but it is at least possible, if I understand the question.

Karl