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

[Thomas Holm]

Seraphim wrote:
Back in 2001 ArchiCAD was called "Vertex BD's biggest competitor in Finland." But as far as Sweden today goes I'm not sure.

I think Archicad has been every one else's biggest competitor here too, at least when it comes to BIM users. Autocad is and has been the biggest CAD program of course, but most still use it for 2D only. A lot of Autocad architects are of course checking out Revit for BIM as well as Archicad, and some struggle with ADT, while Microstation's following is diminishing.

But Archicad has been increasing it's market share considerably for the last few years. If you just check out the belly dimensions of their resellers, you'll know!

And I know no one who's considering Vertex BD (but see above)

[Anonymous]

I think Vertex BD hasn't too many users in Sweden, the salesmen for swedish market lives in Finland so I guess we are a small market for them, I think DDS Huspartner is a bigger system in Sweden, similiar to Vertex BD. But before Vertex BD was installed at Finlands biggest woodhouse industry?
Both VertexBD and DDS are expensive softwares.

[Karl Ottenstein]

TurboGlider wrote:
I think Vertex BD hasn't too many users in Sweden, the salesmen for swedish market lives in Finland so I guess we are a small market for them...

OT: I have to smile that you feel the Swedish market is less important because the salesman lives a ferry ride (and a nice ferry at that) away... My reseller in the US regularly travels distances as great as most of western Europe! 😉

Cheers,
Karl

[Anonymous]

Karl wrote:
OT: I have to smile that you feel the Swedish market is less important because the salesman lives a ferry ride (and a nice ferry at that) away... My reseller in the US regularly travels distances as great as most of western Europe! 😉

What I meant was that most users want to have a nearby supportcenter if something goes wrong. That will you get with DDS that have a swedish reseller.
But when I looked at Vertex BD I will remember that there were only 1 or 2 companies that use VBD in Sweden. I got only references from Finland and Norway.