Presenting drawing options

[Anonymous]

relatively new to Archicad - though I have v.14...

How do I easily set up a base drawing that then allows me to have several different architectural layouts that can be present ed as options to my client. I have been doing this the hard way by duplicating layer structures and then prefixing them with a different option number but this seems cumbersome and clumsy... and the only other way I know of is to create totally different files that seems to wast a lot of storage space...

[Anonymous]

Storage space is cheap. If you consider a 1Tb disk as costing about 150$, then a 20Mb file would cost some 0,3 cents.

Even with a duplication for the automatically generated backup file, and a further triplication for your regular backup, the file would cost you around 2 cents.

If your hour of work is valued at 50$, 2 cents would be 1/2500h. Call it 2 seconds.

So, any system that takes you more than 2 seconds to set up and maintain would be more expensive than duplicating your file to explore an alternative design.

I realize this is a gross simplification, but it helps to keep the memory issue in perspective

[Bricklyne Clarence]

Why don't you just use Layer combinations along with view options to control different views?

Assuming your different options share certain base similarities (like based on a common footprint or common basic structural layout) you could even have certain elements show up in all different options while the Layer combinations filter out the different schemes.

Alternatively I suppose one could adapt the new Renovation filter tool to act as a phasing or concept option tool, bit since you're still on ArchiCAD 14 I suppose this isn't an option for you.

Regardless, I don't see it as necessary to have multiple seperate files for the different options - which just seems to me as being unecessarily cumbersome and wasteful.
As long as you set up your drawing effeciently in terms of layers up front and take advantage of the layer combinations, you can do it all in one file and save yourself the trouble of duplicating your efforts and not to mention, wasting your precious time.

[Erika Epstein]

Another advantage to Miguel's solution of multiple files that I have found is that it is much easier going forward. After the choice of scheme has been made, layers are much simpler without all the multiple versions of wall-A, wall-B, wall-C etc.

[Anonymous]

It boggles my mind to imagine the kind of management it would take to integrate two different solutions in the same model, let alone 3, 4 or more.

If you take modeling seriously, it is expected that you model not only to produce some plan views and a couple of renderings from early stage, but also thermal analysis, quantity take-off, model sharing with consultants, to name but a few.

To duplicate everything just to maintain a unique file, be it layers, layer combinations, views in the view map, layouts, publisher sets, schedules, seems to me like a real nightmare.

And then, as Erika mentioned, after you have one of the design options approved, you need to clean all the extra layers etc. (an attribute management nightmare), or drag them along when they no longer have any usefulness.

On the other hand, if you just open a second file and develop the alternative design in it, you can hop from one file to the other, and better still, just copy and paste stuff between them, because you know that everything will be similarly categorized. There is absolutely no need to manage anything (unless calling option A and option B is a management issue), thus allowing you to focus on the design.

And the cost? Some tiny extra memory usage, which can be dumped further down the line.

[Erika Epstein]

Depending on the design option, for example an addition to a building or kitchen remodel, you could create and place modules in the main file of the alternative schemes. The modules can be part or all of the scheme. This can facilitate presentation where options can be controlled by turning on the different module layers from one main file.

Layers are the same.

HTH

[Anonymous]

Erika, I am almost sure that you still can not filter schedules by modules, or even master module layers. If that is true, you end up with many kitchens in your schedule, unless you filter them by something else, like IDs or layers, which you will need to clean up further down the line.

[Erika Epstein]

Agree, but she/he is on 14, not 15.

[Anonymous]

Oh, I did not know that was possible on 14. Wonder why they took it away...

[Erika Epstein]

I think Miguel we are talking at cross-purposes.
Samoh wanted to know how to handle multiple options, and also noted the ease of presenting from one file.
If you create the options in separate files, each one will have its own correct schedules.

For presentation one could, using modules, present from one file. Not knowing whether projects are small or large, using modules may or may not be appropriate.

Pointing out that Samoh was on 14 only because you mentioned the renovation feature which they do not have.

Samoh, is that your name?
Why don't you add it to your signature along with the platform you work on.