Creating a clean AC template for our company

[Anonymous]

Hi again everyone!

Next to our issue with the management of BIM server libraries ( http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/viewtopic.php?t=32529 ), we're also working to create our own project template fie.

First of all, I'd really appreciate any suggestion that you could give us. We've been working with AC for a little over a year and we're still learning a lot of stuff. Anything that comes to your mind can improve our work, so please don't hesitate.

One thing that we're trying to do is to permanently erase all default element attributes. We tried it a couple of times, but then they pop back up again.


Thank you!

Enrico Bonilauri

[Anonymous]

Enrico,

You might want to look at the Archicad Master Template http://www.archicadtemplate.com/
Check out the FREE INTRODUCTORY WEBCAST on their home page.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we had a close look at it, but then we decided we'd rather try on our own. We felt like we'd need to work a lot on the Master Template to adapt it to our needs and the Italian standards.

[Laszlo Nagy]

First step could be taking a Project you recently have been working on.
Save it as a Template file.
Then delete everything modeled from it.
Then you can start creating your Template.
You should set all the attributes, including layers, layer combinations, line types, fills, materials etc.
You could also create Favorites for element settings you often use.
You should set the default settings for all Tools.

Then you should create various View Sets in the View Map for all the phases the project goes through. It is a good idea to use Clone Folders when creating these View Sets. You can also create Layout Sets and Publisher Sets of the types used in most projects.
You can create Master Layouts and draw on the the Title Blocks with AutoTexts. You should create Master Layouts for all the different sheet sizes you use.

You may also create a default number of Sections, Elevations, Worksheets.

What else...?

[Anonymous]

Enrico wrote:
Yes, we had a close look at it, but then we decided we'd rather try on our own. We felt like we'd need to work a lot on the Master Template to adapt it to our needs and the Italian standards.

Our office bought Master Template, then after many, many hours of trying to tailor it to our needs, we gave up and got a partial refund. We then took the stock AC template and much more easily made it our own. It works great now.

[Anonymous]

Once a friend showed me a old house he had bought, and wanted to know my opinion about what he should do. So I told him "Hire an architect."

Developing a really good template is perhaps the most important single step a office can take to improve it´s productivity. Thus, it is the smartest place to invest money, because it will be returned manyfold.

Hire a consultant.