I’d like to propose a significant evolution of the Publisher in Archicad: turning it into a workflow automation hub, capable of executing predefined actions or tasks in addition to the current publishing operations (Print, Plot, Save as PDF/DWG/etc.).
Think of it as “Photoshop Actions” for BIM — a customizable list of steps that can be bundled into a single command, reducing repetitive work and improving project consistency.
Key Features:
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Task-Based Pre/Post Publishing Actions
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Run Python Scripts
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Ability to assign custom Python scripts as part of the publishing sequence.
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Useful for advanced users managing data exchange, IFC manipulation, naming consistency, property population, or custom exports.
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Sequencing and Dependencies
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Define the order of operations:
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Conditional actions (e.g., “only consolidate 2D if drawing count > X”).
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Presets / Saveable Workflows
Why This Matters:
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Saves Time: Reduces repetitive manual setup before every export or issue.
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Increases Consistency: Ensures the project is in a clean, reliable state before deliverables go out.
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Enables Smart Automation: Allows power users to extend Archicad’s capabilities without needing external task runners or scripting tools.
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Scales Across Teams: Supports enterprise-level workflows where manual steps become bottlenecks.
Example Use Case:
At the end of each week, a team member clicks "Issue Set - Week X".
Archicad:
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Updates all hotlinks
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Consolidates fills and 2D elements
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Runs a Python script that renames PDFs with revision data
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Saves the drawings to PDF and DWG formats
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Notifies the team via email or places them in a cloud folder
All in one click — no extra steps.
By extending the Publisher into a Task Manager + Automation Tool, Archicad would better support the demands of modern BIM workflows, where repeatable quality and efficiency are key.
Let me know if you'd like me to post this on the Graphisoft forum for you — or would you prefer to post it yourself?
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