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Read articles about Archicad's design tools, element connections, modeling concepts, etc.

Articles

Modelling my hand-drawn University Project in Archicad

I recently came across a project from my first year as an architecture student, and since the paper model I had is long gone, I thought of modelling it with Archicad so as to keep record of it for my portfolio. The building is a 2-story family house,...

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Archicad Design Checker

Design Checker is a new Archicad functionality that offers easy-to-use model checking capabilities for users to capture errors as they design, right inside Archicad. It utilizes a cloud service called Solibri Inside developed by Nemetschek sister com...

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How to Enter Distances in Archicad

For entering distances in Archicad the Tracker is used. Entering distances works the same way in 2D and in 3D. The Tracker appears during element input and it follows your mouse movements, constantly providing feedback about the distance and angle or...

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Accessories Add-On

How to use Accessories Add-on With the help of this ARCHICAD Add-On, you can supplement the roof, slab, and wall elements with special objects. Make sure you add the Accessories Library to your project, using Library Manager. First, select an existin...

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Importing Point Clouds and Modelling the Terrain

A quick way of inserting the representation of the terrain to our model is using the point cloud import feature of Archicad. Point clouds are more and more popular since they can give the most detailed surveying results, however at the same time need...

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Creating Topography in Archicad from AutoCAD Survey Data

Prepare the AutoCAD file Open Surveyor’s dwg file and check whether it is done as per local practice/standards, for example: Units = Meters Block or Point is used to represent each survey point and placed at a correct global coordinate (X,Y,Z) – Use ...

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Grasshopper-Archicad Live Connection for MAC Test Run

The MAC version of the Grasshopper-Archicad Live Connection has been released recently, so it was high time doing a test run on this platform as well. The following is not focusing on the performance and the features, the pure intention is to give so...

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Tips to work with Renovation

About the Renovation Feature Element-level Definition of Renovation Status No need to create extra layers: just set a default Renovation Status (Existing, New, To Be Demolished) for all element types. Switch Renovation Status of any/all selected elem...

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automata Graphisoft
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Snow Globe series: Christmas In Space by Kamen Nikolov

Welcome to our series of articles from the Snow Globe Challenge! We invited some of the designers who participated in the challenge to elaborate on their entries, share their workflows and tips&tricks. Enjoy and feel free to drop us a comment if you ...

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Ramp Parapet with Morph Tool

Place a Ramp Object I felt it is good to share some software specific tips and tricks in between my posts focusing on interoperability. In this post I am sharing a tip on how to create guard walls (parapets) along the edge of a curved ramp using Morp...

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Frameless Corner Windows

One kind of a recurring issue is how to create the frameless corner windows, using just a mitered glass connection as below: Switching to the Custom Corner… tab page of the Window settings however doesn’t allow us to choose Glass, but Frame or Corner...

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Editable Topography from Archicad to Revit

Recently came accross a situation where the Design Architect need to exchange Archicad model with their project partners. The Main Contractor was using REVIT for their BIM process. So, there was a need for conversion of Archicad model to REVIT model ...

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Creating Contour Lines of Meshes without Ridges

Archicad Meshes can be created in many different ways – by creating level ridges based on external drawings, by importing point clouds and modeling the terrain based on it or importing text files with the coordinates and then let Archicad automatical...

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Converting Sketch Models into BIM Models

There seems to be a clash between design sketch models (typically coming from SketchUp or Rhino, but even if they are created with Archicad) and models created for proper BIM use when we need to convert one to the other since they are built with comp...

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Split Levels – Tips & Tricks

Archicad approaches the design workflows strongly level-based – it is of great significance to which story the elements belong. As a consequence of that, the planning of buildings with split levels may be slightly more difficult in certain cases. Thi...

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Snow Globe series: Santa's SPA by Andrii Levko

Welcome to our series of articles from the Snow Globe Challenge! We invited some of the designers who participated in the challenge to elaborate on their entries, share their workflows and tips&tricks. Enjoy and feel free to drop us a comment if you ...

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Snow Globe series: Snowy Pasargad by Sepideh Kolahi

Welcome to our series of articles from the Snow Globe Challenge! We invited some of the participants of the challenge to elaborate on their entries, share their workflows and tips&tricks. Enjoy and feel free to drop us a comment if you have any quest...

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Travel Distances with Element Information Palette

Marc's tip on using the Element Information Palette for measuring Exit Travel Distances! "To measure exit travel distances.... trace the path with a polyline (turn on a ghost layer if the path covers two floors). Open "element information" Window > P...

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automata Graphisoft
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Enhancements of the Built-in MEP Modeler

MEP Modeler Add-On has become the core part of Archicad 24 as an integrated design tool. The second update of Archicad 24 includes major MEP improvements primarily for increasing effectiveness. This article describes a new feature and further enhance...

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How to better control Slab and Mesh displayed on multiple stories

Many times we want to show a slab or a mesh on a story above or below its home position. To control which story a slab or mesh is displayed, there are some presets that can be found under Slab/Mesh Settings dialog: Floor Plan and Section > Floor Plan...

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Integrated MEP Modeler in Archicad

The BIM collaboration between architectural, structural and MEP engineering disciplines needs software solutions that aid this collaboration. It is becoming more usual for engineers to take part in the design process and work with architects starting...

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Eye-Dropper and Syringe

Parameter transfer, also known as the eye-dropper and syringe, is the easiest way to pick up the parameters of one element and transfer them to another element of the same type. Simple usage of these tools allows you to speed up your pace while drawi...

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How to Work Precisely in Archicad

In Archicad the flexibility is given for just sketching up the building without having to numerically specify the correct size or location of an element, but if it's coming to a proper design process, you have to place the elements with a certain siz...

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How to Use the Wood Ceiling Add-On

The Wood Ceiling add-on allows users to apply 3D wainscoting to an existing roof. Before Starting 1. Download and install the Goodies package here. 2. Add the Accessories Library to the project library. It is located under the ArchiCAD version folder...

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How to Use the Roof Surfacer Add-On

The Roof Surfacer add-on allows users to apply 3D cladding to an existing roof. Before Starting 1. Download and install the Goodies package here. 2. Add the Accessories Library to the project library. It is located under the ArchiCAD version folder u...

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How to change the Home Story of an element in Archicad

If you drag an element in a section or in 3D to a different story, the Home Story of the element won't be adjusted. So, it can happen, that an element is located on e.g the 1st story but it has a different Home Story. (To avoid issues like that use '...

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Trimming in 2D

Trim function helps you to edit the existing elements quickly and easily in 2D and 3D. This is done by CTRL-clicking (on Windows) / CMD-clicking (on Mac OS) elements on the Floor Plan. One can cut off unneeded portions of Walls, Lines, Arcs etc., spl...

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Modify Morph segmentation

When using magic wand to place a morph, it will become polygonal instead of a proper circle. Why? It's easy to come across this phenomenon. We place a circle and then use the Magic Wand to place a Morph surface within. You will notice, that the segme...

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Modeling of floating floor screed edge detail in ARCHICAD

This article explains methods of enhancing the appearance of connections of floors and walls in model section views. Description of the floating floor screed edge detail In most cases the solution for floors to match soundproofing requirements is to ...

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How to Distribute/Multiply Elements Along a Path

Let's say you want to distribute trees along a given path. From ARCHICAD 21 and up, you have the option in the Multiply dialogue to do just that. Let's see how. Distribute Elements along a Path Before you start, make sure you have a path placed. This...

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Mesh To Roof Add-On

Irregular "free-form" shapes can be modeled using the mesh tool. These items can be converted to roofs with this Add-On. The new "Create Roofs from Mesh" command will appear in the "Design/Design Extras" menu by default. How to use "Mesh To Roof" Add...

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Profiler Add-On

The Profiler Add-On allows you to create Object type Library Parts by extruding a profile along a straight or curved path. The new Profiler command will appear in the Design/Design Extras sub-menu by default. How to use Profiler Add-On To create an o...

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Interior Wizard Add-On

The Interior Wizard command enhances the modeling of 3D Zones by applying Accessory Objects to selected walls, ceilings, and floors and creating interior finish elements. You can edit the shape and the material parameters of these elements using stan...

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How to use the Home Story parameter in Favorites

The Home Story parameter in Favorites is a little bit hard to understand. Using a fix story as a saved parameter is not ideal when working in floor plan, and relative story (Open Story + 2) makes no sense when you're in a 3D view or a section, so it ...

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Permanent Guides and Snap Guides - Troubleshooting Guide

Permanent Guides issues Parallel snap indicator doesn't appear with a Permanent Guide Issue The Snap Guide's parallel indicator doesn't appear when trying to draw a parallel to a Permanent Guide Solution Workaround: Apply a Snap Guide to the Permanen...

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How to create a Morph Tube

Have you tried to trace a line in space with the morph tool to make handrails while Archicad rotated the anchor point and tube surface when changing planes? This article will show you step by step how to avoid this problem. 1. Introduce a horizontal ...

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How to create custom Solid bodies using Shell

The Shell Tool that was introduced in ARCHICAD 15 is a very versatile Tool. However, as its name implies, it is a Shell, it is a body of constant thickness generated onto a membrane. ARCHICAD users may encounter situations where they need the Shell t...

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automata Graphisoft
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Advanced MORPH texturing techniques

You can find the making of the mediterranean house at the end of this article. Texture Mapping If your Morph uses a material that includes a texture, you can control how that texture is displayed on the Morph surfaces. The Texture Mapping definition ...

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The Morph Tool

Use the Morph tool to create freeform elements within ARCHICAD, so you don't have to import special shapes from other programs. The Morph tool is fully integrated into ARCHICAD, and works with a familiar logic and interface. However, there are some M...

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Tips to work with Guide Lines

Guide Lines are drafting aids which help you find special points and projections, to ensure precise input in both 2D and 3D windows. Guide Lines are based on the cursor’s relationship to the input plane and to existing elements. 1 - Show/Hide Guide L...

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automata Graphisoft
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Trim, Crop and Solid Element Operation Features of ARCHICAD

Trim Slanted Walls to Roof This article discusses the methods to trim a Slanted Wall to a Roof or Shell element. In ARCHICAD 15 there are now three designated roof elements: Multi-plane Roof - New in AC15 Single-plane Roof Shell Tool - New in AC15 Th...

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How to create gable profile with Shell Tool

This article would like to provide you with some information of the free usage of Shell Tool for example by creating a gable profile. Step 1: Create a profile from Polyline on the Floorplan In this example we create a traditional Hungarian profile fr...

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Intersection of Straight and Slanted Walls

The connection of two Walls and their Fills on the Floor Plan does not match your needs. The intersection depends on the Reference Lines of the Walls (turn on View menu/On-Screen View Options/'Walls & Beams Reference Lines' option), on the geometry m...

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Solid Element Operations in Archicad

Originally published at AECBytes: http://www.aecbytes.com/tipsandtricks/2006/issue10-archicad.html written by Eric Bobrow Principal, Bobrow Consulting GroupArchicad's Solid Element Operations (SEO) are powerful tools to carve and model complex shapes...

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automata Graphisoft
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How to create custom Openings by using Solid Element Operation

by Dwight Atkinson, Vancouver, Canada Creating wall openings as windows is not the easiest or fastest way to make design experiments with wall openings. For non-critical work, using an SEO (=Solid Element Operation) combined with a Complex Profile Be...

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How to create chimneys in Archicad

This article is based on a thread from our Design Forum. 1 - The Column Tool trick Simply place columns into the wall where you want the chimneys to be - just make sure they go all the way up on each floor. This works fine for singular flues in 2D pl...

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How to modify the Side Contour of a Wall

Walls in ARCHICAD by default have a uniform height along the whole element. By trimming Walls with Roofs or using Solid Element Operations (SEOs) with the Wall as target and Roofs/Beams/Slabs etc. as Operators, the contours of Walls can again be modi...

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automata Graphisoft
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Selecting Elements Across Several Stories

- by Ben Frost, UK and Eric Link, Worldwide ARCHICAD specialist Is there a way to group walls/elements that occur on different stories? - select them in the 3D window and 'Group'. The above answer of Ben Frost is 100% OK, but Link's advice may be of ...

automata Graphisoft
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The Eye-Dropper and Syringe

Originally published at Cadalyst, written by Eric Bobrow Principal, Bobrow Consulting GroupEditor's note: This tutorial courtesy of ARCHICAD. ARCHICAD is a very flexible environment for modeling and documenting architectural designs. Every tool has m...

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automata Graphisoft
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