ArchiCAD Basic Training – Module 7
7-1. Interior Elevations

ArchiCAD Training –  (Quick Start Course – 7-1)

This 19 minute lesson shows how to create interior elevations from the ArchiCAD model.

The Interior Elevation tool was introduced in ArchiCAD 11. It works like the section tool, in that it gives a live view that cuts through the model at a particular location; in this case showing a wall along with fixtures and cabinets installed next to the wall. To create a construction document, this view may be annotated with text, dimensions, labels and additional graphics as desired. 3D elements in the view (such as cabinets, windows or doors) may be selected and edited; such changes will affect all related views of these elements including the floor plan.

However, Interior Elevations have some unique features:

  1. Each room or area may create several views that are grouped together and hierarchically organized in the Project Map (and View Map clone folder);
  2. One unified marker may refer to all of these views and their drawing and sheet number, or alternatively, each direction may have its own marker;
  3. In the Interior Elevation Settings dialog in the Model Display panel, one may optionally Hide Cut Elements such as stairs or cabinets.

In this lesson, Interior Elevations are created for each of several rooms, with different variations demonstrated each time. In addition, the Views of the Interior Elevations are placed in groups onto a newly created Layout sheet. ArchiCAD automatically arranges each group in a row, although sometimes this requires some manual adjustment.

NOTE: To set the name for the Interior Elevation group, type in the room name or description in the Info Box or Interior Elevations Settings dialog before placing the IE. If you want to change the name afterwards, either select the marker on the plan and edit the name in the Info Box, or select the group in the Project Map and edit the name in the properties area at the bottom of the Navigator. To change the scale or layer combination for the IE group, it’s best to select the group of Views in the View Map and click the View Settings button; to change the default scale or layer combination or other options for all IE Views, select the IE clone folder and change its settings.

SPECIAL FEATURE: Each interior elevation drawing may take its name from a combination of static text (usually, this is the room name) and an Autotext field referring to an automatically named direction (e.g. North, East, or even Northeast) based on the Project North position. The end result is an appropriate, unique name for each IE direction such as “KITCHEN EAST.”

The Autotext field reference (which will be replaced with the direction or number of the drawing) may be entered easily from the Info Box by pressing down on the small triangle popup just to the right of the text editing area. Alternatively, the field may be inserted into the text using the special Autotext popup to the left of the text field in the Interior Elevation Settings dialog.

You may set the Project North orientation in the Options menu > Project Preferences > Levels and Project North command; in earlier versions of ArchiCAD, one sets the North direction in the View menu > 3D View Mode > 3D Projection Settings > More Sun… dialog box.

Thank you for visiting the Best Practices Course website. The video lessons are available for members only. If you are an active member and would like to watch the ArchiCAD training video on this page, please login to the website. If you are not currently a member, please visit the following pages for more information and to sign up for the Best Practices Course, the QuickStart Course or for the Best Practices ArchiCAD Coaching Program. Eric Bobrow, Creator of the Best Practices Course

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ArchiCAD Training: Interior Elevations

Let us know how you feel... (9 comments so far)

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  1. Ed Rahme
    11 years ago

    Eric,
    I am working through the interior elevation tutorial -lesson 7-1.
    My interior elevations do not have the ceiling and floor lines visible.
    How do I make them appear?
    Thank you.
    Ed


  2. RonaldSwartz
    11 years ago

    Your expanations on the way Arichad responds are very helpful


  3. DavidParsons
    12 years ago

    Hello Eric,

    I followed your precise and clear instructions and found no difficultyat all in completing the excercise, acheiving a most satisfactory end result with all elevations neatly displayed on the layout sheet.

    Many Thanks


  4. HagithPopper
    13 years ago

    Hi Eric, each course I feel more confident with using AC in an elegant smart way. I actually save time and this accounts for the effectivity of it all !


  5. AngelaScott
    13 years ago

    Hi Eric,

    Great tutorials! One question if you have an interior elevation and would like to show the extent of tiling of a wall how do you get the material to show the tile pattern. I have been trying to add with a fill but does not show up?

    Thanks


    • Eric
      13 years ago

      Angela –

      To add the tiling, you may either use a material that has a Vectorial 3D Hatch pattern associated with it, or you may draw it in with the Fill tool on top of the elevation drawing.

      To add a hatch to a material, use the Options menu > Element Attributes > Materials command and select the desired material, then add the Fill in that dialog. To see the hatch in the Interior Elevation, open up the Interior Elevation Settings dialog and look in the Model Display > UNCUT ELEMENTS section, and check the box for Vectorial 3D Hatching.

      To draw a fill on top of the elevation drawing, simply activate the Fill tool, make sure it is set for a layer that is currently visible in your View / Layer Combination, select the appropriate tilework Fill, and draw over the linework. When you do it this way, it will not be coordinated with model revisions, so you’ll need to manually move or change the tilework outline if the design changes.

      If you are drawing a Fill and it does not show up, it may be “underneath” the other elements. With the Fill tool active, use the Shift key to bring up the Arrow tool, and you should be able to select the Fill that you’ve just drawn (ArchiCAD will “prefer” selecting Fills if that tool is the active one in the Toolbox). Right-click and select Display Order > Bring to Front.

      Eric


      • AngelaScott
        13 years ago

        Thanks Eric,

        I will give it a try on my next project

        Ange


  6. WilliamButtmi
    13 years ago

    What can I say, really great instruction! and for me very timely.


    • Eric
      13 years ago

      William –
      Thanks for your positive feedback.
      I appreciate that you took the time to post it here.
      Eric