Each month there are one or more coaching calls; this is a recording of the session on March 13, 2013January – June 2013
ArchiCAD Training – Coaching Call – March 13, 2013
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Eric Bobrow, Creator of the Best Practices Course
ArchiCAD Training Session Notes
| QUESTION | ANSWER SUMMARY AND NOTES | START TIME |
| Problem with module file not showing up correctly when brought into a project | The caller was using place hotlinked module to bring in his module file – file>external content>place hotlinked module. Hotlinked module is a feature that is very similar to xref’s in AutoCAD, it is linked to the file so it can be updated. Eric, then explains the various options with the”choose story” dialog box that pops up when you select place hotlinked module. The reason why Eric explained the “choose story” dialog box is because this is the most likely explanation as to why the module wasn’t being brought in correctly (you have to make sure you choose the right option for your particular needs). To cut a long story short – if both your project and module have story’s at different heights then choose the “single story” option from the “choose story” dialog box when bringing a module file into your project. As this stops the module file from being brought in with the stories being placed with the same offset. | 0:07:02 |
| Is it possible to be able to group the module file together as one object. | The caller wanted to be able to get around the issue with the story heights changing when you bring a module into a project that has different story heights (when you choose the multi-story option in the “choose story dialog box). An option here is to create a library part – file>libraries and objects>save selection as>object – When you do this everything truly does become one element (so story heights can’t change), but you will not be able to get plan information in the same way. | 0:13:44 |
| Is there a way to have different elements with different linetypes display on stories above and below? | Unfortunately the answer is no (see below because there are actually a few options in regards to showing roof linetypes). A possible workaround is to draw line elements manually in order to get some kind of effect. | 0:19:38 |
| If you open up the floor plan display settings you will find that there is an option for changing the linetype for “uncut” and also “overhead lines”. This option apears to have come in release ArchiCAD 15 or later, and adds increased flexibility for individual roofs. This (“overhead lines” feature only applies to roof at the moment). | 0:25:00 | |
| Eric, discusses some workarounds for showing different elements (non-roof) with different linetypes on stories above and below | 0:26:45 | |
| Library part created fancy architectural window not cutting into wall properly | The user had designed his own window, then saved it, but when he tried to put it into a wall, the wall wasn’t wrapping around the window properly. The answer to this is fairly simple in that the caller had forgot to create a “wallhole” when creating his window, and this is the reason why it wasn’t cutting into the wall correctly. To achieve a wallhole all you need to do is drag a copy of the window and then delete all the internal parts of the copy, until all you are left with is the outline of the window shape. Now go up to the info box and in the “ID” type in “wallhole” (make sure you are writing wallhole into the copied window and not the original windows settings). Finally drag the copied window shape back into the originally window and send to back in the display order and give it a zero thickness. Now save it as a library window, and you will find the window should now cut-out properly. | 0:35:00 |
| Eric talks about how the position of the “wallhole” effects how the window will cut into the wall (in regards to the wall thickness and where the window starts i.e. the reveal or a frame around the window) | 0:48:00 | |
| Is there an efficient way to handle revisions and manage drawing transmittals? | There is no easy built-in way to do this in ArchiCAD, so it is a process of ad-hoc procedures that are needed to achieve this. Eric demonstrates what he personally would do by duplicating a master’s sheet and using the “sheet index” feature that is in the view map. | 0:56:12 |
| Eric explains what “fields” in sheet Index settings are. This question was based around the above question on revisions and perhaps they should be viewed together. | Eric explains how custom text works in sheet index settings. | 1:07:00 |
| Caller unable to add remarks in the schedule for library objects created using the morph tool | Caller made some light fittings using the morph tool and then saved them as library objects. In the lighting and fixture schedule he can see his created light fittings, but he can’t add remarks to them. Eric shows the procedure to rectify this (it involves opening up the object and making some changes to the object’s subtype). | 1:17:12 |
| How to delete an object after it has been created and is no longer needed | The caller wanted to delete items in his embedded library. file>librariesandobjects>library manager – When the library manager pops up, select embedded library, scroll down to the objects you want to delete, and then select the object and click on the red cross (for delete) that lights up when you select an object | 1:21:36 |
| If you trim an existing wall to a roof that is to be demolished using solid element operations, will it revert to its full height once the roof is turned off in planned status | The caller wanted to know “if you trim an existing wall to a roof that is to be demolished using solid element operations, will it revert to its full height once the roof is turned off in planned status”? Eric demonstrates this and finds that when he selects “after demolition” it shows the roof gone and the walls still trimmed to the roof and when he selects “planned status” unfortunately here the walls still stay trimmed to the old demolished roof. Eric shows a rough workaround at time 1:41:00 | 1:26:50 |
| Caller asks what would be the best tool to create a bow roof and a bow roof trim | Eric suggests the shell tool because the shell tool allows you to create a smooth curve (to represent the bow). Eric says that the “extruded shell” is the shell type to use to draw the roof, first Eric does some preparation work by drawing the shape outline in an elevation section using linework tools. He uses this as a template to postion the shell to. To get a vertical fascia you need to right click on the shell roofs edge (in plan) and select “define shell contour” and then you just draw the shape of roof you want on plan (Eric demonstrates what to do) | 1:32:00 |
ArchiCAD Training – Coaching Call – March 13, 2013
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