Week #14 – Navigation and Drafting Power Tips
14-2. Advanced Mouse Constraints and the Control Box

ArchiCAD Training (Best Practices Lesson 14-2)

This 20 minute lesson explores the use of the Control Box, which provides convenient options for constraining the mouse to click specific locations or move along specified angles. The lesson also includes a section explaining the Work Environment controls related to Mouse Constraints and Guide Lines.

The Control Box may be brought up using the Window menu > Palettes > Control Box command. The Control Box along with the Coordinate palette were the two main floating palettes in ArchiCAD prior to version 10, and many veterans still are in the habit of working with them. The Coordinate palette is largely superseded by updated graphic interface controls that were introduced in ArchiCAD 10, including the Tracker and the Measure tool.

However, the Control Box is still quite useful. It provides quicker access to several of the Special Snap controls, and provides several drafting options that are not included in the Standard Toolbar, including Offset, Multiple Offset, Perpendicular, Parallel, and Angle Bisector, among others. While one can get along just fine without these controls, I have found that for certain tasks, using the Control Box is noticeably faster and/or easier.

Please post your comments and questions below.

Eric

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: Advanced Mouse Constraints and the Control Box

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  1. StevenNickel
    11 years ago

    Eric…

    Just got to this one. Thank you for commenting on what you don’t use and/or keep in the default mode. This is helpful as I like to keep things as absolutely simple as possible. For example, to me, the tracker is golden…haven’t used the Coordinate Box yet. Steve Nickel

  2. Avatar photo
    JohnDunham
    12 years ago

    I’ve been trying to figure out how to quickly and easily centre text in a room so your explanation of the Special Snap Points was quite helpful.