Week #8 – ArchiCAD’s Structure: The Navigator, Part 1

This week we’ll explore ArchiCAD’s structure further, primarily looking at the Navigator palette, which is composed of 4 main parts:

  • Project Map
  • View Map
  • Layout Book
  • Publisher

Part 1 is a 20 minute video examining the difference between the Project Map and the View Map, which users often get confused. I explain the unique functions of each, and make recommendations for when you should use each one.

Part 2 provides a short (11 minute) introduction to creating and managing Views, and the meaning of each of the View Settings parameters.

Part 3 is a 19 minute study of basic usage and principles of layers and layer combinations. How many layers do you need, and how many layer combinations are optimum?

Please add your comments, questions and feedback below or on the individual pages.

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
8-1. The Project Map and the View Map

This 20 minute lesson explores the difference between the Project Map and the View Map, and when you should use each one.

8-2. Intro to View Settings

This 11 minute lesson shows how to create Views and gives a quick introduction to each setting in the View Settings dialog.

8-3. Layers and Layer Combinations

This 19 minute lesson examines the principles and usage of layers and layer combinations.

8-4. Quick Layers Palette Article

This 19 minute lesson examines the principles and usage of layers and layer combinations.

Let us know how you feel... (5 comments so far)

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  1. Avatar photo
    ScottMenard
    6 years ago

    Eric,

    I am trying to locate an explanation of the Exclamation Point is the Yellow Triangle means. I noticed while navigating around Master Template in the View Map | View Properties occasionally I will see the exclamation mark/Triangle show up next to an entry. If I hoover over it I get the following message.

    “The settings in the Frontmost window no longer correspond to the original view settings”

    Is there a way to determine what the original settings were so I can decide if I want to return to them or stay with the current settings? Alternatively, is there a button to select that will return all settings to their original settings?

    Thanks,

    Scott


  2. AlbertAeberhard
    13 years ago

    Hi Eric,
    How do I save any changes I made in the project file to the template?
    For a beginner like me, your course is a very very big help. Keep up the good work.
    Albert

  3. Avatar photo
    MariyaLilith
    14 years ago

    Thank you, thank you, thank you! The 1st and 3rd part of this weeks lessons really clears up a lot of confusion for me. I’d always been confused about where I should be working – usually choosing to work in a view in the Project Map. Now I know better and understand why I would choose the Project or View Maps.

    Sure, wish I’d understood this a long time ago.

    Mariya


  4. DavidBlackwell
    14 years ago

    Eric, just a thought, …the trigger that got my attention for this course was an email from Lazlo Nagy.
    His ‘Virtual Tutor’ tutorials have been a real favorite except he got to AC12 and no more.
    However I particularly liked that when I got stuck on an ArchiCAD problem I could search through Lazlo’s index and find a tutorial for that very issue, though maybe not all the time.

    So my thought/question is what is the possibility of creating a detailed index for the course videos whereby a last minute learner like me might more readily be able work retrospectively to locate a coverage of some ArchiCAD feature or trick?
    The Course Outline’ is a pretty good start and maybe you are already taking this further to perhaps go with the DVDs, ……and I know detailed indexing is a lot of work!!!

    And thank you for your response regarding glitchy objects in my projects.
    I am making some progress in cleaning them up now. I will get myself proficient on that.
    I am behind on my homework and best intentions.
    Thanks again. David


    • Eric
      14 years ago

      David –

      Thanks for sharing your idea for a comprehensive course index. I think it’s something that will help make the course even more valuable for members. I’ve been thinking about how to go about this, and have come up with an approach that may work nicely using Google Docs.

      Please let me know if you have additional questions regarding cleaning up glitchy objects. I’m always glad to help.

      Eric