The 7 Keys to Best Practices for ArchiCAD

What are the Best Practices for working with ArchiCAD?

In the fall of 2010, I decided to dedicate myself to helping ArchiCAD users around the world to use the program better. After more than 20 years as a reseller working with local clients in California, I took the plunge and became a full-time author, trainer and consultant.

It has been an amazing ride. I’ve learned so much about course development, video production, website design, online membership systems, internet marketing, and community-building.

To celebrate this milestone in my journey, and to thank the 650 people who have signed up for the Best Practices Course or the QuickStart Course to date, on this website I’m going to share with you some of my very favorite (and most powerful) tutorials, tips and tricks.

Now, to begin, I must ask you a question:

Are you wasting time using ArchiCAD?

Oh, don’t get me wrong. I love ArchiCAD. I’ve been using it for over 20 years. But so often I see our clients doing things the long way around, fighting ArchiCAD because they don’t understand how to best take advantage of its structure and its philosophy.

Have you ever said to yourself (or a colleague):

There must be a better way to do this!
God, I hate doing this over and over again.
How are you supposed to do this?!

You’re not alone. ArchiCAD is a complex tool, and many users have felt the same way. However, this program will become your friend and trusted assistant when you understand and follow the Best Practices for using ArchiCAD.

I believe there are seven key principles that will help you to use ArchiCAD to its best effect. These best practices are common ideas, like getting organized, and doing things once instead of over and over again. But when they’re applied in the right manner with an understanding of ArchiCAD’s core principles, they’ll help you be much more effective and efficient.

The 7 Keys to Best Practices

Get Organized
Do It Once
Save Your Settings
Work from the General to the Specific
Use ArchiCAD’s Structure
Model Well, Draw Less
Keep It Safe

The presentation is broken up into three segments to make it easier to view.

Here are links to two of my previously published articles that I refer to during the presentation. These articles will help you gain additional insights into these topics.

PART 1 – OVERVIEW

After a short introduction, I give an overview of the seven key principles for Best Practices in this 8 minute video.

PART 2 – KEYS 1 THROUGH 5

The first five keys are examined in more depth in this segment.

Get Organized
Do It Once
Save Your Settings
Work from the General to the Specific
Use ArchiCAD’s Structure

PART 3 – KEYS 6 & 7

The final two keys are covered in this video.

Model Well, Draw Less
Keep It Safe

Thanks for watching this video training series. I hope you have learned a few useful concepts and techniques you can take with you.

If you have a few minutes, check out my article in AECbytes on this same subject:

The Seven Keys to Best Practices for ArchiCAD – AECbytes ArchiCAD Tips and Tricks – February 2011

I look forward to reading your comments, questions and feedback!

Eric

Please post your comments here...

Share Your Comments Here... (26 comments So Far)

Rauf
13 days ago

Hello ! you are speaking allot but not show anithing so this is not useful for me

[Reply]
Rick
18 days ago

Hello from Philippines, Erick.
I’m a 3yr civil engineering student and have not been introduced to archiCAD so far—but have been learning autoCAD for 6 months. When I watched your videos on it I loved them. I’m trying to download and have it installed for practice. But I guess I will find it very hard to start a new design with my own concept. So, I will be very grateful if you can send me the complete design that you used for the tutorial via the provided email above. With it I am sure I would be able to figure out how it was designed and then try to do a new design.

Thank you for your kind help.

Rick

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
May 2nd, 2012 at 7:36 am
Rick -

The building design shown in my videos is a sample file created for use with MasterTemplate. It is included with the purchase of MasterTemplate: http://www.actemplate.com.

Unfortunately, I cannot give this file out for free, as it contains all of the MasterTemplate setup within the file structure.

I encourage you to find a local ArchiCAD user in your area and see if you can help them in their office. That would be one way of learning the software. You can also go through some of the Graphisoft Interactive Training Guides, available for free from http://www.graphisoft.com. Another way would be to sign up for my QuickStart Course (http://www.acbestpractices.com/quickstart).

Best regards,
Eric
Eric
Eric

[Reply]
SURENDRA DAS
21 days ago

Dear Sir,
I am Surendra das from India, . I want to learn and use this ARCHICAD programme for my profession, Avaliable in india anywere your course ralated institution?. + Avaliable any of your learning books saoftwere?. pls be give me replay better through to my email id.

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
May 2nd, 2012 at 7:40 am
Surendra -

Thank you for your note. I am very pleased to know that you are interested in mastering ArchiCAD.

You asked about my training, and whether it was available in a book form. No, I have focused my efforts on creating the best video training lessons possible, which I believe are much more effective than a printed lesson. This also allows me to help students in dozens of countries around the world through the internet.

I encourage you to sign up for my training courses. If you do not have a credit card, please contact me and we can make arrangements for payment through Western Union.

Best regards,
Eric

[Reply]
Eduard
34 days ago

Dear Eric Bobrow

Sorry I can not afford right now ArchiCAD courses due the economic situation of my country.

So I hop this is resolved so we can contact you in the future.

Attentvely

Edward Otto

[Reply]
jada lojuda
73 days ago

I am very happy for your welcoming me to your training center
i hope every things will be well.

[Reply]
ephraim
75 days ago

Everything sounds OK, but not useful for me as I am trying to find a tutorial how to start using AC, freshly installed. Maybe I am just at the wrong place here.
If you know where I can find needed tutorials, your advise will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
E. L.

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
March 7th, 2012 at 5:54 pm
Ephraim -

Thank you for your post.

You are right – my 7 Keys to Best Practices videos and articles are designed to help people who already are working in ArchiCAD, and may not be very useful for beginners.

I have created the perfect course for new users of ArchiCAD – the QuickStart Course. It begins with an orientation to ArchiCAD’s working environment, and takes you systematically through the use of the major tools for creating a 3D model as well as 2D construction documents.

The QuickStart Course is a series of 29 easy to follow video lessons of 15 to 45 minutes in length, a total of 13 hours of material. By the end of the course you will feel comfortable with ArchiCAD and be ready to work on real projects.

For more information or to sign up for the QuickStart Course, please visit:
http://www.acbestpractices.com/quickstart/

Reviews and comments about QuickStart have been outstanding:
http://www.acbestpractices.com/member-home/quickstart-course/comments-quickstart/

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Best regards,
Eric Bobrow

[Reply]
Randall
92 days ago

Great stuff, makes it very easy to get my head around ArhiCAD. Need to be able to access the dwgs you use in the tutorials, can you advise how please?

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:40 am
Randall -

I’m glad that you enjoyed the tutorials and that it’s helping you reallly understand ArchiCAD better.

Many of the screen-capture images of project files are taken from the sample project that comes with MasterTemplate (the office standard for ArchiCAD that we created and sell to ArchiCAD users worldwide). This includes the dramatic images of the profiled wall that show how a section can be cut through the model that already includes framing and other details. For more information about MasterTemplate, please visit http://www.actemplate.com.

Eric

[Reply]
wayne
95 days ago

just what i needed .

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:41 am
Wayne -
Thanks for taking a moment to post your comment – glad you liked the videos!
Eric

[Reply]
Roland
106 days ago

very glad to watch your videos here . But could u tell me the link where to find the beginners lessons video ?
thank you for your work !!

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:43 am
Roland -
I have created a training that covers the basics of ArchiCAD – it’s called the QuickStart Course. You’ll find all the information about this on this page: http://www.acbestpractices.com/quickstart/. Check it out when you get a chance – you’ll find it easy to follow, and by the end of the 13 hours of material you’ll be pretty comfortable with building a model and documenting it in ArchiCAD!
Eric

[Reply]
Dik Dik Hendrawan
107 days ago

I like Design but I not to Smart for Drawing, It’s make more easy to learn, Thank’s a lot Mr. Bobrow, did I can Download Free ArchiCAD ?

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
February 23rd, 2012 at 10:44 am
Dik Dik –
You can download a free 30 day trial of ArchiCAD at http://www.myarchicad.com.
Eric

[Reply]
belay
132 days ago

it is not enough for training purpose pleas send it if there is procedures to use
thank you!

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
January 9th, 2012 at 7:35 pm
This series of videos is intended as an overview of the most important concepts that will help you use ArchiCAD more effectively. I believe that it is important to have a general understanding as well as the procedures to use.

Many of my free video tutorials and articles at http://www.bobrow.com explain how to work with specific commands and processes.

The Best Practices Course (http://www.acbestpractices.com) is a comprehensive training that includes detailed lessons on how to apply ALL of these key principles.

[Reply]
Carlson
135 days ago

Hi Eric.
I’m like to use Archicad and use it for work now.
Sometimes I am doubts why we need to do the same thing again and again.
And thank you for sharing your experience! It’s work for me,

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 9:23 pm
Carlson -
Thanks for posting your comment. It’s good to figure out how to avoid doing the same thing over and over again when there is a way to automate or simplify the task. My training materials for the Best Practices Course go into detail on many of the ways you can save time in ArchiCAD.
Eric

[Reply]
manoj sharma
138 days ago

HI ERIC ,
THANKS me sport new idea

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow Reply:
January 11th, 2012 at 9:24 pm
Manoj – Thanks for your positive feedback – glad you learned some new ideas!
Eric

[Reply]
Eric Bobrow
178 days ago

Thank you for visiting this page. I hope you enjoy watching the video lessons.
You may post a comment here (using WordPress) or below (using Facebook or another social media account).

IMPORTANT: If you are not logged in to Facebook, you may see only a few comments; if you are logged in, you will see dozens (86 to date). These may be shown in a sequence that makes it hard to follow (by default, sorted in Facebook’s “Social Ranking” mode). To see the most recent comments first, click the tiny triangle next to the words “86 comments” (or whatever number it is), and select “Sort by Reverse Chronological”.

I look forward to reading your comments and responding to your questions!
Eric

[Reply]
Roland Reply:
February 3rd, 2012 at 10:09 am
very glad to watch your videos here . But could you send me the link where i can get the beginners lessons videos?
thank you for your work !!

[Reply]