January – June 2013
ArchiCAD Training – Coaching Call – June 25, 2013
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 ArchiCAD Training Session Notes

QUESTION ANSWER SUMMARY AND NOTES START TIME
How to put terrain markings onto a mesh (property line details that use a dashed line) You will need an understanding of solid element operation to complete this, Eric does a quick demonstration of solid element operations here, but for further understanding Eric has written an article on this topic and it can be found at (see link link on the right). Eric first starts by drawing a mesh. When you draw a mesh you may find that the ridge lines are too distracting and you may want to turn them off. If you want to turn the ridge lines (the triangulation lines) off go up to the info bar toolbar and select – floor plan and section>outlines>ridge selection>show user defined ridges. Eric then does a quick demonstration of the morph tool (available in ArchiCAD 16 and above). If you don’t have the morph tool, then you could use the slab tool and then do a solid element operation – go to design>solid element operation. Eric demonstrates how to do solid element operations by trimming some walls to finish flush with the top of the mesh. When Eric has completed the solid element operations, he uses the “split tool” to create a dashed lined effect (by splitting the wall into smaller pieces). Eric then shows how to change the colour of the top of the wall. 0:06:42
Is there a quick way to transfer the properties of a window marker from one window to another? The answer is no, and Eric shows what the problem is. There are some workarounds that Eric describes, but he also clarifies that he is unsure if they are worth the hassle. 0:30:40
A caller said – “If I make a model with planned status, and demo status, then i locate markers for elevations. Then I save the views for the planned status elevations, clone the folder, and change the clone folder to demo status, the markers on the demo plan are the same as the markers on the planned status plan. But the demo elevations are different. What am I missing”? Eric goes through how to put both existing and new on the same sheet or on different sheets. To do this you would create another set of views, so Eric created a new folder (not a clone folder) Eric then goes through all the procedures necessary to answer the caller’s question. 0:36:00
The caller wants to create a window recess with a sill and lintel over, but the windows he wants to use doesn’t have these parameters available. He wants to know if there is a way to add these to a window recess in a wall? The caller wants to create a recessed blank bit of wall that looks like a window in an old building, and he asks Eric to design him a lesene. Eric opens up the ArchiCAD window library and types in the word “lesene” into the search engine (window default settings search area). A lesene is a bump out, as opposed to a cutout in the wall which would be a niche. The caller realized he had made a mistake and in fact he had wanted a niche. Eric types in niche into the search engine. Unfortunately, because the niche is only a cutout in a wall there aren’t many parameters in regards to design and adding things to it. Eric goes through the limited number of parameters that you find with the niche tool (e.g. changing the depth of the cut, or the back material etc.). Eric advises using the beam tool to create the sill as this will automatically cut into the wall. Another alternative would be to use the “empty window” feature (just type empty window in the window default settings search area) and in the empty window settings, just keep the sill and stool options checked (these are found in the empty window general settings). There is a problem using the empty window in that it leaves a full empty space cutout rather than a niche. It is possible though to put a piece of wall where the window empty hole is (so it in effect becomes a niche). You would also need to tweak some of the other empty window settings, but Eric shows what to do here. 1:02:12
How to create a window that has half an arch on top not a full arch In the window search area Eric types in “Arch window”, and from the options that pop up he selects “w arch cas transom”. He then finds “shape and opening” settings found in this window’s default settings. By altering the shoulder length here you can change the shape of the arch window. The caller says that he had actually meant that the window be cut in half down its entire length. Eric tells him that if he wants to do this his best option would be to create a custom window. Eric tells the caller that he will demonstrate how to create a custom arch, but it will have to be later in this tutorial. 1:14:05
Discription of what an archive project is 1:18:20
How to turn the editing plane on/off The editing plane allows you to see where you are going to be drawing go to view>editing plane display. Eric also goes through the settings and explains how you can leave the editing plane turned on, but just make it more transparent so you can see better what you are working on. 1:20:40
Further to the first question asked in this tutorial session, Eric goes on to show how to bring in an image of the topographical landscape upon which the property lines go. Options>element attributes>materials (surfaces in ArchiCAD 17)>texture>search. When you have brought in the image you then have to scale it. You then set the image origin by going to – design>Align 3d texture>set origin. If you want the topographical image to show on the floor plan as well as in 3d then go to – options>element attributes>fill types>new>image fill. This process just creates the fill, and we now need to place the fill. And this is done by clicking on fill and just selecting your newly created image fill. Eric then gives a discription about the fill origin settings. An alternative way and quicker way to bring in the topographical image into the plan is by using the figure tool, this method though doesn’t give you the same number of options as the previous method. This is followed with Eric having a discussion with a caller about the various methods to use the topographical image with the plan of the building for presentaion purposes. 1:18:00
ArchiCAD 17 new feature “cutaway planes” Eric gives a demonstration on this feature go to – view>elements in 3d view>3d cutting planes>show cutting planes. These planes can cut in both horizontal and vertical planes. 1:38:20
How to create a custom window (that has a custom arch) Eric starts by saying that he has created previous tutorials on this subject see link on the right. Eric then shows how to create a custom shape for a window. An important thing to remember when creating a custom shape for a window is to use the slab tool and magic wand to follow your custom created windows outline (this is placed inside your custom window) and you then give this created shape the name “wallhole” for its ID. This will enable the window to cut the custom shape into the wall when you place it. Its probably best that you watch the full explanation given by Eric because it is very difficult and confusing to explain the full process just using words. 1:51:09
Where are wall profiles kept when starting a new project Design>complex profiles>profile manager. Eric also gives a quick discussion about bringing profiles into a project 2:03:40

 

 ArchiCAD Training – Coaching Call – June 25, 2013

Let us know how you feel... (3 comments so far)

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  1. RajagopalaHathwar
    11 years ago

    Dear Eric,
    Please send download link.


    • Eric Bobrow
      11 years ago

      Rajagopala – I just added the download link for this latest coaching call to the Coaching Call Downloads page. Thanks for reminding me!
      Eric


      • RajagopalaHathwar
        11 years ago

        Thank you.
        RAJAGOPALA