Outline of the Course
Here is an outline of the Best Practices Course - subject to change, of course!
  • Best Practices Course Outline
  • Course Downloads
  • Live ArchiCAD Training Schedule
  • Coaching Calls
  • Get the Course on DVD
  • Week #1 – The 7 Keys to Best Practices
  • Week #2 – Get Organized
  • Week #3 – Get More Organized
  • Week #4 – Library Management & Migrating Projects
  • Week #5 – General Notes & Specifications
  • Week #6 – Save Your Favorite Settings
  • Week #7 – Interactive Legends
  • Week #8 – ArchiCAD’s Structure: The Navigator, Part 1
  • Week #9 – ArchiCAD’s Structure: The Navigator, Part 1 (Continued)
  • Week #10 – Using ArchiCAD’s Structure: Guiding Principles
  • Week #11 – Conceptual Design Strategies
  • Week #12 – Site Survey and Topography Modeling
  • Week #13 – Aligning and Placing Elements
  • Week #14 – Navigation and Drafting Power Tips
  • Week #15 – Advanced Selection and Editing
  • Week #16 – Roof Modeling and Documentation
  • Week #17 – Complex Modeling
  • Week #18 – Complex Projects
  • Week #19 – Renovation Projects
  • Week #20 – Managing Attributes, Project Preferences, Work Environment
  • Week #21 – Creating and Customizing Library Parts
  • Week #22 – Managing and Optimizing Live Sections and Elevations
  • Week #23 – Layout Book, Drawing Options, Printing and Publishing
  • Week #24 – Detail Drawings
  • Week #25 – Schedules, Quantities and Data
  • Week #26 – In-Office Project Management
  • Week #27 – Collaboration
  • Week #28 – Communication via DWG Files and BIMx
  • Week #29 – Stairs, Railings and Landscape
  • Week #30 – Managing Complexity
  • ArchiCAD 17 New Features
  • ArchiCAD 18 New Features
  • Search the Entire Best Practices Course Website:

    Type in a search term (such as “roof” or “morph”) into the Google Custom Search field below, then hit Enter or click the magnifying glass icon. A popup window will show the results of your search from pages on the Best Practices Course website; you may then click any of the results to open them in a new browser tab.

    COURSE OUTLINE – Best Practices Course

    This outline provides an overview of the contents of the ArchiCAD training in the Best Practices Course. Note that the QuickStart Course (ArchiCAD Basic Training) has its own outline page.

    Week 1 – The 7 Keys to Best Practices

    1. Overview of the 7 Keys
    2. In Depth: Keys 1 through 5
    3. In Depth: Keys 6 & 7

    Week 2 – Get Organized

    1. Set Up A Standard Project Folder
    2. Create A Project Template (TPL) File
    3. Developing A Template File

    Week 3 – Get More Organized

    1. Mind Mapping the Template Concept
    2. Optimizing Your Template
    3. Library Management

    Week 4 – Library Management & Migrating Projects

    1. ArchiCAD 10, 11 & 12 – Library Management
    2. ArchiCAD 13 – Library Management & Migrating A Project
    3. ArchiCAD 14 – Library Management & Complex Project Migration

    Week 5 – General Notes & Specifications

    1. Using Microsoft Word and PDF
    2. Using Word and PDF on Larger Sheets
    3. General Notes and Your Template

    Week 6    Save Your Favorite Settings

    1. Introduction to Favorites
    2. Managing and Migrating Favorites
    3. Modules for typical rooms and arrangements
    4. Tip: Parameter Transfer

    Week 7    Interactive Legends

    1. Introduction and Basic Setup
    2. Advanced Setup using a Worksheet
    3. Additional Variations and Applications

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

    1. The Project Map and View Map – which should you use?
    2. Intro to View Settings
    3. Layers and Layer Combinations
    4. Tip: Quick Layers Palette

    Week 9    ArchiCAD’s Structure: The Navigator, Part 2

    1. Layer Management
    2. Layer Management (continued); Streamline Layer Usage
    3. What are Clone Folders and why you should use them
    4. Advanced View Options

    Week 10    Using ArchiCAD’s Structure: Guiding Principles

    1. Model in 3D well so you can draw in 2D less
    2. Work from the General to the Specific
    3. Record Your Design Intent using proper referencing and anchoring

    Week 11    Conceptual Design Strategies

    1. How do you start: Lines, Fills, Zones, Walls or Mass Model?
    2. Program Planning – areas and lists of spaces
    3. Early modeling approaches – Massing, Pseudo-Detail, Profiles & Room Modules

    Week 12    Site Topography and Site Planning

    1. Introduction to Site Modeling: DWG Import and Working with the Mesh Tool
    2. Drafting the Property Lines based on a Paper or PDF Survey Drawing
    3. Placing a PDF Survey Drawing to Scale, Setting North Orientation
    4. Advanced Site Creation: Level Dimensions, Regrading, Cut and Fill Calculations
    5. Advanced Site Creation: Working with Roads, Paths and Paved Areas
    6. Case Study: Additional Techniques for Drafting Property Lines

    Week 13    Building Your Model – Alignment and Relationship

    1. Guide Lines
    2. Using the Ruler and Shift Key Constraints
    3. Introduction to Virtual Trace and the Trace & Reference Palette
    4. Uses of Virtual Trace for Model Views, Layouts and 2D Drawing

    Week 14    Navigation and Drafting Power Tips

    1. Advanced Coordinate Methods
    2. Advanced Mouse Constraints and the Control Box
    3. Using the Grid for Sketching and Precise Placement
    4. Navigation Shortcuts and Speed Tricks
    5. Managing the 3D Window: Showing What You Need, How You Want to See It
    6. Setting and Saving Precise 3D Viewpoints & Views
    7. Keyboard Shortcuts and Special Mouse Clicks

    Week 15    Advanced Selection and Editing

    1. Advanced Element Selection and Settings
    2. Power Selection Techniques
    3. Editing Element Geometry with the Pet Palette
    4. Using the Pet Palette with Editable Hotspots and Sub-Elements
    5. Drawing and Editing in 3D and Section
    6. Working in 3D using Gravity, 3D Guide Lines and Temporary Elements

    Week 16    Working With Roofs

    1. Roof Basics
    2. Modeling Roofs with Ornate Rafter Tails
    3. Creating Different Roof Types in ArchiCAD 14 and Earlier
    4. Creating Different Roof Types in ArchiCAD 15 and Later
    5. Simple Hip and Gable Roof Systems
    6. Connecting Roofs in ArchiCAD 14 and Earlier
    7. Connecting Roofs in ArchiCAD 15 and Later
    8. Barrel Vault Roofs

    Week 17    Complex Modeling

    1. Solid Element Operations
    2. Complex Profiles
    3. Multi-story Projects
    4. Non-vertical Walls
    5. Curtain Walls
    6. Trussmaker
    7. Roofmaker
    8. Shell tool
    9. Morph tool

    Week 18    Complex Projects

    1. Floor Plan Cut Plane and Clerestory Plans
    2. Multi-story walls
    3. Split levels
    4. Hotlinked Modules
    5. Multi-building

    Week 19    Strategies for Remodel Projects

    1. Using two separate PLN files for the existing and new designs
    2. Using horizontal or vertical displacement within a single PLN
    3. Using different layers and layer combinations
    4. Hotlinking the as-built model into the new project file
    5. Renovation Tags and Filters in ArchiCAD 15 and Later Versions (Basics)
    6. Renovation Tags and Filters in ArchiCAD 15 and Later Versions (Advanced)

    Week 20    Managing Attributes, Project Preferences, Work Environment

    1. Defining Materials, Composites etc.
    2. Attribute Manager
    3. Use Attribute Manager to Create Material Schemes
    4. Model View Options
    5. Dimensions Preferences
    6. Project Preferences
    7. Work Environment Preferences

    Week 21    Creating and Customizing Library Parts

    1. Creating basic 2D or 3D objects; optimizing hotspot handles, adding a parameter
    2. Making a 2D symbol more parametric with simple GDL editing
    3. Combining 2D and 3D elements; scripting the Object ID; changing the Object Subtype
    4. Creating New Objects with Custom 3D Hotspots and 2D Symbol
    5. Importing 3D IFC and DWG files to create library parts
    6. Custom Door Panels and Window Sashes
    7. Custom Doors and Windows
    8. Rotating and Tilting Objects
    9. Custom Drawing Titles

    Week 22    Managing and Optimizing Live Sections and Elevations

    1. Clean modeling to create clean drawings
    2. Adding detail in 3D and 2D
    3. Advanced 3D Model Detailing with special guest Timothy Ball, RIBA
    4. Update Strategies and Model Display Options

    Week 23    Layout Book, Drawing Options, Printing and Publishing

    1. Layout Book Basics
    2. Drawing Settings
    3. Drawing Titles
    4. Placing Internal and External Drawings
    5. Master Layouts: Grids and Automatic Placement Options
    6. Printing
    7. Publishing

    Week 24    Detail Drawings

    1. Creating details, placing and referencing them
    2. Management – placeholders, updating, rescaling, replacing
    3. Reusable details and sheets, detail libraries

    Week 25    Schedules, Quantities and Data

    1. Interactive Schedules – basic usage
    2. Interactive Schedules – additional options
    3. Set Door and Window IDs Quickly
    4. Label Elements Automatically
    5. Introduction to Quantity Take-offs

    Week 26    In-office Project Management

    1. Redlines and the Markup Palette
    2. Spell Checking and Text Substitution
    3. File Naming and Backup Strategies, Version and Revision Tracking
    4. Data Safety and Project Migration
    5. Project Migration – Additional Notes

    Week 27    Collaboration

    1. Introduction to Teamwork
    2. More Teamwork
    3. BIM Server Setup and Options
    4. IFC: Intelligent 3D Model File Exchange with Consultants
    5. Creating Specifications Using IFC Data

    Week 28    Communication via DWG Files and BIMx

    1. DWG Export and Import Basics
    2. DWG Translation Settings
    3. More DWG Translation Options, XRef Placement and Management
    4. DWG Import Options and Workflow: External Drawings, XRefs, Worksheets, Layouts
    5. How to Trace 2D Drawings to Quickly Create a 3D Model
    6. Project Reviewer
    7. BIMx – BIM Explorer
    8. BIMx Docs

    Week 29    Stairs, Railings and Landscaping

    1. Stair Basics
    2. Stair Intermediate
    3. Stair Conclusion
    4. Stair Railings
    5. Fences and Landscaping

    Week 30    Managing Complexity

    1. Mastering Polygons and Complex Geometry
    2. Internal and External Hotlinks for Modular Design
    3. Complex Hotlinks and Story Settings
    4. Managing Multiple Design Schemes
    5. Complex Visualizations: Sun Studies and Shadow Diagrams, Overlays for Shadows, Sketches, Textures and Fills

    ArchiCAD 17 New Features

    1. Overview of New Features and Interface in AC17
    2. Using AC 17 New Building Materials for Clean Sections and Detailed 3D Models
    3. AC17 Modeling Workflow – from Schematic Design through Development and CD
    4. Reference Lines, Planes and Links to Stories

    ArchiCAD 18 New Features

    1. ArchiCAD 18 New Features Overview and Project Migration
    2. ArchiCAD 18 New Features Runthrough
    3. Change Manager and New PDF Options
    4. ArchiCAD 18 New Features Runthrough Conclusion

    SUPPLEMENTAL COURSES – AVAILABLE THROUGH THE MASTERS OF ARCHICAD WEBSITE

    ArchiCAD 19 Upgrade Training PLUS Best Practices Lessons from the Masters
    (included for purchases of the Best Practices Course starting May 2015)

    1. ARCHICAD 19 NEW FEATURES OVERVIEW AND RUNTHROUGH
    2. PROJECT MIGRATION AND TEMPLATE DEVELOPMENT
    3. LESSONS FROM THE MASTERS OF ARCHICAD SUMMIT AND TRAINING SERIES
    4. THE 7 KEYS TO BEST PRACTICES FOR ARCHICAD – REVISITED

    ArchiCAD 20 Upgrade Training
    (included for purchases of the Best Practices Course starting May 2016)

    1. ARCHICAD 20 NEW FEATURES OVERVIEW AND RUNTHROUGH
    2. PROJECT MIGRATION AND TEMPLATE DEVELOPMENT
    3. DIVING DEEPER
    4. FINISHING UP – Q&A

    Copyright 2010-2016 – Eric Bobrow

    Share Your Comments Here... (57 comments so far)

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    1. StevenNickel
      6 years ago

      Should you make an announcement that Week 29 (Stairs & Railings) is now fairly
      obsolete? 🙂


    2. PatriceBelle
      9 years ago

      Eric,

      A quick communication to congratulate – and thank – you for completing the Best Practices Course (except for some videos on AC17 which are perhaps no longer pertinent).

      All the best,
      Patrice


    3. JabbourKhoury
      9 years ago

      Hi Eric
      I have a double membership:
      1. The Best Practice Course
      2. The Coaching call Program
      On the Coaching Call download page, the last Coaching Call that I could download was that of October 15. Why I could not have access to the coaching calls after that date?
      On the other hand, the last accessible Practice lesson was that of Week 26-1.
      What is the problem with my account?
      Please, could you explain.
      Thank you in advance.
      Jabbour Khoury


    4. AnjaWiehl
      10 years ago

      Hi Eric,
      I want to lean more about the settings when saving a file as a DWG. Currently when I save a file and then open it in Autocad13 some basics like dimensions and walls don’t translate quite right. Am I looking at lesson week 28/1 for these answers? Or could you give me a tip?

      Thanks,
      Anja

    5. Avatar photo
      MarkPhillips
      11 years ago

      As a 15 year veteran i do find your training very helpful, I can understand that it takes time to figure out how and what to produce in your videos, to be the most effective, then to stay on top of all the changes made each year, it is a huge undertaking, your course and training has inspired me to look at the software differently than i had in the last several years, it was a big jump for me
      to move from AC9 to AC16 your courses has made the transition easier

      keep up the good work

      Mark

    6. Avatar photo
      ConorMoriarty
      11 years ago

      I’m sure you’ve been asked this before but do you have, or are you going to put togther some tutorials on Ecodesigner now that its embedded in 16?

      PS Thanks for the tutorials to date. They are without exception the best I’ve come across in Archicad!!! At least, thats my opinion as a former lecturer in 3D Max, Autocad & the Adobe Suite of products.


    7. PatriceBelle
      11 years ago

      Hi Eric,

      To echo many of the posts here:

      The good: Clear instructive tutorials

      The Bad: Very, very late delivery

      Personally, I am still patiently waiting for the week 25 material. When will this be available…..week 150 ?

      I must admit that I signed up for the course with a particular project in mind: Had the tutorials been delivered on time, I could have mastered what was required in tandem with the progress of the project (more or less). Regrettably, time has marched on, I have had to muddle through my use of ArchiCAD as best I can (trying to unravel whatever sources of info were available…), and now – again – I am faced with a project which would benefit enormously from skills I have yet to learn.

      The irony is that the course is being delivered so slowly that the tutorials are becoming outdated before the course is even finished!

      Eric, please do not spend valuable time replying to this post: I think we’d all rather your time was spent finishing the course….

      Regards,

      Patrice


      • Eric Bobrow
        11 years ago

        Patrice –
        You are very, very right.
        I offer the coaching call sessions several times each month and cover many of the advanced topics in response to member questions. Please submit your questions, and I will try to address them so that you have the tools and resources you need.
        Eric


    8. Albert Van Ee
      12 years ago

      When will we see more material for the best practice course, I really am looking forward to your insights regarding libraries and details.


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Albert –
        The course continues to be in development. Last week I released two more lessons on roofs, Week 16 parts 3 and 4. I will continue to create course lessons until the job is done – it is a mammoth project. FYI – I covered the most important parts of library management and migration from version to version in Week #4.
        Eric


    9. Greg Butler
      12 years ago

      Hi Eric

      just wondering if you have a realistic timeline for the rest of the course. It’s all such great stuff, but seems to be dragging on too long at the moment.
      The coaching calls are great, but they are random topics – I think the structured course is more valuable, and something I would have thought you could sell more easily, when it is finished, than the coaching calls. I am certainly recommending it to my colleagues.

      Cheers

      Greg


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Greg –
        I agree, things are dragging on too long at the moment. I will be posting some new lessons on roofs shortly.
        Eric

    10. Avatar photo
      ArielleSchechter
      12 years ago

      I can’t wait for modules 16 and 17….am having a devil of a time setting clerestories and complex levels with story settings, windows anchored to the right place! Love the course, Eric you are a saint.


    11. RossCahill-OBrien
      12 years ago

      Hi Eric,
      I am waiting patiently for the rest of the best practice course and when that is finished i will consider joining the coaching calls that you are promoting- but right now I would like to continue with what we have paid for please. I understand that it is difficult with so much other things going on in your life but, if you were to do one of them every week it would take you no time to complete the course. I hope that you manage it. because at the end of it you will have a good structure to update and modify for each successive versions of the archicad that come out. Looking forward to your completion of the course . thank you in advance yours Ross


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Ross –

        Thank you for posting your comment.

        I am working almost every day on course material, so there will be progress each week until I have covered every one of the lessons in the outline.

        Today I announced and released two more lessons (Week 12 parts 5 and 6) which total 75 minutes of new material. Soon, I’ll be producing Week 13, and then the rest, each in turn!

        Eric


    12. WendyHoechstetter
      12 years ago

      Eric,

      I second the query about the whereabouts of the rest of this course. I’ve not been able to participate due to family illness and not working, and I am absolutely appalled to find that it’s not even here to download after all this time – and yet you are asking for even more money to pay you for monthly coaching??

      Your excuse that “the course has not progressed” is laughable at best – and actually quite outrageous.

      You sold us a product that didn’t even exist!

      You got sidetracked onto creating another course before you even completed this one.

      And now you haven’t even completed it at anywhere even *remotely* near the time frame in which you promised it – again and again – and now you phrase this in the passive tense as if it’s the fault of the course that it isn’t writing itself??

      Given the time problems here, I would appreciate a gratis DVD of all of the materials, including the coaching calls.

      I think it’s the very least you could do.

      But I want the *full* course I paid for! And now, not in several more months.

      For versions 13/14 – which we were in when this class started and when it should have ended.

      This is an outrage.

      Wendy


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Wendy –

        Thank you for posting your comment and sharing your feelings about the Best Practices Course. I appreciate that you have taken the time to write, and I am sorry you feel so outraged. I feel badly about that, so I would like to respond immediately.

        Yes, I sold you and the others who joined at the beginning of this journey a product that didn’t even exist. Guilty as charged.

        I said at the time that I would create a 26 week series of lessons on ArchiCAD, and anticipated that I would be able to produce the lessons over a 26 week period. I was naive – this project is much larger than I ever anticipated. As I have gone along, it has continued to grow in scope.

        You signed up at the beginning, with the launch offer of $397, much less than the current course price of $697. At that time I promised 26 weeks of 45 minute lessons = about 20 hours, along with one 90 minute coaching call each month for 6 months = 9 hours, or a grand total of 29 hours of training materials.

        At this point, I have produced only 12 weeks of lessons, but they have been somewhat longer than 45 minutes, probably averaging closer to an hour each = 10 or 11 hours. I expanded the coaching program to 3 times each month, and regularly do between 90 minutes and 110 minutes each time. In 2011, there were about 28 or 29 coaching calls totaling well over 45 hours of recorded content (which, by the way, have been carefully indexed by volunteer course members to make them even more useful). In addition, I produced the QuickStart Course as a free bonus for all course members, which is an additional 13 hours (this covers the basics, but many veteran course members have said that they have learned a LOT while watching them – give them a try). So at this point, you have access to 10 + 45 + 13 = 68 hours of high quality training.

        Yes, I owe you and everyone else the rest of the Best Practices Course lessons, and you WILL get them without any further charge. I am focusing again on creating new videos – during the past week I have produced 3 segments of Week 12 totaling about 90 minutes of brand new material.

        What I will not continue to give away is the Coaching Program – this is a valuable service that many members have commented is worth as much or more than the course itself. Everyone gets 6 months of access to these calls as part of the course registration, and in fact, many (like you) got a full year of this service. However, it’s totally optional for members to continue in the coaching program – there’s no obligation and it doesn’t affect the lifetime membership in the Best Practices Course itself.

        Wendy, I’d like to offer you something as an apology and in recompense. I will give you a DVD set of the course videos worth $97, as you asked. But since you were not able to participate in the coaching program due to your family illness, perhaps you’d appreciate being able to continue gratis in the Coaching Program until I finish up all the course lessons. If you’ll accept this, let me know, I’ll be happy to accommodate you.

        Eric

        P.S. I started the course in ArchiCAD 14, and am now producing it in ArchiCAD 15, however I always explain the differences in versions going back to ArchiCAD 10. We have course members on all of these different versions, and I will continue to support all of these versions since in general they are so similar in terms of workflow and basic strategies.

    13. Avatar photo
      TimothyBall
      12 years ago

      Eric

      I am looking forward to the content for week 23 because of the usefulness of schedules to extract data from the model.

      In advance of that, do you know of any way to include an external image file in a schedule. I am sure you could do this in 14 but I can’t find it in 15 and neither can my reseller!

      By the way your Virtual Building Exporer description needs to be updated to BIMX. We are very successfully using BIMX on iPads as nearly all of our clients have them. The experience is very much better on iPad and very intuitive. I think it’s a great success for Graphisoft. We are even persuading some of our contractors to use the BIMX model to see what the design intention is in 3D.

      Regards

      Tim


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Tim –

        Thanks for your note.

        I do not know a way to include an external image file in a schedule. You can include several graphic options: the 2D symbol or 3D elevation (front or back) or 3D axo view, or a preview image. You can paste in an external image into the preview for a library part and have that show in the schedule, but it is very limited in the number of pixels (it’s a preview, not really intended as an image you can enlarge).

        One workaround I just figured out with some quick experimentation: in AC15 (and I think AC14, possibly AC13) you can annotate a 3D elevation in the schedule, drawing in anything you like in 2D including (the most obvious choice) dimensioning the element. I found that I could paste in a graphic from the clipboard, and it showed up nicely. This means that you could potentially use one of the graphic options in the schedule (listed above) as a place where you can place whatever graphics you like (you might have to cover up the standard graphic that ArchiCAD supplies, if you want a “clear space” to work with.

        I have updated the description of the lesson on BIMx – thanks for pointing that out. I’m glad to hear about your success with using this add-on.

        Eric


    14. FardinGhodoussi
      12 years ago

      Dear Eric,

      With regret we had to write this note for your attention.

      When we try to purchase your best practice program, you promised it would be completed before end of the year 2011, and later you apologised by email to us that you had some health issue recently and you will concentrate in next couple months to finalise this course, this communication take place in October 2011.
      We are in January 2012 and no sign of any improvement only 13 weeks of 29 weeks of course has been on your site for download, and no explanation, we have paid in full for this course and we are in title to received all the course as soon possible, any email we have send to you after the second payment cashed, is ignored and left without any answer, we are hoping you will respond to the request promptly to avoid any further action.

      Regards

      Fardin
      DMG design and development ltd

      PS if we do not receive a prompt respond, we will put copy of this message of Archicad members site.


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Fardin –

        I understand your frustration, which has stemmed from several factors. The most important of these is the fact that the course materials have not progressed during recent months. I will be preparing new lessons this week and will ask you to be patient for at least a few more days.

        In addition, you asked in an email about how to prepare a title block from scratch. I answered that question during the most recent coaching call on December 22nd, however there was a technical problem that prevented the audio from being recorded.

        I will personally record a new answer to that question and post it for you as well as other course members this week.

        Eric


        • Eric Bobrow
          12 years ago

          Fardin –

          I have recorded and posted an answer to your question about designing title blocks from scratch, which you will see in the Coaching Call page for the December 22 session. I had to do this over again since there were problems with the audio in the actual coaching call.
          http://www.acbestpractices.com/coaching-call-december-22-2011/

          I also checked my records, and can see that I responded to your email of December 19 the same day, telling you that I would address your question on that December 22 call. Did you get my email?

          I had also responded to your initial email of October 18, the same day you sent it, but I never got a response from you. Perhaps my emails are being caught in your spam filter, since each time you have sent an email to me I have responded promptly.

          You posted a question on December 15 on one of the course lesson pages, and I responded on December 19 – four days later – not exactly right away, but sometimes I can’t fit everything in, and I believe there was a weekend in between and I answered on the Monday.
          http://www.acbestpractices.com/member-home/the-course/week-10/part-2/#comments

          So, to summarize – I am guilty as charged of not delivering the course lessons by the end of 2011, and will be working hard on this during the next two or three months. However, in response to your other statements, I responded to your emails and posted comments each time.

          I will send you an email tonight with a copy of this information, and would like to make sure that you receive it. Please reply to my email so I know that you got it OK.

          Thanks for your understanding.
          Eric


    15. JonathanWeaver
      12 years ago

      Eric

      Have you done week #17 as of yet…It is one I am looking forward to.

      Thanks Jonathan


    16. tom bowness
      12 years ago

      hey buddy,

      im currently studying AT at university in the uk, we get taught archicad but not to the depth u go, i was wondering if i can select certain weeks/modules to do only as oppose to the full course?

      financially would be a dream boat!

      please email me a reply

      Tom


      • Eric Bobrow
        12 years ago

        Tom –

        Thanks for your post.
        I’m glad to know that you are studying ArchiCAD at university.

        Unfortunately, it’s impractical to try selling only specific pieces or lessons from the course – the administrative effort would be too much. However, I am open to offering you extended payment terms, and perhaps a bit of a student discount, if you’d like to have access to the entire course.

        Please send an email to support@acbestpractices.com and I’ll be happy to work something out with you.

        Eric


    17. Eric
      13 years ago

      Lori –

      I just double-checked our contact management system and can see that you were never properly added to the Best Practices Course email distribution list. You were on the MasterTemplate list, since you also purchased MasterTemplate, and you were on the course website login list — but not on the course email list.

      My sincere apologies!!!

      I have added you to the course email list, and from here on out you should be getting emails regularly from me.

      Eric


    18. LoriCarlson
      13 years ago

      There hasn’t seemed to be any recent lesson postings since week #9 or in the quick start course. When can I expect the remaining lessons?


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Lori –

        Over the weekend (July 23-24) I added two more lessons totaling 37 minutes to the QuickStart Course, finishing out Module 2. I sent an email to all course members – did you not receive it?

        Now that I’ve recovered from my recent illness, I’ll be focusing on finishing up the QuickStart Course over the next 3 weeks (give or take) then resuming the Best Practices lessons, planning to get everything done by the end of October.

        I apologize for the delays over the past few months – I’m going to be moving a lot more quickly over the next three months!!

        Eric


        • LoriCarlson
          13 years ago

          The last email I received was on 7-20-11 regarding Master Template 15. Am I missing correspondance?


          • Eric
            13 years ago

            Lori –
            Sorry I didn’t respond to this right away. Here is a list of the emails sent to course members since July 20:
            July 21, 23 and 26, plus August 1 and 8 – emails were sent about coaching calls
            August 3, 11, 12 and 14 – emails were sent about new materials being posted for the QuickStart Course.
            Please let me know if you are not receiving these regular emails.
            Eric


          • LoriCarlson
            13 years ago

            Eric,
            I have not received any of these e-mails. What do I need to do to get on the e-mail list?

            Thanks,
            Lori


    19. Pete Andreassend
      13 years ago

      Hi interested in a tutorial on doing a bill of quantites of my projects in v10 do you have anything that would be of use to me as a builder.

      Pete Andreassend


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Pete –

        That’s an excellent topic for exploration. ArchiCAD can be set up to report quantities in a variety of ways, and to (almost) as much depth as you might want. I have not created a tutorial on this yet, but plan to focus on it in Week #22 of the Best Practices Course.

        Perhaps I’ll also do a free tutorial on the subject at some point, giving some quick guidance on important parts of the process.

        There is a comprehensive book that I purchased a while back that you might try to track down: “ArchiCAD – From CAD to Quantity Survey”, by Eric Wilk. It is translated from the original French version, and is quite comprehensive, although a bit hard to approach as a result.

        I recommend that you check out the add-on by Cigraph called ArchiQuant (you can Google the link) that aids in setting up a comprehensive quantity survey.

        Have you asked this question on ArchiCAD-Talk? There are probably some other resources that people can recommend to you. I wish I could be more helpful – this is as much as I can give you right now.

        Eric


    20. Melissa
      13 years ago

      Ha ha! No not my cat, just a photo I found on the web. Every time I look at it it makes me giggle!

      Revision management is a very important thing for us as architects, so would be great if you could include it.

      🙂
      M

    21. Avatar photo
      MelissaFleming
      13 years ago

      Hi Eric,

      As you know, I’m loving your course! I’ve been working with Archicad since the mid-90’s and your course is helping me work out which of the habits I’ve developed are good ones, which could be improved and (most importantly) how to improve them.

      Over the years, I’ve had various methods of managing drawing revisions (including the Cadimage tool) but none have been overwhelmingly successful. If you haven’t planned it already, I’d really appreciate your advice on the best way to manage revisions and transmittals using the archicad model and layout book system.

      Regards,
      Melissa


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Hi Melissa –

        Love your photo! Is that your cat with a watermelon on it’s head?
        Thanks for your kind words – I’m glad you’re finding the course useful.

        Revision management is not an area that I’ve spent much time looking at. I will consider your suggestion and see what I can include on this topic.

        Eric

    22. Avatar photo
      Salma Mussa
      13 years ago

      I hope with this Best course to use ArchiCad Properly or better. It seems too…


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Salma –
        Thanks for joining the course.
        I hope you find it a valuable guide to getting more benefit from ArchiCAD.
        Eric


    23. Chris Sinkinson
      13 years ago

      Eric
      To anyone – I’ve just finished listening to your Welcome and Orientation introduction to the course today on 15th March. As usual you make the whole thing so easy to understand and I am looking forward to the new material which is due to be introduced.

      I can fully recommend your sterling efforts to anyone wanting to learn and use ArchiCAD. If they are able they should enroll in this course and buy a copy of MasterTemplate.

      I am a long standing user of ArchiCAD and although I have had a fully formed default startup file with all the enhancements, I find your course is helping me understand some of the mysteries of ArchiCAD which are not so easily found in the ArchiCAD manual. It is surprising how much stuff you do not know about a programme you use every working day. From shortcuts to quicker ways to do things as well as things that you did not know existed.

      I started using your MasterTemplate several months ago and integrated some of my own stuff and so I have the best of both ‘worlds’.

      Keep up the good work!
      Chris Sinkinson (UK)


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Chris –
        I appreciate your enthusiastic comments.
        I will do my best to keep up the good work so you feel the same at the end of the course as you do now, or perhaps even better…
        Eric

    24. Avatar photo
      Mariya Lilith
      13 years ago

      It’s a relief to see a clearly thought out curriculum.

      When I took ArchiCAD at my college, we didn’t even receive a syllabus until the 6th week; and we definitely didn’t follow a curriculum. What I’ve discovered is that when you take a course in school, the instructor may have just learned the software the semester before.

      That is why I am quickly becoming a fan of online instruction. I love that Eric has 2 decades of experience. I love that I can read feedback about a potential instructor – and Eric has great feedback. I’ve been able to sample his course with “The 7 Keys” and view his teaching style. He’s simply an excellent teacher. He knows the subject and clearly enjoys sharing his knowledge with others. I am really hype about the coming weeks!


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Thanks Mariya!
        Eric


    25. David Blackwell
      13 years ago

      Eric, what worries me is that I am not getting much of a 3D sense here.
      ArchiCAD is brilliant because of its 3D capability to work clever.
      We are Architects. We do buildings. Buildings are 3 dimensional.
      In my humble opinion 3D comes first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth & seventh!!

      “Model in 3D well so you can draw in 2D less”, …..I cant wait…

      My pitch if I was putting together a course would be “3D every step of the way except where it can done no other way but in 2D”

      Roll on the clever 3D training the sooner the better.

      thanks, David

    26. Avatar photo
      Lilian Seow
      13 years ago

      I just purchased this BP course today…and I’m confused. I see week 1 has already started on Feb 20. Or have I mistaken that I can start anytime ?


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Lilian –

        Welcome to the Best Practices Course!

        We’ve been underway since December, and 5 weeks of material are currently available for you to watch. I’ll be creating more lessons starting next week, and hope to deliver one week of curriculum content for each calendar week over the next few months, until all 26 weeks are completed this summer.

        If you have additional questions, please post them here or wherever is appropriate, or email support@acbestpractices.com.

        I look forward to working with you!
        Eric


    27. Earl Applegate
      13 years ago

      Eric,
      Is it possible to cover Week #16 (Attributes, Project Preferences, Work Environment) earlier?
      This seems (to me) a basic “set up the program” step that would be useful to learn as early
      as possible.

      Thanks,

      Earl


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Earl –
        Thanks for your feedback. I’ll make sure that critical parts of the setup are covered as we go along, but plan to summarize and collect this into a separate module in Week #16.
        Eric


    28. gayla bechtol
      13 years ago

      Sounds great. Layer combination management would be helpful. The course is great so far. My skills in ArchiCAD have multiplied since starting this course. Thanks so much!


    29. Marek Stoklosa
      13 years ago

      Eric, I look forward to the outlined classes that you will present in the future. I incorporated the previous sessions into my work and it works like a charm.

      Thank you for your hard work.


    30. Antoine Boulos
      13 years ago

      Great Plan. Can not wait for the rest of the lessons. I would love if you could add some courses to help master the lightworks renderings engine. Thank you so much for your great help


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        Antoine –
        I’ll be covering some of Lightworks in the bonus lessons called Rendering and Presentation Tips. I don’t plan on doing a comprehensive training on this area, but will include some of the things I find important to work effectively – and fast – when you’re creating renderings.
        Eric


    31. John Chando
      13 years ago

      Would like to have seen at least one lesson on “renderings” and the use of the “sun elements and lamps. Would also be nice to have some discussion of generating “Lists” window and door schedule, etc.


      • Eric
        13 years ago

        John –
        As I mentioned to Antoine (above) I will prepare the equivalent of two week’s content on renderings in the bonus lessons.
        Window and Door Schedules as well as some quantity take off lists are going to be covered in week #21.
        Eric

    32. Avatar photo
      Eddy Rachmat
      13 years ago

      Hi Eric,
      I love seeing the plan for the course materials that will be provided over 27 weeks. Thank you!
      Eddy Rachmat from Manokwari – Indonesia

    33. Avatar photo
      Andrew Polkinghorne
      13 years ago

      Eric,
      My mouth is starting to water!
      Andrew from Australia