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Parameter Transfer in ArchiCAD

Parameter Transfer

I just recorded a nearly ten minute video talking about Parameter Transfer in ArchiCAD. You probably know Parameter Transfer by its colloquial name “eyedropper and syringe”. Usually I record ArchiCAD tutorial videos in the hope of teaching people something new and different. With this video, I really hope you don’t learn anything. Parameter Transfer between elements, between placed Objects, and between Objects in the Selection Settings is so basic that it needs to be taught on day one to all new users.

Sadly, that’s not always the case. Or even when it is, users forget or don’t understand the importance of it. For power users (or even just regular users) this function is so ingrained that it becomes invisible. Case in point: I didn’t mention the critical importance of OPT for eyedropper (ALT on PC), OPT+CMD for syringe (ALT+CTRL on PC), or OPT+CMD within the Selection Settings on my list of Top 20 Keyboard Shortcuts. None of the commenters mentioned it either. WHAT!? OPT+CMD is so freaking important.

Parameter Transfer and Templates

If a user doesn’t understand Parameter Transfer, the best of templates becomes useless. My whole Template is based on the knowledge and use of OPT+CMD. That’s why I have all those brown pens. If I see brown anywhere, I know a few things:

  1. Someone didn’t use a Favorite to create an element.
  2. Someone didn’t use OPT+CMD when changing between Objects in the Selections Settings.

Both of those things tell me that there are probably deeper issues (for me the wrong color is a proxy for wrong dimensions, data, graphics, etc; in other words, incorrect and unthinking actions). That all means if you are going to use my template, you need to watch this video and make sure you get what I’m doing and why.

Enough jabbering! Watch my latest video and make sure you know everything I talk about. If you have questions, please ask in the comments. And if I forgot something, share that too.


The help center has similar advice:

  1. Parameter Transfer
  2. Parameter Transfer Between Objects

Subscribe to my blog to read more about the tricky world of being an Architect in the 21st century: Shoegnome on FacebookTwitter, and RSS feed. What’s another super basic feature that you think other users are neglecting? Tell me in the comments and I’ll try to record a video or write a post about it.

Oh…I trail off a few times in this video and you can’t really hear what I’m saying at the end of a few tangents. Don’t worry. I wasn’t saying anything important at those moments. My mumbles and the length of this video are just a consequence of me being really hyper and passionate about such a simple tool within ArchiCAD.

Comments

  • October 23, 2014
    reply

    Hey Jared –

    Nice video on an important topic.

    Check out my 2010 ArchiCAD video tip on the same topic:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0umdMOoUFKs
    “The Magic of Parameter Transfer – Tips for the Eyedropper and Syringe”

    Eric

  • October 24, 2014
    reply
  • October 29, 2014
    reply

    Jason Smith

    I didn’t learn a thing. Thanks a lot Jared 🙂

    Archicad is a huge tool and little things like this can change the way you use it. Having a new user in the office will raise questions about this sort of thing. I had one of those questions a week ago, a user had been using a command I didn’t even know existed – Edit/reshape/fill consolidation. Take to overlaying fills and makes them into one. I had always selected one of the fills and hold down the spacebar and click the other fill then delete the fill I do need. It was great to learn this from a novice user, usually its me telling them how to do it.

    There a so many ways to do the same thing.

  • February 3, 2015
    reply

    Jared, Parameter Transfer still has me confused. Sure it injects parameters, but often it injects more parameters than I want. I have a chair in the model, say Armchair 01 18, and I’ve got the Layer, the Pens, the Surfaces, even the Struct / Position / ElemClass settings…all that set up. Maybe I want to put something stupid next to it like Designer Chair 04 18. So I pick up the parameters from my Armchair 01, open the Object Default Settings and inject into Designer Chair 04 and click OK. Next I place Designer Chair 04 in my model, but its dimensions and Surfaces are screwed up – it is short and squatty and it is made out of the upholstery fabric also used on Armchair 01.

    The above scenario happens with cabinetry too – I have a base cab with the proper doors / handles / pens / layer / etc and then I want a similarly set up wall cabinet, so I inject, and then I’ve got a 2′ deep wall cabinet sitting on the floor.

    How do you handle excluding parameters you don’t want to inject? Or do you just inject and then fix the ones that get screwed up?

    Thanks,

  • April 27, 2015
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    Duncan

    Hi Jared,

    Nice vid, I’m a newbie to Archicad coming from Revit.
    I downloaded your template and found I’m missing w1 Casement 18, w Awning 1 18 and w1 Fixed 18. So I was going to change them all to the new Archicad Windows and do a parameter transfer , but it doesn’t work, since I guess, the windows are missing and cannot see the parameters to transfer.

  • April 28, 2015
    reply

    Duncan

    Thanks Jared,

    I will give that a go.

    thanks

  • May 31, 2016
    reply

    waad saeed

    Hi masters… For anlysis programs like SAP the object parameter that must save with as an IFC data are differents.?? any trick that enable us to convert morph object as IFC !

  • February 25, 2017
    reply

    Hi Jared,

    I am a contractor in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. I use Revit LT for the renovation work I do. Additions, basements, kitchen… Revit is pretty easy to pickup I think but I will never own my own copy of the software my only option is to rent through a subscription. I downloaded the Archicad 20 Trial version and I really like this program.
    There is a lot get my mind around but I have watched some of your video tutorials and they have been extremely helpful. I think I want to switch from Revit to Archicad.

    Thanks for all of the resources you create and share!

  • August 17, 2018
    reply

    Jessica Ibarguen

    What about the whole right click on the element transfer setting menu that drops down – where it looks like I should be able to select different settings to transfer in the Element Transfer Settings dialog box that opens up? Anyone have success with this?? — I would especially find it useful for changing cabinetry surfaces but not style, doors, size, etc.

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