THE COBBLER’S WORKBENCH
There are a lot of objects, add-ons, tutorials, templates, etc. out there for ArchiCAD. Below is a partial collection of websites that have resources to help you use ArchiCAD to its fullest. If you think there’s a website I should include e-mail me. Want to know why I created the list? Read this.
OBJECTS
I wrote a review of Master Script’s Total Zone and Total Marker. Masterscript has a combination of 3D objects and workflow enhancement tools/objects.
CADSwift has a combination of 3D objects, enhanced label objects, and templates.
Cadimage has a lot of 3D objects, everything from bathroom and kitchen accessories to landscaping and plants.
In addition to being an ArchiCAD Reseller based in the UK, ADL has a decent number of GDL objects for sale.
Ben Cohen provides a suite of 160+ library objects geared for the Australian market.
Dimensions Design Group, Inc. makes Smart Parts. The various libraries include windows+doors, kitchen+bath, trim+stairs, various furniture and more. One of my coworkers still swears by his ArchiCAD 6.5 Smart Parts that he purchased over a decade ago.
Objects Online has one of the largest online collections of free and paid ArchiCAD-specific content. They are always looking to team with other object developers, big or small.
Rik Corporation has a really extensive landscaping and exteriors library. It looks like there are some pretty incredible features. The page I link to is in English, but the rest of the site is in Japanese. And unfortunately while my brother lives in Tokyo and is fluent in Japanese, I live in Minnesota and am essentially monolingual. However it looks like Rik Corporation might have some other ArchiCAD Add-ons and libraries.
ADD-ONs & Plug-ins
Cadimage, in addition to objects, also has some very powerful add-ons that cover design, documentation, structural, and specialities.
Cigraph sells ArchiSuite, which is about 17 different add-ons in one.
Encina makes FrameWright Pro, gbXML Export, and most importantly OBJECTiVE. If you’ve ever asked how to model something extremely difficult and complex on the ArchiCAD forum, you’ve probably gotten a reply from Ralph Wessel showing how easy it is to do with OBJECTiVE.
Not only is M.A.D. the Graphisoft Reseller for Finland and the publisher of ArchiMag, they have also created some really cool Add-ONs like ArchiLogs, DoubleCheck, Zonematic, and Revisiomatic. Do yourself a favor and check out Zonematic.
They have a variety of small (and inexpensive) add-ons that do all the little things you wish ArchiCAD could do (copying 3D elements in section, autoplacing gutters, having walls change height when the stories are revised, etc).
If the object, plug-in, or add-on you are looking for doesn’t exist, I know most of these providers would be happy to talk to you about developing a custom object for you.
TUTORIALS
Eric Bobrow’s ArchiCAD Best Practices Course & QuickStart Course
I’ve written about Eric Bobrow’s Courses before. His courses are a combination of online videos, live webinars, and personalized training calls.
According to LearnVirtual’s website, offers the largest collection of ArchiCAD online training with over 1,200 videos and 200 classes.
TEMPLATES
From Eric’s website: “Created by two ArchiCAD masters with a combined 35 years of experience using and teaching the program, it is a catalyst that will jump you up several levels in terms of organizational efficiency, saving you immense amounts of time while supporting you to produce higher quality work.”
Vaneshrie Sullivan’s Interactive ArchiCAD Practice Manual
Here’s a synopsis of her website: “The standards in the Interactive ArchiCAD Practice manual aim to provide solutions to setting up Projects that are easily adaptable through phases of Planning, Tender, Construction, Interiors and As-Built drawings, and have been developed over the years. This book refers to ArchiCAD version 14, however, it is possible to adapt the standards to suit older versions as well.”
FREE OBJECTS
Definitely the largest collection of free ArchiCAD objects online. There are some nice furniture pieces and a lot of 3D objects that are great for improved visualization. Be warned there’s a lot of garbage and objects ported from other programs. But if you need to populate a BIMx file, this site is your friend!
ArchiCAD Talk Object Depository
As the official Graphisoft object depository, this is a great place to look for free ArchiCAD objects. Also if you have objects that you want to share, please upload them here as well!
BIMStop has a large number of quality free objects for ArchiCAD (plus Revit, Vectorworks, and SketchUp). Some are duplicates from the ArchiCAD Talk Object Depository, but many are not.
Vistasp Mehta’s ArchiCAD Stuff
In addition to some free objects, Vistasp’s website also has a search function that will search about 16 ArchiCAD websites.
INTEGRATED PROGRAMS
Orthograph makes a survey program that allows you to input measurements onsite via an iPad and then export native ArchiCAD objects directly to ArchiCAD. I’ve mentioned Orthograph a few times on the blog.
From SyD’s website: “SyD™ cloud computing technology expands BIM collaboration environment to share and discuss designs between architects, engineers and clients. Share part of a floor plan, discuss a 3D view in a model or swap ideas on a specific object.”
A spin-off company from Graphisoft, vintoCON makes ArchiFM which extends ArchiCAD’s functionality into the realm of BIM based Facilities Management.
—————————————————————————————————————————
For more information on ArchiCAD resources check out http://archicad.lap.hu/
—————————————————————————————————————————
There’s also a comprehensive list of ArchiCAD object websites on the ArchiCADwiki.
—————————————————————————————————————————
Wisdom from the Crowd