This blog is about using BIM on a day to day basis. I cover ArchiCAD tips and tricks, BIM and management thoughts, and occasionally how this all relates to the Minnesota ArchiCAD Usergroup (which I started in 2009). The specifics are about ArchiCAD—that’s the software I use and sell—but the overall themes are relevant regardless of your software. Programs are just tools. BIM is a mentality.
Posted: August 28th, 2011 | Author: Jeroen de Bruin | Filed under: Guest Bloggers, Long Posts | Tags: ArchiCAD-Talk Forum, BIM philosophy, GDL, Modeling, Objects | 3 Comments »
My adventure started after finishing a bachelor in architecture and working in several architects’ offices. I found that drafting in 2D really annoyed me: First draw the floor plan, then the elevations, manually add in shadows… and then the architect changes the design and you start over again. Those painstaking hours of checking if the elevation matched the floor plan… If only there had been an ArchiCAD feature like Trace and Reference! I was always looking for ways to prevent errors and optimize the program.
In 2006, I started working for the Dutch reseller of ArchiCAD. At the first sight of ArchiCAD I knew that I would never go back to old 2D methods. Pretty quickly I mastered ArchiCAD and was enjoying all the automatic stuff. From there I took my first steps into GDL. By opening the open source objects from Graphisoft ArchiCAD’s Library I studied the code. My first objects were really simple, but it was fulfilling to create something and see it work. And once the first steps were taken, I became an enthusiast. I wrote more objects and overcame many GDL challenges. But the reseller needed more from me besides library-development; I had a lot of other activities like support and training. This meant little time to focus on my many ideas. Since in my spare time I was starting all sorts of GDL projects, I started my own company just for the fun of GDL.
 |
I started a topic in the ArchiCAD-talk to offer free custom GDL objects. I created a number of objects and posted them on the Object Depository, like the Sea Container. I really liked the contact with ArchiCAD users from all over the world and got many great responses. Besides the user requests I had some ideas of my own, which I started to sell on my website. Slowly the amount of objects grew and now I have 28 objects and counting.
 |
Good GDL objects are versatile, and they are never more versatile than when you create them yourself. Though GDL is not easy, anybody can create custom objects with the built-in object creators from the File / Libraries and Objects – menu, which is why I made some objects that convert self-made objects by the user into something parametric. For instance, the Object Slicer can create a Floor Plan Cut Plane-sensitive and story-sensitive display of any self-made object. Or the Silhouette, with which you can easily create people or tree silhouettes that automatically turn to the camera, all without any knowledge of GDL.
Lately I have been writing articles for ArchiMAG on a freelance basis. In these articles I describe how to make a parametric object with very little GDL knowledge. GDL can be very overwhelming, but with a few inside tricks you can unlock a great deal of power.
The core objects of Master Script are the BIM objects. ArchiCAD is a BIM program and I love to write objects that retrieve the “I” in BIM: the Information. While creating Label Everything, I discovered the true amount of data that can be extracted from an ArchiCAD element. Besides displaying the data, it can also be processed and show any data in any form you like. To improve the BIM factor of an object, it is essential that it lasts through the whole project. You can put in a lot of information, which can grow during the project. But it is important to be able to show this information in many sorts of ways. To do this I use the Model View Options. This underlying Library Global-technology allows you to store the behavior of an object per view. The object on the floor plan simply retrieves the active settings stored in the MVO and displays it accordingly. This gives the object many possible representations but can also be effectively controlled. I have incorporated this in the Total Zone and Total Marker.
 |
My next adventure is trying to attract manufacturers of building products. Generally manufacturers offer 2D CAD files as a way of marketing their products. Obviously they should start offering ArchiCAD objects, but the building industry evolves slowly. So I want to take the opportunity to ask of all of you to start asking for it! Write an e-mail to the manufacturer of your choice (or more than one) and ask for GDL objects. You can redirect them to any qualified GDL developer like me or anyone on the developers list of gotogdl.net.
Posted: August 14th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Short Posts | Tags: ArchiCAD-Talk Forum, Events | 2 Comments »
There’s been a lot of talk on LinkedIn about trying to do an ArchiCAD School similar to the Spring / Summer / Winter Schools that are done in Europe. What level of interest is there for doing one in the United States and/or Canada sometime in 2012 or 2013? I’ve created a poll on the forum. Take a moment and vote. And then add your voice to the discussion on LinkedIn.
Personally I think this is a great idea and if there’s enough interest, I’ll definitely be one of the people trying to organize it. We are already looking at potential sites on both the East and West Coasts. Though living in Minnesota and missing Texas, I’d be happy to see the event somewhere in the middle of the continent. If you have a strong preference or any ideas about location, feel free to comment about that after you vote.
If you live under a rock and are not familiar with the ArchiCAD Schools run by ACUA, read the recap of the ArchiCAD Spring Academy 2011 and then check out their website. Also it’s not too late to sign up for the 2011 Summer School in September.
Posted: July 28th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Short Posts | Tags: ArchiCAD 15, ArchiCAD-Talk Forum | 1 Comment »
Most of us have read about ArchiCAD 15 on the ArchicadWiki. If you want a refresher, read this and also the official changes guide. Many of us are even using ArchiCAD 15 on a daily basis and enjoying the new features like the shell tool and the 3D editing planes.
But have you also read this list from the forum: Undocumented Changes in V15.
There are a lot of little tweaks in every version of ArchiCAD that don’t get top billing. Or any billing at all. I’m excited about a dockable quick layers palette, but that’s not marketable news. Neither are the little tweaks to improve scripting in GDL. But some of this is huge and exciting for us nerdy, obsessive users.
Have you noticed another tweak, good or bad, that’s not on the list in the forum? Go and add it. Now before you forget. Here’s the link again to the user generated list of undocumented changes in V15.
Posted: July 20th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Short Posts | Tags: ArchiCAD-Talk Forum | No Comments »
While doing some research for an article I wrote for ArchiMAG, I found an amazing forum post from the release of version 10.
Take a quick walk down memory lane.
It’s too bad Graphisoft took out that functionality with the first ArchiCAD 10 hotfix. It was a fun few weeks. I still miss those options.
By the way, my article should be in the fall ArchiMAG issue and has almost nothing to do with this lost feature.
Posted: June 5th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Short Posts | Tags: ArchiCAD 15, ArchiCAD-Talk Forum, Other Blogs and Articles, Troubleshooting, Tutorials | 2 Comments »
Last week I tweeted (@shoegnome) and posted on facebook (www.facebook.com/shoegnome.llc) a link to an old post I did. Here it is. It was a short post about two things. There were some great tips from the ArchiCAD Forum. Real little gems that have increased my effectiveness in ArchiCAD tremendously. I can’t believe I lived without these tricks for so many years. Go back to the old post, follow the links, and implement what you learn. You’ll be happy. The second thing the post was about was the title: 5 Minutes on the Forum makes us all (look) Smart. Often it isn’t having the answers that’s important, but knowing how to find out the answers. It’s amazing how often typing your question, however specific, into Google gives you the exact information you need. This is the secret of IT. That and this trick. So many of us on the support side know some basic places to start and some basic questions to ask (and how to phrase those questions). Of course we also know how to understand the answers and expand on solutions from there. So here’s a HUGE recommendation regarding ArchiCAD. If you have a question about ArchiCAD, search for the answer on the ArchiCAD-Talk Forum first, then ArchiCAD Stuff (a great ArchiCAD search website), and then Google/Bing/etc (if at all). But by then you should be asking your question on the forum and waiting or contacting an expert if necessary (via phone or e-mail).
So what’s this have to do with a Spanish Language ArchiCAD Blog? Sometimes the critical tricks and tips we need to understand to be productive have nothing to do with ArchiCAD, but how we problem solve. I came across a great blog. But it’s in Spanish. And I can’t read Spanish. But that’s okay. Google Translate is here to save the day.
translate.google.com + www.disenadero.com/archiblog = I can follow a great ArchiCAD blog in a language I can’t read, write, or speak.
Here’s the translated version. There are some pretty cool and quick tutorials that are worth reading, especially if you want to learn about modeling vaults and similar forms. Also the two most recent posts are about ArchiCAD 15.
Posted: February 9th, 2011 | Author: Jared Banks | Filed under: Short Posts | Tags: ArchiCAD-Talk Forum, GDL, Other Blogs and Articles | 1 Comment »
Okay. Time to learn GDL. Check out Rabbit Hole Falling into GDL. It’s a new blog with a beautiful name by ArchiCAD-Talk regular Erich. It was started just last month (January 2011). There are only 3 posts so far, but they are good and clear. I’m not sure I could handle more than a few blog posts a month about GDL. My brain might explode.
I need to start using GDL more and his blog looks like it’s going to be a great help. I really hope Erich is able to keep this blog going. So check out his blog and thank him for helping all of us GDL-neophytes get a little smarter.
Wisdom from the Crowd