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.
Did you know you can make a ramp using just a slab and nothing else?
Recently I’ve had opportunities to model quite a few schematic designs and imaginary buildings for the creation of renderings and walk-through movies. I love working on these types of models in ArchiCAD. A part of me would be happy to just get paid to design and model imaginary structures (take that as a hint). You don’t have to worry about how the building goes together. It’s just about surfaces, feelings and prettiness. Maybe that’s why I’m such a fan of Steven Holl’s phenomenological approach to architecture (and yes I know that’s an over simplification).
Because I’ve been focusing on the experience of viewing the models, I’ve learned a ton of cool new tricks in ArchiCAD. When working on presentation models one needs to create a lot of objects and elements that are typically ignored in a model built solely for construction documents. Many I’d never have found in my regular work. Take this post for instance. Or this one. Both are some of my favorite posts.
So here’s some cool stuff about slabs now that they can have custom edge conditions.
The Interactive ArchiCAD Practice Manual came from the realization that, although there are numerous books on teaching ArchiCAD users how to use the tools and navigate around projects, there is not much guidance on how to apply this software in the most efficient manner in an everyday office environment. ArchiCAD is both user friendly and customizable, giving users the freedom to work in the software in countless ways. The price to be paid for this flexibility is that, in an office with many staff and no basic guidelines, the wheel is constantly re-invented. Over 10 years of training ArchiCAD users, I have also noticed that new features are not being applied in a structured format. Many users work with the latest software, but neglect the newer tools and workflows.
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. I am hoping that the Interactive ArchiCAD Practice Manual together with standard templates and example files available for download will be a starting point to assist offices in creating the foundations for a structured Practice. It is my hope that every ArchiCAD user will find this book beneficial to their practice.
It is my intention to continue working with newer versions of ArchiCAD and to keep updating these standards. I also offer consultancy services to ArchiCAD users, such as Tailoring Custom Office Templates, Creating Translator Files, Training, Technical Support, Creating Library Parts, etc.
For a preview of the book please visit the website.
Since the release of ArchiCAD 15 I’ve enjoyed using the shell tool–more for it’s ability to be reshaped in 3D, plan, section, and elevation than its crazy form-making opportunities. BIMES has created a 4 minute video that highlights how impressive and versatile the shell tool is and I am just blown away. Enjoy.
This video originally came from a blog post by BIMES that explains the origin and reasoning behind this interesting form. It’s worth a read.
One additional thing worth mentioning that’s not covered in the video. Once the shell is created, it can be saved (like anything else) as an object for ease of replication in the project. Any time you need to have multiple copies of a form created by the shell tool, it’s worth thinking about creating an object. Since currently a shell can’t have multiple instances that link back to a master element, if you have 100 identical forms they couldn’t all be redefined with a few simple clicks. But saving the shell as an embedded object fixes that and is very easy. Refine the shell, resave the object and the updates are propagated to all the placed objects. Fast and easy. I’ve got a video on my to do list that shows how that process works more clearly.
Thanks BIMES for the awesome video. Can’t wait for more!
So I had an idea a few weeks ago. I’d create a second website. It’d have a comprehensive list of websites that had ArchiCAD content on them –objects, add-ons, templates, tutorials, etc. It’d be great. Maybe eventually I could become a reseller for some of the products, create a one-stop shop for paid and free content, and turn the second website into an ArchiCAD mall. I had a great name for the site: The Cobbler’s Workbench. In my weird world of bizarre names it fits perfectly. Shoegnome is about improving process. The Cobbler’s Workbench would be about getting access to better tools. I love the expansion of my mis-remembered Brother’s Grimm Mythos.
But then I started doing research and compiling lists. There is a LOT of ArchiCAD content out there. Some is new and current, some is stagnant or a few years old. Much of it is in English, but a lot isn’t. All together it is WAY too much for me to organize and manage. And I’m not the first person to try something like this.
So instead I’m going to do something smaller. I’ve created a curated list of 20 or so websites that have objects, tutorials, templates, add-ons, etc. that I think have high value to the community. Most of it is stuff you have to pay for, but within each site is some free content. And there are at least two sites which are completely free.
Some Disclaimer Language
I’m not including blogs or ArchiCAD websites without downloadable content as a main feature. Graphisoft has a list of ArchiCAD blogs here. If I included your site, but you’d rather I describe what you offer in a different manner, or if you think there’s a site I should include, e-mail me. This list is a work in progress and my intent is not to fuss about perfection. It’s a labor of love, like the rest of this site. Perhaps a future version of the page will have pictures, reviews, lots of fancy stuff.
I don’t have any official connection to any of these sites, except as follows: like many ArchiCAD resellers, agents, and content providers, I’m an affiliate of Bobrow Consulting. This means if you click on one of my Bobrow links and then buy one of his products I get credit. It’s a nice little perk for me and doesn’t effect your cost. As of 02/19/12 I’m also an affiliate for Vaneshrie Sullivan’s book as well.
You’ll notice that I now have an Amazon Affiliate widget on the site. I’m trying this out for two reasons. First, I’d like to share books that influence and compliment what I’m writing about. Perhaps it’s a book on leadership that’s informing some blog posts about how to manage elements in an ArchiCAD file or maybe it’s a book on videogame critic that got me thinking about why some people succeed at ArchiCAD and others don’t. Additionally there are a handful (not enough in my opinion) of ArchiCAD books and resources that you can buy on Amazon. And much like the resource page, I want to help share them. So that’s the altruistic reason. Point Two is this: towards the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012, I’ve been thinking a lot about how to monetize the blog in non-annoying ways. Having Amazon Affiliate links is one experiment. If you click on one of the Amazon links and then buy that book, or anything else on that visit to Amazon, I get a referral commission. That’s great for me and, like my links to Eric Bobrow’s products and Vaneshrie Sullivan’s book, has no material effect on you. Hopefully it’ll generate some income and free up some more time for me to add even more content to the blog.
Making these videos reminds me of how I first learned ArchiCAD. I spent a fair amount of time sitting behind one of my coworkers, just watching him work. It was very enlightening. And as I rewatch my videos, I notice a bunch of little techniques that I take for granted, but are probably as enlightening as the main focus of the video. The first video doesn’t discuss everything about complex profile creation, but it covers what I feel is one basic, one intermediate, and one advanced tip (the white dotted line trick). The second video takes some of those techniques and applies them to creating a complex profile stair. Both the videos ran a little longer than I was expecting, I think one is 7 minutes and the other is 9 minutes. Adding screencasting to my repertoire is definitely a process, so maybe in a few months I’ll find myself rerecording these original videos so they are more polished…
Either way, expect more videos and more talk about Complex Profiles. Watch all my videos and subscribe to Shoegnome’s new YouTube Channel.
ArchiCAD Tip #3: Complex Profile Creation techniques
Over the past year and a half of blogging I’ve had many small ArchiCAD tips and tricks that I wanted to share, but could never find the proper way to write about them. The aggregate of these tricks help me to easily problem solve within ArchiCAD and produce the quality drawings I desire, but these techniques don’t readily lend themselves to a blog post of a few hundred words. They are often purely utilitarian. Simple ways of using ArchiCAD in a more clever way.
So instead of writing about each one, I’m going to start sharing them via short screencasts both on the blog and on Shoegnome’s new YouTube Channel. FYI, the videos might be easier to view on Youtube (screencasting is a new adventure for me…).
Video #1: Two quick and simple graphic tricks to enhance your sections in ArchiCAD.
Video #2: A quick and simple way both to create clean air lines around an interior elevation and simultaneously mask off all the garbage you don’t want to show up in your drawing.
Wisdom from the Crowd