New ArchiCAD video tutorial: Specifications Tips & Tricks with IFC Fields (Part 3 of 4)

I have just posted another in my continuing series of free ArchiCAD tutorials on my YouTube channel.

ArchiCAD Tutorial | Specifications Tips & Tricks with IFC Fields | Part 3 of 4

Perhaps you’ll want to watch it between Thanksgiving courses?

(Then again, maybe it’s better to wait till later in the weekend.)

In this 27 minute video (part 3 of my 4 part series on the innovative use of IFC fields) I’ll show you how to:

• Add clickable web links into your schedules and labels
• Use a “link shortener” to provide a short version of the URL for web pages and PDF documents
• Create a durable, reliable web link for construction document references using Dropbox
• Add a Cost field that can be used as part of budgeting
• Learn a few variations of IFC Mapping to pull precise, current BIM information into your associative labels and schedules

Please add your comments and questions to the YouTube page.

I’d love to know what you think, and whether you feel this will be useful in your practice.

THANKSGIVING AND BLACK FRIDAY GIFTS AND BARGAINS

Almost everyone here in the U.S. is getting ready to gather with family or friends tomorrow for the big Thanksgiving holiday. It’s a time to be thankful and express gratitude, and FEAST!

I am so thankful that YOU are an active member of the ArchiCAD user community, and that I can make an honest living by sharing my training materials with you and your colleagues.

As a small but earnest gesture of thanks, I’m going to give all of my email subscribers a gift on Friday. As you probably know, we have this strange “new tradition” in the U.S. of shopping for bargains on the day after Thanksgiving. Anyone know when this actually started?

Anyway, look for it in your inbox on “Black Friday”.

I’ll also be announcing my biggest sale of the year (in case you’re in the shopping mood).

Eric

New ArchiCAD Tutorial Video: Specifications Report Tips & Tricks Using IFC Data Fields (part 2 of 4)

Want to generate a nicely formatted and organized Specifications Report on your project directly inside ArchiCAD?

My latest ArchiCAD video tutorial continues the exploration of how you can set up Specifications Reports using Interactive Schedules based on IFC field data.

In the first video of this series (released earlier this month) I demonstrated the basic concept: adding special IFC fields for automatic labeling of elements as well as inclusion in Interactive Schedule reports.

In my new 28 minute video (part 2 of 4), I show how to organize your report into trade categories (e.g. Masonry, Carpentry, Roofing, etc.) or a multi-level hierarchy such as the U.S. standard CSI Divisions and Subdivisions.

Specifications Report Tips and Tricks Using IFC Data Fields

I also share methods that help you to speed up the process, quickly adding category information based on layer or element type.

My favorite tip is to define a special schedule that gives you immediate access to the schedule fields directly in the Info Box.

Without this trick, you need about 10 clicks and go through multiple dialog boxes each time.

If you’d like to easily and quickly create a specifications report inside ArchiCAD, watch this 28 minute video.

Note: you’ll understand it better if you watch part 1 first:
Generate Specifications and Optimize Annotation using IFC Data Fields (Part 1 of 4)

Questions? Comments? Feedback?
Email me or post your comment on YouTube.

– Eric

P.S. All this Specification Reporting and IFC stuff is fully implemented in MasterTemplate 19.
“We set it up, so you don’t have to.”

New ArchiCAD Tutorial: Generate Specifications and Optimize Annotation using IFC Data Fields

In my latest ArchiCAD video tutorial, you’ll learn how to generate detailed specification reports from your ArchiCAD 19 model using standard interactive schedule tools. Easily place drawing notes linked to the exact same BIM data, fully integrated into each element. All notes and specifications update automatically as you work on the model.

Generate Specifications and Optimize Annotation using IFC Data Fields (Part 1)
(36 minutes)

Step by step instructions are provided to add special IFC fields to enter or edit text and other data that will be shown in the reports or placed as notes in your construction documents.

In the standard ArchiCAD templates there is no location where you can add this BIM data to all building elements regardless of type. Fortunately, these IFC fields can be quickly added to your project to provide a common framework for the data.

The new Label options in ArchiCAD 19 make it much simpler to pull the data from the building elements and use it in your drawings. This tutorial also shows how to create Favorites for your frequently used labeling styles.

UK architect Tim Ball generously shared one of his actual projects so I could demonstrate a real specifications report and associated labels in context. His pioneering work opened my eyes to the potential of this approach.

In ArchiCAD 19, it is relatively easy to implement this system and it will allow you to annotate your drawings and compile reports in a consistent and highly efficient manner.

In part 2 (coming soon), I’ll continue the demonstration and show how more data fields of different types can be added to the Specifications Report, and how this report can be organized based on trade categories or CSI Divisions and Subdivisions. I’ll also show how to export the IFC data structure to easily add it to other projects or your office template, as well as additional shortcuts to speed up your workflow.

Questions? Comments? Feedback?
Please post them here or on YouTube.
Thanks!

Ideas for ArchiCAD Tutorial Videos

I’m ready to start creating some more of my free ArchiCAD tutorials, and am interested in your suggestions.

Here are a few topics I’ve already got on my list:

• Guide Lines in ArchiCAD 19 (how they’ve changed compared to previous versions)
• Creating Specifications Using Interactive Schedules and Custom IFC Fields
• Joining Roofs and Walls – From Conceptual Modeling to Detailed Connections
• A Quick Guide to Tabs, Palettes and Windows in ArchiCAD 19
• Cut and Fill Calcs Using Solid Element Operations

I’m also planning to rework my QuickStart Course on the ArchiCAD basics to bring it up to date with the current interface for version 19.

Have any other ideas, suggestions or requests?

What do you find most confusing, challenging, or tricky? I love trying to make things clear, straightforward and (where possible) easy!

Practical, Parametric Object Making Using GDL – Masters of ArchiCAD Training by Gary Lawes

Today I interviewed Gary Lawes to learn more about his upcoming ArchiCAD GDL Training Course, the next installment in the Masters of ArchiCAD Training Series. Click on the 6 minute video below to listen in on our discussion.

Gary has used and loved ArchiCAD since 1990, and has had his own residential design firm for over 10 years. He says he always budgets a few hours in each project to create custom GDL library parts, knowing that these small investments really pay off. Overall he estimates he shaves about 25% off his production time due to efficiency gains he achieves with these tools that he’s crafted to meet his needs.

In Gary’s short 4-lesson course (which starts next week), you’ll learn how to create your own custom, intelligent and parametric library parts with GDL to boost your productivity and give you much greater control, flexibility and finesse as you develop your project.

As you know, ArchiCAD comes with an extensive library of objects, doors and windows. These are all built with Graphisoft’s exceptionally powerful object creation scripting language called GDL. However, there’s no way that Graphisoft can supply everything you need pre-made in the box.

Join us for this online training and you’ll see how easy it is to fill in the gaps (for your practice and your projects) and create objects that are stretchy, self labelling, highly parametric, to manufacturers sizes where appropriate, or constrained to local building codes as required. And of course make sure they all schedule correctly.

When you take advantage of GDL, all items may be placed extremely quickly, normally no more than 2 or 3 clicks, appear perfectly as appropriate 2D symbols often displaying differently on different stories (stairs and downpipes for example), and very rapidly produce accurate BIM information.

In this course Gary will help you tap into the power of GDL and turbocharge YOUR ArchiCAD use and performance beyond anything you’ve ever experienced.

The course will be presented as a series of 4 one-hour webinar sessions at 1 pm PDT on Wednesdays starting September 9. All sessions are recorded and posted for viewing in your web browser as well as downloaded for permanent reference.

Practical Parametric Object Making Using GDL is on sale now for only $147 (save $50 off the standard registration fee). Click here to go to the Masters of ArchiCAD website for more info and to sign up.