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Fun With Morphs – ARCHICAD QuickTip Tutorial #2

Watch this 27 minute ARCHICAD video tutorial and learn easy, elegant and efficient solutions to three tricky modeling challenges sent in by members of my ARCHICAD Coaching Program.

 

Discover creative ways to use Morphs to:

1. Cut off and cap the top of a wall at handrail height following the slope of stair treads with an intermediate landing
2. Inset an intricate pattern of contrasting stucco finish into a brick wall
3. Create and clean up a “made to order” ADA-compliant pipe rail for stairs using a set of complex profiles converted into a morph.

These questions were compiled from recent sessions of my ARCHICAD Coaching Program. Members of the program get my personal assistance in working with ARCHICAD.

For more information or to sign up for ARCHICAD Coaching, please visit http://www.bobrow.com/coaching.

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New ArchiCAD Video Tutorial: Tracker Tricks

ArchiCAD’s Tracker facilitates on-screen, on the fly entry of coordinates and dimensions. This 24 minute ArchiCAD tutorial video starts with the basics then demonstrates and explains cool time-saving tricks and methods used by ArchiCAD experts.

TIPS: If the video appears fuzzy, click the gear icon and choose HD; you can also switch to full-screen. NEW: Try adjusting the speed control to go through the video faster – I use this all the time.

TRACKER DISPLAY

In the default Work Environment settings, the Tracker automatically appears after you make the first click in a multi-click process. It displays your current cursor position relative to the Edit Origin, which is usually the previous click-point. In some cases this can be relative to the other end (or an adjacent node point) of an element you are editing.

When you draw a single wall or line (or a series of walls or lines), the Tracker will show the length and orientation of the element. When you draw a rectangle (of walls, lines, slab, roof, etc.) the Tracker will show two linear dimensions.

When you move an element or a set of elements, the Tracker shows the offset from the original point (i.e. how far you are moving it).

Except for preliminary sketch design, it is not advisable to rely on Tracker values when drawing with the mouse. The displayed accuracy is based on a combination of your current zoom factor and Working Units (which can be set in the Options menu > Project Preferences). For example, if your working units are set for 1/4”, then the Tracker will round dimensions to the nearest 1/4” and your potential error can be as much as 1/8”; this can cause issues in dimension strings later on.

To hide or show the Tracker click the Tracker button in the Toolbar. Hiding the Tracker may be helpful during annotation when precise distances or sizes are unnecessary.

To show the Tracker ALL the time, use the Options menu > Work Environment > Tracker and Coordinate Input > Show Tracker > Always. You can change this back to the default at any time.

TRACKER INPUT

Any time you can click the mouse to indicate a position or dimension, you can hit the Enter key instead of clicking the mouse. This allows you to carefully position the mouse, then use the keyboard to confirm the location. This may be helpful if your hand isn’t totally steady, and you find that sometimes the mouse position jumps as you click.

Alternatively, you can enter information into the Tracker to specify a precise dimension, then click Enter to confirm and essentially “click” at the computed location.

The Tracker always has a highlighted input field displayed in bold text. Simply type in a numeric value, and it will be entered into that field. Hit the Enter key on the keyboard to complete the operation.

For rectangular dimensions, one field will be highlighted. Type in…

NOTE: I’ve written up a 5 page PDF as a quick reference guide to the ArchiCAD Tracker, which I’d love to send you. Simply click the button below and tell me where to send it, and you’ll have it in your inbox within a few minutes.

[thrive_leads id=’2613′]

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ArchiCAD CyberWeek Begins: Back to the Fundamentals (free tutorials plus some special deals)

I’m pretty sure you’ve heard of Black Friday.
And Cyber Monday.
But CyberWeek?

It’s an idea that I’ve put a lot of thought into.
As an ArchiCAD user, I think you’ll find this story of interest.

This week I’m sharing some free goodies (some of my best video tutorials on the fundamentals of ArchiCAD) as well as offering some tasty deals. Read on for details…

ADVANCED ARCHICAD TRAINING – IS THAT ALL?

I’ve created and produced plenty of highly advanced ArchiCAD training this year. Things like the Masters of ArchiCAD Summit, with 12 experts from around the world showing their work. And the Masters of ArchiCAD Training Series, 5 short courses on advanced topics. And my recent set of ArchiCAD video tutorials on YouTube, focused on IFC fields and specification reports.

Wow. Pretty heady stuff.

It’s inspiring and eminently practical if you’re already working productively with ArchiCAD and want to get an edge, optimize your process, shave minutes or hours off your daily routine.

However, for many of you, this advanced stuff is not that useful.
You need to work on your ArchiCAD fundamentals.

BACK TO THE FUNDAMENTALS

As I contemplated Cyber Monday, and the idea of creating a promotional offer on my ArchiCAD training materials and resources, all of a sudden it hit me.

It’s time to go back to the fundamentals of ArchiCAD.

Why?

There’s a whole new generation of ArchiCAD users.
Our ranks are increasing.

And there are a LOT of users who are just getting started, or just getting by.
Architects who have just bought ArchiCAD.
New staff members hired as firms get busy.

Note that it may not be an entirely new generation, age wise.

For example, I talked over the weekend with one white-haired FAIA who has been working with that “other BIM software” in his office, and now wants to learn ArchiCAD. Why? Because he’s heard that it’s going to be easier and more enjoyable for HIM to use.

I get a lot of requests for guidance from students. They write to me from all over the world, including quite a few from places I have to look up on a map.

They’ve seen my ArchiCAD tutorials on my YouTube channel. They know I have a kind heart, and a gentle way of explaining things. So they ask me questions, sometimes specific, sometimes just “please help me learn ArchiCAD.”

I asked myself: “What can I do to help?”

CYBERWEEK BEGINS WITH A NEW FREE TUTORIAL VIDEO EACH DAY

OK, so it’s a cute name (at least I think so). Instead of offering a special sale promotion for one day, Cyber Monday, let’s try it for a whole week. (This is just the beginning of my cunning plan.)

Instead of giving away an occasional video tutorial, every once in a while, I’m going to pull out of my vault some of my best training on ArchiCAD fundamentals and post a new one every day this week.

Each day I’ll post a new free tutorial, and I’ll also announce one or more new sale items. By the end of Cyber Week, we’ll see where we stand.

VIEWS AND LAYERS – ESSENTIAL (BUT CONFUSING) CONCEPTS

To start this out, I have uploaded to my YouTube channel an 11 minute video on View Settings, one of the essential concepts in ArchiCAD. Views are the primary way that you control your working environment for modeling and documentation, and layout out your drawings on sheets.

Over the years, I’ve seen lots of ArchiCAD users confused about the Project Map and the View Map. They look much the same to the new user. Some people even ask me “why do they have both of them – what’s the difference?”

A while back, I created a video on this topic and shared it on YouTube. If you haven’t watched it, I suggest that you check it out, to make sure you’re really clear on the differences and when you should use one versus the other:

Project Map vs. View Map

 

To kick off Cyber Week, I have just posted this video:

ArchiCAD FUNDAMENTALS Tutorial | Intro to View Settings

 

Over the next few days, I’ll post additional videos on:

– Layers and Layer Combinations
– Layer Management
– Clone Folders
– Advanced View Options

NOTE: These lessons are all pulled from from my Best Practices Course on ArchiCAD as my gift to you and all ArchiCAD users this week.

SO WHAT ARE THE “DEALS”? WE’LL START WITH ARCHICAD BASIC TRAINING

CyberWeek wouldn’t be worthy of the name if I didn’t offer some special pricing on my ArchiCAD training and template products.

To start the week out, let’s begin with ArchiCAD basic training. My QuickStart Course provides 29 easy-to-digest lessons totaling 13 hours of instruction. It’s designed to get a raw beginner up and running, comfortable with the ArchiCAD environment and able to produce a clean model and accurate drawings.

Many people have reported that they’ve gone through QuickStart in a weekend, or just a few days, then stepped into a new job at an office using ArchiCAD and been able to take direction and get going. It may not be a miracle, but QuickStart is probably the most effective way to get started as a new user, with my Best Practices principles incorporated throughout the teaching.

Normally this course retails for $197, but during Cyber Week, you can purchase the QuickStart Course for only $97, less than half price. After payment through our secure shopping cart via credit card or PayPal, you’ll get immediate access and can get started right away.

For even more value (and support) pick up the QuickStart Course bundled with 3 months of my ArchiCAD Coaching Program for only $144 (a savings of $150).

FYI – as a member of the ArchiCAD Coaching Program you’ll get my personal assistance on your ArchiCAD questions. You’ll get started right, and keep going strong with my help!

NOTE: These limited time offers are valid during CyberWeek, then disappear.

Eric

P.S. What’s the deal for tomorrow? It’s a surprise. Something I’ve never put on sale before. In fact, there are several goodies in tomorrow’s basket. Stay tuned!

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Thanksgiving Gifts for ArchiCAD Users

The Thanksgiving holiday period provides an opportunity to pause and give thanks as well as to think ahead to next year.

It’s also a good time to share gifts with people you care about.

I am immensely grateful to all ArchiCAD users who share my passion for this amazing technology created by Graphisoft. Your support and encouragement allows me to make “an honest living” by teaching and mentoring architects and building design professionals. I am inspired by the designs you create as well as your intellectual curiosity and dedicated interest in developing your skills and abilities.

I launched the Masters of ArchiCAD Summit this year to provide a venue for experts from around the world to share their insights, experiences and tips and tricks with the larger ArchiCAD user community. It was a fantastic success, with over 430 users participating in this virtual conference. A dozen ArchiCAD veterans showed us their projects and talked at length about their working methods.

As I put together next year’s Masters of ArchiCAD Summit I want to make sure that every interested ArchiCAD user can benefit from this project. As one step towards that goal, I’m making available a free Guest Pass for three of the 2015 training presentations.

You’ll learn from three power-users who share their skills, tips and tricks for getting the most out of ArchiCAD.

Click here for your free Masters of ArchiCAD Training Pass – over 3 hours of free training to help you optimize your use of our favorite architectural software.

BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL OFFER:
Save 75% on Summit Recordings

Here in the U.S., Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) is a time for special offers and bargain shopping.

In keeping with this tradition, for the next week (through Friday December 4), you can save $150 off the standard price for the complete set of 12 Summit videos.

• Click here to grab the complete Masters of ArchiCAD Summit recordings for only $47!

I’ll be back on “Cyber Monday” with another valuable gift for all ArchiCAD users, something I’ve never given away before. This set of training materials will only be given away free for 5 days, so be sure to check your inbox (if you’re on my email list) and come back here next week.

I’ll also announce some really cool bargains on my extensive collection of the finest ArchiCAD training and tools. You can go Christmas shopping for yourself early!

 

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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