Moving Elements in ARCHICAD

This article is part of the ARCHICAD Essential Skills series of technical notes developed by GRAPHISOFT SE and localised into Spanish by SIMBIM Solutions (GRAPHISOFT Distributor and exclusive Training Centre in Spain). [See table of contents]

Editing existing elements is an essential everyday task.

Basic rules

• The element you want to edit MUST be selected BEFOREHAND. Only then will the relevant commands be available.
• You can edit elements on the floor plan as well as in the 3D Window.
• However, some commands are best carried out on the floor plan and others in the 3D Window (for example, changing the height).

There are often several ways to start an editing command. Select the element and then:

• Go to the Editar: Editar> Move> Drag / Rotate / Simetría menu or
• Right-click in an empty space and look for the Move folder in the context menu or
• Click the element once more and use the Move command in the Paleta flotante or
• Use keyboard shortcuts

Drag

The "Drag" command changes the position of an element. Although it is also possible to drag elements in 3D, the dragging process is only possible in the X-Y plane.

Dragging an element

To try out this option, draw a rectangle of four walls and select one of them.

Invoke the "Drag" command using one of the four methods presented above.

The first click defines the start point of the drag, which can be on the element or outside it. Now select the top edge of the wall. Then click the end point where the element will be placed.

The move command is based on vectors, which have a start point and an end point together with a length and an angle. You can define this vector graphically on screen (using the mouse) or numerically by entering the values (using the keyboard).

As soon as you start dragging the selected element, the Tracker appears, where you can enter the length and/or angle value.

Dragging elements with a Marco selection

As a second option, the Marco tool can also be used to drag elements.

First, draw a Marco rectangle around the element.

Now select the "Drag" command and define its start point.

While dragging, only the Marco is visible, now made up of solid lines. Click again to define the end point of the dragging process.

Note:

• All elements inside the frame will be dragged, including those with only a small part inside the rectangle.
• ARCHICAD does not show a moving preview of the elements during the command when you use the Marco tool.

Dragging elements with the Paleta flotante

If you click again anywhere on the selected element, the Paleta flotante appears. It gives you quick access to all the commands that can be executed. The "Drag" command is also available within the palette.

First, select an element and then select the following icon in the Paleta flotante to start dragging:

From here on, dragging works in the same way.

Note: The commands available in the top row depend on the selected element and on the point/edge you chose to open the Paleta flotante. The bottom row always includes the commands for moving the whole element.

Dragging elements in 3D

Basically, dragging an element in 3D works in the same way as in 2D. First you need to switch to the 3D tab and select an element.

Select the "Drag" command from the menu or invoke the Paleta flotante again. The first click defines the start point

and the second click defines the end point of the drag. Use the snap points to close the wall outline.

Table of contents

+ Moving elements in ARCHICAD

• Dragging/Rotating/Mirroring an element as a copy
• Elevating elements
• Mirroring elements
• Rotating Elements
• Moving elements

• Discover more articles...

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