E202 - CREATING OBJECTS IN ARCHICAD - PART II

About this course

The course "E202 – Creating objects in Archicad – Part II" continues the training on custom objects, focusing on modelling with Archicad's generic tools and converting them into objects, windows and MEP components without programming in GDL. Students will learn to define free-form holes and niches, to convert elements into shapes to customise them, to control the polygon count of their projects and to become familiar with extensions such as TrussMaker, PolyCount and Library Part Maker.

Course details

This course is aimed at architecture and construction professionals who already use Archicad and want to create their own objects without resorting to GDL programming. It is recommended to have completed Part I, as the session begins with a review of the techniques covered there: searching, modifying, downloading and customising library objects. The first part reviews the general strategy, proposes recommendations prior to modelling, solves a bathtub using shapes and boolean operations, saves it as an object and as an MEP Part with a drainage connection, shows the conversion of objects into shapes, and explains the creation of custom windows with the Wall Hole and Wall Niche identifiers and of objects with a built-in light source. The second part presents TrussMaker, reflects on modelling strategy and polygon count, introduces the Goodies and the PolyCount palette, describes Library Part Maker, and offers a first introduction to GDL through the north point symbol script. The session is based on a sample file with preconfigured views. As explained in the course, Goodies and Library Part Maker are free Graphisoft extensions that are not installed by default and are downloaded from their website.

Learning goals

• Plan a modelling strategy by breaking down the object into primitive shapes before modelling it.
• Save geometry modelled with generic tools as an object, window or MEP component with a connection.
• Convert objects and other Archicad elements into shapes to customise their geometry and save them again as an object.
• Define free-form holes and niches in walls using slabs with the Wall Hole and Wall Niche identifiers.
• Create trusses with TrussMaker from line drawings differentiated by pen.
• Assess the impact of objects on the project's polygon count using the PolyCount palette and level of detail.
• Learn about the scope of Library Part Maker and GDL programming as next steps in parametrising objects.

Curriculum