Since my last template update in early March 2025, I’ve accumulated a bunch of small changes. The main reason though that I’m writing this blog post today is that a template user emailed me about the ugly Library folder organization. After a quick phone call, a vague memory of a fix, and a little internet research, I tracked down a video that should have won the Archicad In Your Pocket Challenge from last year. In the video, Jasfer Auman walks through the process of setting a Library localization for an Archicad file. The results (seen below), are so nice. I’ve set the template’s localization to USA – English (United States), but if you’d prefer a different localization, it’s super easy to switch it (watch the video). What’s extra nice is you can easily do this to your existing files, so you aren’t stuck with the previous ugly organization. This template change would likely have not happened had a fellow Shoegnome Open Template user not reached out to me. So thank you to that user and everyone who has ever asked questions that resulted in template improvements.
Beyond the Library reorganization, the other major change is an update to almost all of my custom Library parts. What started as time spent improving my freestanding tub Object so that it’d have two options (standard and soaking), ended up turning into an evening of making minor tweaks and improvements to just about all of my Objects. Most of the changes won’t be noticeable (or worth mentioning), but I’m very glad to have made them.
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Shoegnome Open Template v28.2 changes:
- Composite (New) – 0 | Insulation – Batt – 20.5″ (R-60)
- Favorite (Revised) – Insulation (Slab Tool) updated to reference 0 | Insulation – Batt – 20.5″ (R-60)
- Favorite (Revised) – updated grill width of all doors to be 3/4″
- Favorite (Revised) – revised arrow head Pen number of most Polyline Favorites to match General Settings Pen
- Favorite (Revised) – Freestanding Tub
- Favorite (New) – Chair – Desk
- Favorite (New) – Keynote – Key, Title & Description
- Favorite (New) – Keynote – Key, Title & Description (no leader)
- Some other random little stuff I didn’t document that you don’t need to worry about
- Model View Options (Revised) – 2 | Low Detail, Markers Off, changed Object and Lamp Floor Plan to Full
- Model View Options (Revised) – 2 | Low Detail, Markers On, changed Object and Lamp Floor Plan to Full
- Design Option (New) – Scheme A
- Design Option Combination (New) – Scheme A
- Keynotes (New) – Schemes & Scheme A example
- Library (Revised) – Set the template’s localization to USA – English (United States)
- Object (Revised) – Freestanding Tub SG28
- Object (Revised) – Handshower SG28
- Object (Revised) – Pot Filler SG28
- Object (Revised) – Shower Controls SG28
- Object (Revised) – Shower Head SG28
- Object (Revised) – Bathroom Accessories SG28
- Object (Revised) -Smoke Detector SG28
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If you aren’t using the current version of Archicad, you can download older versions of my template. If you use my template, I highly recommend you use my Work Environment as well. The two work together well and the Work Environment is designed to reinforce the best practices of the template. You can download my Work Environment here.
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