Shoegnome Open Template 18.3 and Layer Improvements
I’ve updated my ArchiCAD template. You can get the latest version here. Remember, it’s free, if you want it to be. In this iteration of my template, I made one minor and one major change.
The Tiny Update
For years I’ve been using James Murray’s centerline object. I initially found it for ArchiCAD 9 and have been diligently using it since my first ArchiCAD job back in 2006. A few weeks ago, James released an updated version of the Object for version 16 and newer. You can download it directly from Onland.info. The updated version of this simple documentation Object adds the option to turn on a line below the text and a few other minor improvements. It’s great and it’s a good example of the unification of documentation to remove excess elements: instead of a “C” and an “L” and a line, now you just need one placeable Object (that can show on multiple stories!). Yes, yes, of course. ArchiCAD should have something like this out of the box and it should be part of the Dimension Tool. But it’s not. And James’ Object exists and is great. And I’ve embedded it in my template, because it’s a wonderful Graphic Data element.
The Big Update
I’ve overhauled my Layers. I don’t know why it took me so long to do this. When you open the latest version of my template and look at the Layers, the change is obvious. For all the details about why I made the change and what the specific nuances are, check out my recent post on BIM Engine: ArchiCAD Layer Theory Part 5: Attribute Names and the Tyranny of Alphabetical Order.
I’ve actually been writing a lot about my Layer and Pen Set theories. If you haven’t read those articles, you might want to. All the recent posts talk about the things I’ve incorporated into the Shoegnome Open Template.
Layer Theory
- Part 1: LEGO and Layers
- Part 2: Do you need that Layer?
- Part 3: Layer Combinations
- Part 4: Different Kinds of Models
- Part 5: Tyranny of Alphabetical Order
Pen Sets
- Pen Sets, Part One
- Pen Sets, Part Two
- Pen Sets, Part Three
- Pen Sets, Part Four
- Pen Sets, Part Five
- Pen Sets, Part Six
- Pen Sets, Part Seven
- Pen Sets, Part Eight
Further Thoughts:
- To get the latest version of the template: Shoegnome Open Template — v18.3.
- To get the down saved template for 17, my original ArchiCAD 17 template, or my ArchiCAD 17 template down saved for 16, scroll to the bottom of the Shoegnome Open Template FAQ.
- Please, please, please read this post and watch the video on Parameter Transfer. The Shoegnome Open Template is worthless without a firm knowledge of Parameter Transfer.
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Thank you to everyone who has supported the template. I really appreciate the help and encouragement. Subscribe to my blog to read more about the tricky world of being an Architect in the 21st century. Shoegnome on Facebook, Twitter, and the RSS feed.
Greg Danskin
Jared,
Wow! I made it through all five installments of the Layers theory. I know how long it took just to read through them, so thank you for spending the time away from all the other stuff you could (should?) be doing!
I like and am using your separator layers. Cool. I have a project that has multiple buildings, and have it set up alphabetically for each building (it just happened to work out nicely). So with the repetition of ‘sub-layers’ with | separator in each building layer list, and now with the phantom heading layer, it’s real easy to find what I’m looking for. I dropped using the . extension separator. I found it’s distance from the list hard to track (old eyes!)
I also use two tricks for other layers: I add spaces before the names for layers I want way at the top of the list (Layout notes, etc.), and I add a lower case “z” to layers I want buried at the bottom of the list (Regulatory Info, Google Earth Image, etc).
On other projects I have incorporated the numbering system before the layer name, and it works great, though I have been using a simple hyphen for the separator.
I have found through the process of reading your posts and trying different ways, that the graphical part of the list is important to the quick recognition of the layer you are looking for. I have no problem with having many layers, though there is a sweet spot for each job.
Thanks for giving me a wealth of great ideas! Now about those pen sets…
Jared Banks
I’m impressed you made it through all five installments. I should give out an award or something; I know there’s a lot of info there. I’m always looking to share more versions of layering systems. If you want, send me a screen shot of your multiple buildings Layer solution. That might be a great example for a future post (or sent me an .aat file or whatever works).
Richard
A question re your layer name. How do you get the vert bar and the large dot spacers. My first attempt worked OK, but when I used attributes to import into an old project I lost the symbols I used
Thanks for all the work you do. Richard
4⎜ â—â—â—â—â—SITEâ—â—â—â—â—4
5? ?????STRUCTURAL?????5
Jared Banks
Yeah I noticed this issue to after sharing the template. I really like the dots because they are so bold, but I might have to scrap them for something else. It looks like ArchiCAD can’t translate the dot properly via the .aat file, and thus replaces it with question marks. So it means you have to repaste in the dot (the easiest way is just to copy and paste from another file). That’s not a huge deal, as it’s fast and just 9-10 Layers. BUT it’s not automated, so that is a dealbreaker for me. The template is about automated beauty and since this is an aesthetic choice, I need to find a solution that remains perfect. As James Murray says: Beauty is Third.
I might go with m-dash: 4 | ——- Site ——- | 4 (perfect symmetry too), but will need to do some testing. Thoughts?
Andrew Passacantando (@bimbuilt)
Great centerline tool! How simple, thanks.
Jared Banks
I know! I’m talking with James Murray about one tweak to it. I’ll share the updated version with the next iteration of the template, which is probably coming next week.
Duncan
Hi Jared,
I’m starting with your template and converting to INT version.
I’m wondering is it possible to have coloured elevations with just using pensets and model view settings ?
Theres settings in the elevation selection Settings UNCUT ELEMENTS – Fill Uncut Surfaces with: Own Surface Colors (shaded). I think this option is missing from model views that offers the one of the styles I am after.
At the moment I copy elevations and hide it in plan view in a separate layer.
But I’d really like to be able to have these options with simple flick of switch, well model option.
Also is there a way to show textures in elevation ? and add dimensions to it ?
I’m coming from Revit where this is all automated.
cheers
Jared Banks
Color display for uncut elements in an Elevation is controlled by the settings of the Elevation, not Model View Options. If you need elevations with and without color, you’ll need separate elevations. Or just update the elevation to switch between the two as needed. It is a flick of a switch, but a different switch than you are expecting or wanting. This is one of those mental shifts required when going from one BIM platform to another. If by textures you mean Vectorial 3D hatching, then yes that is also controlled by the elevation settings. If you mean rendered textures (OpenGL or CineRender), then no. You’ll need to do a rendered 3D view flat on. As for dimensions, just use the dimension tool. There are no automated dimensions for elevations or sections.
In general, these are all perfect questions to ask on the ArchiCAD-talk forum: http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/ You’ll get more in depth answers, probably faster, and the forum also supports images, so you can better share exactly what you’re looking to achieve.
Duncan
Thanks Jared,
Looks like I was on the right track.
With regards to dimensions. I was wondering if I could still dimension a version with textures showing ( OpenGL or Cinerender) and show level markers.
I found archicad talk.
cheers