Adding Contours to a Mesh in ARCHICAD
October 20, 2016
Here’s a quick tutorial on how to add contours to a Mesh in ARCHICAD.
New Users
Online ARCHICAD Training by BIM6x
June 13, 2016
We need more online ARCHICAD training options. Take a moment to read about why Link Ellis and Chris Clark have created ArchiBoost.
ARCHICAD Solo has limitations, and that’s great
March 27, 2016
Back in January 2016, GRAPHISOFT introduced ARCHICAD 19 Solo to the North American market. In our market, ARCHICAD Solo replaces ARCHICAD STAR(T).
Why BIM is Still Bankrupting Your Firm
December 9, 2015
Back in 2012 I updated a classic BIM graphic to show how BIM can bankrupt your firm. It’s time to revisit that argument.
Building Better BIM Libraries
October 6, 2015
Jon Buerg talks about his experiences building BIM Libraries for both Revit and ARCHICAD. To him, it’s the key to any successful project.
ARCHICAD training advice from Ken Good
August 26, 2015
Ken started using ARCHICAD in the 1990’s, and since that time has spent over 15,000 hours training individuals and groups of up to 200 throughout the UK.
ArchiCAD Basics: Undo and Redo
January 27, 2015
In this blog post I convince you to watch an (almost) 11 minute video on the Undo and Redo commands in ArchiCAD by talking to you about time travel.
ArchiCAD Basics: Align and Distribute
January 21, 2015
Align and Distribute are nothing new and I’m sure these commands are rarely (if ever) on anyone’s Top 10 Most Important ArchiCAD Features list. But they are still quite valuable. Let me explain why, plus show you some basics in the accompanying video.
Shoegnome Open Template Updates: 18.12 and 18 ported to 17
November 26, 2014
Did you enjoy my ArchiCAD 17 template, but have yet to upgrade to ArchiCAD 18? Well now you can check out my ArchiCAD 18 template in ArchiCAD 17 because we use a BIM program that can easily save down to a previous version.
Parameter Transfer in ArchiCAD
October 22, 2014
Parameter Transfer in ArchiCAD (eyedropper and syringe) is an ultra basic concept. I really hope you already know everything I discuss in this video.
ArchiCAD 18: still no disc coming in the mail
October 12, 2014
Are you waiting for a disc in the mail? Stop. You have to download ArchiCAD 18.
How Twitter can teach you ArchiCAD
October 3, 2014
How does one go about learning ArchiCAD? Joining Twitter to follow one particular ArchiCAD guru is a good start.
Unconscious BIM and Ugly BIM
June 12, 2014
Some lessons from being too busy to write: remembering shortcuts by forgetting that I had forgotten them and suffering through the ugly BIM phase.
Complex Profile Siding in ArchiCAD
January 8, 2014
Once I figured out this technique to create Complex Profile siding in ArchiCAD, my models became about 20% cooler.
Ten Years of ArchiCAD Talk Forum
October 24, 2013
I can’t believe that the ArchiCAD Talk Forum is ten years old. That’s amazing. As is the fact that many of the original experts are still active. Thank You!
Guest Blogger Arne Heeres: ArchiCAD Template Creation
June 13, 2013
Reinventing the Wheel Let’s face it. We love it. We reinvent every chance we get hoping to make things better. Without it our lives would be pretty boring, Does this mean however we need to re-invent everything? More specifically, do we need to reinvent our interaction with ArchiCAD for every project? In our careers so far, each of us at [mac interact] have worked with and for offices that to
Guest Blogger Shivang Rajvir: Top 9 BIM Myths in India
June 6, 2013
Jared’s Note: Shivang originally wrote this with his ArchiCAD students in India in mind. The issues are universal so I thought about shortening the title to just “Top 9 BIM Myths”, but I really like that the original title highlights that we’re all facing the same BIM implementation challenges all over the world. Whether Boston or Bangalore, we’re all fighting the same fight, trying to get everyone to see the
ArchiCAD Template Basics: View Map and Layout Book
April 29, 2013
Templates are a big deal. Your template can determine whether you make or lose money with BIM. A strong template can make you efficient. A poor template can win you a gold medal for Wheel Reinvention. I’m not being hyperbolic. To succeed at BIM, you need a strong template. Without that, all the other time, money, and effort you throw at BIM will be severely handicapped. I get a lot
Skill vs Power: Learning BIM
April 9, 2013
If you have six minutes, please do yourself a favor and watch this video. But instead of thinking about video games, think about BIM adoption in firms. Specifically think about people learning ArchiCAD, Revit, or one of the other BIM authoring tools out there. Here’s the best analogy from the video, or an approximation at least. If you’re under 40, you’ve probably played Street Fighter II. Or something very similar.
The Return of Work Environments: The Basics of setting Work Environments plus importing and exporting them
February 22, 2013
It’s been way too long since I talked about Work Environments in ArchiCAD. We had a good run last spring and summer with close to 10 posts on this subject. Read them all here. I still have a bunch more to say and share. If I haven’t written about a Work Environment you sent me yet, I’m sorry. I do intend to continue this series. There’s just been a LOT
Creating keyboard shortcuts in ArchiCAD, a quick and helpful video
February 8, 2013
I regularly get questions about keyboard shortcuts. Probably the top two questions are “Is there a keyboard shortcut for Function A?” or “How do I make a keyboard shortcut for Function A?“. Well to answer both those questions and some others as well, I’ve created this short how-to video on creating keyboard shortcuts in ArchiCAD. Enjoy! For more information on Keyboard Shortcuts in ArchiCAD, check out these links: Keyboard Shortcuts
Why you failed at BIM (you were impatient)
January 29, 2013
While writing a post about a former coworker, I paused to create a few diagrams explaining why others in his position often fail to make the switch to ArchiCAD and BIM. These three diagrams help illustrate what causes people to panic during their early adventures with a new way of working. A note about the fail line. People who give up at this point typically keep spinning their wheels without
Switching to BIM? Emulate Paul’s Mindset
January 28, 2013
Part 1 “I just want you to know that computers are my life now.” Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â -former coworker who loves hand drafting Paul never used AutoCAD or any other CAD program. In mid-2011, he got the go ahead from our bosses at SALA Architects to start learning ArchiCAD. Paul was (and still is) a project architect at the firm. It was a bold move on the part of
A good list, for Beginners to ArchiCAD…
December 31, 2012
…and those of us wanting a quick reminder of some basic ArchiCAD skills on this last day of the year. I always like reading through top 10 or top 20 lists of tricks. Especially for new users. I’m often reminded of something I forgot (or never knew). And I’m always looking for better ways to explain the fundamentals. Thanks to Othon Dafos for sharing this on the ArchiCAD Users Association
I want to see your plan Printed Out. And Soon.
December 27, 2012
FACT: Ugly drawings are the bane of many people in the early stages of using understanding BIM. Don’t fight your coworkers. Instead draw them in. Teach them. When starting a project, whether it’s new construction or a remodel, I always want to see a clean plan as soon as possible. Whether that means adding 2D or 3D place holders to the model, I get to a spot where I can
The Artlantis Attitude
December 13, 2012
Are you familar with Dwight Atkinson’s books? He’s got two great ones for ArchiCAD users. There’s the Artlantis Attitude which obviously covers rendering with Artlantis. And for people looking to do all their rendering within ArchiCAD (yes it’s possible), he also has The LightWorks in ArchiCAD Book. From everyone I’ve talked to, both books are the bible for rendering in their respective application. Semi-related, you can find Dwight commenting on
Little Clues
November 29, 2012
You say “you know what you’re doing in ArchiCAD”. You might not be the best, but you’ve got a really good system. You’re fast and efficient. But how quickly can an ArchiCAD Expert tell if you’re a good judge of your own skills or just horribly deluded? That all depends on how long it takes for ArchiCAD to open your file. Because once it’s open, a pro will need less
Pantheon of Workmonsters
October 28, 2012
In a world of shoegnomes, there are workmonsters… Much like I came up with the realization that I was a shoegnome years before I started my company and blog, the concept of workmonsters has been floating around in my head for a long time. What are workmonsters? They are a special breed of coworkers. I have a feeling that you already understand. This is just a small sampling of archetypes.
Tips, Tricks, and Cheats… ArchiCAD Dimensions
October 25, 2012
Dimensions in ArchiCAD are super basic, right? Well here’s a video on some tips, tricks, and cheats regarding this essential tool. I cover about 15 to 20 different aspects of ArchiCAD’s Dimension Tool. So clearly not an exhaustive or comprehensive discussion. If there’s interest, I’ll gladly do more videos like this for various tools and features with ArchiCAD (ei, back to basics videos). Hopefully regardless of your skill level a
Frustrating ArchiCAD Things That Need to be Changed: You
October 23, 2012
Okay that title is a little facetious. But you should expect that from me by now. There is a wonderful thread on LinkedIN that was started two weeks ago on the ArchiCAD Residential Designers Group. You need to be a member to view it, so a direct link to the thread is a little annoying to include. If you’re a residential designer who uses ArchiCAD, it’s a great group to
Fixing Error Messages and Ugliness with the Attribute Manager
October 17, 2012
This is the first time I’m cross posting something I wrote on BIM Engine here as well. If you use ArchiCAD, you’ll want to read about the Attribute Manager. And you’ll also want to download the .aat file that I provide at the end of the post. Be warned it’s a long post and it might require more than one reading. Please post comments there rather than here. Fixing Error
How BIM can Bankrupt Your Firm
October 15, 2012
Why do some firms embrace BIM and rave about its benefits while other firms try BIM and fail miserably? We all know this diagram: But here’s another diagram. This is the one that describes firms that panic, firms that succumb to Fear, Uncertainty, and Dread (FUD), firms that after one or two attempts let their boxes of Revit 2010 get dusty on the shelves or backslide into using ArchiCAD 12
More lessons from children’s TV
September 13, 2012
Don’t talk about the brontosaurus in a room full of dinosaur lovers The other day on Sesame Street they did a segment on dinosaurs. They mentioned a brontosaurus. Dinosaur Train would never mention a brontosaurus. Why? Because it’s not a real thing. It was a mistake from the late 19th century. It just happens to be super famous. If you’re looking for information, make sure you are using the right
My first overtly ArchiCAD vs Revit Post, sort of.
September 10, 2012
I’m trying some new things on the blog, now that I have more time and more outlets for writing about ArchiCAD. So just like last week, I’m trying for 5 posts in 5 days. And to have them all within a theme. Here’s #1. So of course I’m going to be horribly biased…. but here’s a few thoughts. I think both ArchiCAD and Revit are easy programs to learn,
Advice from one of my ArchiCAD Heroes
August 26, 2012
Remember my recent ArchiCAD Heroes post? In it, I mentioned my five favorite posters on the ArchiCAD-Talk Forum. If you haven’t taken the time to start searching out their posts and learning from their experience, that’s okay. In time I hope you will. One of those top five, Djordje Grujic, wrote an article for Architectural Evangelist. In the article he talks about the mind-set and decisions required to make the
ArchiCAD Heroes
August 6, 2012
Shoegnome would never have existed if I wasn’t such a huge fan of Onland.info. I’ve gushed over James Murray’s blog before. He stopped updating his site about the time I started writing mine, so I feel a responsibility to carry the torch he held for so many years. Most of his 679 posts are still just as relevant now as they were when James wrote them. When I was teaching
Morph Pet Palette Madness
July 16, 2012
While doing some experimentation on an ArchiCAD 15 file that I’d opened in ArchiCAD 16, I came across a weird quark with the Morph Tool. The pet palette for the Morph Tool wasn’t showing me all the options. I was bewildered and annoyed. I wasn’t sure what was going on and I just wanted ArchiCAD to work the way I knew it should. I was pissed. Fortunately I did what
Redlines vs Pinklines
June 25, 2012
Redlines We all know what Redlines are. Either digitally or by hand, someone is reviewing a set of drawings and marking them up to be corrected. Redlines are a critical part of the chain of command. A younger staff member can do a set of drawings or model a building and the project architect or some other experienced coworker will review them. Mistakes are caught, corrections are made, and beautiful,
ArchiCAD, AutoCAD, the Amazon Kindle, and my parents house
May 29, 2012
Greetings from Connecticut So my wife, daughters (Madeleine, 3, and Phaedra, 1), and I just drove from Minnesota to Connecticut in about 72 hours. We’re now relaxing at my parents house in Connecticut for a few days before heading on to Boston. We’ll then be in Boston for the next 3 months before returning home to St. Paul, Minnesota. Expect more details on all that to be sprinkled into this
New User Trouble
May 7, 2012
Mr. New User, Don’t forget that you still need to produce printed documents I find many new users get obsessed with modeling and don’t want to hear about the 2D world. This is both great and a disaster. I love to see people excited about modeling, about leaving the world of flatcad for good. But… We need to produce legible prints in a timely manner. If you ignore dimensions, notes,
THREE graphic shortcuts for Sections and Interior Elevations
December 18, 2011
Over the past year and a half of blogging I’ve had many small ArchiCAD tips and tricks that I wanted to share, but could never find the proper way to write about them. The aggregate of these tricks help me to easily problem solve within ArchiCAD and produce the quality drawings I desire, but these techniques don’t readily lend themselves to a blog post of a few hundred words. They
Want to Annoy a BIM manager? Ignore the Template.
December 11, 2011
As a CAD / BIM manager, there is one vein of questioning that I just hate. It’s not so much the actual question, which is a variation of: “Why isn’t this working right?” It’s the answer that angers me: “Because you’re not following the template.“ These questions drive me crazy. I’m a tactful person, so I’m typically nice about it, probably too nice. But I just want to scream sometimes:
Not every firm is ready for BIM. (Ten reasons) Your firm might have trouble implementing BIM if…
October 11, 2011
Not everyone owns a cellphone Not everyone in the firm has their own computer You sign out conference rooms by hand using a clipboard Your boss has his secretary printout e-mails for him You have hand drafters who never ‘got’ CAD Your boss thinks computers are a fad or something to humor the younger staff Too many coworkers aren’t on Facebook, have never heard of Google+, and only know about
10 ArchiCAD tips from Pantera’s Reinventing the Steel
August 22, 2010
The track list from Pantera‘s last studio album, Reinventing the Steel, has great advice for any ArchiCAD user. You don’t need to love their music like I do to see what accidental BIM geniuses these guys were. Let’s look: Hellbound – This is how we all feel when we start ArchiCAD. The first two weeks can be just awful. You’ll curse your new employers or think your reseller has swindled