Templates

Shoegnome Open Template 20.2

November 7, 2016

I’ve updated the Shoegnome Open Template for ARCHICAD 20 with lessons learned from a recent project. Read about the details and download the latest version.

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Auditing your ArchiCAD Model using Building Materials and Surfaces

January 23, 2014

I love this post. Guest Blogger Nathan Hildebrandt starts with Building Materials, then leads you down a path towards reinventing how you think about BIM and use ArchiCAD. It’s a great example of how focusing on improving how you use a piece of software will make you a more valuable member of the AECO team. Even if you don’t use ArchiCAD, this is a must read.

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Interior Elevations in ArchiCAD

January 6, 2014

Do you need to create Interior Elevations in ArchiCAD? Of course you do. We all do. Are you creating them in the best possible way? Watch this video and find out. Got something to add? Share your tips in the comments.

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Building Materials in ArchiCAD 17 – Video One

November 12, 2013

I asked on the Shoegnome Facebook page what my next ArchiCAD tutorial video should be about. There was some interest in Pen Sets, but the overwhelming majority of people wanted more on Building Materials in ArchiCAD 17. So here’s the first of at least two videos.

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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

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AEC (UK) BIM Protocols – ArchiCAD

May 1, 2013

Thanks to Rob Jackson of Bond Bryan Architects for sharing this with me. “The UK has developed a protocol document designed for use with BIM projects, known as the AEC (UK) BIM Protocols. The set of documents builds on the guidelines and frameworks defined by the UK standards documents, including BS1192:2007 and PAS1192-2:2013 alongside proven best practice procedures, providing a clear, concise path to implementation for BIM authoring software. The documents

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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

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Interactive ArchiCAD Practice Manual – guest blogger Vaneshrie Sullivan shares insights into her book

January 22, 2012

The Interactive ArchiCAD Practice Manual came from the realization that, although there are numerous books on teaching ArchiCAD users how to use the tools and navigate around projects, there is not much guidance on how to apply this software in the most efficient manner in an everyday office environment. ArchiCAD is both user friendly and customizable, giving users the freedom to work in the software in countless ways. The price

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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:

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Parallel Teams, Serial Teams, and the Critical Importance of Templates

October 4, 2011

Parallel Teams a group of people working on a given project, at the same time. Teams working in parallel are well discussed in the world of ArchiCAD and BIM. There are a variety of options for ArchiCAD users: independent .pln files, hotlinked modules, and of course Teamwork 2. It’s pretty safe to say that, regardless of what other software venders will tell you, there is no better solution for parallel

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You are going to give Master Script 80 Euros; And be VERY happy you did

September 26, 2011

An interesting offer… I’ve been trying to figure out how to write this review for weeks. Okay months. Jeroen de Bruin of Master Script first contacted me about writing a review for Total Zone and Total Marker on July 26th. I was flattered and thrilled. I warned him it’d be a little while. I wanted to use Total Marker and Total Zone in a project. Flipping through features and dreaming

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Connecting the Dots, making ArchiCAD Easier: Master Template

August 5, 2011

Okay that title was both lame and a stretch. But whatever. This isn’t about my attempts for humor and continuity with the previous post, it’s about Eric Bobrow and all his ArchiCAD offerings. And he wants to and will make ArchiCAD easier for you. Eric Bobrow is fast approaching his 500th licensed client using Master Template. Congratulations Eric! That’s huge. To celebrate this milestone he’s offering both discounts AND incentives.

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Greater than the Sum of the Parts – guest blogger David Jefferis talks about Hybrid Notation

July 24, 2011

This guest post is by David Jefferis. My preferred style of notation breeds the Full Text Note with the Full Keynote to produce the Hybrid Note. The primary problem with both styles of notation presented last week is the lack of hierarchy: special details or materials are not given special treatment and can get lost amid the notes for standard assemblies. Using the Hybrid Note system, these standard assemblies such

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Key Notes – guest blogger David Jefferis takes us from Conventional to Exceptional

July 17, 2011

This guest post is by David Jefferis. In these posts, I will focus on general techniques of standardized representation and strategies for producing construction documents so that our conventional drawings can be exceptional. An important but rarely discussed part of starting an office is establishing a set of effective graphic standards for communicating design intent through construction documents. Most design websites and blogs show multiple rendered perspectives, plans and sections

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File Names Matter

April 10, 2011

At SALA Architects, we’ve been using ArchiCAD since v6.5 (1999). However I didn’t join the firm until 2007, at which point I spearheaded the transition of a hodgepodge of v8.1 users following no uniform procedures to a larger number of v11 users following company wide standards. We are now approaching the next big transition period. Over the next year we’ll be moving first to version 14 and then quickly to

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Pen Sets, Part Three

March 20, 2011

If you haven’t read Parts One or Two, you might want to start here. At SALA Architects, I use 6 pen sets on a standard project. In this post I’m going to discuss the basics of two: one pen set, for structural drawings: HALF TONE (STRUCTURAL) one pen set, for electrical drawings: HALF TONE (ELECTRICAL) As I mentioned in Part One, setting a view to grayscale in the layout book

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Pen Sets, Part Two

February 20, 2011

If you haven’t read Part One, you might want to start here. At SALA Architects, I use 6 pen sets on a standard project. In this post I’m going to discuss the basics of two: one pen set, with colors: STANDARD (COLOR) one pen set, with colors but some different line weights: STANDARD (COLOR, PLANS)     In Pen Sets, Part One I briefly discussed why color = line weight.

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Pen Sets, Part One

January 16, 2011

History lesson. My two favorite changes between version 9 and version 10 where the merging of Plotmaker into ArchiCAD and the arrival of multiple pen sets. There is a lot of power and utility with multiple pen sets. At SALA Architects, I use 6 pen sets on a standard project. In this post I’m going to discuss the basics of two: one pen set, with colors: STANDARD (COLOR) one pet

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