If you’re reading this FAQ page and are ready to download the Template, click here.
Parameter Transfer / Element Transfer Settings
If you don’t know how to switch between Objects, Windows, Doors, Skylights, etc. within the Selection Settings and maintain settings (Pens, Fills, Surfaces, Dimensions…) you need to read this post and watch the accompanying video. The primary way to maintain the assigned settings is the proper use of Parameter Transfer (eyedropper and syringe). It’s key to making beautiful models and drawings.
How do I load the Shoegnome Open Template and/or Work Environment?
I started a new file from the template, now what?
I don’t use the latest version of ARCHICAD. Can you help me out?
- Shoegnome Open Template v26.4
- Shoegnome Open Template v25.4
- Shoegnome Open Template v25.0
- Shoegnome Open Template v24.3
- Shoegnome Open Template v23.31
- Shoegnome Open Template v22.1
- Shoegnome Open Template v21.22
- Shoegnome Open Template v20.3
- Shoegnome Open Template v19.2
- Shoegnome Open Template v18.4
- Shoegnome Open Template v17.3
When I open the template I see a lot of dots and error messages!
My template uses the USA library. There are two ways you can get the Archicad 27 USA Library.
One: You can click on this link and download either the Archicad 27 USA Library and/or the Archicad 27 INT Library (for those of you who want that). That link will also give you access to download the USA and INT libraries all the way back to Archicad 18, if you need them.
Two: You can get the correct library by downloading and installing Archicad 26 USA via the GRAPHISOFT website. Once you have that installed you can grab the library and delete the application, or just keep it for fun. If you need libraries from other versions or localizations, here’s what to do. A word of caution: do not load two Archicad Libraries at the same time. You will get tons of errors.
I’ve customized your template and you just released an update, what do I do?
I did a blog post and video that cover how to update an old file with the latest changes to my template. Click here.
What about Metric Units?
Converting everything to metric is easy. Switching libraries is a bit more annoying. Here’s a blog post and video on the basics of making this conversion yourself. If someone does that, please share it back with me. If someone wants to hire me to convert everything to metric, I’ll outsource the work to someone who thinks in meters and knows Archicad.
Since you made it this far into the FAQ, you might now be ready to get the template:
Is the Shoegnome Open Template affiliated with GRAPHISOFT or anyone else?
Nope. This is all Shoegnome. I’m also not using any 3rd party add-ons or paid Objects within the template. This template relies on resources available to anyone and everyone. If you need some specific tool, add-on, or object, check my extremely out of date Archicad Resources page.
So the template is free?
Yes. If you want to click the support button and send some money my way, that’d be awesome. Seriously. I appreciate it so much. But I want people to use Archicad to its fullest and I’m not going to limit the benefits of my Archicad template to only those people who have money to buy one. If you do choice to support my efforts, know that you’re also helping other Archicad users who aren’t able to.
Is this template for everyone?
Yes, but. Yes in that I want to share it as far and wide as possible. Yes in that it should be very adaptable to whatever project time and units you use. However, this Archicad template has grown (and will continue to grow) out of my own work. It’s currently aimed at projects in the USA under about 20,000 sq. ft. (2,000 m2). While I’ve used this template on commercial work, it’s been primary developed for wood framed residential projects. It easily adapts to larger projects and different construction types, but that requires a little bit of effort from you. That’s okay. The template is set up to be adaptable and it should be pretty obvious how to expand it.
Have a question about the Shoegnome Open Template not covered already?
E-mail me. I’ll add the answer to the FAQ (if it’s something others would be interested in learning about too).
James
Hi Jared. Superb work. I’m finally getting around to updating our template after a long time (ac11 I think) to get rid of all the clutter and have read a lot of your blog over the last few days. Figuring out what is involved in the conversion to metric…. Did anyone ever return a metric version back to you?
Cheers for the shared work!
Jared Banks
I have yet to been given back a metric version of my template, but I did just record a video on how to make one yourself. It’s pretty straightforward: https://shoegnome.com/2015/05/05/going-from-feet-to-meters-and-switching-archicad-libraries/
Todd Hotchkiss
I’ve been working with your template for a couple projects, and appreciate the bones of it. Love the elevations with shadows etc. However, I’m a little confused about the pen maps. I know you have a philosophy about pen maps, but at this point, I am not up to speed on it, so my drawings have line weights with a mind of their own. Can you please point me in the right direction?
Jared Banks
Todd, here’s a link that’ll bring you to all my Pen Set posts. I think I have a 9th one coming soon, too!
tm
just tossed some cash in the pile and grabbed a copy…thanks for all this work you do. Im very new in Archicad coming over 20 years with Vectorworks. the transition when busy is tough…appreciate support found here. seeing how sophisticated Archi is I feel like I have been ripped off by VW by upgrading every year!
Jared Banks
Welcome to ARCHICAD and thanks for the support! Just know every year you waited to switch, ARCHICAD got better and easier to learn. Since you’re new to ARCHICAD, also make sure to check out my articles here: http://blog.graphisoftus.com/ Most of my recent ARCHICAD writing has been on that site.
tm
looked at FAQ…but dont see answer…does your template work with solo ?
great work Jared!
Jared Banks
Good question. It should. Here’s my thoughts on ARCHICAD Solo.
Osbert De Costa
Hi Jared,
Love the work you’re doing. I’m new to Archicad, working with it for just about two years and started with AC16. After I came to a level of understanding the program, I set out to create a template of my own for my department. Currently we are using V19. I did create a template with V19, but its a but the file is a bit too large (I think because it includes some generic details). However, I’ve decided to make a search for advance sample projects to further enhance what I’ve learnt on my own and I found out about you on ‘ArchiCAD-Talk’ during reading some of the posts. I must say you’ve done a great job! And the fact that you made it free, even encourages the support for you. Please see my contact info below. Will contact you again privately. Kudos!
Jared Banks
Happy to inspire! That’s a huge portion of why I share my template. Thank you.
Emilio
Hey Jared! Great work on the ArchiCAD YouTube videos, they are all super helpful. I was wondering if you had a good method for placing standard/common details in an ArchiCAD template?
Thanks
Jared Banks
Search around on http://archicad-talk.graphisoft.com/. I know there are a few good discussions on this topic there. The main methods I’ve seen are linked PMK files and linked PDFs both coming from a separate file where each detail is created on it’s own story (this aids in publishing). Search around for posts by Link Ellis (Archilink). I know he’s had good ideas on this in the past. Additionally you might want to download the free version of his template and see how he’s handling details in that.
If you are creating super generic details that’ll show up in every file (like window flashing) you could just make independent details in your template file. Another idea would be to create independent details in your file of all the generic details you want, then copy and paste 2D details from elsewhere into them as needed. It really depends on what your goal is and what the project type is.
Emilio
Thanks! Ill look into those ideas.
Dave Tka
Hey Jared, i was wondering if you are updating the US Library in your Google Docs or is it an old version?
Greets
Jared Banks
I am. When I remember. There haven’t been many/any Library updates to ARCHICAD 20 in a while, so I think I’m current!
Yeoung Omar Nakashima
Hi Jared, I’ve been working with ArchiCAD since version 8 INTL and since version 14 in Spanish and I started since to figure it out how to work on some kind of a template so I started to configure some things of the program to make my work easier, but then I realized that my real need was a template so I put myself to work with, but as I was working on it I got lost because I saw all the work that takes to make a template so I only configured little things like add some layers, layer combinations, pens and colors, translators and customize my work environment, but a few weeks earlier I got into a series of webinars from Graphisoft.mx and saw all the new things in ArchiCAD 20 and found your page and all the cool stuff that you got and at this moment I started for work on my personal template using yours as reference.
I’d like to thank you for all the information that you share to the ArchiCAD users community and I hope that in a short term I could contribute with my resulting template.
Cheers for all the great shared work!!
Jared Banks
Thanks. I always love seeing other people’s templates and hearing about why they built them the way they did. Someday I’d love to have a series of guest posts from people talking about their template creation philosophy.
Spiros
Hi Jared,
I’m new to Archicad, and seem to have difficulty getting your US 20 library from the link. I only get the google login page, and after login, I can’t see any access to the Google drive storage for the Library download. I have the INT version installed, so I am missing the objects that you have set up. Is there a problem with the sharing on the link?
Jared Banks
Try using a different browser. I’m guessing that might be the issue. I can’t reproduce the problem on my end (the link works fine for me on multiple browsers), so I’m not sure what else to recommend. If that doesn’t work, send me an e-mail with a screenshot of the problem and I’ll either be able to help you better that way or perhaps send you the library another way.
Steve
Jared,
Thanks for all your efforts on Archicad. One thing we’ve struggled with over the years is copying and pasting objects, text, graphics, etc. between projects on different templates and the nightmare of unwanted layers, attributes, materials, etc. etc. that come along for the ride. Any thoughts on managing this?
Jared Banks
Two thoughts:
1) Avoid it. Have both projects open & rebuild things from Project A in Project B.
2) Slow down and do it right. Rebuild what you need in your template then copy it into the project you need it in.
3) Copy and paste stuff from Project A into Project B and then immediate delete and replace all the imported Attributes. My template is set up to help make all that garbage obvious/easy to find. For instance, copy something over then go to the Layer Manager. Select All On under the Layer Combinations then find the Layer that doesn’t turn on. That’s the one that needs to be deleted and replaced. Ideally it’ll be easy to delete and replace because your old files will have similar Attributes to your new files.
Jeff See
Hey Jared, your archicad template is wonderful! The in-depth discussions your blog has to offer also helps new architects like me understand BIM further and the logic behind creating an efficient workflow. I have been customizing the pen sets and found it a bit of tedious work since I have to manually set each color, each lineweight, per pen set. I don’t know if you have come across a technique to easily change a color, or a lineweight or even eyedropper a specific pen property to another in a different pen set before saving everything. It seems archicad doesn’t have that feature yet. What do you do to save time if you’re editing multiple pen sets?
-Jeff
Jared Banks
Jeff,
In the past, I set up one Pet Set to be what I wanted, then duplicated it to create the other Pen Sets. That way I made things “perfect” in one and then just augmented it to create the other Pen Sets. ARCHICAD 22 has improved the Attribute Manager and it is now possible to copy Pens between Pen Sets via the Attribute Manager and make other changes to multiple Pens at once. I haven’t used this feature enough to give advice on the best methods to use this new feature, so I’d recommend watching the official videos and exploring: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTMHlSsozXg. I’m hoping to update my template to ARCHICAD 22 later this summer, at which time I’ll have more to say!
Oleg Alikov
Good job, Jared! Thanks!
Buffy Andrews
Hello Jared,
Want to say thank you for your hardwork on getting the template together. I have really enjoyed working with them. I do have a question regarding the page layout size. I am just wondering why you set it to the ANSI D @ 22×34 rather than the ARCH D @ 24×36. Many Thanks!
Jared Banks
A half size set of 22×34 = 11×17. For people who regularly print half size sets, that makes life SO much easier.
Buffy Andrews
Great! Thank you.
Sebastian van Greunen
Hi Jared, firstly thanks for the template (v22). I am trying to get my mind around it and converting to metric. I have not added the US library as mine is the international version. When I use the standard markers, storey levels, etc, the dimensions are still shown as imperial, but I have already changed the preferences to metric. Is there a way to change this?
Jared Banks
Make sure you change all the dimension types to meters. Under the dimensions in project preferences, there are a number of buttons to click on to make sure you are changing all the dimension types.
Sebastian van Greunen
Hi Jared, thank you so much. I didn’t even realise the icons below were editable…doh! 🙂
christopher
Hi Jared thanks for the template! are you aware of whether anyone has adapted your template for metric users with international libraries, and made it available for download?
Jared Banks
I know people are converting the template to metric, but no one has shared the results with me. If anyone ever does convert it and send it back to me, I’d love to add the metric version of the Shoegnome Open Template to my template page.
If I ever saw the results I should be able to make a metric version myself…but being unfamiliar with metric building and layout standards, building the metric version myself from scratch would be a lot of work based on conjecture only.
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