]]> Some users of ArchiCAD may be unaware of where the objects they are loading are coming from.

It can be even more confusing with office libraries being used from a server.

There is an easy way to find out where the library is located to allow you to maintain these file location.

If you go to File>Libraries & Objects>Library Manager you can choose any of the libraries in your linked libraries & the location of this library will be displayed underneath:

The other embedded library is stored within the actual file (has no location) and BIM Server Libraries will be stored on your BIM Server.

]]> Once you have run the Cadimage Tools Installer you should now fin that there is Cadimage Menu option in the menu bar.

If this is not the case, then you simply need to activate the correct Work Environment Settings.  To do this go to:

Options>Work Environment>Work Environment…

In the Dialog box that pops up select the top option in the left hand column, (This should be Work Environment Profiles
In the selection panel next to it there will be a number of Profiles, choose the Cadimage Profile 16 V2 option:

Click on Apply Schemes of Profile, In the dialog box that pops up choose Apply then Press Ok

You should now see your Cadimage Menu in the Menu bar

]]> “How do I find out the area of a slab?”
This is one of the most frequently asked questions we get in our training courses and on our support lines.
There are 2 simple processes for getting this information

The first option is to open the Element Information Palette, choose the area setting, and then select your slab
Window>Palettes>Element Information

This Provides you with information that you then have to show as annotation, Which doesn’t update if your slab changes

The second method, is the simplest and most effective
Use the Slab Label.  In the label tool, choose the slab option from the list on the left and change the label type from text to Dimension Label

Next Open the Symbol Label Tab, and under the General Settings turn on the Show Area option

Once you have done this, simply select the slab, Open the Listing and Labelling Tab and choose the Label Slab Option.

You will now have a label on your slab showing the area that will update as you change your slab!

]]> Before you can apply labels to the windows you need to set the label tool up for doors and windows.
With nothing selected open the label tools settings.

Under the Content & Preview Tab, choose the Window Tool option from the list.
Change the label type from Text to Cadimage ID Label

Configure the label settings the way you want them to appear

repeat the Process for the door tool
Once you have done this, click OK.
Go to your Elevation and select all the doors and windows
Open the settings dialog box and go to the listing and labelling tab,
Click on the option to Label windows.

The windows and doors should now show labels configured as per the way you set them up in the previous steps

By default the labels will place to the lowest visible point on the left hand side of the window/door

]]> We have all had situations where we need to calculate Cut and Fill volumes for sloping sites.  Here is a simple technique for doing this is to use Solid Element Operations.

First of all,once you have created your mesh, create a copy of it off to the side.  Use your slabs and footings to create the cuts in the mesh using the Solid Element Operators

Open the Solid Element Operations dialogue box (Design>Solid Element Operations...)select your mesh, then click on the Target Element Button

Select your floor slab and Press the Get Operator Elements Button.

Next change the option under Choose an Operation to Subtraction with Upwards Extrusion

Then Hit Ok

Your site will now show the site Cut.

Create a second slab under your floor slab, (ensure that you make it deep enough to extend all the way to the base of the mesh)

Repeat the process as outlined above, except this time, make your mesh the operator, the slab the Target, and change the Operation type to Subtraction with Downwards Extrusion.

The bottom of the slab will be cut off to match the face of the mesh.

Go to Window>Palettes>Element Information…  In the Palette that pops up, choose the Icon on the right hand side as shown.

This shows the selected elements volume.
Select the copy of your mesh and note down the volume.
Then Select the Mesh you have edited.
Note down the difference in volume and subtract it from the original figure.
This will give you the cut volume.

Select the Slab you edited,

The volume displayed here will tell you how much Fill material you will need to bring onto the site.

]]> How much time do you spend dimensioning your floor plans?  Did you know that like almost every other drawing  process ArchiCAD has the ability to do this for you?

First thing to do is select all of your walls
(select the wall tool in the tool box and then CTRL + A for PC or Command + A for MAC)

Then go to Document>Document Extras>Automatic Dimensioning>Exterior Dimensioning

The following Dialog box will pop up

Leaving the settings as they are shown means that the dimension tool will dimension the width of your window openings, based on the window opening sizes. If you have specified a packing space (Shim Space in Cadimage Doors and Windows), the dimensions will show this I.E. Wallhole size or Rough Framed Opening size.
The dimensions will be laid out as indicated I.E. the overall dimensions, then the External Geometry, then Structural Dimensions and then finally the window sizes

Once you hit OK, you will need to then define the major direction of the building (i.e. is it bigger up or down?) And click to place the inner most dimensions (typically openings).

Note: As per the highlighted field in the image above, you can choose to do each elevation of the building separately or you can choose to do all 4 sides at once

]]> If you have logged a ticket recently with the Cadimage team you may have noticed a follow up email asking you to rate the support you received.

Basically there is two options:

Good, Im Satisfied or Bad, Im Unsatisfied

This is a useful feature as we have always known how efficient we are in providing answers & solutions but never had a grasp at how happy our customers were with our service.
We are trying to ensure that everyone is left satisfied & we can use the information you provide to improve our customer service!

But if you do not want to receive these ‘satisfaction’ emails just let us know & we can unsubscribe you

]]> Do you need to reference in details from different disciplines such as Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Civil engineers?
Do you want to be able to easily identify whose details are whose?

Use different Marker Heads on your details to clearly identify different disciplines.

Open the Marker Head tab in the detail settings,

Use different shapes to identify the different disciplines
I.E. Round = Arch, Square = Structural, Square = Mechanical etc.