We received some great submissions, which you [...]]]> A few weeks ago I sent out an email to everyone on our MasterTemplate list asking people to submit their favorite tips for using ArchiCAD, or links to web pages or posts that included useful tips and resources. We will be awarding prizes for the best entries.

We received some great submissions, which you can view on this page.

Please help us decide which tips are the most useful! Simply give a rating to the ones you like best. Voting is open through the next week, then we’ll announce the winners!

I am pleased to announce the release of MasterTemplate 14 for ArchiCAD 14.

The USA version is available now, and the International version will be released in August.

If you purchased MasterTemplate (or an upgrade) within the past 12 months, you may download AMT14 for free [...]]]> July 23, 2010
[revised August 7]

I am pleased to announce the release of MasterTemplate 14 for ArchiCAD 14.

The USA version is available now, and the International version will be released in August.

If you purchased MasterTemplate (or an upgrade) within the past 12 months, you may download AMT14 for free by logging in to the website.

Go to the GET MASTERTEMPLATE menu in the navigation bar and select LOGIN TO THE WEBSITE (or click this link), then go to YOUR MEMBERSHIP PAGE where you will see a link to the AMT 14 download page. If you’ve forgotten your login info, you may use the Forgot Password link to get it emailed to you. Remember that your Login User Name is your email address.

If your last purchase of AMT was before July 23, 2009, you may upgrade to AMT 14 for $75 by clicking this link (or the one on the website).

Here is a summary of what’s new and changed in AMT 14:

1)   The AMT Legends were revised for compatibility with ArchiCAD Library 14.

2)   MasterTemplate Library items are now embedded into the various Legends PLN files as well as the template itself.

3)   The structure of the template was simplified somewhat by moving some of the explanatory worksheets to the AMT Legends file, and removing some Plan-based Views for the Interactive Legends. A new View was created to facilitate copying Quick Rooms into the project.

4)   New 3D Views were created for Shadow Studies Layout sheets. These top-down views have sun shadows turned on for different dates and times.

5)   A new GDL object creates a swatch sheet for all materials defined in the project. A Material Matrix showing all standard materials has been placed onto Layouts for printing or reference. Users may also create new material swatch sheets using this object.

6)   A new worksheet TIP-01 has been added for compiling tips and reference materials for quick access while working in a project. An excellent tip from ArchiCAD-Talk that explains how wall skin priorities work is included as an example.

7)   Minor corrections / updates:

a)    All site plan worksheet Views have been set to 1/8” = 1’-0” rather than 1/4” = 1’-0”.  (In the International version, these views will be set to 1:100.)

b)   Most pre-defined 3D OpenGL views for the 3D window have been redefined to use Sun Shadows, a new feature in ArchiCAD 14. Other updates were made for various 3D Views.

c)    A new Layout sheet has been added to the Small Project Set for DEMOLITION PLANS. It can be used or discarded as needed for each project.

d)   Publisher Sets have been adjusted to correspond better with the Layout Book. Some items have been renamed and/or re-organized.

e)     Favorites have been saved for all the Marker tools (Sections, Elevations, Worksheets, Details, Interior Elevations) and for the Drawing tool.

f)     The Master Specifications.doc file now is inside the MasterTemplate Linked Files folder, since we no longer load a separate MasterTemplate Library folder (its previous location). The Word document has been updated to refer to the new placement.

g)    The T-R TRASH | RECYCLING | TEMP STORAGE Layout Subset has been refreshed. These layouts contain reference materials that may be printed out or viewed onscreen.

More extensive documentation on the new features, as well as a guide for how to upgrade or migrate existing templates, is available in the 22 page AMT 14 Release Notes.

Thanks again for the opportunity to work with you, and help you use ArchiCAD more effectively with MasterTemplate!

Eric Bobrow
Bobrow Consulting Group
Creator of the ArchiCAD MasterTemplate

The video may [...]]]> I have prepared a new video tip on a topic that should be of interest to many ArchiCAD users. In this demonstration, I show how to bring in 2D drawings (in this case, DWG files) as a tracing reference to make it easy and fast to create an accurate 3D model.

The video may be viewed here:
http://www.archicadtemplate.com/tips/tracing2d

At this point, it is about 90 minutes long, and shows every step along the way. I plan to condense it down to focus on the principles and show only the most important steps. Note that for this long version there is a timeline control strip, so you can jump to any point you wish, or replay sections at will.

Here is an outline of the process:

• Create a new project
• Import the DWG files into separate Worksheets and coordinate their origin points
• Set up the Story Levels to correspond to the project heights
• Use Virtual Trace to reference the ground floor DWG as a background while working on the ground floor plan
• Move the original MasterTemplate base slabs, elevation and section markers, and gridlines to the vicinity of the traced DWG
• Set up the wall tool for the proper thickness and height, then trace the outline of the building
• Repeat for the upper story
• Place windows in the walls using the plan DWGs as references for location and width
• Open each of the Elevation viewpoints and correspond the DWG Worksheets for trace reference
• Adjust window heights, types and glazing patterns to match the original drawings
• Repeat for the doors, first on plan, then in elevation
• Draw the first roof piece on plan by tracing over the roof outline from the original drawing
• Coordinate the height and thickness of the roof in each elevation
• Use these adjusted settings to create the rest of the roof system on the lower level, then repeat the process for the upper roofs
• Trim walls to the roofs to clean up the model
• Adjust some of the windows and doors to have arched tops with bricks above
• Review the 3D model, elevations and plans, which now correspond beautifully to the original drawings

All of this was done in real time, in 90 minutes!

To be frank, the first time I did this it took between 3 and 4 hours, because I had to become familiar with the project and how the DWGs were organized. The second time it took about 2 to 2 1/2 hours, and then I started over and recorded the process the third time in 90 minutes from start to finish.

I will condense this video into a shorter presentation, perhaps 10 – 20 minutes long, and create an article that explains the process.

I look forward to your comments and feedback.

AMT 13 INT uses the international ArchiCAD Library, with Interactive Legends (arrays of Favorite parts) and master layouts set up to metric [...]]]> Bobrow Consulting Group is proud to announce the availability of the international version of ArchiCAD MasterTemplate 13. After extensive configuration and testing, AMT 13 INT was posted on Thursday November 5, 2009.

AMT 13 INT uses the international ArchiCAD Library, with Interactive Legends (arrays of Favorite parts) and master layouts set up to metric standards. As with all previous versions of MasterTemplate, it may be adapted to any country, regional or office standard.

While preparing AMT 13 INT, a number of additional enhancements were made in the AMT 13 USA version, which has now been updated and reposted.

AMT licensees who purchased after October 1, 2008 are eligible for a  free upgrade to AMT 13. Earlier licensees may purchase it for $49 through November 30, 2009; after that point all upgrades will be $75.

To download AMT 13 (USA or INT), please login to the MasterTemplate website (www.archicadtemplate.com) using your email address as the user name, then click the DOWNLOAD page link in the top navigation bar. One can login to the site using the LOGIN panel at the lower left of the Home page, or directly on the DOWNLOAD page.

New passwords have been set as part of a general site overhaul, and are being emailed to licensees today. If you have not received an email from BCG with your login info, or are having problems logging in to the site, please email template@bobrow.com for assistance.

The MasterTemplate website Support Forum has been replaced with a system that integrates it more completely with the rest of the site. All posts from the previous forum have been transferred. The download links that were previously part of the Forum are now available on the DOWNLOAD page.

To post a question or comment in the Support Forum, please login (see info above). If you have any questions or need assistance using the new website forum, please email template@bobrow.com.