Our Essentials course has been designed by experts for anyone new to ARCHICAD. No matter what background you are coming from ARCHICAD Essentials Training gives you the confidence to work on projects immediately upon your return to the office.

This course introduces you to the principles of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and shows you positive and productive ways of using ARCHICAD. It will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to use the program quickly and effectively. The course includes a mixture of instruction, exercises, discussions and assessments to help trainees understand BIM and develop skills in ARCHICAD.

The objectives of the course are to ensure trainees understand:

• The advantages of Building Information Modelling
• How to setup and manage projects from large to small
• The functionality of ARCHICAD’s principal Tools
• The method of producing a project with associated documentation
• Extracting basic data from the Model

Course Duration

Course Outlines

• Introduction to BIM ▷ Explaining the background and principles of BIM.
• ARCHICAD Theory ▷ Principles of ARCHICAD and working methods.
• ARCHICAD workspace ▷ Palettes and tool-bars, origin, scale, preferences.
• Project Setup ▷ Stories, Layers, file types, autosave function.
• Attributes ▷ Creating attributes, Building Materials, Composites and Surfaces.
• Element placement and selection ▷ Walls, slabs, windows, doors.
• Element settings and editing ▷ Walls, slabs, windows, doors.
• Roof Tool ▷ Different methods of roof creation and editing.
• Navigator ▷ Explanation of Project map, View map, Layout Book and Publisher sets.
• Views ▷ Understanding all the stored settings for views
• Sections and Elevations ▷ Setting up viewpoint and controls.
• Grid Tool ▷ Configuring grids and settings for different views.
• Details ▷ Detail Markers and links to model. Level of Detail control in model.
• Dimensioning ▷ Dimension chains and model associativity.
• Stair Tool ▷ Configuring Stair tool.
• Meshes ▷ Methods for creating meshes, gravity.
• External Content ▷ Bringing data from external sources into ARCHICAD.

Our Advanced course has been designed by experts for anyone with a knowledge of ARCHICAD but who wishes to increase their depth of understanding of the tools and facilities in ARCHICAD which were not covered in the Essentials course.

This course is full of tips and tricks and shows you the most productive ways to use all ARCHICAD’s tools. It will equip you with the knowledge and confidence to use the program quickly and effectively. The course will include a mixture of discussions, exercises and assessments to help trainees understand BIM and develop skills in ARCHICAD.

The objectives of the course are to ensure trainees understand:

• Getting the most from ARCHICAD and the Building Information Model
• The importance of establishing Office standards and procedures
• Achieving compliance with industry classification standards
• Effective use of all ARCHICAD’s tools
• Learning shortcuts and tricks to achieve greater productivity

Course Duration

Course Outline

• Complex Profiles ▷ Exploring the possibilities and limitations.
• Solid Element Operations ▷ Their uses and issues.
• Custom Panels ▷ Creation for windows doors and curtain walls.
• Custom Windows and Doors ▷ How to create Library Objects.
• Curtain Walls ▷ Exploring the options for the many types.
• Attributes ▷ Creating and managing custom attributes for various uses.
• Master Layouts ▷ Setting up master Layouts.
• Revisions ▷ Mastering the use of the revision manager.
• Scheduling ▷ Configuring schemes to obtain the data required.
• Advanced Modelling Tools ▷ Effective use of Shell and Morph tools.
• Templates ▷ The importance of an office template.
• Zones ▷ Their use from the outset of a project.
• Renovation ▷ Understanding the renovation tool and filters.
• Labels ▷ Element labelling.
• Stair and Railing Tools ▷ Creating custom stairs and railings.
• Properties and Classifications ▷ Managing properties and classifications.
• Publisher and BIMx ▷ Publishing documents and BIMx files.

We are able to offer training courses tailored to your specific requirements. This is aimed at intermediate or advanced users and is not suitable for new users. We would require a list of topics that trainees would like to cover at least one week prior to the training course. ARCHICAD clinic sessions can be arranged for users who have already been trained to pick up on any issues they would like to recap on.

We also offer tailored consultancy days to look at an organisation’s use of ARCHICAD and BIM in general and suggest ways in which usage and productivity can be improved. If you would like to discuss any of these options please contact us.

GDL is the parametric, geometry-based language, used to create .gsm parametric objects for use in ARCHICAD. It derived from BASIC, using written commands to describe shapes and forms in terms of size and location in X, Y, Z co-ordinates. Forms can be altered according to input by the user along with the ability to turn elements on and off and control loops. GDL can be used for to create 2D symbols for plan or elevation or full 3D objects including building elements such as windows, doors and lights.

This is a 2 day course for anyone new to GDL. It has been designed by experts in the field to get you on your way to scripting any kind of object.

Course Outlines

Introduction to GDL

• Introduction to the scripting interface and programming organisation
• Introduction to parameter types
• Understanding subtypes
• Basic 2D and 3D commands and “cursor” movement
• Creating a non-parametric object
• Using the preview window
• Adding comments and URL

Using the 2D Script

• Creating a basic 2D symbol (fragment, project)
• Creating a parametric 2D object
• Attributes (fill patterns, lines and pens)
• 2D polylines and masking
• Creating a stretchy object with hotspots
• Text and labelling
• Dimensioning

The 3D Object

• 3D polylines, prisms and masking
• Slabs
• Shadow and model commands
• Attributes (materials, textures, section fills and pens)
• Subroutines
• If statements
• For/Next loops
• 3D Hotspots

Parameter Control and Display

• Cascading and indenting
• Pop-down menus and value lists
• Hiding and locking parameters
• Idiot-proofing
• Using the last modified parameter command

Curved 3D Objects

• Tubular structures (tubes, cylinders and elbows)
• Using trigonometry
• Bprism, extrude and tube commands
• Controlling curve resolution
• Revolve and curved prism commands

The Advanced 3D Object

• Putting and getting
• Parameter Arrays
• Ruled, sweep and pyramid commands
• Mesh, mass and coons commands
• Texture Mapping
• Macros and object variation

Creating Lamps, Windows and Doors

• Using the lamp and opening subtypes
• Attributes (materials)
• Light commands
• Lightworks compatibility
• Wallhole command
• Global variables

3D Cutting, Addition and Subtraction

• Cutting planes
• Cutting shapes
• Scripting solid element operations

User Interface

• Pixels and Margins
• Infield and outfield text
• Infield text with arrays [if Advanced 3D undertaken]
• Hiding, locking and if statements in the UI
• Multiple page interfaces
• Groupboxes and separators
• Images
• Pictorial value lists