ARCHICAD Introduction Tutorial

Starting a New Project

1. Double-click the Archicad Icon from the desktop
2. Click on the Grey Warning/Information box when it appears on the screen.
3. Click on the Create a New Project dot and click OK. (To load a pre-existing document click on
Browse for Project and locate the desired file.)

Note: Each new project will create two files in the directory. One is the main file extension (.pln) and the other
is the backup file (.bpn). Both of these files must remain together at all times. If they are separated, neither file
will be able to open in the program.
Screen Setup

Pull-down Menus
Icon Options
Info Box: Provides
settings for the tool
that is selected from
the Toolbox
Workspace

Navigator Window
Toolbox: Various Allows user to move between
2D/3D object different drawings.
creations to build a
building
Step 1: Setting the Scale
It is very important to set your drawing scale. In the area of architectural drafting, there are two standard
drawing scales that are used when creating a floor plan:
Residential: ¼”=1’0”
Commercial: 1/8”= 1’-0”
Plot Plans: Varies (I.E 1” = 10’, 1” = 5’)
Elevations: Varies (3/16” = 1’-0”)

To set the scale of your drawing, click on the scale indicator at the bottom of the Archicad window and select
the desired scale. The software, by default, is set to the residential scale. See sample workspace below.

Step 2: Setting Up the Workspace

1. Click the Arrow Tool at the top of the Toolbox.
2. Select the four elevation markers on the workspace. You can click them one at a time or hold the shift
key while clicking to select all of them.

The elevation markers look like this:

3. Hit Delete.
4. Click Delete Viewpoint.
5. Click on Delete Anyway.
Your workspace should now look like the one below.

Set the scale of

the drawing here.
Zooming/Scaling Tools. Should already be
Roll Bar on Mouse be used to set to Residential
pan and zoom in/out size.
Step 3: Layer Settings/Layers
Layer settings allow you to add features (doors, walls, windows, cabinets, etc.) to a specific layer. You can turn
layers off, which essentially hides its elements from the screen, and back on again to show them. This helps you
keep the screen clean and orderly, as well as creating different types of drawings with different information.

There are two ways to access the layer settings.

 Option A: CTRL-L
 Option B: Select the Document Menu > Layers > Layer Settings.

The following menu will appear. What you see in this menu are the software’s default Layer Combinations and
Individual Layers. You need to delete all Layer Combinations and Layers.

Step 1: Click Select All.

You will have to select This will select all of the
each Layer Combination individual layers.
individually and delete Step 2: Click Delete.
them one at a time. This will delete all of the
layers. NOTE: The
NOTE: Drafting and Archicad layer will not
Visible and Unlocked will delete. We will keep this
NOT be deleted as a default layer.

Layer Combinations group together individual layers to adjust from one drawing to the next (ex: Floor Plan
Drawing, Foundation Plan, Roof Plan, etc.). To create a new Layer Combination, simply click New on the
bottom left corner of the menu.
Create the following Layer Combinations:
 Floor Plan
 Foundation Plan
 Exterior Elevations

Next, you will create individual Layers. In order for these layers to attach to a Layer Combination, you must
have the Layer Combination and its Eyeball selected. Now, select the Floor Plan Layer Combination. Then
click the NEW button on the right side of the menu.
Create the following layers:
 Exterior House Outline
 Interior House Outline
 Exterior Walls
 Interior Walls
 Text
 Dimensions
 Exterior Elevations

See Below for completed Layer Combinations and Layers

Attach the following Layers to Floor Plan Layer Combination
1. Select Layer Combination Floor Plan
2. Select the Eyeballs On next to each layer (NOTE: All other layers should be off)
a. Exterior Walls
b. Interior Walls
c. Dimensions
d. Text
3. Click Update.

NOTE: Throughout this course, you will be accessing this menu to add and delete different layers. Take a
minute to examine the rest of the window.

Before Exiting make sure each layer is turned ON

Click OK
Step 4: Drawing the House Outline
Set Up the Grid: By now, you’ve probably noticed that there is a predefined grid in the background of your
workspace. When using Archicad to draw a floor plan, you will use this grid to aid you as the designer. The
software’s default size for the grid is 4’-0” x 4’-0” for each square space. It is very helpful to redefine the grid
based on what type of work drawing is being worked on.
To redefine the grid space, do as follows:
 Click Drop Down Menu View > Grid and Editing Plane Options > Grids and Background

The window below will appear.

Grid Spacing: 1’ x 1’ Grid Color

Snap Spacing: 1’ x 1’

 Adjust the following

o Main Grid Spacing:1’-0” x 1’-0”.
o Snap Grid: 1’ x 1’
o Double-Click the white box under Grid Lines. This brings up a color palette. Under the basic
colors, select the gray that is the third from the right on the bottom row.
o Click OK.

Draw Interior/Exterior House Outline: Use the Line Tool: In the toolbox, there are many different tools that
will perform various functions in the software. The first tool you will use is the Line Tool to draw the exterior
and interior outlines of your house. Simply select the Line Tool from the toolbox to use it

Once you select the Line Tool, the property options will appear in the Info Box.
 Adjusts how
When the lines will
selected, the be drawn. Adjusts the
properties line type.
menu is
entered.
Adjusts the Adjusts the color of the line. Either
layer of the click on the color to open a palette of
line. Adjust to colors, or input a number that references
EXTERIOR a specific color.
HOUSE Adjust to Color # 7.
OUTLINE.

Once these settings are set, you may begin drawing on the grid workspace. If you hover the cursor over the grid,
you will notice that the cursor doesn’t snap to each grid space. To turn the grid snap on, hit ALT-S on your
keyboard. This allows for even measurements when working on various aspects of your house, including when
you use your Line Tool. Hitting ALT-S turns the snaps on and off.

With the snap turned on, place your cursor on the origin. The origin is a black X that appears on your grid sheet.
Once the cursor is over the origin, a black check will appear.

This indicates that the cursor has snapped to this spot. Left Click once on the origin. An error message will
appear, asking if you want to turn the layer on since we previously left it hidden. Simply select Show Layer.
Now, drag the mouse to the left. To make the line go straight, hold down the Shift Key.

Now, you need the length of the line. There are two ways to set the line length.
 Option 1: Since each side of a square in your grid is a foot, you can count the number of squares that
equals the number of feet you want your line to be, then place your line accordingly.
 Option 2: Drag the line in the direction you want it to go. Then, simply type in the measurement value
in feet and inches and then hit Enter. Be sure to use the ’ mark for feet and the ” mark for inches.
Example: 9’-6”

Draw a rectangular box with these dimensions: Horizontal 15’-0” x Vertical 10’-0”. Choose either method
to create the box. If the Tracker is not on, click this icon.
The screen should now look like the one below.
Step 5: Interior Walls

1. Select the Line Tool and set the following settings:

a. Layer: Interior House Outline
b. Color: 10
2. Select the Line Division icon. This tool allows you to divide up a line in four different ways by showing
hash marks on the line. It can be found on the top menu bar of the screen. Also, you can click the View
pull-down menu and then click Snap Options. There is an arrowhead pointing downward on the Line
Division icon. Click this arrowhead. Four different options will appear:
a. Half: Shows the hash mark at the halfway point of any line or wall.
b. Divisions: Shows hash marks that divide the feature in a predefined amount of sections.
c. Percent: Shows hash marks that divide the feature in predefined percentages.
d. Distance: Shows hash marks that divide the feature into predefined distances.

Line Division Icon

3. Click Divisions.
4. Click the arrowhead on the Line Division icon again.
a. Click Set Snap Point Values.
b. Input 4 for the number of divisions.
c. Click OK.
5. Be sure your grid snap is turned OFF (ALT-S).
6. Place your cursor on the top line of the rectangle. 3 hash marks will appear. The number of divisions
determines the number of hash marks, but these numbers ARE NOT the same. The line is divided into 4
sections by the 3 hash marks.
7. Place your cursor on the middle hash mark. A Check Mark should appear. This means that you have
located that specific point. Left Click once on this mark. Another error message will appear. Click
Show Layer.
8. Drag the mouse downward so the line goes below the blue line you started on. Line up the line with the
vertical reference line to make it vertical.
9. Type 5’-0”, then hit Enter.
Your workspace should now look like the one below.

10. Place your cursor at the end of the red line. Left Click once on this point. (Note: Look for the Check
Mark to indicate the end point of the line.)
11. Drag the cursor to the left. When you reach the blue line to the left of the rectangle, the Pencil should
turn black. This indicates that you have reached the Perpendicular of that line. Left Click once at this
point.
Your workspace should now look like the one below.
 12. To complete the Interior House Outline, we will add one more line. First, click the arrowhead on the
Line Division icon, click Set Snap Point Values, and in the Distance bar type in 3’-6”. Then, click the
same arrowhead again and click Distance.
13. Place your cursor on the Right-hand Side of the center of the Horizontal Red Line. The line will be
divided by hash marks into increments of 3’-6”. (Note: Depending on where the cursor is placed relative
to the center of the line will determine in what direction the distance divisions will start from.)
14. Select the first hash mark (look for the Check Mark before clicking).
15. Draw a vertical line that is perpendicular to the bottom Horizontal Blue Line of the rectangle.

Your workspace should now look like the one below.

SAVE YOUR DRAWING.

File Name: Tutorial
Step 6: Exterior Walls

 Select the Wall Tool from the Toolbox.

 Select the Wall Properties icon in the Info Box.

Wall Tool Wall Properties

The window below will appear. Change the settings as shown below. When finished, click OK.

Change to Not Linked

Wall Thickness:
Change to 6”

Wall Height: 8’-0”

Select Model Tab >

Layer:
3D Model Colors:
Exterior Walls
Click on the first icon
Change to Siding: 6”
Horiz. White

Leave all others

default

Click OK
Drawing Walls: There are three ways to draw a wall that can be referenced based on predefined line:
Outside Face, Center, and Inside Face. These can be selected in the Info Box

NOTE: All Exterior Walls must fall on the INSIDE of the Exterior House Outline.

To draw the Exterior Walls:

1. Start at the Origin. Left Click once (after the check mark comes up), then drag the cursor to the right
end of the Exterior House Outline.
NOTE: There are four ways to draw a linear wall. Choose Single Wall. Single Wall

The default is set to Poly Wall

Rectangle. Left
Click and hold to
see all wall drawing Rectangle
options. Angle
Wall

2. The bottom wall should now be formed. Place the cursor where you stopped drawing the bottom wall
and a Check Mark should appear. Left Click on that check mark and drag the cursor along the Exterior
House Outline until it ends.
3. Repeat this method for the rest of the lines of the Exterior House Outline in a counter-clockwise
direction

Your drawing should now look like the one below.

Step 7: Interior Walls

 Select the Wall Tool from the Toolbox.

 Select the Wall Properties icon in the Info Box.
 Set the following values:
Wall Height: 8’-0”
Wall Thickness: 6”
Layer: Interior Walls
Reference Line: Center
First Wall Surface: Generic – Walls Interior (shown below)

 Draw your walls on the Interior House Outline (red lines).

 Turn off Interior and Exterior House Outline > CTRL-L > Click the Eye Ball next to each layer > Click
Ok

Your drawing should now look like the one below.

 Step 8: Doors
The final steps of this tutorial are to insert doors and windows. We will insert basic types and features of these
for now, as we will go more in-depth about this later in the course.

1. Click the Door Tool in the Toolbox.

2. Click the Door Properties icon from the Info Box.

3. Select Wood Internal Doors from the Library.
4. In the bottom library, select D1 20. Door Size: Set Size
Door Type Libraries: Allows User to Width: 2’-6”
select different types of doors Height 6’-8”

Door Preview
- Floor Plan
- Elevation
Various - 3D w/ colors
Door - 3D Rendered
Models - Info

Anchor Point: Allows

user to select Center or
Door Jam for placing.
Select the middle
option > Side 1
 Select Wood Internal Door Settings > Option Bar > Nominal Sizes and Tolerances > Select Unit
Size > Set Settings 2’-6” x 6’-8” (NOTE: This will include the molding and dorr frame as part of its
overall dimensions

Option Bar

Internal Door Settings Menu: Click the tab as shown above to show a menu
of various settings you can change. You will be accessing this menu frequently.

5. Set the following settings:

May pick a
different
panel if
desired

2D Detail Level: Simple Leaf Thickness: 1 3/8”

 Uncheck Outside Casing and Inside Casing Dimension Marker: No Marker

Overview of Door Settings

- Door Library
o Internal Doors
 Style of Door: D20
- Anchor Point
o Side 1
- Nominal Door Size and Tolerance
o Unit Size
 Door Size 2’-6” x 6’-8”
- Door Settings Opening
o 2D Detail Level
 Simple
- Frame and Leaf
o Leaf Thickness
 1 3/8”
- Casing
o Uncheck Inside and Outside (Turns off Molding)
- Dimension Marker
o No Marker

By now, you should know how to change the type of line division as well as the value associated with each one.
6. Set the Line Division type to Distance.
7. Set the Distance value to 3”. Doors should be no closer than 3” from a wall.
8. Follow the directions shown below.

NOTE:
 Doors should be 3” away from any wall.
 Doors should always swing towards a wall, and never swing into open space.
 Doors should open into the room a person is walking into.
 Place the cursor on the
inside of the wall.
Hash marks will
appear. They will start
from the nearest
endpoint based on the
cursor. Note: Hash
marks are in 3”
intervals.

Left Click on the first

hash mark. Place the
cursor on the arrow that
shows the correct direction
of the swing on the door.
Left Click to place it.

Place the following doors on your house. The settings for every door will remain the same. Note: Be sure to
adjust the anchor point of the door accordingly.

SAVE TUTORIAL
Step 9: Windows
Windows are a functional part of any house design. Their function is one of utility and of design style. A
window’s basic function is to provide ventilation and to bring light into a house. There are many styles of
windows that all have their own functions and uses within a house design.

The Window Tool operates much like the Door Tool. The only difference is how the window is placed in the
drawing.

1. Click the Window Tool from the Toolbox.

2. Click the Window Properties icon from the Info Box.
3. Set the following settings:

Select Casement Library >

W1 Casement 20
Width: 3’-0”
Height: 5’-0”
Distance from the floor to
the top of the window: 6’-8”
 Sash Options lets the user create
mullions on the window

Under Casement Window Settings, check

the Wall Inset box. This centers the
window in the wall.

Under Dimension Marker, select No Sign.

4. Set the Distance in the Line Division menu to 3’-0”.
5. Place your cursor on an outside wall to show the hash marks (Note: The Snap tool must be turned off).
6. Left Click once on the hash mark desired (see below).
7. Left Click again on the outside of the wall to determine which way the window will swing. The window
should now be placed.
8. Place the following windows as shown below.
Step 10: Dimensioning
1. First, the working units need to be changed.
Click Options > Click Project Preferences > Click Dimensions.

Change from 1’ to 1’-0”

2. Click the Dimension tool from the Toolbox.

3. Click the Dimension Properties icon from the Info Box.
4. Change the settings as shown below.

Change placement of the dimension value

Layer: Dimensions
Layers of Dimensions: When placing dimensions, you can click on as many known points as you would like
in order to mark off dimension lines. There are three layers of dimensions
 First Layer: Starts on the outside of the house, then goes to the center of the interior walls, the center of
doors , the center of windows, and then finishes at the outside of the opposite exterior wall.
Note: When locating a known point, the cursor will change to a for the first selection Check
Mark; Cursor will change to a BLACK pencil for a known point. When you left click, a
circular target should appear. If a square target appears, then a known point was not checked
and you will have to start over.

Unknown Point

Known Point

 Second Layer: Starts on the outside of an exterior wall, then goes to the center of the interior walls, and
then finishes at the outside of the opposite exterior wall.
 Third Layer: Shows the overall size of the house.

5. Click the four following points.

PT 2 PT 3 PT 4
PT 1

6. Double-click above the wall. The cursor should change to a hammer. Place the cursor on a grid line (turn
the Snap tool on to lock in; make sure it is turned back off after you lock in your dimension), and Left
Click to place.
7. Repeat this process to place the dimensions as shown below.
SAVE YOUR TUTORIAL.

Step 11: Exterior Elevations

1. Click the Elevation Tool in the Toolbox.
2. Click the Elevation Properties icon in the Info Box.
3. Change the following:
a. Name the elevation Front Elevation.
b. Status: Manual Rebuild Model
c. In the Marker tab, change the marker type to No Marker.
d. In the Story Levels tab, change the Story Levels to None if it is not that setting already.
e. Change the layer to Exterior Elevations.
f. Click OK.
4. Now we will make our elevations.
a. To the right of the exterior wall with the two doors, find a point at least one grid box to the right
of that wall and at least one grid box below the bottom (horizontal) exterior wall.
b. Left Click once. Drag the line vertically to past the top (horizontal) exterior wall, then Left
Click again.
c. Left Click on the side of the line which you want the software to “look.” In this case, it is to the
Left of the line.
d. Your elevation is now made. This is your Front Elevation. Rename your elevation to Front
Elevation.
5. Repeat these steps (adjust for the location of the elevation) for Right Elevation, Left Elevation, and
Rear Elevation. Remember to rename each elevation before making it.

NOTE: When an elevation is made, the line you drew to make it will turn invisible. To select an
elevation, make sure your arrow tool is turned on and click where you made the elevation.

6. To view your exterior elevations, look in the Navigator Window. There is an Elevations tab, and there
is a plus sign to the left of it. Click the plus sign, and you will see four elevations listed. Double-Click
on one of them. A new window will appear showing the elevation. To go back to the floor plan, click the
FLOOR PLAN tab at the top of your workspace.
Step 12: Printing
1. Select the Text Tool from the Toolbox. Using the Text Tool is like creating a Text Box in Microsoft
Word.
2. Place your Name, Date, and Hour in the bottom right-hand corner of the sheet as shown below.
Layer: Text
Font Height: 8
3. Click File, click Print, and set the following:
 Paper Orientation: Landscape
 Black and White
 Printer: BHS-B32-HP5200

Scale: Click on
Custom. In the
box, type in 32.

4. Print the following items:

 Floor Plan
 Front Elevation
 Right Elevation
 Left Elevation
 Rear Elevation

TURN IN PRINTOUTS
SHOW MR. JOURDEN COMPUTER FILE