Archicad Tutorial
Archicad Tutorial
3. New/Browse File Screen will Appear. This will show all previously created/opened files > Select New
Select New
5. Click New
NOTE: Work Environment Profile: There is an option to select Last Profile Used, which will use all of
the previously set values that the user has set from any file. Recommended for beginners to choose
Default Profile when creating new projects.
Select New
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.
6. Pop-Up Screw Usage Logs will Appear > Select Cancel to close window
Screen Setup
Select Cancel
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.
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.
Individual Layers of
Construction Components
Layer Combinations: Groupings
of Layer(s) to form a working
drawing (i.e. Floor Plan,
Foundation Plan, etc.
1. Delete Layers
a. Select Layers from the Layer Folder Group
b. Select First Layer Group: Architectural-2D > Hold Shift > Select Last Layer Group: Structural >
Press Delete Key
Note: User cannot delete the Archicad Layer. This is catch all layer for any unassigned stutural
members
c. Error Message will Appear: Select Delete Elements > Select Delete
4. Adding Layers
Create the following layers:
• Exterior House Outline
• Interior House Outline
• Exterior Walls
• Interior Walls
• Text
• Dimensions
• Exterior Elevations
• Foundation Wall
• Foundation Footing
2. Select Layer
Eyeballs to attach to
Layer Combination
3. Select Update
d. Repeat the Process for the Foundation plan and Exterior Elevations
i. Foundation Plan
1. Foundation Wall
2. Foundation Footing
ii. Exterior Elevations
1. Exterior Walls
2. Interior Walls
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.
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:
1. Click Drop Down Menu View > Grid and Editing Plane Options >
Grids and Background
Snap Spacing: 1’ x 1’
3. 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”
4. 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
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.
2.The window below will appear. Change the settings as shown below.
a. Top Link = No Link
b. Wall Height = 8’-0”
c. Wall Type: Basic
a. Material > General Requirements > Air Space
d. Wall Thickness = 6”
e. Layer = Exterior Walls
f. Select Ok Wall Type Select Structure Basic
Wall Thickness 6”
NOTE: All Exterior Walls must fall on the INSIDE of the Exterior House Outline.
3. Select Outside Face for Wall Drawing Type > 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
4. Choose Wall Type 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. > Be sure the walls falls on the
Inside of Exterior House Outline (Blue Lines)
5. Repeat this method for the rest of the lines of the Exterior House Outline in a counter-clockwise
direction
1. Select the Wall Tool from the Toolbox. > Settings are the same as Exterior Walls Except
Change the layer to Interior Walls
2. Select Center For Drawing Wall Type
3. Draw the Inerior Walls on the Interior House Outline (Red Lines)
4. Turn off Interior and Exterior House Outline > CTRL-L > Click the Eye Ball next to each layer >
Click Ok
Door Tool
Door Preview
- Floor Plan
- Elevation
Various - 3D w/ colors
Door - 3D Rendered
Models - Info
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
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.
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.
.
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
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.
PT 1 PT 2 PT 3 PT 4
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
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.