Windows and Doors – General Settings and Controls

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ARCHICAD Training Lesson Outline

Door and Window General Principles

  • Doors and Windows are not independent entities - they are always associated with a wall

  • Settings for 2D and 3D are related but not “directly” linked

  • They are library parts and rely on ARCHICAD’s currently loaded libraries

INSERTION

The first click point for inserting a door or window determines the anchor as well as the exterior reference (sun icon). If the anchor point is not Center, then a second click sets the opening orientation in relation to click point; the final click sets the swing orientation (which way it opens, for doors and casement windows).

Anchors help lock in design intent: place with centerpoint when the center is important (e.g. midway between two walls), or corner when a door is placed close to a wall intersection.

They also have vertical anchors - to sill or header, to base of wall or to home story. This enables consistency in design - e.g. making all windows have the same header elevation regardless of size, or having all doors have a sill or threshold in relation to the floor regardless of height.

ANNOTATION MARKERS

Dimension markers are associated with these openings to annotate ID and/or size info; these are controlled by door/window settings with visibility determined by Model View Options.

Another way to annotate doors and windows is using the Label tool, which is a separate element (on its own layer) but can be associated with the element and show info based on the element. Optional on plan, it’s the only way to annotate for elevations and sections.

SETTINGS

Door and window settings can be chosen ahead of time (Default Door/Window Settings) manually or via Favorites.

Selected doors and windows can be changed to different settings after insertion, manually or via Favorites.

The primary choice is usually the type of window or door, such as an awning or casement window, or a single or double door or a door with a sidelight. This is usually done as part of picking the most appropriate library part.

When choosing or switching a library part, ARCHICAD loads in the default settings for that part, including style and geometry attributes. This does NOT affect the choice or setting for Door Marker or Window Marker.

Favorites include ALL settings including the library part reference AND the Dimension Markers. They simplify and speed up design by retaining style choices.

One can then change the size and other attributes (such as surface colors, dimensions of casing, leaf panel or grill choice, etc) after choosing a Favorite or switching to a different library part.

Parameter transfer within a library part settings window (e.g. Door Settings, Window Settings, Object Settings) allows one to switch from one library part to another while retaining most of the style parameters - keeping the “family resemblance.”

To use parameter transfer within a library part, hold down the Syringe shortcut keys (Mac: Option-Control; PC CTRL-ALT) then click on the desired library part. 

Parameter Transfer outside of the settings window works differently. Eye-drop an element then use the syringe on another existing element; it will change it entirely (subject to Element Transfer Settings).

METHODOLOGY FOR ADJUSTING SETTINGS

After selecting the library part in the left side of the dialog, usually it’s best to go systematically through the settings from top to bottom.

Preview and Positioning

Overall geometry, anchors and the option to look at the element in plan, elevation or axe views

Graphic Settings

Most current library parts have options organized with a drop-down menu for each group of settings. One can move through these sequentially using the left/right buttons, or via the popup menu, or using small icon buttons that jump to a related section.

Floor Plan and Section

Additional controls for display options (Symbolic vs calculated using 3D model projection), pen settings and line types.

Dimension Marker, Marker Text Style, Marker Symbol and Text

Overall choice of marker object, followed by details in separate sections

Classifications and Properties

Data associated with the element

Used in Schedules and calculations, as well as to determine placement and function for filtering

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