ArchiCAD

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ArchiCAD

Screenshot of a building created in ArchiCAD 9.0
Developer:	Graphisoft
Latest release:	10 / May 2006
OS:	Windows,OSX
Use:	CAD,Building Information Modeling
License:	Proprietary
Website:	Graphisoft ArchiCAD site

ArchiCAD is an architectural CAD-software for Macintosh and Windows developed by the Hungarian company Graphisoft.

Interior screenshot of a building in 3D created in ArchiCAD 9.0

Development started in 1982 for the original Apple Macintosh, where it became a popular product. It is recognized as the first CAD product on a personal computer able to create both 2D and 3D drawings. Today more than 100,000 architects are using it in the building design industry.

ArchiCAD allows the user to work with data-enhanced parametric objects, often called "smart objects" by users. This differs from the operational style of other CAD programs created in the 1980's, including Autodesk AutoCAD. The product allows the user to create a "virtual building" with virtual structural elements like walls, slabs, roofs, doors, windows and furnitures. A large variety of pre-designed, customizable objects come with the program.

Archicad allows the user to work with either a 2D or 3D representation on the screen. Two-dimensional drawings can be exported at any time, even though the model in the program's database always stores data in three dimensions. Plans, elevations, and sections are generated from the three dimensional virtual building model and are constantly updated. Detail drawings are based on enlarged portions of the model, with 2D detail added in.

Third-party vendors and some manufacturers of architectural products have compiled libraries of architectural components for use in ArchiCAD. The program includes Geometric Description Language (GDL) used to create new components.

The newest version (2006) is ArchiCAD 10. Changes were made to improve workflow and modeling capabilities.

ArchiCAD can import and export DWG, DXF IFC and SketchUp files among others, although these file types may not display or operate properly in their native programs when exported from ArchiCAD. Graphisoft is an active member of the International Alliance for Interoperability (IA), an industry organization that publishes standards for file and data interoperability for architectural CAD.

1 Platforms & License Types
2 Version History
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Platforms & License Types

Archicad 10 is available for Windows, Mac OS X (PowerPC), Mac OS X (Intel) operating systems.

Commercial and Educational versions can be installed with the same installer: the license type is to be chosen upon installation.

Commercial version is protected by hardware protection key. If no key is present Archicad switches to Demo mode where Save, Copy, TeamWork features are disabled (printing/plotting is still enabled).

Educational versions are protected by registration numbers which can be obtained at eduregistration.graphisoft.com.

[edit] Version History

1987 - ArchiCAD 3.1
1991 - ArchiCAD 4.1
1993 - ArchiCAD 4.12
1994 - ArchiCAD 4.5
1995 - ArchiCAD 4.55
1996 - ArchiCAD 5.0
1997 - ArchiCAD 5.1
1998 - ArchiCAD 6.0
1999 - ArchiCAD 6.5
2001 - ArchiCAD 7.0
2002 - ArchiCAD 8
2003 - ArchiCAD 8.1
2004 - ArchiCAD 9
2006 - ArchiCAD 10

[edit] See also

Geometric Description Language

Building Information Modeling v • d • e
Full Building Information Modeling Packages: Graphisoft ArchiCAD \| Autodesk Architectural Desktop \| Bentley Architecture \| Graphisoft Constructor \| Autodesk Revit \| Nemetschek N.A. VectorWorks Architect
Building Information Modeling Compatible Packages: Nemetschek AG Allplan \| Data Design System \| Gehry Technologies Digital Project \| Beck Technology DProfiler \| NavisWorks JetStream \| Design Data SDS/2 \| Tekla Structures \| Solibri Model Checker ONUMA Planning System