ArchiCAD

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

Screenshot of a building created in ArchiCAD 9.0

The 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 variety of pre-designed, customizable objects in a catalog (called a library) are available to the user.

Recent versions of the product allow 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 increase compatibility with other Grahpisoft products for use by construction managers.

ArchiCAD can import and export DWG, DXF IFC and SketchUp files among others. 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.

Released versions:

• 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 for TeamWork (aka 6.0)
• 1999 - ArchiCAD 6.5
• 2001 - ArchiCAD 7.0
• 2002 - ArchiCAD 8
• 2003 - ArchiCAD 8.1
• 2004 - ArchiCAD 9
• 2006 - ArchiCAD 10

See also

• GDL

External links

• [Graphisoft - The inventor's website]
• [ArchiCAD Wiki]
• [GDL-Alliance]
• [Objects for ArchiCAD]
• [Link collection related to Archicad and GDL]
• [Apple - Pro - Profiles - Thomas A. Heinz, p. 1] (A case study of an Archicad user.)

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