THE ARCHICAD MASTERTEMPLATE

MasterTemplate is a comprehensive resource to enable you to quickly maximize the potential of ArchiCAD. It features a highly developed, fully customizable project template (TPL file) filled with presets and tools to speed the creation of models and construction documents, as well as a detailed sample file showing the template put to full use.

The ArchiCAD MasterTemplate (AMT) is ideal for new users to help them get going. It's also a great option for experienced users and firms that have not had time or expertise to fine-tune and hone their own office standards in relation to the latest Graphisoft technology. While there is no single "right way" to do things, MasterTemplate draws from a combined 30 years of experience in "Best Practices" by two ArchiCAD Masters.

"Setting up your ArchiCAD project files correctly will make your time as productive as possible. MasterTemplate will be a big help." -- Dominic Gallello, Graphisoft CEO

Graphisoft by necessity supplies a startup template "in the ArchiCAD box" that is simple enough to understand easily, virtually universally applicable, and a good base to build on. However, that leaves a lot for each user and firm to set up in order to get their 3D BIM model into construction documents.

In contrast, AMT puts in almost everything most small and mid-size firms will need, so your setup time is minimized. We also build into the template all the smart workflow features that ArchiCAD is capable of. When you start with or transition your office to the ArchiCAD MasterTemplate, it will be much easier to get maximum benefit from ArchiCAD.

NEW FEATURES IN MASTERTEMPLATE 12.1

1) Interactive Legends - greatly expanded with Quick Rooms and Parts Matrixes
2) Legends - FAST access through a Worksheet using Virtual Trace!
3) 3D Views and 3D Windows show many of the Legends for study and easier use
4) Custom Profiles - many new wall profiles show the possibilities
5) New Fills, Materials, Textures and a smart custom Label
6) Layers - a few adjustments, new layers and layer combinations

LAYERS, VIEWS, SCHEDULES, LAYOUTS — ALL SET UP, READY TO GO

AMT's innovative Layer setup makes it easy to keep your elements organized. (AIA and NCS standard layering systems are also supported.) Layer Combinations and Views for all standard drawing types (many more than come with ArchiCAD out of the box) are pre-defined to simplify creation and placement onto Layout sheets. Numerous additional Schedules and Project Info Autotext entries are defined and pre-placed onto Layouts so construction documents flow out of the model with minimal effort. The View Map is cleanly organized, easy to navigate, yet extremely comprehensive. Clone folders, a powerful yet little-used feature of ArchiCAD, are set up to automatically create more Views as needed, with all the right settings.

The Layout Book has Drawings already pre-placed on a majority of the sheets. Essentially, you can focus on designing and making a 3D model for your project, annotate it, and it's already laid out for plotting. (Of course, you can and should adjust drawing placement as needed.) Master layouts are easy to customize - simply place your company logo and contact info, or swap in your existing title block from DWG or PLN, and you're good to go!

ITS ALL IN THE DETAILS — AND THE FAVORITES

Detail drawings are a snap with the built-in Detailer Template which gives quick access to intelligent 2D library parts. Place parametrically-sized components (such as joist hangers, steel structure, masonry block, wood trim, etc.) as objects rather than drawing lots of lines and fills. Both "traditional" palette-based Favorites and AMT's elegantly innovative Interactive Legends of Visual Favorites provide quick ways to activate settings for frequently used wall types, doors, windows, cabinets, etc. Everything is fully customizable to match your preferred styles.

SUPPORT

AMT includes a complete manual documenting features and explaining how to customize the template to meet your office standards. The BCG ArchiCAD Forum has been established to provide a comprehensive support system and help build a focused community around Best Practices for ArchiCAD.

COMPATIBILITY

The ArchiCAD MasterTemplate is very modular and can be customized to meet any regional or internal firm requirement by the user or by BCG. Purchasers may download the template in a large variety of formats, for either U.S. or international standards.

The U.S. version uses American standards and the U.S. ArchiCAD Library, while the international version is based on the International ArchiCAD Library and attributes, with metric sizing for building components and documents. We also supply a version supporting the U.S. National CAD Standard (AIA/NCS) layer system and the Uniform Drawing System (UDS).

The latest ArchiCAD MasterTemplate takes full advantage of the features in ArchiCAD 12, and we still offer a version for ArchiCAD 11. After purchasing, you may download any variation of MasterTemplate at any time.

In response to user requests, we created an ArchiCAD 10 version of the original AMT 1.0 as well. Certain features are unavailable or do not work as well in ArchiCAD 10, but in general, it is quite usable. There is also a version compatible with the ArchiCAD Start Edition.

We are working on a version that integrates a number of the Cadimage Tools including Door and Window Builder and Rapid Detailer.