Model/3D Formats Opened by ArchiCAD
3D files can be saved in 3D Studio format. The Add-On required for this is part of the ArchiCAD package.
3D files in 3D Studio format can be opened by ArchICAD only if you install the “3D Studio in” Goody.
1.Go to the ArchiCAD Help menu.
2.Choose ArchiCAD Downloads to open this page in a web browser.
3.From the Downloads page, scroll down to Goodies and select the desired version of “3D Studio In” Goody for installation.
IFC 2x3 (.ifc), IFCXML (.ifcxml), IFCzip
IFC stands for Industry Foundation Classes.
ArchiCAD supports IFC 2x3, the latest and most widely used IFC format.
To read more about IFC, see Working with IFC, or download the IFC manual from:
http://www.graphisoft.com/support/ifc/downloads/
Use the File > Open command to open a .skp file directly in ArchiCAD.
•The resulting geometry is a GDL object.
•By default, the GDL object’s Show Terrain parameter is set to “On”.
•The project location coordinates are imported from the SketchUp file.
See also SketchUp: Export and Import Limitations.
Use the File > Open command to open a .kmz file directly in ArchiCAD.
Important: Make sure that the merged Google Earth model to be opened
-contains only a single location pin
-uses the Absolute method to define its altitude (see below).
•.kmz objects become GDL objects, placed on the ArchiCAD Layer
•.kmz polygons become Fills, placed on the 2D Drafting General Layer
•Pins become GDL objects, placed on the ArchiCAD Layer
The open process will check the model’s altitude settings. In Google Earth, there are several ways to export altitude data, but ArchiCAD supports only the “Absolute altitude” method.
If your .kmz file contains alternative altitude settings (either “Clamped to ground” or “Relative to ground”), an information dialog appears: you should reexport the model from Google Earth using the Absolute altitude method.
See also Google Earth: Export and Import Limitations.
Use the File > Open command or File > File Special > Merge to open or merge an .stl file directly in ArchiCAD. An opened or merged STL model will be opened as a Morph in ArchiCAD.
STL files only carry the 3D model’s surface geometry, divided into triangles, without any additional information such as color, surfaces etc.
The format is usually used for rapid prototyping, 3D printing, and computer-aided manufacturing. STL format has two kind of representation: ASCII and Binary
•ASCII STL
An ASCII STL file lists the triangles with the coordinates of their nodes in a readable format for any text editor application.
•Binary STL
In a Binary STL file the data is compressed but only readable for the appropriate STL application/machine.
Binary representation is more commonly used due to its smaller file size.
More about STL format: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STL_(file_format)
For information about saving an ArchiCAD model to STL format, see Stereolithography (.stl).
Open STL file:
1.Go to File > Open > Open file
2.Select Stereolithograpy File as file type
3.Browse for the STL file
4.Click Open
Merge STL file into existing model
1.Go to File > File Special >Merge
2.Select Stereolithograpy File as file type
3.Browse for the STL file
4.Click Open
Limitations
1.ArchiCAD does not check the exported STL file for errors, e.g. in terms of solidity. These are usually done by the 3D printer.
2.STL file does not store the scale and unit of the model, these have to be set in the viewer/printer. ArchiCAD always exports 1 m as 1 STL unit.
3.If the imported geometry is very complex, it may affect the performance of ArchiCAD. In this case, you will see a warning dialog.
4.Note that if the geometry of the model is overly complex, there is a chance that the import will fail and no object will be generated.