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Import Rhino Model

Use File > Open or File > Interoperability > Merge to open a Rhino 3D Model file (.3dm) directly in ARCHICAD.

The imported model will appear as a non-editable GDL object, maintaining the logical structure/buildup of the original Rhino model. It is placed into ARCHICAD project’s Embedded Library. You have the option to adjust the model segmentation before and/or after import to ARCHICAD, depending on your preferred settings (described below).

Topics in this section:

Options at Import

Segmentation of Curved Geometry

Hidden Elements and Layers

Rhino Object Parameters in ARCHICAD

Rhino Object Properties in ARCHICAD

Rhino View Display in ARCHICAD

Options at Import

In the File > Open or Interoperability > Merge dialog box, chose the Rhino 3D Model (.3dm) file type.

Click Settings to open Rhino File Open Options:

Segmentation of Curved Geometry

Use the slider to adjust the segmentation of curved surfaces imported from Rhino.

Notes: 

•The segmentation slider affects curved geometry only, not planar elements

•If you increase segmentation (resulting in a higher number of polygons for smoother surfaces), remember that a high polygon count affects both file size and performance

Baked Curved Geometry

Optionally, check the Bake Curved Geometry box to finalize segmentation before import. As a result:

•You will not be able to further adjust segmentation once the model is imported to ARCHICAD

•On the other hand, element snapping will be available

•In general, navigation is faster in models imported with this method

Hidden Elements and Layers

Use these controls to define how to interpret Rhino’s “hidden” elements and layer structure.

Import Hidden Elements

In Rhino (unlike in ARCHICAD), it is possible to hide an individual element, whether its Layer is visible or not. By default, such hidden elements are NOT imported to ARCHICAD.

To import them, check the Import hidden elements box.

In this case, you can choose or create a separate Layer for these elements in ARCHICAD.

For imported hidden elements:

•Layer visible but Element hidden in Rhino: Layer (and all its elements) are visible in ARCHICAD

•Layer hidden and Element hidden in Rhino: Layer (and all its elements) are hidden in ARCHICAD

Keep Rhino Layer Structure (Default)

With this option, each Rhino Layer is recreated as a separate ARCHICAD Layer, named after the Rhino Layer’s folder path: folder_subfolder_layer, plus the extension Rhino.

The Layer name + extension in ARCHICAD can be a maximum of 255 characters. Any resulting identical Layer names are differentiated with a number added onto the extension.

Place all Rhino Elements on a Single ARCHICAD Layer

With this option, specify the ARCHICAD Layer to use for all elements imported via this Rhino model.

•If you used Open to import the Rhino model: Type a name for the Layer onto which to place the entire Rhino model.

•If you used Merge to import the Rhino model: Use the pop-up to choose the ARCHICAD Layer onto which to place the entire Rhino model.

Rhino Object Parameters in ARCHICAD

Each imported Rhino element becomes a separate ARCHICAD object (.gsm), with a file name prefix of “Rhino”. These are stored in the ARCHICAD Embedded Library, in a separate folder for each imported Rhino File, and a separate sub-folder for each layer.

Use the Rhino Import Object Settings panel of Object Settings to set its 2D and 3D appearance.

Note the following Rhino-specific parameters:

Segmentation

This control is available for objects imported from Rhino, provided that you did not check the Bake Curved Geometry option at import. (See Baked Curved Geometry, above.)

Note: If you placed the selected object in ARCHICAD using the Object tool (instead of importing it from Rhino), Segmentation is not available.

Use the Segmentation pop-up to adjust the smoothness of a selected curved object. Remember that a high polygon count may affect file size and performance.

2D Representation

•Show Face Edges: Show them if you want to see the internal surface edges in 2D.

•Hotspots on bounding box: Turn this on if you want to see additional hotspots on the object’s bounding box in 2D. This can be useful, for example, for dimensioning an orthogonal object such as a curtain wall.

3D Representation

These controls are available for objects imported from Rhino, provided that you did not check the Bake Curved Geometry option at import. (See Baked Curved Geometry, above.)

•Show Face Edges: Not available if Smooth Edges is turned on. Show them if you want to see internal surface edges in 3D.

•Smooth Edges: On by default. If it is off, these edges become hidden edges (no visible contours), but they still affect the shading.

•Show Hotlines: If this is on, you can snap to edge hotlines to facilitate selection.

Rhino Object Properties in ARCHICAD

Every element imported from Rhino and placed in ARCHICAD is assigned an Element Property Group called Rhino, in the Object Settings Categories and Properties panel.

Note: If you placed the selected object in ARCHICAD using the Object tool (instead of importing it from Rhino), Rhino Element Properties are not available.

These properties store the element’s original Layer and original ID in Rhino. (This is true even if you chose to place all Rhino elements onto a single Layer in ARCHICAD.)

Use these properties to find and select Rhino elements by Layer, even after modifying the ARCHICAD Layer structure.

Rhino View Display in ARCHICAD

After Open, the views of the imported Rhino model are now 3D axonometric views listed in ARCHICAD’s View Map. The view’s display mode (a 3D Window Setting) depends on the original display mode in Rhino.