DOCUMENTATION & TRAINING

It’s a simple process 🙂

Copy the “ModelPort” folder with its contents into the Archicad “Add-Ons” folder. To locate the Add-ons folder follow the path below for your computer operating system:

• Mac : Applications > Graphisoft > ARCHICAD 25 (or 24, 23, etc.) > Add-Ons
• Windows : Programs > Graphisoft > ARCHICAD 25 (or 24. 23, etc.) > Add-Ons

Please note that none-English Archicad versions may call the "Add-Ons" folder a different name!

Once the ModelPort folder is placed into the “Add-Ons” folder it will be automatically recognized by Archicad.

When you open Archicad the ModelPort menu will appear next to the Help menu as shown below:

Uninstall ModelPort

If you need to uninstall ModelPort (of course we hope this will not be necessary) just remove the “ModelPort” folder from the Archicad “Add-Ons” folder.

 

The ModelPort Editor fits seamlessly into the standard ARCHICAD user interface with new features that offer better control of imported models and an interactive model viewer.

Overview of the Interface

There are 5 major components to the ModelPort user interface:

• Menu Commands, Type Selection and Detail Level
• Preview Windows
• Interface & Preferences
• Item Selection and Visibility
• Property Editor

Dockable Palettes

The ModelPort Editor and Browser are dockable ARCHICAD palettes. A dockable dialog is very beneficial but can also be problematic when it jumps to a different layout position when the palette is moved.

To help you manage the dockable feature we added a “switch” to the ModelPort Editor that sets if the dialog is dockable or not. You can click on the top/right corner of these palettes to toggle this switch ON or OFF.

Switch color is grey – palette is not dockable

 

Switch color is blue – palette is dockable

 

Numerical edit box with spin control

Our numerical edit field uses spin controls allowing you to work faster with inputing values. To change a numeric value you can set it with the mouse wheel rather than writing in the value number.

Click and Hold the left mouse button on the spin control and move the mouse up and down to quickly adjust the value.

Pop-up Properties Palette

When you use the mouse for a right-click inside the ModelPort 3D area, the Properties will appear as a Pop-up palette. This can be especially useful if you work in the Layout mode where the Properties panel is hidden by default.

This Pop-up palette will automatically disappear when you click outside the palette. To make it remain active click on the blue area near to the top/left corner of the palette.

Navigation (3D) / Selection

Navigate in the 3D view of ModelPort

• Rotate view: Click and hold and move the Left Mouse
• Pan view: Click and hold and move the Middle Mouse
• Zoom view (A): Click and hold and move the Right Mouse
• Zoom view (B): use the Wheel of your Mouse
• Zoom to Fit: click on the left Magnifier icon at the bottom of the 3D View
• Zoom to Fit Selected: click on the left Magnifier icon at the bottom of the 3D View

Selection

ModelPort has three selection modes:

1. Select by Object
2. Select by Material
3. Select Model

Here is how these three selection modes work and how they’re used.

1. Select by Object
   1. Click the Object Selection Mode to move, rotate or scale individual geometries and to manage polygon count.
      
2. Select by Material
   1. Click the Material Selection Mode to change color, edit the texture or define the graphics for the Floor Plan symbol
      
3. Select Model
   1. Click an empty area inside any Preview Window and the 3D Model will be selected.
      

The Item List view of the ModelPort editor reflects the current selection mode. But even in Object Selection Mode, as an example, you can tweak the materials by simply selecting the material from the item list.

If Archicad crashes during a ModelPort operation or something doesn’t work as expected in ModelPort, please let us know the problem so we can work on a solution.

To help us determine the problem follow the steps below so we can get the right information to the development team.

Sending information to the Developer

1. Mac User: 
   1. Send us the crash log which was generated automatically by your system. (It is not the same log that’s generated by the Archicad bug tool)
      1. Please open the Console application
      2. Select User Reports on the left side
      3. Select the latest Archicad crash log in the middle panel
      4. Attach it to your mail (you can drag and drop it from the Console application)
      5. Please continue the reading with section Mac & Windows Users
2. Mac & Windows Users: 
   1. Send your system details
      1. Operating System (Windows 7,8,10 / OS X Sierra, Mojave, etc.)
      2. CPU (Intel Core i7 2.3 GHz – 4 Thread, etc.)
      3. Graphics Card (NVidia GeForce GTX 960 or AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20, etc.)
   2. Send step by step instructions how to reproduce the problem.
   3. In case the problem is something visible (for example texture issues), attaching screen capture to the mail makes it easier to understand it.
   4. If possible you can send a simplified (contains only the necessary information) Archicad or gdl file, where we can see the problem.