The ultimate pain of transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit

[juri.pelkonen]

Share your pain of transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit, or getting caught in the SW limbo, I'll post my pet peeves here as I come across them. Fear not scolding me for "doing it wrong stupid", I hope this thread will become a learning experience.

Total garbage in R vs. AC:

• navigating between floors: In AC you just tap ctrl + or ctrl - and you go up and down one floor.
• floor views not synced: In AC your floor views are identical. In R if I zoom and/or pan the view in one floor, and go to another floor, the view is different
• Creating and navigating zones and areas is a pain in the you know what. I haven't even tried it, as I've seen how the younger fellas at the office do that by manipulating some freaking separate line entity. In AC you just move the walls or other entities that form xone barriers, and violá, the zone will update
• copying floors: this is most likely to be just my own stupidity, but if I draw a basic floor with walls and whatnot, and copy it (ctrl c) and go to another floor, paste, well doggone it the stuff will not drop at the same location it was in the previous floor. Fuuuu!

Those alone have deterred me from using Revit. I draft and design approximately 10 times faster with ArchiCAD.

P.S. I use Forma (classic and standard) and Formit without problems. So it's not me 😁

[Simon_Weel]

I guess the opposite would also be true - a Revit user switching to ArchiCAD 🙂

And it's true - Revit has a lot of peculiarities. I remember starting using Revit as a long-time AutoCAD user, I was surprised how cumbersome some tasks where compared to AutoCAD. But it is what it is - you'll have to get used in how Revit does things....

[handjonathan]

Hi @juri.pelkonen 

Thanks a lot for posting your question to the forums!  I work for Autodesk as a Community Manager so may be slightly biased on how I feel about Revit. I first started using Revit in 2006 and migrated over from AutoCAD Architecture and boy what a change that was with huge frustrations and a general feeling of anger as I couldn't drive it as quickly as I could AutoCAD Architecture.

The best piece of advice I can offer is: Be prepared for Revit to be different, and willing to accept that. Those in the community who seem to have the hardest transition are those who expect/want Revit to be exactly like ArchiCAD.... and it just isn't. Frustration is probably inevitable, but an openness to learning the new tools will help you to keep more of your hair instead of pulling it out. 😂

[HVAC-Novice]

I don't know ArchiCAD. But transitioning from AutoCAD to Revit taught me some lessons that may apply here:

- if possible, do all new projects in Revit. Don't do half your work in the old software.

- Don't spend time to make something work or look like in the old software. Focus on the outcome (a bid or construction document). In most cases Revit has a tool to accomplish that outcome, but it won't be like in your previous software

- Revit very much models like you build a building. I don't know if I understand your "copying floors and walls" issue. But in Revit the exterior wall, for example, wouldn't be a new wall every floor, it would be from ground to roof (like it is in a building). Scope boxes may help with your " every floor being zooned differently"  issue. 

- Model everything in actual size (I sometimes see people using pipes in just a single line size, not actual size etc.)

- Don't ignore the " I"  in BIM. I recently went to a (non-Revit) design training and I was surprised to learn that everyone seems to use it like a 3D AutoCAD drawing tool only. Revit has a lot of great design tools (industry-specific), use them. I only use a 3rd party tool if there is absolutely now Revit-way of doing it. 

- this book is a great start to learn the concept on a project from start to finish

- You'll come across some shortcoming. All software has that. Most shortcomings have some workarounds. Google and ask here.

- Depending on your industry, there are great plugins that do a much better job designing than a typical standalone software. the API is powerful and more software companies provide tools. 

- Dynamo can be a great tool to solve some problems. 

[ToanDN]

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@juri.pelkonen wrote:

Share your pain of transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit, or getting caught in the SW limbo, I'll post my pet peeves here as I come across them. Fear not scolding me for "doing it wrong stupid", I hope this thread will become a learning experience.

Total garbage in R vs. AC:

• navigating between floors: In AC you just tap ctrl + or ctrl - and you go up and down one floor.
  Do you have a mouse? Click a mouse button in Revit to open any floor view.
• floor views not synced: In AC your floor views are identical. In R if I zoom and/or pan the view in one floor, and go to another floor, the view is different
  PyRevit can sync views.  
• Creating and navigating zones and areas is a pain in the you know what. I haven't even tried it, as I've seen how the younger fellas at the office do that by manipulating some freaking separate line entity. In AC you just move the walls or other entities that form xone barriers, and violá, the zone will update
  You are complaining without even trying it?  That's bold.  Try rooms, spaces, zones.  Move a wall and rooms or space will update.   A zone of several spaces will also update.  Areas are for different purposes (they are also update when you move walls if you create the area separation lines in a proper way)
• copying floors: this is most likely to be just my own stupidity, but if I draw a basic floor with walls and whatnot, and copy it (ctrl c) and go to another floor, paste, well doggone it the stuff will not drop at the same location it was in the previous floor. Fuuuu!
  There are Copy Paste aligned to selected levels, to picked levels, to selected views, in place.  Explore them.

Those alone have deterred me from using Revit. I draft and design approximately 10 times faster with ArchiCAD.

P.S. I use Forma (classic and standard) and Formit without problems. So it's not me 😁
Not so sure about that.

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[RSomppi]

You need to put aside your old workflows and learn the proper ones along with best pracitces. There is a huge learning curve. It's best to take a few "Essentials" courses to get the basics. That way you will start to get to know what Revit wants. A little education will go a long way in your transition.

Also, put aside the complaints and instead ask questions.

[Lachlan-JWP]

Hi @juri.pelkonen, welcome aboard.

This forum is a great resource for getting help with any Revit questions you have. I'd recommend posting each query you have as separate posts to allow for clear and concise answers.

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@juri.pelkonen wrote:

Share your pain of transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit, or getting caught in the SW limbo, I'll post my pet peeves here as I come across them. Fear not scolding me for "doing it wrong stupid", I hope this thread will become a learning experience.

Total garbage in R vs. AC:

• navigating between floors: In AC you just tap ctrl + or ctrl - and you go up and down one floor. - You'll have to open each view as a separate window within Revit, I make use of the drop down selector on the far right of the window bar to manage lots of open windows.
• floor views not synced: In AC your floor views are identical. In R if I zoom and/or pan the view in one floor, and go to another floor, the view is different - Yep. Revit doesn't assume things for you. That comes in handy at times, but I guess this is one where you miss that ease of use. As Toan suggested above using pyRevit is a great add on and it has so much more than the view sync feature. Highly recommend.
• Creating and navigating zones and areas is a pain in the you know what. I haven't even tried it, as I've seen how the younger fellas at the office do that by manipulating some freaking separate line entity. In AC you just move the walls or other entities that form xone barriers, and violá, the zone will update - Zones & Areas are created separately allow for greater customisation in your layout. You can use the align  tool to align the boundaries to walls, and then lock them so that the lines will move with the walls.
• copying floors: this is most likely to be just my own stupidity, but if I draw a basic floor with walls and whatnot, and copy it (ctrl c) and go to another floor, paste, well doggone it the stuff will not drop at the same location it was in the previous floor. Fuuuu! - Use the paste tool rather than ctrl-v, it has more functionality. Use the "aligned to current view" option or "aligned to selected levels" to achieve what you want.

Those alone have deterred me from using Revit. I draft and design approximately 10 times faster with ArchiCAD. - I don't doubt that, but how long have you been using ArchiCAD for? I bet you were frustratingly slow when you started. If you have to learn Revit then give it the same amount of time and I'll bet you are just as fast. Some things will be faster with ArchiCAD but other things will be faster with Revit. I reckon it'll all balance out for you in the end.

P.S. I use Forma (classic and standard) and Formit without problems. So it's not me 😁

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[mattsharon09]

 Hi,

Greetings to all

There are certainly challenges associated with crossing over from ArchiCAD to Revit, and it's understandable that you have experienced frustrations along the way. It's great that you're sharing your pain points here, as it can serve as a valuable learning experience for others going through a similar transition.

It can take some time to get used to the differences between ArchiCAD and Revit you've highlighted. For example, Navigating between floors is much simpler in ArchiCAD using keyboard shortcuts, while Revit may require additional steps. Similarly, the lack of synchronized floor views in Revit can cause discrepancies when switching between different levels, which can be frustrating when trying to maintain consistency.

The process of creating and navigating zones and areas also appears to be more intuitive in ArchiCAD, where adjusting the entities forming the zone boundaries updates the zone automatically. In contrast, Revit seems to involve manipulating separate line entities, which can be more cumbersome and time-consuming.

Copying floors in Revit can also present challenges, as the copied elements may not drop in the same location as in the original floor. This inconsistency can be frustrating and may require additional adjustments to align the elements properly. Your personal experience with ArchiCAD shows the efficiency that can be achieved when using that software for drafting and designing. It's important to recognize that different software tools have their own strengths and weaknesses, and finding the one that suits your workflow and preferences is crucial.

While Revit may have its drawbacks and initial challenges during the transition, it's worth noting that it also offers unique features and advantages. Exploring and adapting to these differences could potentially improve your efficiency in the long run, as you become more familiar with the intricacies of the software.

Remember, transitioning between software platforms is often accompanied by a learning curve, and it's natural to encounter frustrations along the way. Sharing your experiences and engaging in discussions like this thread can be immensely beneficial for both personal growth and collective knowledge.

Best of luck with your architectural endeavors, and I hope you find the software that best aligns with your needs and allows you to excel in your work!

Best Regards,

Matt

[juri.pelkonen]

Thanks for all the replies so far!

I'll try the PyRevit and see what it does for me. As for other helpful comments, many suggest navigating through menus with a mouse (yep, I have one). While that does solve many problems I'm experiencing, it is not the most productive/smooth way if keyboard shortcuts are available. Over time, clicking through menus does add up and it also interrupts flow. In olden days I used to be quite handy with Photoshop, the ratio between navigating menus and using keyboard shortcuts ended up being something like 5/95. Pretty close to that on Archicad as well.  I've not tried configuring Revit shortcuts, so I don't yet know how versatile that is. I'll try setting up them such that I can avoid running through menus as much as possible.

As for the zones & areas, I really gotta chat with staff on that one, our workflow is obviously not optimal there, thanks for the heads up!

Walls continuing through floors is kinda nono for me, as that is not how buildings end up being built, and since many of our drafts end up having dissimilar floors even when it comes to external walls, IMO it is simpler to have walls as separate objects in each floor (hence the rant of copy-paste problem).

I'll elaborate just a bit on the scope of work I'm involved in: I only do early stage drafting, so speed & ease is  essence for me. I start from design brief, create topologies (as visual maps), then work up to concrete spatial model(s). We all know that that phase is all about failing fast, dropping ideas from the head onto the screen to see if they really work and have potential and in that my 25+ years of ArchiCAD experience rules supreme. My work ends up consisting of walls, zones and a rough site plan. Curiosity in my drafts is that while they are to be considered as sketches, they are, however, millimeter precice. It may very well be that Revit is not the right tool for that at all, but the reason I keep trying is that junior architects in our company do next stage drafting with Revit, and it would be nice if the platform was same. This will be changing over the next few years as Autodesk is redesigning the whole SW scene...

All in all the "stuff" that leaves our office is more of design proposals than ready to build plans. We remain in control of projects that continue, and prefer design offices that use Revit, but that is not always possible. BIM is a priority but not an absolute must.  And: don't get me wrong, I think Revit is a marvelous SW, offices that use it in our projects do great things with that. In all-Revit projects it's wonderful to navigate project in ACC, and we've even managed to get architects and structural engineers to use the same model (same revit file) which has cut designer workload immensely. It's just that the learning curve is steep from my pov. 

Summa summarum: I may be wrong in most of the stuff here, but being of age I've learned to accept that in everything I do. All that matters in my line of work is smooth flow, that'll ensure the best end result.

P.S. I see ChatGPT also commented. Thanks for that 😁

[RSomppi]

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@juri.pelkonen wrote:

P.S. I see ChatGPT also commented. Thanks for that 😁

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Where do you see that?

[dbroad]

@dbroad - this reply has been moderated due to a Community Rules & Etiquette violation.

I think that was an attempt at humor relating to @mattsharon09 's post. Now this is what chatGPT would say about the challenges of transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit.  I just asked for fun: 

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Transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit can be a challenging process, but with proper planning and execution, you can overcome these challenges. Here are some steps to help you navigate the transition successfully:

1. Understand the Differences: Start by familiarizing yourself with the key differences between ArchiCAD and Revit. Understand the concepts, terminology, and workflows unique to Revit. Identify the areas where the two software differ in terms of features, tools, and capabilities.

2. Training and Education: Invest in comprehensive training and education on Revit. Attend workshops, seminars, or online courses specifically designed to help ArchiCAD users transition to Revit. Training will enable you to understand Revit's interface, functionality, and best practices effectively.

3. Start with Small Projects: Begin by working on small, less complex projects in Revit. Choose projects that are relatively straightforward, allowing you to focus on learning the software without being overwhelmed. As you gain proficiency, gradually take on more complex projects.

4. Build a Revit Library: Create a library of Revit components, families, and templates that align with your project requirements. Since ArchiCAD and Revit have different libraries, you may need to invest time in building or sourcing Revit-specific content. This will streamline your workflow and ensure consistency across projects.

5. Import and Convert Existing Projects: If you have existing projects in ArchiCAD, you can import them into Revit and convert them to Revit format. Although the conversion process may not be perfect, it will provide a starting point and help you understand the differences between the two platforms.

6. Collaborate and Seek Support: Engage with the Revit community to seek support and guidance. Participate in user forums, online communities, and local user groups where you can exchange ideas, ask questions, and learn from experienced Revit users. Collaborating with others will accelerate your learning curve and help you overcome specific challenges.

7. Customize Revit to Your Workflow: Revit is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor it to your specific needs and workflow. Take advantage of custom templates, keyboard shortcuts, and worksharing options to optimize your efficiency and productivity. Invest time in configuring Revit to align with your established workflows from ArchiCAD.

8. Leverage Interoperability Tools: Explore interoperability tools or plugins that facilitate the transfer of data between ArchiCAD and Revit. Some tools can convert ArchiCAD elements to Revit families or enable direct exchange of project files. These tools can ease the transition and ensure a smoother workflow if you need to collaborate with ArchiCAD users or access legacy ArchiCAD projects.

9. Continuous Learning and Practice: Transitioning to a new software requires ongoing learning and practice. Regularly update your knowledge of Revit by attending webinars, reading documentation, and exploring new features. Continuously practice using Revit to reinforce your skills and become proficient over time.

10. Evaluate and Optimize: Throughout the transition process, periodically evaluate your progress and identify areas for improvement. Assess your workflows, efficiency, and the quality of your output in Revit. Identify any gaps or challenges you are facing and seek solutions to optimize your Revit experience.

Remember that transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit requires time, patience, and perseverance. By following these steps and maintaining a positive mindset, you can successfully overcome the challenges and become proficient in using Revit for your architectural projects.

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I thought it was a pretty good answer for a generalized AI.

[loboarch]

- navigating between floors: In AC you just tap ctrl + or ctrl - and you go up and down one floor.

You could just open all the plan views as tabs across the top of the canvas. Then click from one tab to the other to change floors. Doing it that way you could even go directly from level 1 to level 4 in one click instead of 3 keystrokes. 🙂

- floor views not synced: In AC your floor views are identical. In R if I zoom and/or pan the view in one floor, and go to another floor, the view is different

Others have suggested an add on to do this. I will also add that the views in Revit ARE synced upon first open. For example if i am working in Level 1 in a particular area and Level 2 view is NOT currently opened, when Level 2 is opened, it will open to the same place as level one. Once opened, they are no longer in sync, but they are synced at the beginning.

- copying floors: this is most likely to be just my own stupidity, but if I draw a basic floor with walls and whatnot, and copy it (ctrl c) and go to another floor, paste, well doggone it the stuff will not drop at the same location it was in the previous floor. Fuuuu!

Instead of using simple "paste" action use one of the advanced past options. Paste Aligned, or Paste Aligned to Selected Levels will do this. The latter will paste to as many building levels as you like, so in that way it could be FASTER when doing multistory buildings.

As for the Zones and areas question/problem, you admit you have not even tried it, so it might not be a problem. Reminds me of when i was a little kid and my Mom put down some strange food for dinner (can't remember what it was) and my fist sentence was, "What is this I don't like!" Until you try actually doing it, you might need to reserve judgment. I am not sure exactly what the issue might be, but I am fairly sure it is not as big a problem as you might be imagining.

Welcome to the world of Revit by the way. I am sure you will like it here eventually.  🙂

[Lachlan-JWP]

Try this document from Autodesk on Revit shortcuts.

https://damassets.autodesk.net/content/dam/autodesk/www/shortcuts/revit/Revit-Keyboard-Shortcuts-Gui...

That should save you some time. Highlight the ones that you will use often and you'll have them in muscle memory in no time.

With the walls continuing through floors, you can use the join tool to choose which element takes priority in the wall / floor intersection. The other option is to copy / paste to multiple floors but if you move the walls on one level, the others will stay where they are. You could align & lock them but that would be tedious over multiple levels.

For your level of detail that you work at Formit might be the best way to go. You can mass your building, the drafting team can import the mass and make the building elements. In recent years the interoperability between Formit & Revit has become quite easy. You can push and pull your models between the two programs to achieve your design outcomes.

[RobDraw]

If you think there are places without people like that, you've got a surprise coming. This is the internet. They are everywhere. 

If you let someone like that keep you from learning from some great minds, it's going to be long learning curve.

[dbroad]

Seemed like a reasonable interpretation of the first post to me. Didn't see a question. Here are 3 quotes:

• "Share your pain of transitioning from ArchiCAD to Revit"
• "Total garbage in R vs. AC": List of gripes including admissions of not even trying to use some.
• "Those alone have deterred me from using Revit. I draft and design approximately 10 times faster with ArchiCAD."

How would a reasonable person interpret those?  Certainly not as a request for help.

[RSomppi]

You missed this:

"I hope this thread will become a learning experience."

[dbroad]

🙂  "For how bad Revit is, perhaps, compared to AC?"  At minimum, "learning experience" is ambiguous. Guess a benefit of the doubt is reasonable, though.  Thanks for noting that.

[Prvoime]

When you get the chance write a small comparison between using Archicad "window wizard" for completely new window types, and experience of creating new Revit families for new windows 😄

[RobDraw]

Why are you telling someone who has left to do something?

Asking wouldn't be as rude.

[Prvoime]

When you get the chance write a small comparison between using Archicad "roof wizard" for framing roofs, and experience of doing the same in Revit with placing individual beams, with placing beam systems for every. single. plane. separately, with manually modeling ties, and other torture devices 😄

And yes, this is an order.