Nemetschek Creator - first steps

How to get started in Nemetschek Creator

After creating a new project, opening it will instantly bring you to selected the area around your site. Leave a reasonable area around your site, but don't go overboard, a few hundred meters across is probably plenty in most instances.

[placeholder for image]

Importing map data

Once you have your site open - note that currently Creator doesn't offer official cadastral information, so you will need to bring those in separately. The Creator-menu has Import, which allows you to read in DWG and DXF vector data. Here a map has been brought in (the necessary scale setting depends on what your DWG/DXF is set to, so try different settings until you find a working setting).

Your map will probably use the area's assigned CRS' zone. At the current state, Creator uses WGS84, which will have some divergence over longer distances compared to your CRS. But attempt to place your map useing available landmarks as close as possible. It is important to realize that the placement won't be millimeter perfect, and it will be necessary to do corrections once your model is synced into Arhcicad. For early phase design and analysis this precision is more than enough, though.

[placeholder for image]

Notice that at the bottom right you have controls for hiding different parts of the model, this will make it easier to place your vector drawing precisely.

You can also edit the created reference objects on the model - remove unwanted trees or buildings by pressing Delete.

[placeholder for image]

Start modelling a site

To start modelling, start with defining your site.

At minimum, draw the boundary. To close the shape, just hit Enter after having defined all corners.

[placeholder for image]

Once your site is done, you can give it Compliance Targets - typically these are metrics that a detail plan would assign, like building footprint or gross area limits. If you don't habe these numbers available, they are not necessary, it will just mean that you won't have metrics compared to them.

[placeholder for image]

Model a building

At this stage, you may want to create your first Design Option from the top toolbar. These work exactly like in Archicad, you have a Main model, and can have one Design Option at a time. If you don't think you have aneeed for Design Options, you can also model directly in main, and if the need presents later on, just Cut and Paste what ever elements you want into the appropriate option.

Start modelling your building, you draw this exactly like your site, just finally you need to give it a height in storeys. The floor heights are editable afterwards.

[placeholder for image]

You can also assign a category and name your building. Categories can be customized for your needs. Naming and building categories are particularly useful if your site needs several buildings.

[placeholder for image]

Review and next steps

You can now see your first metrics, as your building will declare a gross floor area.

The next steps for refining your model might be:

• Select the building, and start assigning Units - either directly drawing them as outlines, or placing them from modules you've synced from Archicad. Units also have categories, so you can separate them by use, for example apartment or core.

[placeholder for image]

• Refine your site - you can define internal zones to your site, such as green space or parking, to get more detailed metrics.

[placeholder for image]

• Or if your site is larger, look at the generative design options, that offer a choice of generative options for building placement.

[placeholder for image]

Creator's future

Creator is developing at a rapid pace -the Graphisoft product roadmap has many interesting initiatives that are currently being researched, some of which may be released in just months from the first release!