Archicad Goodies 28
Archicad Goodies 28: Comprehensive Overview Introduction With the release of Archicad 28 , Graphisoft continued its tradition of including a suite of peripheral utilities known affectionately by users as "Goodies." These are not the headline-grabbing features like the dramatic redesign of the user interface or the new AI-driven visualization tools; rather, the Goodies are the specialized add-ons, libraries, and converters that ensure Archicad plays nice with other software, legacy files, and specific regional workflows. For Archicad 28, the Goodies package is essential for collaboration, interoperability, and accessing older Archicad projects.
What are "Archicad Goodies"? "Goodies" is the colloquial term used by Graphisoft for a collection of Add-ons and Tools that ship with the software but are often not installed by default, or are available as separate downloads from the Graphisoft website. They differ from standard features because they are often:
Format-specific: Designed to read/write specific file types (e.g., Rhino, SketchUp, IFC). Legacy-focused: Tools to help migrate very old project files. Specialized: Tools for specific tasks like creating Keynotes or managing hotlinks.
Key Components in the Archicad 28 Goodies Suite 1. Interoperability Add-ons (The "Translators") In Archicad 28, the interoperability landscape has evolved. While previous versions relied on separate "Goodies" installers for SketchUp and Rhino, Archicad 28 has integrated many of these functions directly into the core installation or the new Graphisoft Deform workflow. However, the specific Goodies Add-ons remain vital for: archicad goodies 28
IFC Support: While native IFC support is built-in, the Goodies often include updated IFC translators and property mapping presets that are crucial for BIM mandates. RFA (Revit) Import: Archicad 28 improves RFA handling, but the specific Goodies Add-on allows for deeper mapping of Revit families into Archicad objects. Rhino & SketchUp: In version 28, the integration is tighter. The Goodies package ensures that geometry imported from Rhino (now leveraging the Rhino Inside technology) and SketchUp lands as editable elements rather than static "dumb" meshes.
2. The Archicad 28 Conversion Tool Perhaps the most critical "Goodie" for firms upgrading to Archicad 28 is the Conversion Tool .
Purpose: It allows users to open and migrate project files created in older versions of Archicad (specifically stretching back to Archicad 10 or older). Why it matters: Archicad 28 introduces a new Unicode-based library and internal data structure. Without the Conversion Tool Goodie, users cannot access legacy archives. "Goodies" is the colloquial term used by Graphisoft
3. Goodies Library 28 This is a separate library file that contains objects and components not included in the standard "ArchiCAD Library 28."
Contents: It typically includes specialized furniture, 2D symbols, and "dummy" placeholders used for specific localization standards. Usage: It is highly recommended to load this library alongside the main library when working on older migrated projects to prevent "missing library parts" errors.
4. Keynote Manager A long-standing fixture in the Goodies suite, the Keynote Manager allows users to create and manage a database of keynotes (referenced notes) that can be placed on drawings. Specialized: Tools for specific tasks like creating Keynotes
Archicad 28 Context: While the core labeling tools have improved, the Keynote Manager Goodie remains the preferred method for firms requiring strict keynoting standards linked to a central database (Excel or XML).
5. Hotlink / XREF Management While XREF management is a core function, the Goodies suite often includes enhanced management tools for handling complex Hotlink modules (nested hotlinks), which is particularly useful for large firms using Archicad 28’s new "Open BIM" workflows.