Configuration files

Here are some comments on the following configuration files:

• articad/kitchen/KITCHEN.INI
• articad/bathroom/BATHROOM.INI
• articad/bedroom/BEDROOM.INI
• articad/studies/STUDIES.INI

A number of parameters can be set from inside Articad but most cannot.
Default folders are set with the following parameters. It helps to change some of the default folders to a project folder:

Default values	Recommended value
BitmapsDirectory=bitmaps
RenderingMaterials=materials.mat	"C:\Users\XXXX\Documents\Articad Projects"
PhotoRealismBitmapDirectory=textures
VirtualRealityPixmapDirectory=pixmaps
PricingDirectory=pricing
QuotesDirectory=quotes
PlansDirectory=plans	"C:\Users\XXXX\Documents\Articad Projects"
LightingDirectory=lighting
AttachmentProfileDirectory=profiles
PageLayoutsDirectory=layouts	"C:\Users\XXXX\Documents\Articad Projects"
UserFilesDirectory=user_files
CamerasDirectory=cameras
WizardTemplatesDirectory=wizards
ComponentPricingDirectory=Pricing2000
ImagesDirectory=images
LucyDirectory=Chroma Setups

Fields that can be used in frames

These fields may be used in frames:

Location	Field	Description
This Design/ Client Details	addr1	Address Line 1
This Design/ Client Details	addr2	Address Line 2
This Design/ Client Details	addr3	Address Line 3
This Design/ Client Details	addr4	Address Line 4
This Design/ Client Details	addr5	Address Line 5
This Design/ Client Details	addr6	Address Line 6
This Design/ Client Details	addr7	Address Line 7
This Design/ Client Details	client	Client’s name
This Design/ Client Details	client_email	Email Address
This Design/ Client Details	client_htelephone	Home Telephone
This Design/ Client Details	client_mtelephone	Mobile Telephone
This Design/ Client Details	client_postcode	Postcode
This Design/ Client Details	client_reference_number	Reference No
This Design/ Client Details	client_wtelephone	Work Telephone
This Design/ Client Details	designer	Designer
This Design/ Client Details	front	Front colour
This Design/ Client Details	handles	Handles
This Design/ Client Details	project	Project
This Design/ Client Details	range	Range
This Design/ Client Details	site	Site
This Design/ Client Details	wtdescrip	Worktop description
This Design/ Client Details	wtthickness	Worktop thickness
This Design/ Client Details	wuhgt	Wall unit height
	CGROSS
	CGROUP
	client_ftelephone
	CNETT
	CNETV
	code
	comments
	cost
	CVAT
	date
	dbasesupp
	DBEpos
	dbprice
	DBSupp
	dep
	desc
	desc2
	desc3
	desc4
	description
	DISC
	discode
	discretail
	DISCTEXT
	DISGROUP
	disname
	disrate
	DisRetail
	epos
	extra1
	extra10
	extra2
	extra3
	extra4
	extra5
	extra6
	extra7
	extra8
	extra9
	faccode
	facrate
	fiting
	Fitting
	FITTOTAL
	FullDesc
	GROSS
	GROUP
	hgt
	hstyp
	local t
	ManuCode
	ManuName
	mdrate
	mucode
	muname
	murate
	NETD
	NETT
	NETV
	parts
	PG
	PGCc
	pgcode
	pgroup
	picture
	position
	premmod
	PREMTOTAL
	Quantity
	RDIS
	retail
	RVAT
	saddr
	SLD
	studio
	surcharge
	surmod
	SURTOTAL
	surv
	VAT
	vatcode
	vatrate
	VCode
	VFDG
	VFG
	VRate
	wid

Frame commands

This is a description of the language to draw frames in Articad
Notes:

• The line thickness or line type cannot be changed
• Origin is the left bottom corner of the page i.e. x=0 and y=0
• Unit of measurement is millimetres
• A “-“ appended to the field name suppresses the printing of the field description
• Read only variables:
  
  • hgt: page height
  • wid: page width

Command	Example	Description
border	border	Draws a border 2 units from the page sides
font font, points, bold	font Arial, 6	Specifies a font of type f and size p points
info field n	info *addr1-	Inserts the contents of a field A “?” after a field name brings up a prompt window
move x, y	move -58+wid, -4+hgt	Moves with relative to the origin
rmove x, y	rmove 0, -11	Moves relative to the last position
rline x, y	rline 0, -4+hgt	Draws a line relative to the last position
colour red, green, blue	colour 255,255,0	Sets the colour
pic file, width, height	pic logo.jpg, 20, 20	Inserts a graphic

Customised frame

Frames serve as a background in the page layout view and can be customised. Here is a sample frame:
move 5, 4
font arial, 6
info "NOTE: This drawing is only an indication of the installation. Plans & views are the sole property of ??"

move 5, 5
rline 0, hgt-10
rline wid-10, 0
rline 0, -hgt+10
rline -wid+10, 0

move 5, 20
rline wid-10,0

move 7, 18
font arial,8
info *date
rmove 0,-4
info *range
rmove 0,-4
info *front
move 70,5
rline 0,15

move wid-60, 18
font Times New Roman, 22
info *studio
rmove 0, -10
font arial, 8
info *saddr
move wid-65,5
rline 0,15

move 75,18
font arial,14
info *client-
rmove 0, -4

ArtiCAD shortcut keys

Here is list of ArtiCAD 15 shortcut keys. Note that the list is not complete.

• → Right Arrow To Move Along
• ← Left Arrow To Move Back
• ↑ Up Arrow To Go Up a Level
• ↓ Down Arrow To Go Down a Level
• Delete to Delete
• F1 To Edit
• F3 Move Measurement Cursor
• F9 To Duplicate
• Ctrl+A Start Again
• Ctrl+B Edit Dimensions & Labels
• Ctrl+C See Plan
• Ctrl+D Set Up 3D View
• Ctrl+E Elevation
• Ctrl+F Room Settings
• Ctrl+G Page Layout
• Ctrl+H Price This Design
• Ctrl+I Partslist
• Ctrl+J Save Plan
• Ctrl+K Clients Details
• Ctrl+L Door Type
• Ctrl+M Change Photorealism Colours
• Ctrl+N Select Room System
• Ctrl+O Load a Plan
• Ctrl+P 3D Options
• Ctrl+Q Printer Setup
• Ctrl+R Save Unit Group
• Ctrl+S Load Unit Group
• Ctrl+T Set Up Multiple 3D Views
• Ctrl+U Store Image
• Ctrl+V Browse Images
• Ctrl+W New Window
• Ctrl+X To Exit
• Ctrl+Y Help (Keyword Search)
• Ctrl+Z To Undo
• Shift+Ctrl+Z To Redo

ArtiCAD is popular graphics design program for kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms and studies but the manuals and supporting documentation is very incomplete. It also seems as if there are little resources on the web to support ArtiCAD. The purpose of this blog is to stimulate better use of ArtiCAD thereby improving the productivity of users.
Typical subjects are:

• How to create your own frame
• How to change the default folders
• Shortcut keys

Contribution will be appreciated.
Note that none of the information on this blog is authoritive and should be taken as is without any promises.