Goodies — Archicad 29

Archicad 29, released in October 2025, positions itself as a "backbone" for future AI-driven workflows while continuing to support veteran users with refined productivity "goodies". While some critics have called it a lighter annual update, its focus on quality-of-life improvements and foundational technology like IFC 4.3 makes it a strategic release for modern BIM management. Core "Goodies" and Productivity Features

The "Goodies" in Archicad are essentially a suite of free, legacy-based add-ons that extend the software's standard capabilities. For version 29, these include:

Interior Wizard & Accessories: These tools allow for quick placement of wall panels, moldings, and floor constructions (like slabs) directly within selected zones.

Modeling Extras: Familiar utilities like the Mesh to Roof Tool, Check Duplicates, and Polygon Counting Tool remain available to help refine complex models.

Quick Rotate: A highly requested "quality of life" addition where elements can be rotated by 90° instantly using shortcuts (Cmd+R/Ctrl+R).

Direct Openings: For the first time, users can place openings directly in Section and Elevation views, even on non-parallel or slanted elements like roofs. Advanced Add-ons & Integrations

Beyond the classic "Goodies" suite, Archicad 29 introduces two major game-changers:

AI Assistant (BETA): A built-in chatbot that can query your model (e.g., "find all doors under 36 inches") and provide expert guidance from official Graphisoft documentation.

MEP Designer: A fully integrated solution for modeling and calculating HVAC, piping, and electrical systems within the Archicad interface.

Rewritten Bluebeam Connection: A superior, entirely recoded integration that turns Bluebeam Cloud annotations into native, actionable Archicad issues. Documentation & UI Improvements

Mac Dark Mode: Finally bringing eye-strain relief to macOS users with a native dark workspace option.

Interactive Schedule Formatting: Offers greater granularity for data visualization, including cell-level color and text customization. archicad 29 goodies

3D View Resolution: You can now manually set the DPI for 3D views on layouts to ensure high-quality, sharp output every time. Summary Table: Notable Enhancements Primary Benefit AI Visualizer 2.0 Generates textures/objects from text prompts or sketches. Navigator Cleanup Filter and select unused views to streamline project files. Renovation Status

Can now be assigned specifically to markers like detail or worksheet views. Replace PDF Pages

Swap single pages in multi-page PDFs without re-importing the whole file. ArchiCAD 29 The Most Embarrassing Update Ever

Archicad 29, released in October 2025, marks a significant shift for Graphisoft by integrating native AI capabilities and expanding its design ecosystem with the new MEP Designer. While the core software focuses on "Design Intelligence," the Archicad 29 Goodies Suite remains a vital collection of free, specialized add-ons that bridge the gap for legacy workflows and niche modeling needs. Core Features of Archicad 29

The version 29 release introduces several headline features aimed at automating repetitive tasks and improving documentation precision:

AI Assistant (BETA): A natural-language interface that helps users navigate the model by finding specific elements (e.g., "find all doors with 900mm width") or answering software-related questions using Graphisoft Learn documentation.

MEP Designer: A fully integrated toolset for HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems, replacing the older external MEP Modeler. Documentation Enhancements:

Openings in Elevations & Sections: Direct input of openings into 2D views.

Renovation Status for Markers: Finer control over how markers appear across different project phases.

Interactive Schedule Formatting: Expanded styling and color options for data visualization.

Workflow Productivity: Includes a native Dark Mode for macOS, the ability to rotate elements 90° with a single shortcut, and a tool to filter out unused project views. The Archicad 29 Goodies Suite Archicad 29 , released in October 2025, positions

"Goodies" are free add-ons developed by Graphisoft to provide specialized functionality. While they are based on legacy code and not officially supported, they remain popular for specific architectural tasks. The Archicad 29 Goodies Suite includes:

3D Studio In: Allows for the import of .3ds files into Archicad as GDL objects.

Accessories: Provides specialized modeling for Roof, Slab, and Wall accessories (e.g., corrugated metal cladding or tiling).

Interior Wizard: Automates the creation of 3D zones for floor finishes, wall coverings, and ceiling details.

Mesh to Roof Tool: Converts complex mesh surfaces into individual roof planes.

Check Duplicates: Identifies and helps delete overlapping elements to keep BIM models clean.

Polygon Counting Tool: Helps manage project performance by tracking the total number of polygons in the 3D model.

Profiler: A legacy tool for creating custom-extruded objects based on a 2D profile. How to Install Goodies for Archicad 29

To use these tools, you must download the Goodies Suite installer specifically for version 29. ArchiCAD 29 The Most Embarrassing Update Ever

2.1. Point Cloud to Morph (Direct Scan-to-BIM)

Previously requiring third-party plugins, Archicad 29 allows you to select a region of a point cloud (E57, LAS, RCP) and use "Convert Selection to Morph" . The tool analyzes planar surfaces, creates a mesh, then allows you to simplify, smooth, or extract a solid Morph in seconds.

Dual-Tolerance Dimensioning

For those working in imperial and metric simultaneously (or renovation projects), the new Dual Dimension tool allows you to set a primary and secondary unit directly on the same dimension string. You can now show 10'-0" (3048mm) without creating a second dimension string. You can now assign Line Weight, Pen Color,

2. The BIM Manager’s Dream: Renovation Filters & Graphic Overrides

The Renovation filter system has been the backbone of existing building workflows for years, but it had a blind spot: Graphic Overrides.

Previously, if you set a Graphic Override to show all "Existing" walls in grey, it would override the surface but not the contour lines or hatches, leading to messy, hard-to-read drawings.

Archicad 29 Goodie: Unified Renovation Overrides.

• You can now assign Line Weight, Pen Color, and Fill patterns directly to Renovation Statuses within the Graphic Override palette.
• The "Ghost Existing" trick: Set your "To Be Demolished" elements to have a 50% transparency and a dotted line contour, while "New" elements remain solid black. This renders beautifully in both 2D plans and 3D elevations without manual editing.

5. BIM Collaboration Goodies (OPEN Collaboration)

Graphisoft continues to lean into its "OPEN BIM" ethos, but Archicad 29 adds two killer features regarding interoperability.

Enhanced Modeling and Documentation

ArchiCAD 29 improves core modeling capabilities in ways that speed the transition from concept to construction documentation. The updated geometry engine delivers smoother handling of complex elements and intersections, reducing time spent troubleshooting model inconsistencies. Improvements to morph and freeform modeling give designers more predictable control when creating organic or bespoke building components, while updated element snapping and constraint behavior increase precision during iterative design.

On the documentation side, ArchiCAD 29 refines automated annotation and dimensioning. Smarter dimension placement and label management decrease manual cleanup, enabling drawings to stay synchronized with model changes. These enhancements shorten the feedback loop between design decisions and deliverable updates, allowing teams to maintain higher levels of accuracy with less repetitive effort.

10. The "You Didn't Ask For It, But You Need It" Goodie: PDF Import Editing

Archicad 29 introduces a limited but useful Vector PDF Editing tool. If you import a vector PDF (e.g., a site survey from a civil engineer), you can now:

• Snap to the endpoints of lines inside the PDF.
• Delete specific vector lines from the PDF after import.
• Convert PDF lines into Archicad lines, arcs, or polylines with a single click.

No more tracing PDFs by hand.

7. The Staircase & Railings Tweak

The Staircase tool (introduced in Archicad 25) was powerful but rigid. Archicad 29 loosens the constraints.

New Goodies:

• Landing Shape Editing: You can now independently skew the inner and outer edges of a landing. Great for radial staircases.
• Railing by Selection: The "Railing to Edge" tool now works on Slabs and Roofs. Want a glass railing on a curved balcony slab? Select the slab edge, click "Railing," and it attaches parametrically. If you change the slab shape, the railing follows.

Revit File Direct Link (No Export)

This is the headline act. Archicad 29 can now open and reference native .RVT files without needing to export to IFC or DWG. While it is (technically) a translation on the fly, the "goodie" is Parameter Mapping. You can map Revit's "Comment" field to Archicad's "Description" field automatically. When the Revit file updates, Archicad tells you exactly which walls changed, not just that something changed.