Installation Instructions

Return to the Getting Started Guide by clicking here.

Installation

  1. Place the downloaded copy of mACT on your server and ensure you keep a copy as a backup.
  2. Extract the contents of the compressed file to a location on your server that everyone in your office has access to, so they can load the template when they start a new project.
  3. Relink File Paths.
    The following items in ARCHICAD link to absolute file paths. Adjusting these to point to your local file paths by changing it directly in the template file, saves you from having to do this for every new file you start of the template.

    1. Open the template file (in the following order!):

      1. Open up ARCHICAD.
      2. File > Open and navigate to the folder where you extracted the template.
      3. Open “mACT 20.tpl”
    2. Relink the Library:
      1. File > Libraries & Objects > Library Manager
      2. Click “Add…” and navigate to the folder where you extracted the template.
        The mACT Library is located in /Extras/Libraries.  Load only the “mACT Library 20.lcf”.
      3. Click “OK”
  4. File > Save and overwrite “mACT 20.tpl”

You can now close the file.

[asideguide type=”note”]Publisher Sets, where set to save files rather than print, will need to pointed to a new file path. This will most likely be necessary on a per project basis rather than adjusting directly in the template file. You will be prompted as soon as you try to publish drawings.[/asideguide]

Load the mACT Work Environment.

Work Environments are saved on local computers and therefor need to be separately loaded on each individual workstation.
The mACT Work Environment has numerous benefits over the standard environment as it structures the interface more logically.

  1. ARCHICAD > Work Environment
  2. Ensure you are at the top of the tree called “Work Environment Profiles”
  3. Click “Import…” and “Browse” to the folder where you extracted the template. “Choose” the following folder /Extras/WE/
  4. Select “mACT 20” and “Import”
  5. Select “mACT 20” under the Stored Profiles, “Apply Schemes of Profile” and “Set as Default”
  6. “OK”

[asideguide type=”tip”]Of course you can make changes to this WE. Make sure you save these custom schemes with, for example, your initials appended. This way, if somebody else needs to use your computer, they can always switch back to the familiar mACT WE.[/asideguide]

[asideguide type=”note”]You can open a list of all available shortcuts in the Work Environment: ARCHICAD > Work Environment > Shortcut Schemes > Keyboard Shortcuts > Show Shortcut List in Browser.[/asideguide]

Familiarise yourself with the template.

mACT includes a Getting Started Guide which outlines how the template has been set up.

Training.

If new to or unfamiliar with ArchiCAD, training is essential.
A template will ease your struggle with the software, however training is invaluable as it will help you understand the software better and achieve greater efficiency – leaving you more time to design.