| ArchiCAD Layer | Nothing! | Do not use |
| !-grid | Centerlines, layout lines, regulating lines, calculations, grid | Usually just the ArchiCAD grid object.
Usually printed.
This is an important layer in that it communicates design intent. |
| +A-dims | Dimensions for primary Arch plan, and all Section, Elevation, and Detail drawings | See our dimension groundrules for additional information. |
| +A-entourage | Entourage for the plans, sections, and elevations | |
| +A-misc line-esd | Fills and Line work for Elevations, Sections, and Details | |
| +A-note | Primary annotation layer - 1/4" A plan, and all SED drawings | Don't note scale on primary annotation layer |
| +A-note-24 | 1/2" A plan notes and annotations | Unique plan type = unique note layer |
| +A-note-96 | 1/8" A plan notes and annotations | Unique plan type = unique note layer |
| +A-note-rcp | Notes for the RCP | |
| +A-revn | Revision annotations. Append appropriate revision number. | See our notes on construction administration document management for more information. |
| +C-cntr | Drawn new contours - not mesh | |
| +C-cntr.E | Drawn existing contours - not mesh | |
| +C-dims | Dimensions - civil | |
| +C-fills | Fills for the site plan | |
| +C-footprint | Foundation perimeter on site plan | |
| +C-legl | Site Boundaries | |
| +C-note-site-240 | Notes for the Site Plan, contour labels | |
| +C-note-siteexisting | Notes for the Existing Site Plan | |
| +C-roof | House Roof or Plan on Site Plan (Library patch) | |
| +E-note-elec | Notes for the Electrical Plan, switching path | |
| +F-note-fnsh | Notes for the Floor Finish Plan | |
| +F-note-furn | Notes for the Furniture Plan | |
| +FP-note-egrss | Notes for the Fire Egress Plan | |
| +FP-zone-code | Code zones | |
| +S-note | Notes for the framing plan, fills for bearing walls | |
| +Z-se-hide | SED markers you want to hide | |
| +Z-zone-net | Zones for the room labels and area calcs | |
| +Z-bs | markers for building sections | |
| +Z-detl | markers for details | |
| +Z-elev | markers for exterior elevations | |
| +Z-intel | markers for interior elevations | |
| +Z-ws | markers for wall sections | |
| A-cbnt | Cabinets, counters, cubbies, closets, built-ins | |
| A-cbnt-3 | Same as above, but only for VESD | |
| A-clng | Ceilings, ACT, overhead stuff | |
| A-flor | Structural floor slab | Compare F-flor |
| A-roof | Structural roof slab | Compare F-roof |
| A-soff | Plan and 3D (coffer and clip lines, for example) | |
| A-soff-3 | 3d only (exterior soffit, for example) | |
| A-strs | Tread, stringer | |
| A-strs-rail | Newel, railing | Hide in structure plan |
| A-wall | Interior, exterior, load-bearing or not | |
| A-wall-fndn | To control wall cleanup with other A-walls | Intersection number controlled by layerset |
| A-wall-site | To control wall cleanup with other A-walls | Intersection number controlled by layerset |
| C-urban ctxt | Adjacent massing of buildings, roads, walks, vehicles | Like V-3D but at larger scale |
| C-utility | Site drainage and utilities | |
| D-demo elements | Demo elements, temporarily hidden elements | A trash can you don't empty |
| E-fixt-2 | 2d symbols of wall, floor stuff - display in EP only | Symbols only. EP only |
| E-fixt-3 | Modeled wall, floor stuff - display in EP, and VESD | Modeled fixtures, switches, devices. EP and VESD |
| E-fixt-clng-2 | 2D symbols - display in EP, RCP only | Same and E-fixt-2 but shows in RCP also. |
| E-fixt-clng-3 | Modeled ceiling stuff - display in EP, RCP, and VESD | Same and E-fixt-3 but shows in RCP also. |
| F-appl | Appliances, equipment, and such | |
| F-deck | Decks, porches, pools, etc. | Rarely used |
| F-fin2 | Finish fills for CD (usually not the entire surface) | |
| F-flor | Finish floor in 3D | |
| F-furn | | |
| F-gutr | Gutter and Downspout | |
| F-roof | Roofing, valley and ridge articulation | Compare A-roof |
| F-specialties | Shower doors, toilet partitions, display boards, mirrors | Mostly commercial stuff, except for shower glass |
| F-trim-hi | Interior and exterior (cornice and such) | Show in RCP |
| F-trim-lo | Interior and exterior (bases and such) | |
| F-trim-mid | Interior and exterior (wainscot, decorative columns) | No decorative columns in Structural Plan |
| L-car | | |
| L-hardscape | Roads, walks, ground gutters, pavement | All paved hardscape except site walls |
| L-grade | Site mesh | |
| L-grade.E | Site mesh - existing conditions | Preserves existing contours for cut/fill analysis |
| L-tree.D | Tree to be removed | |
| L-tree-maj.E | Existing trees | |
| L-tree-min | Minor tree, understory | |
| M-duct | | BD library has duct tools |
| M-fixt | Mech stuff plan only (air handler and duct symbols) | |
| M-fixt-3 | Mech stuff in 3D (registers and grilles, for example) | |
| M-fixt-clng | To display in EP, RCP | |
| M-fixt-clng-3 | To display in EP, RCP, and 3D | |
| O-opt1..2..3 | Design options | A place to keep schematic design options on a single layer. Distribute elements to correct layers once the option is selected, otherwise, delete. |
| P-fixt | Plan and 3D, shower pan, faucet, sink | |
| S-beam | Structural beam. Control 3D/section display in object settings. | |
| S-col-stl | Structural column, steel | Show in Foundation Plan |
| S-col-wd | Structural column, wood | Show in Framing Plan, not Foundation Plan |
| S-frmg-2 | Joists, 2D fill | |
| S-frmg-3 | Modeled joists and rafters - optional and as needed | |
| S-ftng | Footing. Use dotted line for the slab. | |
| V-3 | 3D required stuff that would compromise plan clarity | |
| V-light | Sun, skyobjects | |
| V-LW-light | Artificial illumination for rendering | |
| V-LW-sky | "North light" for rendering | |
| V-3-people | 3D people | To toggle off intensive 3D elements |
| X-bitmap | Scanned picture | Always place scanned input into the model at correct scale. Unique content requires a unique layer. See the wiki for differences between "figures" and "drawings" placed as bitmaps. |
| X-SEO-genl | General SEO operators | All SEO hidden elements live here, except for site-related. |
| X-SEO-site | Site cutting SEO operators | Any site-mesh cutting element lives here. |
| Z-gdl | Test and create objects, symbol line types and fills | |
| Z-gross | Gross area calculation fill - don't use zone. | |
| Z-measure | Other area calcs and measurements - usually a fill. | |
| Z-module | Home story for incoming modules | |
| Z-xxx | Special use | |
| Z-xxx | Special use | |
| | |
| under consideration | | |
| A-flue | Flue parts | |
| A-fireplace | Firebox and chimney parts | |
| A-chimney-3 | Chimney parts VESD only | |
| F-deck-2 | Deck surface P only | |
| A-deck-3 | Deck surface VESD only | |
| A-deck-railing | Deck railing | Hide in structure plan |
| E-fixt-ext-3 | Toggle on extr fixtures for 1/4" exterior elevations | Toggle off for 1/4" building sections |
| E-fixt-ext-clg-3 | Toggle on ext ceiling fixtures for RCP | Toggle off for 1/4" building sections |