Using a Twindo Archicad File with Your Custom Template

This guide include step-by-step instructions to help you:

Importing into an empty Archicad template

 

STEP 1: Prepare your template for the file import:

  1. Open Twindo .pln file.
    image-20240619-094116
  2. Navigate to Stories and right-click (RMB) on any floor to access Story Settings.
    image-20240619-103332
  3. Note down all height dimensions. Once done, close the .pln file.
    image-20240619-120019
  4. Open your custom template where you want to import the file.
  5. Navigate to Stories and right-click (RMB) on any floor to access Story Settings.
    image-20240619-112243
  6. Edit all heights in your template to match the dimensions noted from the Twindo .pln file.
    image-20240619-112243
  7. Delete any extra stories or add more to match the Twindo .pln file story number.
    image-20240619-112505
  8. Accept any warnings that may appear.
    image-20240619-112840

STEP 2: Import into an existing project

  1. Go to File → External Content → Place Hotlink.
    image-20240619-103731
  2. Select Module.
    image-20240619-103902
  3. Press New Module → from File
    image-20260305-101535
  4. Select All Stories.
    image-20240619-104053
  5. Choose the desired file and press Select.
    image-20260305-103813
  6. Ensure the Master Layer is set to ARCHICAD Layer.
    image-20240619-104248
  7. If you are importing the file into a template that already has a preferred story setup, please make sure that the “Keep Elevation as in Story Structure of Hotlink Source” option is selected.
    image-20260305-122908
  8. Press Place Hotlink.
    image-20240619-104333
  9. Confirm by pressing OK.
    image-20240619-112941

Now you have successfully imported the Twindo file into your template.

image-20240619-113305

Please note that the model in your template is placed as a Hotlink, which means it cannot be modified directly in this file.

  1. Verify each floor to ensure everything is imported correctly.
    image-20240619-115325
    1. Now you have successfully imported the Twindo file into your template.
      image-20240619-113305
      Please note that the model in your template is placed as a Hotlink, which means it cannot be modified directly in this file.

If you need to make changes, you have two options:

  1. Make the changes in the Twindo .pln file, and then update the Hotlink in your file.
    image-20260305-104412

  2. Break the Hotlink and continue working with the model directly. To do this, right-click (RMB) on the model and select Break Hotlink. After breaking the Hotlink, the entire model will remain grouped. Ungroup it if needed before making further changes.
    image-20260305-104456

If your file appears empty, try the following steps:

  1. Go to Options → Layers.
    image-20240619-113422

  2. Press Select All and Show icons, then press OK.
    image-20240619-113637
  3. Go to Generic Axonometry.
    image-20240619-114204
  4. Right-click (RMB) on any object in the 3D model and press Select on Floor Plan.
    image-20240619-114302
  5. Now, the plan should be visible on the screen.
    image-20240619-114356
  6. If the 3D Generic Perspective is still empty, press the visibility button.
    image-20240619-115801
    Now, everything should be visible.
 

Import into an existing project

If you want to add the Twindo model to your configured project with the story heights already set, open your custom template where you want to import the file.

  1. Place the Hotlink:
    1. Go to File → External Content → Place Hotlink.
      image-20240619-103731
    2. Select Module.
      image-20240619-103902
    3. Press New Module → from File
      image-20260305-101535
    4. Select All Stories.
      image-20240619-104053
    5. Choose the desired file and press Select.
      image-20260305-103813
    6. Ensure the Master Layer is set to ARCHICAD Layer.
      image-20240619-104248
    7. Please make sure that the “Keep Elevation as in Story Structure of Hotlink Source” option is selected.
      image-20260305-122908
    8. Press Place Hotlink.
      image-20240619-104333
    9. Confirm by pressing OK.
      image-20240619-112941

Now you have successfully imported the Twindo file into your template.
image-20240619-113305
Please note that the model in your template is placed as a Hotlink.

To get it modified directly in this file, you need to follow either of the 2 approaches:

  1. Make the changes in the Twindo .pln file, and then update the Hotlink in your file.
    image-20260305-104412

  2. Break the Hotlink and continue working with the model directly. To do this, right-click (RMB) on the model and select Break Hotlink. After breaking the Hotlink, the entire model will remain grouped. Ungroup it if needed before making further changes.
    image-20260305-104456

If your file appears empty, try the following steps:

  1. Go to Options → Layers.
    image-20240619-113422

  2. Press Select All and Show icons, then press OK.
    image-20240619-113637
  3. Go to Generic Axonometry.
    image-20240619-114204
  4. Right-click (RMB) on any object in the 3D model and press Select on Floor Plan.
    image-20240619-114302
  5. Now, the plan should be visible on the screen.
    image-20240619-114356
  6. If the 3D Generic Perspective is still empty, press the visibility button.
    image-20240619-115801
    Once done, everything should be visible.

Fix the “elements appear as dots” issue (Library Setup)

If elements appear as dots after opening the Twindo-generated Archicad file, please follow the instructions below.

image-20260305-143055

  1. Open the Twindo file.
    image-20240619-094116
  2. Go to File → Library Manager.
    image-20260305-143238
  3. Click Migrate Libraries.
    image-20260305-143337
  4. In the pop-up window, press Migrate. During this process, elements will be replaced with the libraries from your current Archicad version.
    image-20260305-143403
  5. Check the model and make sure that all elements are now displayed correctly.
    image-20260305-143616

If some objects still appear as dots, try the following steps:

  1. Download the required libraries from here (choose USA or INT libraries based on your order).
  2. Reopen the Twindo file. If a pop-up window appears suggesting that you migrate the libraries, click Skip.
    image-20260305-142953
  3. Go to File → Library Manager.
    image-20260305-143238
  4. Select the libraries marked as Missing and remove them by clicking Delete.
    image-20260305-144019
  5. Click Add
    image-20260305-144116
  6. Locate the Archicad 25 libraries you just downloaded on your computer.
    image-20260305-144514
  7. Select both libraries one by one by clicking Choose.
    image-20260305-144614
  8. Click OK and check that all objects are displayed correctly.
    image-20260305-144701
  9. The model should now display all elements correctly and is ready for further work. Please note that the file will use the Archicad 25 libraries.
    image-20260305-145150

Thank you and happy scanning!