Move your Archicad project to a new location

Issue description 

If your project is placed in the wrong spot or located far from the Archicad Project Origin, you may encounter problems such as inaccurate snapping, unusual display behavior, or tools that fail to function correctly. This article shows you how to move the whole project to a different position without losing any documentation.

Solution

Method 1 - Moving the complete model, including 3D and 2D elements

The safest way to move an entire project in Archicad is by using the Marquee tool set to 'Selection Methods: All Floors'. This method ensures that all project elements are moved together—including 3D elements, 2D drawings, annotation, markers, dimensions, labels, text, fills, and all other documentation. This prevents information loss and avoids the cleanup work often required when moving the project through the 3D view.

To move your project in 3D closer to the Project Origin in Archicad, follow these steps:

1. Switch to the Floor Plan view.

2. Make sure all elements that need to move are visible. Any element that is not currently displayable will remain in its original location.

   1. Turn on all Layers and ensure they are unlocked.

   2. Unlock all locked elements via Edit > Locking > Unlock All.

   3. Ensure relevant Design Options are active; elements on inactive options will not move.

   4. Set your Renovation Filter to one that shows all statuses.

      • Elements pinned to a specific renovation filter (i.e., not set to All Relevant Filters) will not move unless that specific filter is active.

3. Activate the Marquee tool from the Toolbox.

4. In the Info Box, set the marquee to Selection Methods: All Floors.
   
   
    

5. Draw a marquee around the entire extent of the project.

6. In the Navigator, switch to the Project Map (not the View Map).
   This ensures that the states from step 2 remain active while checking each story.

7. Click through the different stories in your Project Map to verify that all model elements are inside the marquee.

   • If any story contains elements outside the marquee, press Esc to cancel the current marquee and return to step 5.

   • If all stories show their content inside the marquee, proceed.

8. Moving the project to a new location.

   • Choose a reference point by clicking a point in the model (preferably a corner node or intersection) that you want to use as the base.

   • Move your cursor to the new position and click again to move the project.

9. Review phase

   • Switch to a 3D view to confirm that no elements were stretched. If stretching occurred, part of an element was outside the marquee.

   • Switch through your standard views and layouts to confirm that all documentation moved correctly. 
     If documentation is misaligned, its layer was likely turned off during step 2.

Method 2 - Moving the 3D only

To move your project in 3D closer to the Project Origin in Archicad, follow these steps:

1. Switch to a 3D view.
2. Select all 3D elements by pressing Ctrl+A (Windows) or Cmd+A (macOS).
3. Activate the Drag command by going to Edit > Move > Drag, or press Ctrl+D (Windows) / Cmd+D (macOS).
4. Choose a reference point by clicking a point in the model that you want to use as the base for relocating the project.
5. Move the project to the new location.
   • Drag your cursor to the desired position or enter precise coordinates in the Tracker.
   • Click again to place the project.