Rhino – Grasshopper – Archicad Toolset

Rhinoceros and Grasshopper – developed by Robert McNeel & Associates – are considered market leaders in industrial design modeling and algorithmic design.
Now, designers have various options to connect Archicad’s professional BIM work environment with the modeling power of Rhino and Grasshopper.

More about Rhino – Grasshopper – Archicad Toolset


Prerequisites

Before installing any connections, make sure that Archicad, Rhinoceros3D and Grasshopper is installed on your computer.


Table of Contents

Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection
Rhinoceros Import/Export Add-ons
Rhinoceros – GDL Converter


Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection

Detailed Information and DownloadsWindowsmacOSMinimum Archicad
build supported
User GuideLast updated
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7 (Apple silicon version).
9.8 MB4024Nov. 24, 2022
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
17.3 MB 9.5 MB4007Oct. 28, 2022
Grasshopper-Archicad 26 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
13.0 MB 9.4 MB3001Jul. 14, 2022
Grasshopper-Archicad 25 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
13.0 MB 7.8 MB3003Oct. 6, 2021
Grasshopper-Archicad 25 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6.
13.8 MB 8.5 MB3003Jul, 2021
Grasshopper-Archicad 24 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 6 and Rhino 7.
12.9 MB 7.7 MB 6004 Aug. 30, 2021
Grasshopper-Archicad 24 Live Connection
Supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6.
13.7 MB 8.4 MB6004 Jul. 8, 2020

Previous Downloads

Important Notes:

  • The v23 & v24 of Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection supports Rhino 5 and Rhino 6 on both platforms (Win & macOS).
  • On Windows both v21,v22 of Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection supports Rhino6.
  • On macOS both v21 and v22 of Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection supports Rhino5. They don’t support Rhino6 WIP.
  • Grasshopper – Archicad Live Connection is not compatible with Archicad STAR(T) Edition.
Detailed Information and Downloads Windows macOS Compatible with
Archicad build
User Guide Last updated
Grasshopper-Archicad 24 Live Connection   13.7 MB
1.6 (24.0.3008)
 8.4 MB
1.6 (24.0.3008)
3008 Jul. 8, 2020
Grasshopper-Archicad 23 Live Connection   20.8 MB
1.0 (23.0.4006)
 16 MB
1.0 (23.0.4006)
4006 May. 4, 2020
Grasshopper-Archicad 22 Live Connection   24 MB
2.2 (22.0.6026)
 19.3 MB
2.2 (22.0.6026)
6021 Sep. 5, 2019
Grasshopper-Archicad 21 Live Connection   9.1 MB
2.0 (21.0.7005)
 12.5 MB
2.0 (21.0.7005)
7000 Dec 13, 2018
Grasshopper-Archicad 20 Live Connection   8.6 MB
1.7 (20.0.6022)
 21.3 MB
1.7 (20.0.6022) Beta
7001 June 15, 2017
Grasshopper-Archicad 19 Live Connection   7.12 MB
1.5 (19.0.9006)
9001 June 1, 2017
Grasshopper-Archicad 18 Live Connection   7.39 MB
1.5 (18.0.9534)
9013 Sep. 7, 2016

Rhinoceros Import/Export Add-ons

Important Notes:

Rhino 6 format is not supported in the built in Rhinoceros Import/Export function in Archicad 22.

From Archicad 20 on these add-ons are part of the Archicad package. In Archicad 19 and 18 install these free Add-ons to enable Archicad to import and export models using Rhino’s native (.3dm) file format.

Import Rhino Model to Archicad

Rhino Importer Add-on enables Archicad users on both the Mac and Windows platforms to pass on the model or part of the model produced in Rhino to Archicad. This Add-on, available for Archicad 18 and 19, enables you to open or merge native Rhino (*.3dm) files directly in Archicad.

Download Version Windows Mac OSX Last updated
Rhino Importer for Archicad 19 1.0     15.6 MB   5.75 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Rhino Importer for Archicad 18 1.0     15.9 MB   5.70 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Import Rhino Model to Archicad User Guide       Sep. 30, 2015

Export Archicad Model to Rhino

Rhino Exporter Add-on enables Archicad users on both the Mac and Windows platforms to pass on the model or part of the model produced in ARHICAD to Rhino. This Add-on, available for Archicad 18 and 19, enables you to save the Archicad 3D model as a Rhino file (*.3DM).

Download Version Windows Mac OSX Last updated
Rhino Exporter for Archicad 19 1.0     2.52 MB   1.73 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Rhino Exporter for Archicad 18 1.0     2.84 MB   1.68 MB Sep. 30, 2015
Export Rhino Model to Archicad User Guide       Sep. 30, 2015

Rhinoceros – GDL Converter

Install these free plug-ins to convert Rhino models to native Archicad GDL elements – standalone objects (.gsm) or library containers (.lcf).

Please watch this video to find out more about how to install the necessary plug-ins, and how to import a model created in Rhinoceros into Archicad as native GSM objects. The video first presents the “Single Object Import” workflow using.gsm files and then the “Complex Structure Import” using .lcf files.

Steps to import Rhinoceros models to Archicad

1

Download and install plug-in for Rhino

Download and launch this “GSM-LCF exporter for Rhino 5” Rhino plug-in to be able to save/export Rhino models.

 GSM-LCF exporter for Rhino 5

2

Choose import method

Depending on the size of the Rhino model, choose one of these two import methods:

Single Object Import to Archicad

Use this workflow to import small-sized single objects or groups of small objects saved in GSM format to Archicad.

3
Save Rhino model as GSM file

In Rhino, select the model or its parts you want to export and save them as GSM Object File using the “GSM-LCF Exporter for Rhino 5” plug-in. Go to File/Save or File/Export Selected and in the upcoming dialog choose the “Archicad GDL Object” file type (extension .gsm).

4
Place the object in Archicad

In Archicad, add the object to the Embedded Library, then place it into the Archicad project as an Object.

Complex Structure Import into Archicad

Use this workflow for larger and complex Rhino models to convert them into a set of (smaller) GDL objects. This process enables the user to retain separate logical parts within the same model while providing a functionality to monitor and easily update the imported Rhino models in Archicad. The LCF option is also advised to enable Archicad’s performance optimization algorithm to work seamlessly on an imported large Rhino model.

3
Save Rhino model as LCF file

In Rhino, select the object(s) you want to export as a reference model to Archicad. Go to File/Save or File/Export Selected and save them as LCF Container File using the “GSM-LCF Exporter for Rhino 5” plug-in. In the upcoming dialog choose the “Archicad GDL Object Library” file type (extension .lcf).

5
Place LCF model in Archicad

In Archicad, add the LCF file as a Linked Library in Library Manager, then place it into the Archicad project as an Object. Using the “Rhino LCF Observer” Add-on you can place all objects from the LCF files, and/or to update any placed instances as needed.


Guides for Rhinoceros-GDL Converter

Download the Rhinoceros-GDL Converter Guide for Archicad 20 

Download the Rhinoceros-GDL Converter Guide for Archicad 19 

Download the Rhinoceros-GDL Converter Guide for Archicad 18