Allplan+2018+top -

Go to Extrusion > Free Form > Create Mesh from Surface. Use this to convert conceptual Rhino geometry (imported via 3DM) into a structural slab that carries reinforcement properties.

If you have access to this software, here is how to get the "Top" performance:

Integrated directly into the viewport was Cineware by Maxon (the makers of Cinema 4D). Unlike basic shaded views, Allplan 2018 Top allowed for real-time ray-traced shadows, material previews, and global illumination. You could present "render-ready" images directly from the model environment without switching to Lumion or Twinmotion.

To understand why this version commands respect, we have to look at the specific tools introduced and perfected in the 2018 build. allplan+2018+top

Allplan is developed by the German Nemetschek Group, a giant in the AEC industry. Unlike simplified CAD tools, Allplan is built for the complete building lifecycle.

The "Top" qualification in the Allplan 2018 suite is critical. Allplan was released in three tiers:

Allplan 2018 Top combines the power of Architecture and Engineering into a single, unified platform. It includes the Allplan Add-Ons (Render, Terrain, Site Planning, Stair Module, and Roof Module) plus advanced import/export filters (IFC, DWG, DGN). If you needed to design a complex stadium, a parametric bridge, or a high-rise with intricate rebar detailing, Top was the version you bought. Go to Extrusion > Free Form > Create

This is where Top shines. You switch to the "Engineering" workspace. You select a concrete column, right-click, and select "Generate Reinforcement." The software asks for cover thickness, bar diameter, and spacing. You hit "Generate"—and within seconds, a fully detailed 3D rebar cage appears. You can then create a 2D section from that 3D view, complete with dimension lines and bar marks.

Fix: Allplan 2018 Top uses TLS 1.0 for legacy sync. You must enable TLS 1.0 in Windows Internet Options (Security tab) – though this is a security risk. Better to export as .PLN file manually.

Published by: Digital Construction Archive Reading time: 8 minutes Allplan 2018 Top combines the power of Architecture

In the breakneck world of BIM software, where Autodesk pushes a yearly subscription and Graphisoft updates Archicad like clockwork, looking back at a 2018 release seems counterintuitive. But ask any veteran engineer or architect in the DACH region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) or Eastern Europe, and they will likely have a soft spot for one specific version: Allplan 2018 Top.

While Allplan 2024 is packed with AI-driven rebar detailing and cloud workflows, Allplan 2018 represents the peak of the software’s “golden era” of stability, raw modeling power, and unfiltered German engineering logic. Here is why the 2018 “Top” tier is still a secret weapon for many firms—and what it did better than the competition.