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Vertical Compound Wall

December 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

We have defined the wall structure horizontally. Now we are going to make another wall type that define how is the wall defined vertically.
Activate wall tool. We are going to make some modification to wall type we created in this tutorial.
We are going to make a different type of wall for them. With those walls selected, click element properties > type properties. Let’s create another duplicate for the brick wall type. Click duplicate and give the type name: ‘vertical compound brick wall’.
Click edit button next to structure parameter. These steps are exactly the same like what we did before. But this time, we are going to work by looking at the section view, not floor plan. Change the view from floor plan to section. It’s at the bottom of this dialog box.
view section

You will see the preview become like this. You can zoom and pan the preview just like in your model. Use scroll button to zoom and mid button to pan the view. Alternatively, you can use the steering wheel by clicking the magnifier button at the left bottom of this dialog. Zoom until you see the wall layers and the wall bottom.

In the right bottom of this dialog, the’ modify vertical structure’ tools are now active. Click split region.

In the preview dialog box, move your pointer until you see the tool tip showing layer 1: exterior finish. You should split it 1000mm from the wall base.

Click to split it.
You can select the split line and adjust the height by activating modify tool. You can press [tab] several times to cycle between overlapping objects.
Now on the wall layers list, click the exterior finish to select it. Click insert to add one more layer. With the new layer selected, click assign layers in modify vertical structure group.
What are we going to do is to assign the new layer to the bottom part of the exterior layer. Click the bottom layer.

You should see the color is now different. Now change the layer function to finish 1 [4] and the material to a new material. Use one of an existing stone rendering material. Don’t forget to make a duplicate first.

Now we have defined different materials for exterior finish. Now we are going to add a sweep and a couple of reveals.
Click sweeps from modify vertical structure tool group. Click ‘add’ to add a new sweep. Download this file. It contain sweep and reveal profile. Click load profile then open wall sweep.rfa.
Change the profile to wall sweep: wall sweep. Change the material as necessary. Change the distance value to 1000. Change the ‘from’ field to base. The last one, make sure the side field is set to exterior side.

Click OK. Review your wall sweep. It’s the rectangle 1000mm above wall base.

Now we will add some reveals. Click reveals button.
Load the wall reveal.rfa for our reveals. Click add, and set these properties:

Profile: wall reveal : wall reveal
Distance: 1200
From: base
Side: exterior

We’ve just added one reveal. Click duplicate twice to add two more reveals. Change the distance to 1350 and 1500 consecutively. Click OK. Review your wall. Close all the dialogs and review your wall in 3D view.

align=center borderColor=#000000>

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Source: CAD Notes – Vertical Compound Wall
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: brick wall, Change, click, Don, element properties, layer, structure group, sweep, vertical structure, wall, wall structure No Comments »

by CADcaster

10 AutoCAD Layer Tools (You Might) Forgotten

October 8, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Layer is indispensable in drawing management when we use AutoCAD. Since it’s so important, there are a lot of layer tools available. Working on layer by finding layer names can be confusing, if you have lots of layers. You can work on layer graphically now. You can freeze or lock layers by selecting objects as reference. No need to find the layer name from a long list in layer manager. Honestly I don’t use all of them. But you might find it useful. Here’s 10 layer tools you might forgotten.

1. Make Object’s Layer Current (LAYMCUR)

Using this tool will change the current layer by selecting an object as reference. The current layer will use the objects layer. Imagine if you want to create a boundary. Instead changing current layer from list, just activate this tool and pick an existing boundary line!

2. Layer Previous (LAYERP)

This is useful if you need to work on other layer for a while. You can set the current layer to previous active layer by using this tool.

*But I wonder why there’s no Layer Next?

3. Layer Walk (LAYWALK)

Layer walk is very handy to check which object lies on which layer. Doing this can be frustrating. But layer walk make it easy. I love this tool! Check this animation.

4. Layer Match (LAYMCH)

Layer match will move an object from one layer to another, by selecting an object as reference. This is similar with MATCHPROP but only matching the object layer, not matching any other properties.

5. Change to Current Layer (LAYCUR)

Using this tool will move objects to current layer. Simply activate it, select objects, and voila! Those objects now moved to current layer.

6. Copy Objects to New Layer (COPYTOLAYER)

This tool will create a duplicate of selected objects, and place the new objects in another layer. You can define the target layer by selecting an object as reference OR you can select the layer name.

*I guess the command key in is getting too long, isn’t it?

7. Layer Isolate (LAYISO) and Layer Unisolate (LAYUNISO)

Layer isolate will isolate objects in a layer, and lock the rest of available layers. When you have complex drawings, you might want to lock and unlock layers quickly. Locking layers from layer manager definitely not good enough. Well, this is the right tool for you! You can isolate layers by selecting objects!

8. Layer Off (LAYOFF) and Layer Freeze (LAYFRZ)

These tools are similar to turning off layer or freezing layer through layer manager. But instead of turning them of by it’s name, you select objects you wanted to.

9. Turn All Layers On (LAYON) and Thaw All Layers (LAYTHW)

These also similar to using layer manager. But you can turn on all layers (or thaw) at once using them.

10. Layer Merge (LAYMRG)

This tool will move all objects on destination layer to target layer. Destination layer will be deleted after move. You can select destination/target layer using object as reference or by selecting layer name.

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Source: CAD Notes – 10 AutoCAD Layer Tools (You Might) Forgotten
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: boundary line, drawing management, layer, layer names, layer tools, Manager, Name, Reference, target, Tool No Comments »

by CADcaster

Creating Different Drawing Representative

September 25, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

We have created our floor plan. We set several layers when we created wall and column. Why? We are going to create different drawing representative for relatively large and small scale. How? We are going to create two layer states.

Open your drawing, or download this file. The drawing look like this.

This is going to be how it look with all the details. Let’s just save this layer states. Click from your ribbon, home>layers>unsaved layer state>New Layer State.

Give it name ‘high details’ and give the description something like given below.

That’s it! You’ve just save a layer state!

Now we are going to define another layer state. Open your layer manager.

Freeze these layers:

A-Column-Structure,
A-Wall-Pattern, and
A-Wall-Structure.

Now change the lineweight and color for these layers:

A-Column: 0.15, blue
A-Door: 0.05,red
A-Wall: 0.09, black.

No particular reason why we change the color, only I want the changes easily be recognized. We change the lineweight so it’s not going to be too thick when we plot it in large scale.

Now save another layer state. Give it name ‘low details’ and give appropriate description. There you go, you already have two layer states!

How can we use it? Easy. Just click your layer states in Layers section. You should see those two layer states there: high details and low details. Try to change it and see the difference.

Now you have high details representation and low level representation. Just like Revit, isn’t it?

Now open layout. I’ve provide one layout for this tutorial. Both of them look the same, aren’t they? They both have all layers on.

Now double click inside the right viewport. After your right viewport activated, change the layer states to ‘low details’. This should change the right viewport to low details, while the left viewport still showing the high details. However, I found this doesn’t always work. Sometimes, both of them will change their representation to new layer states. But don’t worry, if you have this problem, you can follow these steps.

Restore both of your viewport to high details. Activate your right viewport again. Now from layer state list, select ‘manage layer states’.

In the layer states manager dialog box, select ‘low details’ state, and click restore at the bottom of this dialog box. Now you’ll have your right viewport with low details, while your left viewport showing high details!

Now look at these viewport. You see same drawing in different viewports, and both showing different colors and lineweight. How is that possible. Well, that would be explained on other post. That’s how ‘layer properties per-viewport’ works.

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Source: CAD Notes – Creating Different Drawing Representative
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: click, floor plan, layer, level representation, open layout, representation, Representative Go, State, viewport, wall structure No Comments »

by CADcaster

Architectural Technologist – Autocad tips from Cadalyst

September 21, 2009 in CAD, Vectorworks

: Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Xrefs are a way of life in Autocad, and wehn a main drawing is sent out bound, AutoCAD delineates its layers in the layer manager by placing the reference name followed by a vertical bar, followed by the layer name (e.g., floorplan|steel, or floorplan|concrete). When you bind these references, AutoCAD replaces the vertical bar with a $ or 0 or $0$ (e.g., floorplan$0steel, floorplan$0$concrete). This can lead to a very confusing layer dialog, So what can be done, well try reading through this very useful article on Cadalyst

How to: See Your Complete AutoCAD System Variable List

August 31, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

If you are going to do some customization in AutoCAD, then it’s unavoidable that you will have to change some system variables. I’m not good in customization. So having a system variable list is very helpful. I know there are some websites provide this list. But some of them are for old version of AutoCAD. Some of the sys var might already have been removed. Some might have been changed. And if you use old version of AutoCAD, it might not even existed yet. Why not you try to look inside your AutoCAD?

If you are not familiar with system variables, they are the variables that control your AutoCAD behavior. Every options you save, current layer, color, or lineweight, etc.

For example, we can turn on/off object snap by pressing [F3] – if I’m not mistaken it was not F3 before, right? –. But if you are creating a new command like in this example or this example, let’s say you want to turn off OSnap temporarily, you’ll have to use system variable. You can change the SNAPMODE value to 0 (off) or 1 (on).

Another example, if you want to create a button that change your active layer to ‘Boundary’ and activate line, you have to use system variable to change the current layer. you can use CLAYER to control the current layer. There are a lot of things you can control by using system variables.

So how you can see the whole system variables? Simple.

Just type SETVAR [enter] then type ? [enter]. Enter once again to see the whole list. You need to press [enter] several times to see them all.

Command: SETVAR
Enter variable name or [?] <CLAYER>: ?
Enter variable(s) to list <*>:
3DCONVERSIONMODE 1
3DDWFPREC         2
3DSELECTIONMODE   1
ACADLSPASDOC      0
ACADPREFIX        "C:\Documents and Settings\edwinp\application
data\autodesk\a…" (read only)
ACADVER           "18.0s (LMS Tech)"                   (read only)
ACISOUTVER        70
ACTPATH           ""
ACTRECORDERSTATE 0                                    (read only)
ACTRECPATH        "C:\Documents and Settings\edwinp\application
data\autodesk\a…"
ACTUI             6
AFLAGS            16
ANGBASE           0
ANGDIR            0
ANNOALLVISIBLE    1
ANNOAUTOSCALE     -4
ANNOTATIVEDWG     0
APBOX             0
APERTURE          10
AREA              0.0000                               (read only)
Press ENTER to continue:

Source: CAD Notes – How to: See Your Complete AutoCAD System Variable List
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: application data, AutoCAD, documents and settings, layer, list, old version, quot, System, system variables, variable name No Comments »

by CADcaster

Dynamic Block Tutorial #2: Creating Column

August 26, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Let’s continue our dynamic block tutorial. We have created a basic dynamic block tutorial by adding one stretch action to our wall block. We will discuss further about parameter properties in this post.

Now let’s talk about what we want to achieve. We want one block that contain several column size. But column size is not supposed to be modified by freely stretching it. We have to limit the column minimum and maximum size. And we also have to set the increment value for this size, so the changes can be predictable.

If you’re not familiar with dynamic block, you should read this tutorial first. Basically we are doing the same thing, but there are some properties we are going to change. As we did when we create wall, we have to add some layers. Let’s add these layers:

A-Column, color:green, lineweight: 0.20
A-Column-Pattern, color:8, lineweight: 0.00
A-Column-Structure, color:9, lineweight: 0.09

Let’s create our column. Set layer A-Column as current layer. Draw a rectangle with size 400x400mm. Change your current layer with A-Column Structure, then offset your rectangle by 20mm. Remember to set the offset object layer to current. So this operation will create a new object on current layer. Offset it to the inside of the existing rectangle.

Command:
OFFSET
Current settings: Erase source=No Layer=Source OFFSETGAPTYPE=0
Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <20.0000>: l
Enter layer option for offset objects [Current/Source] <Source>: C
Specify offset distance or [Through/Erase/Layer] <20.0000>:
Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>:
Specify point on side to offset or [Exit/Multiple/Undo] <Exit>:
Select object to offset or [Exit/Undo] <Exit>:

The last one, set your current layer to A-Column-Pattern. Fill the inner rectangle with concrete hatch.

Create a block from these objects. Make sure the insertion point is the column center.

Give the block name ‘Rectangular Column’. After you finish defining the block, open block editor and edit it.

Similar to what we did in creating wall, we have to add parameters. This time we need to modify the column length and width, so we need to place 2 parameters.

Select the Distance1 parameter, then open properties palette.

Change the parameter name to ‘width’.
Change the distance type to increment.
Set the distance increment to 100
Set the distance minimum to 150
Set the distance maximum to 600
Under Misc category, change the base location to Midpoint.

Do the same thing to Distance2.

I think you already know what to do next: add the stretch action. But this time you add it to the both sides. Refer to the dynamic block #1 tutorial.

After you finish, close dynamic block editor. Try your block!

You should see some thick mark every 100mm between 150 and 600. Oops, my bad! You can’t create 150mm width column because we set the increment to 100! The minimum width you can achieve is 200. You have to change the increment to 50 to get it.

We also changed the base location to midpoint. So when we stretch it, it will be stretched both way. Not so difficult creating dynamic block, isn’t it?

Source: CAD Notes – Dynamic Block Tutorial #2: Creating Column
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: Block, C Specify, column, column color, column pattern, distance, dynamic block, Exit, increment value, inner rectangle, layer No Comments »

by CADcaster

Transparency of Images

August 25, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD

If you tried to set an image transparent with the normal transparent tools you found out it only works with one color. If fact all it does is turn off that color you select and is not really making anything transparent. Transparent as defined by Merriam-Webster is “fine or sheer enough to be seen through”. There is no see though when you just turn off a color. Using the data connect with FDO we can make polygon features transparent should we be able to do the same for images? Well we can with a little trick.

First we need to use the data connect to add the image to our map. Then save the image layer to “LAYER” file. When you save the layer it creates a file with an extension of layer, If you are not aware of what a layer file is, it’s an xml file that contains information on the data file as to how it is connected to the map, the data it contains (spatial & data), and how it is displayed or theme. Once you saved the image file to a Layer remove that image layer from the display manager and disconnect from the file(s) in the data connect palette.

Now browse to the image.layer file you created and open it in “Notepad”. Scroll down until you see the tags;

“<FeatureName>rasters:Name</FeatureName>” “<Geometry>Image</Geometry> “

Now insert between the two tags

<Opacity>0.5</Opacity>

Save the file after you edited it. The number 0.5 is the amount of transparency with the larger the number the more transparent the image will be. 0.9 is almost translucent and 0.1 is of little transparency. Now use the Load Layer tool from the Data Icon in the Display Manager to add the image to the map.

So why would anyone need an image to be transparent to start with when we can place it at the bottom of the draw order and make all the other layers transparent? First off, how often have you reopened the map to find out the draw order was not as you had it set when you closed the map drawing? Another reason you may want to set an image to be transparent would be if you have overlapping images in the map. Maybe you have an current aerial image and an aerial of the same are that is 10 yeas ago and you need to do a time lapse study of the area. Toggling the images on and off can get frustrating after a while, where as having one transparent will allow you to see though it to do the analysis a lot easier.

Here are a few before and after screen captures of the results.

How we normally do it with the image layer at the bottom of the display draw order and the polygon with transparency.

Here is with the image with transparency at 0.5 and the image layer at the top of the display draw order.

A closer look of the above. Notice how the street centerlines show though the image file.

If you look close enough you will see a grid pattern in the image after we make it transparent, I only guess that is the way Map3D renders the image but after a test print of the map the grid is not getting plotted so I see no harm in it being there. Also do not forget about the MAPPLOTTRANSPARENCY command if you want to plot with transparency.

Source: Map 3D and Murphs Law – Transparency of Images
Go to Source: Map 3D and Murphs Law

Tags: data icon, file, Image, image layer, layer, Map, merriam webster, nbsp, number 0, polygon features, transparency, Webster No Comments »

by CADcaster

Layer 0, ByLayer and ByBlock

August 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

Every time you create a new drawing, you will see a default layer: Layer 0. You can’t delete this layer.

Then when you define layer properties such as color, line weight, etc, you will see ByLayer and ByBlock property. Most of you might already know what is ByLayer means. But do you also know what is ByBlock behavior?

In a nut shell, here is the explanation

Layer 0 is a default layer. You can create geometry in your blocks using this layer. When you insert those blocks, they will use active layer. When you move this block to different layer, the objects in it will use the layer and ignore Layer 0.
When you define object properties (color, line weight, etc) to ByLayer, all of it properties will use the same properties as it’s defined in layer properties.
When you create geometries in your block using ByBlock, then you can override it’s properties after the block has been placed.
When you create geometries in your block other than ByLayer or ByBlock, then you can’t override them after your block has been placed.

Confused? Let’s create some example to comprehend this better.

Open your AutoCAD, in a new file create two layers, you can give them any name. Set different color and lineweight so we can easily distinguish them later.

Now we will create 4 objects, in this example I use circle.

First circle use layer 0, color: by layer, line weight: by layer
Second circle use layer 0, color: by block, line weight: by block.
Third circle use layer 0, color: red, line weight: 0.5 (we set this high so can be easier to see).
The last one use layer 1, color: by layer, line weight: by layer.

Create 4 blocks from each of the circle. Now select all those four, then change their layer to Layer 2. You can see block 1 and 2 use the layer properties, but block 3 and 4 still using it’s own properties.

Now override the color and line weight. Use color green, and line weight 2. You can see that the only block using the overridden properties is block no. 2!

Only block no.2 using the block properties, because we set it the geometry properties to by block.

Now freeze Layer 1. We can see the block no. 4 disappeared, because the object in it was created in Layer 1.

Unfreeze Layer 1, so we can see block no. 4 back. Now freeze layer 2. Remember, we have moved all of the blocks to Layer 2. What happen? All of the blocks disappear, including block no. 4! This block also disappear because the block itself using Layer 2. When we freeze Layer 1, the block is actually still showing. But the geometry inside it will be disappeared. This will be clearer if we have another object with different layer in that block.

Unfreeze Layer 2, then freeze Layer 0. None of the blocks is disappear! Remember that we created geometry in block 1,2, and 3 using Layer 0? They will ignore that layer and use the new layer properties.

If you want to understand more about this behavior, try to create more objects in your blocks. Set them to different properties. And play some more with layer properties. But I hope this is clear enough

Source: CAD Notes – Layer 0, ByLayer and ByBlock
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: AutoCAD, Block, Color, different color, geometry, layer, line, nut shell, red line, weight No Comments »

by CADcaster

Defpoints Layer

August 6, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD, Revit

When you create a new AutoCAD file, can you see this layer? No, unless your template file has it defined. This layer will be created automatically by AutoCAD when you create dimension. Try to create a dimension, then look again in your layer list. What is this layer for?

This layer is used for definition points when you place dimensions in AutoCAD. This layer by default is set not to be plotted. Don’t mind this layer. Why worry about one layer when you can create virtually unlimited layers?

The problem is, many use this layer when creating objects they don’t want to plot. Viewports for example. This is practical before, we can’t define a no-plot layer. Now that we can create a no-plot layer, we should avoid using this. Why?

Layer defpoints is somehow linked to Layer 0. When we freeze or thaw layer 0, you can’t modify objects in layer defpoints. You probably know it, but someone who receive your file might not.

The other reason is, when you run audit, all objects that’s not definition points will be removed to a new layer: $AUDIT-BAD-LAYER. You can read the explanation here. There is no explanation whether this will make your files corrupted or not. But if audit treat it as ‘bad object’ then it must be a good reason for it. You don’t want to see the ‘deadly’ fatal error message, do you?

Source: CAD Notes – Defpoints Layer
Go to Source: CAD Notes

Tags: AutoCAD, definition, dimension, Don, fatal error message, file, good reason, layer, viewports No Comments »

by CADcaster

An AutoCAD Hip Tip for XLIST with Long Layer Names

July 24, 2009 in AutoCAD, CAD

A while back I was asked to participate in a five minute interview for Acronym Online and I’m pleased to see that it was published this week. I found the questions a little tricky to answer but feel free to check out the Lynn Allen Five Minute Interview if you want to find out a little more about [...]

Source: All About CAD – An AutoCAD Hip Tip for XLIST with Long Layer Names
Go to Source: All About CAD

Tags: acronym, ascii text, CAD, hip tip, interview, layer, layer names, Lynn Allen Five, minute, minute interview, Murray, Murray Clack, Name, official interview, Robert Green, Source, spare minutes, Tip, while, XLIST No Comments »

CADcaster

You are browsing the archive for layer.

Vertical Compound Wall

10 AutoCAD Layer Tools (You Might) Forgotten

1. Make Object’s Layer Current (LAYMCUR)

2. Layer Previous (LAYERP)

3. Layer Walk (LAYWALK)

4. Layer Match (LAYMCH)

5. Change to Current Layer (LAYCUR)

6. Copy Objects to New Layer (COPYTOLAYER)

7. Layer Isolate (LAYISO) and Layer Unisolate (LAYUNISO)

8. Layer Off (LAYOFF) and Layer Freeze (LAYFRZ)

9. Turn All Layers On (LAYON) and Thaw All Layers (LAYTHW)

10. Layer Merge (LAYMRG)

Creating Different Drawing Representative

Architectural Technologist – Autocad tips from Cadalyst

Related articles by Zemanta

Dynamic Block Tutorial #2: Creating Column

Transparency of Images

Layer 0, ByLayer and ByBlock

Defpoints Layer

An AutoCAD Hip Tip for XLIST with Long Layer Names

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