Placing a Focal Segment

Follow this procedure when you need to place a Focal Segment when drawing a Spatial Object that can receive links. In the course of this procedure, you will be prompted by the Output Bar to make decisions about the position and size of the Focal Segment (usually whether to use default settings or draw the segment manually).

Waiting Zones and Level Exits can work purely as filtering objects so when drawing them you will be asked if you want to use the object as a target or as a filtering object.

To place a Focal Segment:

Complete steps 1 to 4 of "To draw a Spatial Object:" in Drawing and placing Spatial Objects .
You are prompted to choose whether you want to use a side of the object as a Focal Segment or not.
Press Enter to confirm and go to step 3.
If you want to draw the segment manually, type n, press Enter and draw start and end points for the segment. When you have done so, an arrow showing the direction in which Entities will cross the Focal Segment is displayed. Go to step 4.
If you want to use the whole side of the object as the Focal Segment:
- Click on the side you want to use as the segment.
  The Focal Segment, with the correct Entity crossing direction, is created and the ‘Edit <object name>’ dialog box is displayed.
If you only want to use part of an edge as the Focal Segment:
- Hold down the <Shift> key and draw the segment manually from one of the corners of the object.
- Click to complete the Focal Segment.
  The Focal Segment, with the correct Entity crossing direction, is created and the ‘Edit <object name>’ dialog box is displayed.
To accept the suggested Entity-crossing direction, press <Enter>; to reverse the direction of the arrow, type n and press <Enter>.
The Focal Segment is created and the ‘Edit <object name>’ dialog box is displayed.
Enter a name for the object (or choose from the drop-down list of imported objects if appropriate) and set any required parameters. See Setting the parameters of Spatial Objects .

Adjusting a Focal Segment

Once you have defined a Focal Segment you can always adjust its approach angles and focal point at a later stage. This is particularly useful with objects like Stairs and Escalators where the Focal Segments are automatically placed using a default focus point and approach angles.

Warning: We recommend that you keep the Focal Segment on or very close to the side of the Spatial Object in question.

To adjust a Focal Segment:

Select the object whose Focal Segment you want to adjust.
The Focal Segment will be highlighted in green dotted lines, with the focal point and vertices of the segment and approach angles highlighted in blue.
To move the focal point or change the approach angles, click once on the relevant vertex, move the cursor to the new position and click again to release.

Entity facing direction

When drawing Waiting Zones, Delay Points and Evacuation Zones, you are prompted to define a facing direction for the Entities within these objects.

After defining the shape of the object, you are asked: ‘Apply entity facing direction? [Y]/N’. To accept, press <Enter> and then position the graphical arrow using your cursor (you can change this angle in the Edit <object> dialog box.