OpenBuildings™ Station Designer Help

Place Slab

Used to construct and place slabs. Slabs are created and placed by entering data points to define the outside perimeter (Boundary method); or by flooding a selected shape (Flood method); or by extruding a shape (From Shape method); or by selecting supporting structural members to determine the shape (From Structural Members method).

Note: Placement is completed using the controls found on the Placement ribbon tab and the Property Panel which is loaded with the active Building element catalog items and properties.
Accessed from:
  • Ribbon: Building Design > Structural > Place Structural Elements > Slab
  • Ribbon: Building Design > Architectural > Place Architectural Elements > Slab

Placement tab

Note: The Placement tab opens on the ribbon when placing Building elements. The Placement tab contains settings specific to the Building element being placed that are used to define the position, orientation or dimensions of the Building element being placed. Also available on the Placement tab, are a collection of Building common tools selected specifically because of their relevance to the Building element being placed.
SettingDescription
Place By Sets the construction and placement method for the slab.
  • Boundary – The slab is created by entering data points to define the outside perimeter.
  • Flood – The slab is created by entering a data point to flood a defined region.
  • Shape – The slab is created by selecting a shape. The slab is extruded from the shape.
  • Structural Members – The slab is created by selecting supporting structural members which determine the shape of the slab.
Place From Sets the placement of the slab relative to the data points that place the slab.
  • Top – The slab is placed from the top.
  • Bottom – The slab is placed from the bottom.
Base Offset Sets the Z axis distance from the active ACS to the top of the slab.
Allow Holes When on, the slab extrudes around columns and other forms located within the flooded region, creating holes where the columns and other forms exist. Enabled for the Flood slab placement option only.
Delete Constructions When on, the element shape used to extrude the slab form is deleted. Enabled for the Shape slab placement option only.
Overhang Sets the distance by which the slab extends beyond, or retracts within, the placement boundary. A positive value extends the slab beyond the placement boundary and a negative value retracts the slab within the placement boundary.
Side Angle Controls the angular position of the slabs edge faces.
  • Angle – Sets the angle of the edge faces between the base surface and the top surface of the slab form.
    • If the angle is 0 (zero), the edge faces are perpendicular to the base surface.
    • If the angle is positive, the edge face angle starts from the top edge of the slab and indents inward toward the bottom edge.
    • If the angle is negative, the edge face angle starts from the bottom edge of the slab and indents inward toward the top edge.
  • Horizontal – When viewing the slab form with the Base ACS active, the sides of the slab form display parallel to the global X-Y plane. In other words, the sides should appear as single line edges in an elevation view.
  • Vertical – When viewing the slab form with the Base ACS active, the sides of the slab form display perpendicular to the global X-Y plane. In other words, the sides should appear as single line edges in a plan view.
Slope Sets the angle for the edge faces of the slab. Enabled when Side Angle > Angle is selected.

Slab Properties



SettingDescription
Catalog Type Selector Used to select from available Catalog Types. Selections made here updates the Catalog Item Selector combo box.
Catalog Item Selector Used to select from available Catalog Items. The Catalog Item Selector combo box contains several options and settings designed to make it easier to find the exact catalog item you need to place/change.

A generic example of Catalog Item selector options for searching, grouping and navigating

The Catalog Item list also includes user defined assemblies, and RFA catalog items, if any.
  • Search - Used to search for catalog items by name. Results are dynamically updated in the catalog items list. The searched text is also highlighted in the results.
  • Group By: - Used to list catalog items in groups based on values assigned to specific catalog item properties. Groups can be collapsed and expanded by clicking the down/up arrows on the group name headers. For instance, selecting Group By: > Type for a wall catalog type creates groupings with Schematic, Partition, WallComponent, etc headings. Catalog items which have Type defined as Schematic, Partition, or WallComponent will be listed under those headings. You can also select Group By: > Do Not Group to create a flat list with no grouping. (Exemption Mechanical).
  • (Large Icons) - Displays a representative icon for each catalog item listing.
  • (List) - Displays catalog item listings without any icons.
  • (Float) - When selected, the Catalog Item Selector combo box is detached from the placement/modify dialog, and becomes a separate dialog. You may prefer to have the floated dialog docked and always open over clicking the Catalog Item Selector in the placement/modify dialog for each catalog item selection.
    Note: The main dialog remains open and refreshes the thumbnail and preview in response to the selected catalog item.
    Click the Dock icon to close the floated dialog.
  • Recently Used - Lists catalog items that were recently selected in a "Group". This is useful because when you need to repeatedly place or modify the same catalog items, you do not need to repeatedly browse or search the main catalog items list.
Note: When you make your catalog item selection, it becomes the active part the Family/Part Toolbar.
Catalog Tools A split button located to the right of the Catalog Item Selector contains tools to assist with managing catalog data prior to placement of selected catalog items.
  • ( Match Element Properties) - Sets the current active placement/modify dialog settings to match the parameters of an existing, selected catalog item instance in the model. This saves a good amount of time when placing catalog items that need to identically match those that already exist.
    Note: The existing catalog item instance must be of the same catalog type selected with the Catalog Item Selector for the parameters to be matched.
  • (Reset to Defaults) - Resets the selected catalog item property values to the default state as defined in the catalog library.
  • (Edit Catalog Item) - Used to edit the selected catalog item. Opens the Catalog Editor, where you can create and edit new catalog types and catalog items. Catalog Editor can also be used to edit existing data and to view catalog item instance properties and values by definition.
  • (Catalog Item Manager) - Used to manage catalog items library into organizational dataset. Opens the Catalog Item Manager, where you can copy or move catalog items into the dataset, and promoting current catalog items by moving then across workset levels.
  • (Save Catalog Item) - Updates the active catalog item in the DataGroup System catalog library with the values currently shown in the Properties list box permanently changing the defaults for the catalog item.
  • (Save Catalog Item As...) - Used to save a copy of the selected catalog item as another catalog item (the default name adds the prefix " Copy of " <current catalog items name>). Opens the Save As dialog where catalog item definitions can be named before saving them to the DataGroup System.
Note: The Save Catalog Item and Save Catalog Item As... tools perform administrative tasks on DataGroup System catalogs. Administrators and users may want to hide the tool icons to avoid incidental or unwanted changes to their firm's dataset by setting the user configuration variables BB_CATALOGITEM_ADMIN_IN_PLACECMDS and BB_CATALOGITEM_SAVEAS_IN_PLACECMDS to "0", respectively.
Preview Displays the selected catalog item in the preview window. This display changes and the preview updates as various options are chosen. The preview also changes dynamically with some of the prominent settings on the Placement tab, e.g Height, Rotation angle, etc. A right-click in the Preview opens a Show/Hide Viewing Tools option menu:
  • Zoom In - Zooms in about center of preview.
  • Zoom Out - Zooms out about center of preview.
  • Pan - Moves the preview following the pointer. Click again to stop panning.
  • Fit - Fits the object to the extents of the preview.
  • Rotation - Sets the orientation of the selected item in the preview to one of the standard orientation options:
    • Isometric
    • Right Isometric
    • Top
    • Bottom
    • Left
    • Right
    • Front
    • Rear
  • Display Mode - Sets the display of the selected item in the preview to one of the standard display modes.
    • Solid
    • Wire Frame
    • Visible Edge
    • Filled Visible Edge
For Place workflow, the Hide/Show Preview controls displaying preview of the element currently selected for placement.
Properties list - toolbar Used to manage catalog item properties during placement or modification. Catalog item properties define the catalog item instance in the model, and are accountable in the DataGroup System data management tools. You can place a catalog item with its default property values or you can change property values as needed, place an instance in the model, and optionally save the changes to the catalog.

The Properties combo box contains tools for sorting and searching the properties list:

  • (Categorize) - When on, catalog item properties are grouped in categories based on the catalog type definitions. When off, the properties are listed alphabetically without grouping.
  • (Alphabetical) - When on, catalog item properties are listed alphabetically without grouping. When off, the properties are listed in categories.
  • (Description) - Toggles a description field at the bottom of the placement dialog listing information about the highlighted catalog item property. The information listed includes the property definition display name, internal name, and type definition.
  • Search - Used to search for catalog item properties by name. Results are dynamically updated in the properties list.
Slab Parameters
  • Slab Type – Sets the slab type by selecting from the Type property drop down list.
  • Slab Thickness – Specifies the thickness (or height) of the slab.
  • Slab Direction – Sets the direction the slab is extruded from the creating element/plane by selecting from the Slab Direction property drop down list.
  • Reinforcement Direction – Specifies the angle relative to the XY plane for reinforcement imbedded in the slab.
    Note: By default, a slab extrudes in a downward (negative Z axis) direction.
Structural Usage Lists Structural usage properties. Structural function and material properties can be applied (if undefined) to active catalog items making them fully promoted Structural members.
  • Structural | Function - Sets the type of usage for the structural member. Choices are Structural and Non-Structural.
  • Structural | Material - Displays the material property for the structural member.
Materials Lists Part and Family definition assignments. Clicking in the Value column cell opens a Family and Part selection box. Here parts and families are available from the option menus.


Thermal Transmittance Lists the thermal properties to apply to the active catalog item.
Identification Lists identification properties for the active catalog item type.
Acoustical Parameters Lists acoustical performance properties. The acoustic rating and test reference details are set here.
Fire Resistance Lists fire rating properties based on agency fire safety tests and classifications.
Construction Phase Lists design and construction phase properties for walls such as New Construction, Future Construction, and Items to be Moved.
Space Bounding Lists properties that can be defined as On/Off making the selected catalog item eligible for consideration during energy analysis.
IFC Override Lists IFC properties not automatically mapped to DataGroup System properties that can be manipulated for export.
Classification Building Classification Systems are supported by the DataGroup System. MasterFormat, OmniClass, and UniFormat property values can be associated with any Building element. Click the Value cell to open the Classification System selection combo box. The combo box is populated with selected classification system property values. It can be resized by clicking on the combo box's bottom right corner. Search for properties by name. Search results are displayed in the classifications hierarchy. Double click a property to select it. This action also closes the selection menu. The selected property displays in the selected classification system property value (on the Properties list).


Note: Information in the Value column rows can be completed by selecting the applicable cell to activate an editor field, an option menu, or a pop up dialog. This data is written to the element properties. Properties displayed with grey text are read only. Some of these are set in the placement tool's Placement tab, and can be modified there. The dividing bar between the Property, and Value columns can be moved to change the width of either area, or resize the dialog. A vertical and horizontal scroll bars are available to scroll and adjust Properties panel viewing and the display of data.
Key-in: TFPLACE FORM 1SLABNEWDG [ Catalog_Item ]
Key-in: TFPLACE FORM USERSLAB [ Catalog_Type ] [ Catalog_Item ]

Catalog selection with key-ins

Use the Catalog_Item argument to directly key-in the desired catalog item saved in the active DataGroup System catalog to pre-populate the tool settings. For instance TFPLACE FORM 1SLABNEWDG Elevated Slab where Elevated Slab is the catalog item name.

Note: The Catalog_Item argument is case sensitive. Be sure to key it in exactly as it appears in the catalog.

Use the Catalog_Type and Catalog_Item arguments to key-in your user defined slab catalog items. For instance TFPLACE FORM USERSLAB MySlabs "My Slab 001" where MySlabs is the catalog type and "My Slab 001" is the catalog item.

Note: When keying in User Defined catalog items, the Catalog_Type and Catalog_Item arguments can not contain spaces because within the key-in, the space character is reserved to separate the key-in arguments. If the Catalog_Type or Catalog_Item names contain spaces in their names, they must be entered in quotes. If there are no spaces in their names, there is no need for the quotes. This is different when keying in the catalog items only. Here the Catalog_Item argument can contain spaces.
Tip: When keying in User Defined catalog items, you must use the catalog type definition Type Name for the Catalog_Type argument instead of the Display Name which can not be processed by the key-in. Type Name can be displayed in the Catalog Editor by selecting the Show Catalog Types filter control or Properties from the catalog item right click menu (opens the Catalog Type Definition dialog where catalog types are created and managed).
Create a User Defined Slab
Place the Slab
Modify Slab dialog
Parent topic: Structural Placement