OpenBuildings™ Station Designer Help

Place Wall

Used to place linear, arc, curve, and compound walls. Walls are defined by points which include the start point and the end point. All wall types placed using this tool are supported by the catalog library in the DataGroup System. Catalog data is applied to walls at the time of placement. The Place by options also allow creating walls from space elements or placing a wall along a grid line.

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 > Architectural > Place Architectural Elements > Wall
  • Ribbon: Building Design > Structural > Place Building Elements > Wall

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
  • Line () - Sets the wall type to Linear. The wall is positioned by two points: a start point and an end point.
  • Arch - By Center () - Sets the wall type to Arc - Start-Center-Edge. The wall is positioned by three points: an endpoint, the arc center point, and a point that defines the sweep angle.
  • Arch - By Edge () - Sets the wall type to Arc - Start-Middle-Edge. The wall is positioned by three points on the arc edge.
  • Curve () - Sets the wall type to Curve, the Arc - Start-Middle-Edge. Creates a segmented multi-radius curved wall, that can be composed of various curves. The curves are controlled by data points placed at each curve's apex. The smoothness of, or number of, segments comprising the curves is controlled by the Tolerance value.
  • Grid - Sets the wall placement along selected grid elements.

    Selection options are:

    Action Description
    Click Selects individual grid line segments. Gridlines are treated as separate segments when they are intersected by other grid lines. A data point (to select) places the component immediately.
    Click + <Ctrl> Selects multiple grid line segments. The grid line segments can be disjoined or be adjacent to one another.
    Click + <Ctrl> + <Shift> Selects an entire grid line regardless of how many segments it is divided.
    Fence drag crossing (left to right) Selects all grid line segments that intersect the fence box (depicted with dashed lines).
    Fence drag inside (right to left) Selects all grid line segments wholly inside the fence box (depicted with solid lines).
    Fence drag + <Ctrl> Selects all grid line segments that intersect (fence drag left to right) or are wholly inside (fence drag right to left) the fence box plus any other selected segments.
    Fence drag + <Ctrl> + <Shift> Selects all grid lines (entire grid line) that intersect (fence drag left to right) or are wholly inside (fence drag right to left) the fence box plus any other selected segments.
  • From Element - Sets wall placed from the selected drawing element.
  • From Space - The Place by: From Space option sets wall placed around the boundary of selected space.
Tolerance Defines the smoothness of the wall curve by determining the number of segments that compose the curve. Decreasing the tolerance value creates more segments, resulting in a curve that is more smooth; increasing the tolerance value creates fewer segments, resulting in a curve that is less smooth. Enabled for the Curve wall placement option only.
Justify
  • Left - Places the wall to the top of the data point creation line. Top in this case is relative to the plan view orientation.
  • Center - Places the wall centered upon the data point creation line.
  • Right - Places the wall to the bottom of the data point creation line. Bottom in this case is relative to the plan view orientation.
Tip: While in placement mode, press the tilde <~> AccuDraw shortcut key to bump the placement icon setting to Top (default), Center, or Bottom. The setting bump is dynamically visible as the new wall shifts position on the creation line, and on pointer crosshair.
Side Offset Sets an offset distance and direction for wall segments which is parallel to a line defined by two placement data points. Direction can be set by using the Left/Right option menu; or by setting a negative distance for Left offset and a positive distance for Right offset.
Note: Overrides the Parallel Offset setting used by the Modify Form Direction .


Tip: This setting is very useful when snapping to column grid intersections during wall placement. Works in concert with the Placement icons and the Flip Wall option.


Using grid intersection A-1 (position 1) as the start point, and using grid line A as the placement line, the wall is placed at an offset distance of 2 feet to position 2. The wall is placed in the negative X axis direction, using a Side Offset setting of -2:0.



The wall along placement line 1, is flipped a distance of 1 foot to position 2. The wall is flipped in the negative Y axis direction, using a side offset of -1:0.



Using placement line 1, the wall is placed a distance of 1 foot to position 2. The wall is placed in the positive Y axis direction, using the center placement icon and a side offset of +1:0.

Direction Sets the direction in which the wall is extruded. The sub-options are Left or Right.
Base Offset Sets the Z axis distance between the elevation of the active floor and the elevation of the item being placed (usually the bottom surface). BaseOffset can be a negative value.
Note: Works relative to the active floor elevation at time of placement. During instances when the ACS Plane and ACS Plane Snap locks are turned off, BaseOffset is relative to the Active Depth.
Offset Tilt Opens the Modify Form Direction tool which is used to change the default direction of the wall extrusion.
Close Wall When on, a Reset click adds a wall from the start point of the first wall to the end point of the last wall, to form an enclosed area. Enabled for the Linear wall placement option only.
Auto Connect Trims and cleans up wall intersections and wall ends during placement, when on. The utility recognizes wall intersection conditions with other walls, and with other components and elements such as square columns and grid lines. Enabled for the Linear and Arc wall placement options.
Flip Wall When on, wall segments flip to the opposite orientation along the placement line (for the active placement mode) during placement. Compound wall leaf’s also flip to opposite sides of the wall. Enabled for the Linear and Arc wall placement options.


Walls segments on the left were placed with the Flip Wall setting off. Wall segments on the right were placed with the Flip Wall setting on.

Flip Compound Wall Glyphs – When a compound wall is selected, two glyphs appear.


These glyphs can be used to flip compound wall segments in the following manner:
  • Flip Over Placement Line – Using the AccuDraw Compass to define the direction, click this glyph and accept the selection to flip the compound wall to the opposite orientation along the placement line. The compound wall leaf’s also flip to opposite sides of the wall.


  • Flip In Place – Using the AccuDraw Compass to confirm the direction, click this glyph and accept the selection to flip the compound wall leaf’s to opposite sides of the wall. The orientation of the compound wall along the placement line remains the same.


Wall 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.
Wall Dimensions Properties that define the dimensions of the wall being placed:
  • Width – Sets the thickness of the wall to match the thickness of the active part definition, when on.
  • Height – Sets the height of the wall to match the height of the active part definition, when on.
    Note: Corresponds with the compound wall Sample Height setting, in the Family/Part Editor Definition, Compound Parts dialog. Sample Height lets you test compound wall variable height to make sure it responds the way you intend.
  • Top Options (Top of Wall option menu) - Sets the method for creating the top of the wall.
    • Fixed Height – The wall has uniform height; the top face of the wall is parallel with the bottom face.
    • Connect Shapes – The wall is extruded so that the top connects to one or more 2D shapes.
    • Connect 3 Pts – The top of the wall is located on an imaginary plane defined by three data points.
    • Connect 2 Pts/View – The top of the wall is located on an imaginary plane that is constructed through two data points; the plane appears perpendicular in the view where it is constructed.
  • Delete Construction – Limiting shapes and forms are deleted when on. Enabled when Top Options > Connect Shapes is selected.
Wall Parameters Common wall properties that define the characteristics of the wall being placed:
Note: Lists width and height properties for wall catalog type items. These are set in the Placement tab, and can not be modified here.
  • Type - Sets the wall type by selecting from the Type property drop down list.
  • Compound Wall Assembly - When on, indicates the selected wall catalog item is a compound wall.
  • Partition Type - Sets a type for partition walls. The value is entered into the text field provided.
  • Cavity - Sets cavity material such as insulation. The cavity materials are available on the Cavity property drop down list.
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: TFPLACEMENT COMPONENT WALL [ Catalog_Item ]
Key-in: TFPLACEMENT COMPONENT USERWALL [ 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 TFPLACEMENT COMPONENT WALL Foundation(1'0" x 8" hi) + Wall (6" x 8"hi) where Foundation(1'0" x 8" hi) + Wall (6" x 8"hi) 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 wall catalog items. For instance TFPLACEMENT COMPONENT USERWALL MyWalls "My Wall 001" where MyWalls is the catalog type and "My Wall 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).
To place a wall
Create a User Defined Wall
Parent topic: Architectural Walls