OpenBuildings™ Station Designer Help

Place Window

Used to place window frames and windows. These elements are placed as parametric models and compound cells.

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 > Window

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
Side Offset Offsets the placement point of the window along the selected wall. Sets an offset distance and direction for window frame which is parallel to a line defined by two placement data points. Direction can be set by setting a negative distance for Left offset and a positive distance for Right offset.

Window 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.
Preferences
  • Back Offset - Offsets the back surface of the door/window frame from the selected wall outer surface closest to the back surface of the frame.
  • Front Offset - Offsets the front surface of the door/window frame from the selected wall outer surface closest to the front surface of the frame.
  • Dynamics - Defines how the door/window is displayed during placement. 2D displays the door/window plan symbol graphics only. 3D displays both the plan symbol and the model geometry during placement.
  • Rel./Active ACS - When Enabled, Sill/Head Height 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, Sill/Head Height is relative to the Active Depth.
  • Sense Distance - Sets the distance over which the door/window searches for a wall.
  • Sill/Head Height - Offsets the window sill/door header from the active floor.
Window Parameters
  • Frame Width – Sets the width of the window, thus setting the width of the cutout in the selected wall.
  • Frame Height – Sets the height of the window, thus setting the height of the cutout in the selected wall.
  • Frame Depth – Sets the depth of the frame. The value entered here is added to the window frame when Frame Depth Match Wall is activated
  • Frame Depth Match Wall – When on, the window frame matches the thickness of the selected wall. If there are no offsets or additional depth parameters set, the window frame is flush to the wall outer surfaces.
  • Frame Thickness – Sets the window frame casing width.
  • Sash Depth – Sets the window sash width.
  • Sash Thickness – Sets the window sash thickness.
Identification Lists identification properties for the active catalog item type.
Manufacturer Lists properties used to identify a manufacturer name, model number or website.
Construction Phase Lists design and construction phase properties for walls such as New Construction, Future Construction, and Items to be Moved.
IFC Override Lists IFC properties not automatically mapped to DataGroup System properties that can be manipulated for export.
Window The Window type properties are set here. The properties include the Window and Glazing Type, Treatment, and Frame Material and Finish.
Frame Detail | Jamb Fenestration properties to construction design of objects used as openings in a building such as Louver, Curtain Wall are set here.
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).


Window Dimension - Extended The physical dimensions that include spacings and thickness of the Window Muntin and Sash height are set here.
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: ATFPLACE ASSEMBLY WINDOW
Parent topic: Doors and Windows