Place Curtain Wall

Used to place curtain wall system; include —storefront, ribbon window and punched openings types. These are the building elements complying DataGroup System, by associating properties in design. Curtain walls can be placed linear -by line, by arc and based on existing element.

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: AECOsim > Architectural > Place Architectural Elements > Curtain 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.

Setting	Description
Place By	Line – places curtain wall in a straight line defined with the data points: a start point and an end point. Arc - By Center – positions the curtain wall by three points: an endpoint, the arc center point, and a point that defines the sweep angle. Arc - By Edge – places the curtain wall by three points on the arc edge. Curve – places a curved curtain wall system. Creates a segmented multi-radius curved curtain wall, that can be composed of various curves. The curves are controlled by data points placed at each curve's apex. From Element – places curtain wall system along the selected drawing element.
Height	Sets the curtain wall frame height.
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.
Direction	Sets the direction in which the curtain 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). Base Offset can be a negative value.

Curtain Wall Properties

Setting	Description
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. 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.
Curtain Wall Parameters	Common properties of the curtain wall elements that define the characteristics of the curtain wall type being placed: Curtain Wall Type – Sets the type of the curtain wall being placed: Curtain Wall Storefront Ribbon Window Punched Opening Horizontal \| Vertical Layout - the layout, justification, number and spacing are defined in the Layout properties. You can specify more than one horizontal and vertical mullion spacing. The Layout can be set to one of the following options: Maximum Spacing Minimum Spacing Fixed Distance Number of Panels Horizontal Justification - Can be set to one of the options: Top \| Middle \| Bottom. Enabled for Fixed Distance layout. Vertical Justification - Can be set to one of the options: Start \| Center \| End. Enabled for Fixed Distance layout. Horizontal \| Vertical Number - Sets the number of panels in respective direction. Enabled for Number of Panels layout. For example, setting a 2 horizontal and 3 vertical panels will create a curtain wall system having 2x3 mullions panels. Horizontal \| Vertical Spacing - Sets the spacing between the panels in respective direction. Enabled for Maximum / Minimum Spacing layouts.
Curtain Wall Properties	Hurricane Resistant – When set, the curtain wall design adopts a storm-proof structure. Here impact-resistant glass is used as inner-membrane formed of a layer of polyvinyl butyral (PVB) between two slabs of glass. An impact-resistant glass may shatter on impact, but it will remain attached to the inner membrane along with the window frame.
Identification	Lists identification properties for the active catalog item type.
Space Bounding	Lists properties that can be defined as True/False making the selected catalog item eligible for consideration during Building energy analysis.
Curtain Wall Panel	Panel Type – Allows selecting suitable part family, such as for Spandrel panels and Clear Glass. The selected panel type applies the dimension and properties to the panel. Panel Thickness – Sets the thickness to the selected panel. Panel Setback - Sets an offset from the centerline of the curtain wall glass panels.
Mullion - Horizontal	Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of Horizontal mullions in respective position in the frame.
Mullion - Vertical	Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of Vertical mullions in respective position in the frame.
Frame - Jamb	Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of Jamb in respective position in the frame.
Frame - Head	Same as Jamb – When checked, the Head can be set same as selected Jamb profile. Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of Head in respective position in the frame.
Frame - Sill	Same as Jamb – When checked, the Sill can be set same as selected Jamb profile. Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of Sill in respective position in the frame.
Frame - Corner	Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of fixed Corners in respective position in the frame.
Frame - Variable Corner	Profile \| Width \| Depth – Set profile and dimension of Variable Corners in respective position in the frame.
Curtain Wall \| Panel	Panel Type – Sets suitable panel type such as for glazing, spandrel panels, parametric cell, etc. Panel Part – Allows selecting suitable part family for the panel type. Panel Thickness – Sets the thickness to the selected panel.

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: PLACE CurtainWall

Place Curtain Wall

Placement tab

Curtain Wall Properties

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