OpenBuildings Designer
OpenBuildings™ Designer CONNECT Edition, Update 8 ( v10.08.00.xx)
The OpenBuildings product team is pleased to announce the availability of OpenBuildings™ Designer CONNECT Edition Update 8 (v10.08.00.xx) through the Bentley CONNECT Center, Software Downloads portal, or the desktop CONNECTION Client.
This release includes language and regional datasets; its total language count is eight (8) - Czech, Chinese (Simplified), English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, and Russian. This release also includes a new dataset ISO19650 Dataset.Therefore, the product is available now in seventeen (17) regional datasets - Australia, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Neutral Metric, New Zealand , Russian, Singapore, Spain, Swedish, United Kingdom, United States (Imperial and Metric) and ISO19650
This version incorporates several new productivity enhancements and user-requested fixes. It also includes updates from MicroStation CONNECT Edition Update 15. Please refer to the "What's New Highlights" section below for some of the product updates and enhancements.
GenerativeComponents Update 8 (v10.08.00.xx) is available as a companion feature (optional installation; license included with OpenBuildings Designer) and this computational design platform can be included as part of any deployment of OpenBuildings Designer.
OpenBuildings ™ Station Designer Update 8 ( v10.08.00.xx) is now available as a companion feature (optional installation; license included with OpenBuildings Designer) and can be included as part of any deployment of OpenBuildings Designer. All the existing functionality remains the same and you can launch it from the shortcut menu as well as from the Start menu under the OpenBuildings Designer folder.
Revit 2021 RFA Update. When RFA files are brought into OpenBuildings Designer, the RFA Interpreter creates catalog entries that represent each type defined in the RFA and stores the mapping settings that are used for each RFA file. In other words, the properties contained in each RFA and their values are stored in a catalog entry, and the RFA is interpreted each time it is placed into a new DGN. OpenBuildings Designer now supports Revit 2021 standard RFA content via the 'Bentley RFA Interpreter Wizard' and Place Cell tool.
Update via CONNECTION Client
If you have OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition already installed on your computer, you can incrementally download and install OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition, Update 8 from the CONNECTION Client. It will replace any earlier versions of the product. Sign into the CONNECTION Client to view and apply your Application updates. If needed, please refer to the CONNECTION Client help for more information on installing the update.
Please follow these steps to download the installation of OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition Update 8 from the Bentley CONNECT Center, Software Downloads portal:
- Sign in to www.bentley.com
- At the top of the page click on [SUPPORT]
- On the 'At Your Service' page, in the section 'Manage Your Licenses', click on [GO TO CONNECT CENTER]
- On the 'Enterprise Portal' page, in the section 'Support Service & Administration Resources', click on [Software Downloads]
- On the 'Software Downloads' page, filter the available products by the Brand 'OpenBuildings' and then on the 'OpenBuildings Designer' tile click on [Get Software]
- Filter the available Version by '10.08.00.xx ' and then click on [Download] to download the software
Software Downloads can also be accessed through the desktop CONNECTION Client. Open the CONNECTION Client from the system tray and click on [CONNECTION Center]. Scroll down to the 'My Services' section and click on the [Software Downloads] tile.
What's New Highlights for OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition Update 8
General Updates :
- Flyover Overhaul - OpenBuildings Designer Update 8 unifies all element Flyover settings for all disciplines into a single dialog, letting you define your own flyovers using DataGroup and Element properties.
- Overhaul of the
Ribbon layout
-
General Changes
- The 'Workflow' was broken into two parts:
- The standard Modify tab was removed. The commands that were on it were moved next to their related placement command.
- The Contextual Placement tab still exists, but it only contains commands related to placement of that element type. (As before, 'reset' returns you to the ribbon tab from which you launched the current command)
- The Contextual Selection Modify tab still exists but is only active when element types that can use it are selected, such as Curtain Walls and MicroStation Tables.
- Many commands from the Drawing Production tab were separated to a dedicated 'Drawing' tab, which is intended for 2D drafting tasks, such as detailing work.
- The Analysis tab was split into 'Analysis' and 'Collaborate' tabs, to help make the commands on them more easily discovered.
- Keyboard shortcuts across the ribbon were revised to be closer to Positional Mapping.
- Mechanical
and Plumbing Workflow
- The Mechanical tab was broken into separate 'Mechanical' and 'Plumbing' tabs, allowing more commands to be exposed and to allow the modification commands to be on the same tab as the placement commands.
- The Place Duct command and Place Duct Accessory commands were split into individual commands for rectangular, round, and oval duct shapes
- Architectural and Structural Workflow
- The Popup
Menu
- The popup menu (accessed by pressing Space Bar) was completely revised. Every button on it has a single key shortcut and is mapped in the same order as the keyboard keys, so the top-left is Space-1 and bottom right is Space-M. The commands were selected based on usage data, so the most commonly-used discipline commands, drawing commands, and modification commands were included.
- There are different popup menus for the Building Design workflow and Building Systems Design workflow.
-
General Changes
- ISO19650 Dataset - OpenBuildings Designer Update 8 includes a new dataset ISO19650 Dataset. This dataset has been developed as a result of the transition of the UK BIM national standards to the new UK BIM Framework incorporating the BS EN ISO19650 standard. It also aligns to the ISO13567 standard for level naming and incorporates the latest Uniclass tables updated in April 2020.
- Updating
Datasets - The installer for
OpenBuildings Designer Update 8
includes new options relating to existing datasets that are already installed.
You have following
Dataset Update options:
- Upgrade with Backup - Creates a backup of the existing dataset, then adds new files and updates files that have changed.
- No Action - Does not change the existing dataset.
- Fresh Install with Backup - Creates a backup of the existing dataset, then installs a new, clean dataset
- Fresh Install- Deletes the existing dataset, then installs a new, clean dataset.
Architectural Updates
- Curtain Walls -
Enhancements
:
-
Multi-segment curtain walls / Corner Mullions
- When placing a curtain wall, you can place as many segments as you want to form a Multi-Segment curtain wall.
- Each segment has the same height and mullion spacing
- A parametric corner mullion is added at each corner
- Side Offset at placement time - At placement time, you can place a curtain wall offset from its placement line (which is really useful placing it relative to grid lines)
-
Multi-segment curtain walls / Corner Mullions
- Stairs -
Enhancements
:
- Custom Stair landings - After a stair is placed, you can modify the shape of the landing(s) on that stair. The modification is similar to how Modify Railing works, with a grip handle located at the middle of each segment. Pressing Ctrl will toggle between a straight and arc segment.
- Resymbolization Changes - There are several improvements to how stairs are resymbolized in drawings, including:
- Winder/spiral Geometry Changes
- Equal Stair Run option - There is a new placement option for stairs which sets the stairs to have equal runs. This allows stairs to be placed with less-precise mouse clicks and, in some cases, fewer clicks.
Structural Updates
- New Cut
Structural Shape command
- Update 7 included several commands from ProStructures for cutting holes/openings in structural members. OpenBuildings Designer Update 8 merges those commands into a single command that sets the working plane, cuts the shape, then sets the working plane back. Cut Openings created with this command can be moved just like any other feature cut created in OpenBuildings Designer.
- Modify Multiple Column Heights
- Structural
Shape Improvements
OpenBuildings Designer Update 7 introduced a new type of structural element that uses the shape libraries included with ProStructures. A drawback of this was that existing XML-format libraries no longer worked with the new tools. To correct this issue, Update 8 includes two new functions:
- The structural placement tools can now read rectangular directly from XML format
- A utility to upgrade shape catalog to the MDB format used for ProStructures shapes
- Tapered
concrete Improvements
- OpenBuildings Designer Update 8 has upgraded the Tapered Concrete command to create ProStructures compatible elements, like tapered steel is. Update 7 was still creating legacy elements for tapered concrete shapes.
- Upgrade
Utility Changes
- There is a new option to hide shapes that have already been mapped, making it easier to see how many are left to be selected.
- A new check box has been added to make sure the user has reviewed the mappings that were set as a default. While they are set to look for shapes that have exact matches between their names, it is still a good idea to review them before upgrading your project.
- Plate Placement
- Place Framing Between
- Material control
- Quantification
Mechanical Updates
-
Connect Ducts/Pipes Tool (Enhanced Tool)
- Enhancements will be
made available in Update 8 to upgrade the capability of the
Connect Ducts/Pipes tool, which is used
to automatically complete network path connections between HVAC and plumbing
components. This upgrade allows the user to access nearly all available fitting
components provided in the application compared to the limited options
previously available. The new Connect tool provides a stand-alone dialog box
which provides:
- New dialog that allows the user to select Duct shape to be used.
- Fitting type which now includes all elbows, taps & take-offs, tee's, wye's, double take-offs, crosses and ogee fittings. Multiple types of these fittings are available including new fittings like drop cheek tee's, drop cheek crosses, nested fittings and new elbow configurations.
- Preview has been added with a visual aid to inform the number and sequence of the order and selections needed to make the connections using any particular fitting type
- Piping connections have their own tab in the dialog and new. fittings have been added including twin elbow h-branch wye and lateral wye.
- Previous version of the Connect tool was integrated with the autofitting preferences, this new tool has been separated from that limitation in order to provide the user quick access to any fitting type.
- Some fitting types have limitations based on positioning, angle and eccentricity. In these cases the connection may fail but a user message is available in Message Center to alert the user and provide reason for failure.
- Enhancements will be
made available in Update 8 to upgrade the capability of the
Connect Ducts/Pipes tool, which is used
to automatically complete network path connections between HVAC and plumbing
components. This upgrade allows the user to access nearly all available fitting
components provided in the application compared to the limited options
previously available. The new Connect tool provides a stand-alone dialog box
which provides:
- Unidirectional
Bypass
- An enhancement has been added to the Bypass tool to allow for unidirectional offsets to a pipe or duct run in order to avoid collisions with other components. Previously the tool looked to return the system back to starting elevation after bypassing the interference, now the user can set the tool to return or apply a singular bypass and then maintain the elevation change applied.
- Angle
Stops
- Angle stops allow the user to turn on and pre-define sticky points at up to 5 increments between 0-90 ° to assist in placing ductwork or piping more accurately. These can be set using the autofitting preferences for either HVAC or Plumbing disciplines. Along with the sticky point there will be a visual reference line indicating that the defined angle has been reached as well as a dynamic representation of the routed system.
-
Rotation of fittings
- During placement of individual fittings the ability to rotate the orientation has been developed for Update 8. For Rectangular and flat oval fitting rotation will occur in 90° increments and the fitting will re-size to match connection dimensions. For round components user will be able to freely rotate the fitting to any angle, accu-draw is enabled to lock angle to desired location.
- Placement and
Insertion point enhancements for fittings
- The dependency of the "RI" key-in command has been removed in Update 8, user can insert a fitting and slide the component anywhere on a linear element (duct or pipe)
- During insertion and sliding of a fitting along a linear element the insertion point has been changed to the center of the branch line (end 3) to enhance the capability to accurately place the component.
-
Maintain fitting size aspect
- When Match size is toggled this enhancement will adjust the parameters of a re-sized fitting to maintain similar sizes of aligned ends on the component to match connection size, branch ends on tees or crosses maintain default size (transition sizes not affected). This maintains an eccentric characteristic which is easier to adjust for the user.
-
Array tool enhancements
- Place as Array has been added to the ribbon as on it's own button, rather than the previous split button making it available for all components that can be used with this feature.
- New components added to be used for array:
- Support has been method for new placement methods:
- Multipipe placement enhancements
OpenBuildings Energy Simulator Updates
- Green Roofs
- Natural Ventilation
-
Daylighting- External Shading included when calculating
internal light levels
- The user now has the ability to add external shading features that will affect the internal calculations due to light transmittance.
- Shading device affect will be considered in both exterior and interior glazing.
- The effects of shading devices can be shown through shadow casting on visualizations and through calculated data results.
GenerativeComponents Companion Feature CONNECT Edition Update 8
-
C# Project Generator
- This provides a major stepping-stone for users who want to start creating their own GC node types in Microsoft's Visual Studio Community Editor (or higher editor).Specifically, GC now includes a 'wizard' that generates the initial code of the user's Visual Studio project. Furthermore, GC pre-configures that project to match the user's environment, such as where Bentley's DLLs are located on their computer.
- Support for file-browsing capability in user-authored nodes
- In the
FunctionCall node, its now easy to convert a custom function to a named global
function
- One of the most-used aspects of the FunctionCall node is that the user can spontaneously create and manage a custom function.After having done so, the user may wish to re-use that same function in other parts of their GC model, and/or add it to a GC package. To do so, they must convert that custom function, which is associated with only one specific FunctionCall node, to a named global function, which is available in GC's Functions panel. However, that conversion process can be complicated task. Now, with a simple command, a custom function in any FunctionCall node can be converted to a named global function.
- GC’s Console panel now supports textual zoom
- AutoFittingPreferences node
- New SketchGrid technique for Grid node
- New GridSettings node is introduced
- StructuralCoping node added for Structural Members coping options
- Duct node
Known Issues In OpenBuildings Designer CONNECT Edition Update 8
- When a curtain wall is placed with Continuous Horizontal mullions or Continuous Frame, a corner mullion is not placed at that corner.
- Before using Update 8, DataGroup Upgrade Utility must be run to make sure all new properties are used on elements.
- It is recommended to use Pedestrian modeler prep workflow only with StationDesigner workspaces.
- It is recommended to not share datasets with both Legacy and ProStructures mode. Datasets function best when the projects using them are all using the same structural elements.
- The Assembly tool does not support compound walls. When placed, it drops them to their component slabs.