OpenBuildings™ Station Designer Help

Place Free Form

Constructs a closed free form defined by points placed along the outside edge.

Accessed from:

  • Modeling > Forms > Place Forms > Free Form


SettingDescription
Height Specifies the height of the form, unless a shape or form above prohibits extrusion. If a shape above only partially blocks extrusion, Height controls the portion of the form that can be extruded past the overlying shape or form. Enabled when the Top > Fixed Height option is selected.
Note: Height extrusion direction is defined by either the Z-axis, perpendicular to the view; or, if AccuDraw is on, by the AccuDraw Z-axis.
BaseOffset 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.

BaseOffset 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.

Top Controls the geometry and location of the top of a form:
  • Fixed Height — The form has a uniform height as specified in the Height field. The top face of the form is parallel to the bottom face.
  • Connect Shapes — The form is extruded so that it connects to one or more shapes and/or forms. Selecting Connect Shapes displays the Delete Construction check box, which enables or disables the deletion of the limiting shapes and/or forms.
  • Connect 3 pts — The top of the form is located in an imaginary plane defined by three data points.
  • Connect 2 pts/View — The top of the form is located in an imaginary plane constructed through two data points and perpendicular to the view where the last data point is entered.
Delete Constructions Enabled when the Top > Connect Shapes option is selected, limiting shapes and forms are deleted when on.
Roof Tolerance Enabled when the Top > Connect Shapes option is selected, a curved connecting shape is stroked using the specified tolerance before it is used to create a roof on the form when on. The curved shape is used to create a feature on the form that is the exact shape of the curve when off.
Auto Connect Trims form intersections and form ends during placement, when on. Also recognizes conditions when forms intersect with other elements, such as grid lines and square columns. Under these conditions, forms are trimmed during placement as well.
TFPLACE FORM 1SHAPE