OpenBuildings™ Designer Help

Labels tab

Used to specify the labels to appear on drawings. You will also specify the format and style of the labels. Labels can be extracted to the drawing, even if you are not applying any Structural specific resymbolization rules to the appearance of the members. That is, you can specify how you want the labels to show up in the drawings, even if you are letting the default drawing settings be used for the resymbolization of the members.



The text parameters can be locked for labels and custom labels. Lock the lock before you change a value and your changes will cascade through for all labels. Unlock the lock before you change a value and your changes will apply just for the active label. If you toggle a lock from open to closed and make no other changes, you are resetting the values for all labels to the active label. If you toggle a lock from closed to open and make no other changes, you do not modify any values.

You can override the Text Parameters of the label when you select a Text Style. A check box will appear to the left of each parameter below the text style. Turn the check box on and set the value. By opening or closing the lock at the right of the overridden parameter, you control if this override is for this one label or for all labels.

You can override the Text Style by turning on the check boxes for the text height and width. This is especially important if you are importing files (such as AutoCAD) where the text height is zero. You can select a text style such as Engineering, override the default six-inch height, and enter a height of 0:0 3/32.

You can create custom labels that let you combine any of the attributes. A special type of custom label is one that can include stacked fractions. This functionality is explained in the section on Creating Stacked Fractions in a Custom Label.

Common attribute label settings

The following describes common label settings for the first group of member attributes.

Note: There are some attribute types that are different from the rest. Selecting the Section name attribute, Analysis Data labels, Custom Labels or Graphic Symbols changes the appearance of the dialog settings.
SettingDescription
Member Attributes Selects the member attributes for which you can create or edit a label. For existing labels, there is a check mark next to the name. Highlight the attribute to create or edit its label.
Abbreviate section name Appears below the member attributes list when the Section name attribute is selected. When on, the section name is abbreviated when the label is generated.
Append units Shows/Hides the list of analysis data for which labels can be created. When an Analysis Data attributes are selected, and additional Append units setting appears below the member attributes list. When on, units are appended to the selected data properties' values when the label is generated.
Note: Append units is the only additional setting provided for Analysis Data attribute labels. The following common settings apply for Analysis Data attribute labels.
Display label for selected attribute Turn on this check box to display the label in drawings and activate the remaining fields on the Labels tab.
Label Position Enter either the percentage of member length, or the distance from one end. This field depends on the setting of the Label Position option menu for its meaning. The Label Position option menu is used to select the unit of measurement to use for positioning the label. This field works with the Label Position field.
  • % of member length – Specifies that the label will be placed at this percentage of the member length. An example is 50%, which means that the label will be placed at the member's midpoint.
  • Distance from end 1 – Specifies that the label will be placed at this distance from end one of the member in the plot.
  • Distance from end 2 – Specifies that the label will be placed at this distance from end two of the member in the plot.
Label offset Selects the offset of the label. This field works with the x text height field and the Justification field.
  • Above – Places label above the resymbolized member.
  • Below – Places label below the resymbolized member.
x text height Used to enter a value that will specify the height above or below the member for the label. This value is multiplied times the text height. The position of the text will be dependent on the value you select in the Justification field. For example, if you select 0.5 times the text height, Above, and Center Bottom, then the label's center bottom will be placed above the member by a distance that is 1/2 the text height.
Text style Sets the text style for the label. For custom labels, you can create a text style that allows stacked fractions. This option uses the VBA file STRcustomDrawingLabels.mvba. This file can be found in the folder: Bentley\Workspace\Structural\vba. For more information, see Creating Stacked Fractions as a Text Style.
Height/Width Sets the text heigh and width for the label.
Font Sets the text font for the label.
Justification Sets the justification for the label
Symbology
  • Level — Sets the level on which the label will appear.
  • Color — Sets the color of the label symbology.
  • Style — Sets the line style of the label symbology. Styles are limited to the predefined line styles 0 to 7 and the ByLevel style.
  • Weight — Sets the weight of the label symbology.
Tip: Text Parameters can be locked for labels and custom labels. Lock the lock before you change a value and your changes will cascade through for all labels. Unlock the lock before you change a value and your changes will apply just for the active label. If you toggle a lock from open to closed and make no other changes, you are resetting the values for all labels to the active label. If you toggle a lock from closed to open and make no other changes, you do not modify any values.

Custom Labels

You must first select or create a custom label to display its settings. If there are custom labels already defined, they are listed below the Custom Labels listing. Again, to create a custom label the Custom Labels attribute must be selected. When a custom label is selected, all the label placement options (for both top/side rules and footprint rules) are the same as if a regular member attribute had been selected except for the Display custom label and Label format settings.


SettingDescription
Custom Labels (add new) Before custom label settings can be used, a custom label has to be created. Select the Custom Labels attribute to enable the custom labels creation options.


  • Add – Activated when a unique label name is keyed in the custom label text field.
  • Copy – Activated when a custom label is selected from the custom labels list. When a label is copied, the copied label is named Copy of <existing label name>.
  • Rename – Activated when a custom label is selected from the custom labels list, and its name is edited in the custom label text box. Click the rename button to add the renamed label.
  • Delete – Activated when a custom label is selected from the custom labels list. Click the button to delete the selected label.
Display custom label Turn on this check box to display the custom label. Even if the check box is turned off, the fields for the custom label are active.
Label format Lets you enter or select a format for your custom label. Click Add Attribute to select. Because the percent symbol is used in the formatting of the label, you must enter two percent symbols in a row to have one print on your label. If you click Add Attribute, the Define Custom Label Variable dialog appears. Use this dialog to select an attribute which will be part of the label. The attribute itself will appear in the text box with “%” signs around it. The other characters in the text box will appear as they are typed in the label itself. So, an entry in the text box of (T.O.S. %TOS%) will become a label that says (T.O.S. 12'6”).

Graphic Symbols



Note: You must first select or create a graphic symbol to display its settings. If there are graphic symbols already defined, they are listed below the Graphic Symbols listing. Again, to create a graphic symbol the Graphic Symbols attribute must be selected.
SettingDescription
Graphic Symbols (add new) Before graphic symbol settings can be used, a graphic symbol has to be created. Select the Graphic Symbols attribute to enable the graphic symbols creation options.


  • Add – Activated when a unique symbol name is keyed in the graphic symbol text field.
  • Copy – Activated when a graphic symbol is selected from the graphic symbol list. When a symbol is copied, the copied symbol is named Copy of <existing symbol name>.
  • Rename – Activated when a graphic symbol is selected from the graphic symbol list, and its name is edited in the graphic symbol text box. Click the rename button to add the renamed graphic symbol.
  • Delete – Activated when a graphic symbol is selected from the graphic symbol list. Click the button to delete the selected graphic symbol.
Display graphic symbol When on, the selected graphic symbol is included in the drawing. Checking this option also enables the graphic symbol settings.
Note: Top/side and footprint rules share a number of placement settings with labels from all member attribute types including custom labels. Top/side label placement settings that appear on the Labels tab when a graphic symbol is selected are the same as those found for the other attribute types.


Similarly, footprint label placement settings that appear on the Labels tab when a graphic symbol is selected are the same as those found for the other attribute types.


Cell name Used to enter the name of the graphic cell to be used in the graphic symbol.
Bracing Symbols Replaces the Cell name field when an Attribute value of Vertical Bracing is selected.

Lists the cells used for the three basic bracing connection types. There must be three cells: Up (BU) ,Down (BD), and Both (BB) in the list and the cells must exist in the current search path. The cell names are delimited with a semicolon. The first cell defines the bracing up cell. The second cell defines the bracing down cell. The third cell defines the bracing both up and down cell.

Important: The cells must exist in the active cell libraries. A warning is displayed in the Message Center if the cell does not exist or if the cell list is malformed.
Width/Height in plot Sets the plotted size of the Footprint graphic symbol.
Cell X/Y scale Sets the plotted size based on scaling the graphic symbol cell in the X and Y directions.
Position Used to enter a percentage or distance from value for Top/Side graphic symbols or to select a positioning icon from the option menu for Footprint graphic symbol.
Offset Used to select the position of a Top/Side graphic symbol to be either Above or Below the resymbolized member. The field next to the Offset option menu is then used to enter the offset value to apply.
Horizontal/Vertical offset Sets the plotted horizontal and vertical offset distances from the selected positioning icon of the Footprint graphic symbol.
Symbol Offset Enabled for an Attribute value of Vertical Bracing. Sets the horizontal offset of the graphic symbol from the actual brace connection point. There are two options:
  • Model Units - Specifies the offset in model units.
  • Drawing Units - Specifies the offset in drawing units based on the drawing scale.
Note: Symbol Offset translates the symbol along the member line away from the actual connection point. Connections at the end points move towards the center of the beam, and connections in the interior of the beam move along the projection of the brace to the beam member line.

The "X" marks the vertical brace members connection points. Blue arrows show the brace directions. Red arrows show the symbol offset directions. Light blue (dashed) vertical lines project the actual connection points down to the resymbolized members. Dimension lines show the symbol offsets.

Display based on attribute value When on, the specified attribute will display the graphic symbol. For example, if you want this symbol to appear when the attribute End 1 detail is equal to FIXED, then you would turn on this check box and specify the settings. Checking this option enables the attribute value settings.


Attribute Used to select the attribute that will display the graphic symbol.
Test Used to select the test which will be applied to the attribute in determining whether or not to display the graphic symbol. For example, if you want this symbol to appear when a specific attribute is any value but FIXED, you would select “Not equal to” and enter FIXED in the string. The selection of tests changes depending on the attribute value chosen. For example, an attribute of Section Name will let you test whether the value is equal to, not equal to, blank, or not blank. But an attribute of Section Type will let you set the Type (rather than String) to a symbol representing the section type.
  • = Equal to – The graphic symbol will appear when the string or value is what you enter.
  • <> Not equal to – The graphic symbol will appear for all strings or values except what you enter.
  • Is blank – The graphic symbol will appear if the attribute value is blank.
  • Is not blank – The graphic symbol will appear if the attribute value is not blank.
  • > Greater than – The graphic symbol will appear if the value for the attribute is greater than the value entered in the Value text box.
  • < Less than – The graphic symbol will appear if the value for the attribute is less than the value entered in the Value text box.
  • Between – The graphic symbol will appear if the value for the attribute is between the values entered in the Minimum and Maximum text boxes.
String Used to enter the condition to meet based on the attribute and test values. For instance, Attribute: Section name 2, Test: = Equal to.
Value Used to enter the value which must be met by the selected Test. For instance, Attribute: End 1 shear Vx, Test: > Greater than.
Minimum & Maximum Used to enter the minimum and maximum values for a test of Between. For instance, Attribute: Camber, Test: Between.
Type For an Attribute value of Section Type, select the Type of section which must be met by the selected test. Values are a range of steel and concrete types contained in a graphic value box.


Move with label When on, your label will move with the graphic symbol for the attribute you select. When you are using the Move Structural Graphics tool, enabling this option will mean the graphic symbol and the selected attribute's label will be treated as a single entity.
  • Attribute for Move with label — Specify the attribute for which you want the label and the graphic symbol to be treated as a single entity. The drop-down list will contain only those attributes which are selected (have a check mark next to them) in the list of attributes.
Vertical Brace Dataset Part Sets the dataset part (Steel:Braces_Vertical) that is used to identify vertical braces. Enabled for an Attribute value of Vertical Bracing.

Dataset Family and Part may be used to improve the qualification of linear members as vertical braces. For instance, if a Family and Part are set, then only linear members with this part will be considered as vertical braces. This is in addition to the other qualifying conditions.

Being that the Vertical Brace Dataset Part setting is optional, if the Family or Part is not defined, the check is skipped and all vertical brace members are qualified for the geometric tests (based on geometry, orientation and connection location).

Tolerance Sets the permissible distance in working units no less than one sub unit a vertical brace end point may be located away from the beam it braces to be qualified as a valid bracing configuration. It also represents the distance between two brace end points that should be considered as coincident such that they will be treated as an Above and Below brace of a Both configuration. The setting is used to provide an allowance for modeling where end points may not be exactly coincident.
Symbology Label symbology override settings are the same as for labels for other member attribute types. Descriptions of these settings are found in the Edit Drawing Rule Labels tab.
Note: Since there is no need to display graphic symbols as hidden edge elements, hidden edge symbology settings are not present. Similarly, graphic symbols do not require text parameter settings.

Label settings for Footprint Rules



SettingDescription
Display label for selected attribute Turn on this check box to display the label in the extracted drawing and activate the remaining fields on the Labels tab.
Label position: Places the label at the upper right corner of the footprint.
Label position: Places the label at the upper left corner of the footprint.
Label position: Places the label at the lower left corner of the footprint.
Label position: Places the label at the lower right corner of the footprint.
  • Horizontal offset – Sets the physical size of the horizontal offset of the text from the footprint. A value of 0:0 1/16 denotes that the text will be 1/16th of an inch from the footprint on the drawing.
  • Vertical offset – Enter the physical size of the vertical offset of the text from the footprint. A value of 0:0 1/16 denotes that the text will be 1/16th of an inch from the footprint on the drawing.
Label Position: Places and rotates the column label as specified by the offset settings.
  • Angle – Enter the angle by which you want the column label to be rotated. A value of 45 equals 45 degrees.
  • Distance – Enter the distance from the placement point of the column to the justification point of the text. For example, if the column was placed center-center, and your label text justification is Left Bottom, then the distance is the length between these two points. Obviously your labels will be placed in different places respective to the columns if, for example, one column's placement point was center-center, and another's placement was right-top.
  • Offset > Above leader line - Places the text justification point (not just the text) above the leader line. If the text justification point and the value of x text height make the leader line bisect the text, that is how it will appear in the drawing.
  • Offset > Below leader line – Place the text justification point (not just the text) below the leader line. If the text justification point and the value of x text height make the leader line bisect the text, that is how it will appear in the drawing.
  • x text height – Sets the factor to multiply times the text height to use in offsetting the text above or below the leader line.
    Remember: The offset applies to the justification point of the text and not automatically to the top or bottom. For example, if you have a value of 0.5 times the text height, plus you are placing below the leader line and the justification is Left Bottom, then the left bottom part of the text will be placed .5 times the text height below the leader line. This will cause the leader line to run right through your text.
  • Leader line – When on, displays a leader line between the column's placement point (center-center or left-top, for example) and the label's justification point.
  • Offset at start – Sets the physical size of the offset of the leader line from the footprint. A value of 0:0 1/16 denotes that the leader line will be 1/16th of an inch from the footprint on the drawing.
Parent topic: Edit Drawing Resymbolization Rule dialog