OpenBuildings™ Designer Help

Place Compound Slab

Used to construct and place compound slabs. Compound Slabs are created and placed by entering data points to define the outside perimeter (Boundary method); or by flooding a selected shape (Flood method); or by extruding a shape (From Shape method); or by selecting supporting structural members to determine the shape (From Structural Members method).

Accessed from:
  • Ribbon: Building Design > Structural > Place Structural Elements > Slab
  • Ribbon: Building Design > Architectural > Place Architectural Elements > Slab

Placement tab

SettingDescription
Place By Sets the construction and placement method for the compound slab.
  • Boundary – The compound slab is created by entering data points to define the outside perimeter.
  • Flood – The compound slab is created by entering a data point to flood a defined region.
  • Shape – The compound slab is created by selecting a shape. The slab is extruded from the shape.
  • Structural Members – The compound slab is created by selecting supporting structural members which determine the shape of the compound slab.
Place From Sets the placement of the compound slab relative to the data points that place the compound slab.
  • Core Bottom – The compound slab is placed from the bottom of the selected slab core.
  • Core Top – The compound slab is placed from the top of the selected slab core.
  • Assembly Bottom - The compound slab is placed from the bottom of the entire slab assembly.
  • Assembly Top - The compound slab is placed from the top of the entire slab assembly.
Base Offset Sets the Z axis distance from the active ACS to the top of the compound slab.
Allow Holes When on, the compound slab extrudes around columns and other forms located within the flooded region, creating holes where the columns and other forms exist. Enabled for the Flood slab placement option only.
Delete Constructions When on, the element shape used to extrude the compound slab form is deleted. Enabled for the Shape slab placement option only.
Overhang Sets the distance by which the compound slab extends beyond, or retracts within, the placement boundary. A positive value extends the compound slab beyond the placement boundary and a negative value retracts the compound slab within the placement boundary.
Side Angle Controls the angular position of the compound slabs edge faces.
  • Vertical – When viewing the compound slab form with the Base ACS active, the sides of the compound slab form display perpendicular to the global X-Y plane. In other words, the sides should appear as single line edges in a plan view.
  • Angle – Sets the angle of the edge faces between the base surface and the top surface of the compound slab form.
    • If the angle is 0 (zero), the edge faces are perpendicular to the base surface.
    • If the angle is positive, the edge face angle starts from the top edge of the compound slab and indents inward toward the bottom edge.
    • If the angle is negative, the edge face angle starts from the bottom edge of the compound slab and indents inward toward the top edge.
  • Horizontal – When viewing the compound slab form with the Base ACS active, the sides of the slab form display parallel to the global X-Y plane. In other words, the sides should appear as single line edges in an elevation view.
Slope Sets the angle for the edge faces of the compound slab. Enabled when Side Angle > Angle is selected.

Compound Slab Properties

SettingDescription
Catalog Type Selector Used to select from Catalog Types. Selections made here updates 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

TheCatalog Item list also includes user defined assembles, 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.
  • (Large Icons) - Displays a representative icon for each catalog item listing.
  • (List) - Displays catalog item listing without any icons.
  • (Large Icons) - Displays a representative icon for each catalog item listing. (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 responsive 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 partthe 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 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 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 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 the catalog item definitions can be named before saving them to the DataGroup System.
  • (Load Compound Slab Settings) - Used to load Compound Slab Editor properties dialog which is used to set the Material, Thickness, Core, Edge Setback, Infill Edge and Edge Material of all the layers added in the compound slab assembly.
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_PLACEMDSandBB_CATALOGITEM_SAVEAS_IN_PLACEMDS to "0", respectively.
Preview Displays the selected catalog item in the preview window. This displays 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 options 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.
Compound Slab Parameters
  • Compound Slab Type – Sets the slab type by selecting from the Type property drop down list.
  • Compound Slab Direction – Sets the direction when the slab is extruded from the creating element/plane by selecting from the Slab Direction property drop down list.
  • Compound Slab Direction Angle – Sets the direction angle when the slab is extruded from the creating element/plane by selecting from the Slab Direction Angle property drop down list.
Structural Usage
  • Structural Function - Lists the structural function like structural , non-structural and undefined.
  • Structural Material - Lists the structural material like timber , concrete etc.
Thermal Transmittance Lists the thermal properties to apply to the active catalog item.
Identification Lists identification properties for the active catalog item type.
Acoustical Parameters

Lists acoustical performance properties. The acoustic rating and test reference details are set here.

Fire Resistance Lists fire rating properties based on agency fire safety tests and classifications.
Construction Phase Lists design and construction phase properties for walls such as New Construction, Future Construction, and Items to be Moved.
Space Bounding

Lists properties that can be defined as On/Off making the selected catalog item eligible for consideration during energy analysis.

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).
Key-in: place compoundslab
To Place Compound Slab
Parent topic: Compound Slab