Special Shapes via Variant and Database
The creation of special shapes via drawing a cross-section is especially suitable for individual types that cannot be summed up in special shape series or, for types where you only need some special shapes for your construction.
However, if you require whole shape series of similar types, which only differ in their dimensions but the quality, of which is identical, it is recommended to create them via a variant with corresponding database.
Using this method, you only determine how the shape has to look like in a description file by describing a polygon with variables. This means you describe a shape like line from point (0, 0) to point (a, b)" etc. and then define the values a and b in a DBASE-file. If you enter 10 different data records with names and variants for a, and for b, you will immediately obtain 10 different shapes which are similar to each other.
Create Variant
Please also read through the section about the standard method via a drawn poly-line, because basic information about special shapes is not described once again here.
To create a variant, you have to create a new file tab in the special shapes directory (…/sopro) first. The name of this file tab simultaneously defines the shape type, which will be displayed later in the selection lists for shape selection.
Now, this file tab has to contain an ASCII-file with the name rules.dat. This file contains the variant description and the corresponding DBASE-file (*.dbf), the name of which can be freely determined. In the variant file you enter this name explicitly.
Structure of Variant File (Geometry)
All commands in this file have to be entered in capital letters, and the order specified here has to be kept. The values for x and y can either be pre-defined or be values from the database.
If you want to apply a value from the database, you define continuous variables $1, $2, $3 etc. for this purpose, which will then be replaced by the values of the data records. You can indicate all three-resolution variants in one file.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| FILE=TEST.DBF | Enter the file name of the corresponding database file. |
| RESOLUTION=NORMAL; | Enter the display variant LOW, NORMAL or HIGH. |
| THICKNESS=5.0; | Optional entry, see command description |
| STARTPOINT(x, y); | |
| STARTPOINT(x, y) | |
| INSERTPOINT(x, y) | Additional insertion points, up to 16 pcs. You can only define one set of insertion points, i. e. you cannot define 16 points for each resolution! |
| RESOLUTION=END | End of a depiction variant |
| RESOLUTION=LOW | New depiction variant, if required ... |
| RESOLUTION=END |
For the description of the polygon segments, commands for lines and arcs are at your disposal which can be described with relative or absolute coordinates.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| LINEAR_TO(dx, dy) | Line segment from the last indicated point in relative coordinates x and y (analogously to AutoCAD® -line input) |
| LINEAR_AT(x, y) | Line segment from the last indicated point in absolute coordinates x and y (analogously to AutoCAD -line input) |
| ARC_TO(r, phi) | Arc segment from the last indicated point, tangential at this point with the indicated radius r and the arc angle phi in degrees. A positive angle causes a rotation to the right, a negative angle causes a rotation to the left. |
| ARC_AT(cx ,cy, ex, ey) | Arc segment from the last indicated point, tangential at this point with the indicated center point cx and cy as well as the end point ex and ey in absolute coordinates each. |
Normally, the special shape is described using one or more closed poly-lines. However, an easier description can be selected for thin-wall-shapes (cold-rolled shapes in most cases). You can specify the wall thickness d by indicating the command THICKNESS=d and only have to describe the neutral fibre (open polygon) of the cross-section. The program then automatically calculates the required closed polygon.
Create Database (Shape Sizes)
In the database, a common DBASE-file, you only have to file the data records of the different variables and some information about the parts list.
Field Field Name Field Type Content 0 KEY Text ProSteel-shape designation (access key) 1 NAME Text Shape name (display, parts list) 2 NOTE1 Text annotation field 1 3 NOTE2 Text annotation field 2 4 ITEM Text item number 5 MATERIAL Text Material index, not implemented at the moment 6 WEIGHT Double weight per meter 7 FIELD1 Double value of the first variable ($1) 8... n FIELD2 ... n Double value of the next variable ($2...$n)