Working with Building Components

In this section you will find details about working with a building's critical components (the red objects seen inside a building in the floor view)

The Critical Component Window
Component Information
Selecting Components
Moving Components
Reset Button
Rotate Button
Create Component Button
Delete Button
Pasting Components
Copy Component Button

 


The Critical Component Window

This window is where you will find all of the basic information about the various critical components you are looking at. In order to access this window you must first select a building (by left-clicking on it) and then select a floor view other than zero. Note that some buildings may not have any critical components, in which case this window will not appear. Once you have this window in view you can access the various tools described below to manipulate the components of that building. Closing this window will also set the floor view of that building back to zero (overhead view).

Component Information

The information for components is divided into three sections. The left section has the current floor number you are viewing and below that, an alphabetical list of all the components on that floor. You can click on the listing for any component and more detailed information will appear on the right side of the window. Clicking on a component in the building will do this as well.

The middle section lists detailed information about the component selected in the left section. You may edit the name of the component if you like as well as the elevation of the component. You may also edit the minimum overpressure (listed as Min Pressure) and maximum overpressure (listed as Max Pressure).

The section on the right shows you both the min an max elevation for all the components on this floor as well as the range of elevations currently occupied by the component you have selected in the left section of this dialog window.


Selecting Components

To select a single component, simply left click on it in the floor view or in the component window. Selecting a components turns it white.

You may select multiple critical components at the same time as well. Simply left click near the components you wish to select and drag a box around the components. When you release the mouse, all components you have selected will now be white. You may now move them together as a group.


Moving Components

After selecting the component(s) you wish to move, simply drag them to the area you wish to place them and release the mouse button. If you attempt to move the component(s) outside of the building, you will not be allowed to do so.

If you wish to move the component(s) to another floor or building, you will need to cut the component(s) first and then select a new building and/or change the floor view. Then you may paste the component(s) into the new location.


Reset Button

reset button The reset button is useful for when you wish to return to the last save for a particular building only, rather than the whole facility. Using this tool will reload the entire building from the last saved point. This may move the location of the building or reset flips and rotations you have. This will also delete any new components you have created since your last save.

 


Rotate Button

reset button The rotate button is just like the rotate option used for buildings except that there are no preset values and this tool is used for critical components only. You must select a component by left clicking on it first. Then choosing the rotate button will bring up a dialog that will allow you to input numbers from 1 to 360. You may rotate the component in clockwise or counter-clockwise fashion by selecting the buttons in the rotate dialog box. If your rotation would place part or all of the component outside of the floor, this rotation will be prohibited.

 


Create Component Button

create component button The create component button is used to add completely new components to a building. Selecting this button will bring up the component creation window (shown below).

This window allows you to create one of three types of components. These components are very simple BRL-CAD solids. Choosing the Rectangle tab will create an arb8 solid. The cylinder will create a trc solid. And the sphere will create an ellg solid. The user must manually enter details about the geometry in the text fields such as height, width, radius, etc. When the correct size and solid have been chosen, clicking the 'ok' button will create the object on the canvas. You can then drag the new object to the building you are working in. After you have dragged the component in the desired location, left click to place it there.

Be careful to input a valid height for the component. If it is too tall, the component will not fit on that floor and you will have to change the height and try again. By default, all components are placed on the floor. Also, if you drag the component in such a way that the component will not fit on the floor where you wish to place it, the editor will not allow this.


Delete Button

create component button The delete button is used to remove a component from the building model. This action can also be accessed through the menu bar using the cut option. Once a component is deleted, it is also copied and can be pasted into other buildings or floors using the paste option from the menu bar .

Pasting Components

create component button After cutting/deleting or copying a component, you may paste it to the screen. You must place it in the current floor view in the building you have selected. You must select paste from the edit menu . Next the component(s) will appear around your mouse as you move around the canvas. When you have the component(s) in the desired position, left-click to place them there.

 


Copy Button

create component button The copy button is used to copy a component from the building model for later pasting back into the facility in the same area or in another one. The copy will be have the same name as the original component, with an additional '@2' or '@3' added onto it (the number will vary based on how many copies of this component there are already in the model) This allows the user to recognize what component the copy is based on. The functions of the copy function are identical to the paste option found in the menu bar .

 


return to table of contents

Return to the VISAC home page