Tools

#Picking the base angle

Goal: draw in a skewed floor plan so that the angle increment follows the wall.

1. Tools page › Angle › Pick.
2. Click two points along a wall (1 of 2, 2 of 2) – their direction becomes the base direction of the angle increment.
3. The line below shows the base direction ("base direction 12°"). From now on every duct, round duct and flexible duct run snaps to this direction and its multiples of the angle increment (Parameters page).
4. Reset sets the X axis again ("base direction: X axis").

You can also set the base direction in the X-Y and X-Z planes and the increment of both planes in the gear menu › Angle presets. During the run itself W aligns the increment with two clicks, D takes a typed base direction.

#Checking for clashes

Goal: find interferences between ducts, round ducts, fittings and devices and the parts of the other plug-ins – on request also with the building elements of an IFC xref.

1. Tools page › Clashes section: choose the check set and the scope (this drawing only, against xrefs, also xref against xref).
2. Check.
3. The list shows each clash once; a click on a row shows the spot in the drawing.
4. Accepted, resolved and comments are kept at the next check; what has disappeared is marked resolved.

The check is the same in all plug-ins – details under Piping 3D › Checking for clashes. If the clash detection component is missing, the section is grayed out.

#Showing and adjusting insulation

Goal: show or hide all insulation solids, or change insulation material and thickness of many inserted parts.

Show: the switch Visible | Invisible under Insulation shows or hides all insulation solids of the drawing – the highlighted half applies. The data stays; the switch belongs to the drawing (visible by default), undo takes it back with the rest, new parts follow it.

Adjust:

1. Adjust under Insulation – the Adjust insulation dialog box opens.
2. At the top select the parts: Select (click or selection window), Duct section (click the start and end of a run – all parts in between), Whole network (click a part – everything connected to it) or choose a system and All of this system. The dialog box then comes back with the number of selected parts; they are highlighted in the drawing.
3. Insulation material: "- stays (as on each part) -" or an insulation material of the insulation table (with its color).
4. Thickness: a number in mm – or empty: then it stays, or with a new material it comes from the table per part (duct or round duct thickness).
5. Apply.

#Adjusting fabrication parameters

Goal: swap system, catalog, material, air leakage class or hygiene class of many inserted parts – the dimensions stay.

1. Adjust under Fabrication parameters.
2. At the top select the parts (Select, Duct section, Whole network).
3. Per row (system, catalog, material, leakage class, hygiene class) choose on the left the current value – "All" or only parts with this value – and on the right the new one. Choosing "new" switches the row on (check box on the left).
4. Below you see how many parts the change affects. Apply.

#Checking the duct network

Goal: find open ends, gaps and joints without a counterpart – for example after many changes or before output.

1. Check duct network (Tools page › Diagnostics).
2. At the top is the verdict – "in order" or the number of errors – below it the counts: parts, networks, joints, open ends, gaps, one-sided, orphaned, touching without joint, inconsistent network number.
3. Filter with Show: Everything, Errors only, Networks, Open ends.
4. A click on a row zooms there and highlights the parts; the dialog box sits at the left edge so the spot stays visible.
5. After a change in the drawing click Check again; Close finishes.