Tools for all plug-ins
Some tools do not belong to a single plug-in: reading in an IFC model, finding clashes across all disciplines, maintaining systems and layers, designing schedules or dividing a riser across the drawings of the levels. They look and work the same in every plug-in – so they are described here once, and the plug-in pages refer to this part.
How this part is organized
- Overview – this page: which tools there are and where you find them.
- Tasks – one page per tool with the workflow, a typical example, notes and a short video at the end.
- Reference – where each tool is, every setting with its default and every dialog box field by field: Reference.
The tools
| Tool | What for | Where |
|---|---|---|
| IFC import and IFC export | Read in the architect's model as the base of the project; pass your pipes, ducts and fixtures on to others as IFC. | LuaCAD tab › Exchange ribbon panel |
| Clash detection | Find clashes between pipes, ducts, drainage, blocks and the architecture, show them and work through them with status and comment. | Palette › Tools page › Clashes section |
| Systems and layers | Maintain systems (cold water, heating supply, extract air …) with color, linetype and layer; understand the layers of LuaCAD. | Gear menu › Systems; gear menu › Layers |
| Designing and outputting schedules | Parts lists and bills of materials as Excel, CSV or a table in the drawing; your own schedules in the list layout dialog box; quantities across several plans. | Palette › Output page |
| Property fields | Write your own data such as fire compartment or plant to the parts – for schedules, annotation and IFC; select parts by properties. | Gear menu › Properties; LuaCAD tab › Tools |
| Risers across levels | Divide a riser across the drawings of the levels, move it together and check it. | Divide across levels … button; gear menu › Levels |
| Drawing units and display units | Measure and enter correctly in plans in mm, cm or m. | LuaCAD settings › Drawing units |
| Help in the program | Getting started, insertion help, the "i", the issues list – and how to bring back notices you switched off. | everywhere; LuaCAD settings › Notices and prompts |
Where the settings are
- For all plug-ins and drawings the LuaCAD settings apply (LuaCAD tab › Info ribbon panel): drawing units, author, notices and remembered answers.
- Through the gear menu of every plug-in you reach systems, layers and property fields. Systems and property fields are still one shared list each for all plug-ins – each entry states which plug-ins it applies to. The schedule templates open with … next to the button of a schedule.
- Per project the level function and the dividing plane are stored in the project file – they apply to everyone working on the project.
- All settings with their defaults: Every setting in detail.