The 'Structure' object type has the following headings:

General

3D Visualization

Geometry

Misc

Representation

Additional Data

Number Settings

Output



General: Is common to all object types, and covers general AutoCAD and BricsCAD settings, including: Color / Layer / Linetype / Linetype scale / Plot style / Lineweight / Transparency / Hyperlink / Handle /


3D Visualization: Is also common to all object types and includes: Material.

The material that is referred to here is only the visual representation material. For changing the actual material of parts, see the Additional Data section of plates, profiles or structures.


Geometry

Note! - * indicates that the given value is a resultant of the sum of other values in the panel - and cannot be individually edited.

Position: Position of the structure (X, Y, and Z) relative to the UCS coordinates

Scale X: Scale factor X

Scale Y: Scale factor Y

Scale Z: Scale factor Z

UCS elevation * UCS elevation (Reference)

Slope: * Slope angle relative to the horizontal plane (Reference)


Misc

Note! - * indicates that the given value is a resultant of the sum of other values in the panel - and cannot be individually edited.

Name: * This is an AutoCAD and BricsCAD setting

Path: This is an AutoCAD and BricsCAD setting

Annotative: * This is an AutoCAD and BricsCAD setting

Rotation: This is an AutoCAD and BricsCAD setting

Block unit: * This is a AutoCAD / BricsCAD function. set block units to meters / mm / inches / etc.

Unit factor: * This is a AutoCAD / BricsCAD function. set block unit factor

Explodable: * Structure is explodable

Name: * Structure name used in the parts lists and workshop drawings

Name override: The replacement of the normal structure name. This replacement name will be used in all part lists and workshop drawings.

Position: * The number automatically given to elements by Parabuild. Elements that are the same, (same dimensions, holes, sections) are given the same position number. These positions are partially adaptable with prefixes and suffixes, see Number settings.

Assembly: * Assembly number

Pos revision: This value is automatically assigned by Parabuild. Whenever the part is created or modified, then it will get the current revision that is currently active in the Revisions manager.

Assembly revision: This value is automatically assigned by Parabuild. Whenever the assembly's parts or the distance between the parts has modified, then it will get the current revision that is currently active in the Revisions manager.

Phase: The project phase of the selected element.

Clashing: This is set to yes or no and refers to whether the profile is currently clashing with other elements or not. This property is automatically set by the clash control, and is only included in properties for search objectives. For more information read the chapter Clash Check

Weight: * Calculated weight of the selected member

Prevent import update to model: Activating the checkbox will prevent any import update to the model. This refers to CIS/2 or Ifc incremental imports.

Imported needs review: This value will be set automatically for parts that were updated after an incremental CIS/2 or Ifc import.

Review macro: Will open the macro edit dialog, where the macro may be viewed and/or edited

Zoom: Zoom to the extents of the selected structure


Representation

Draw Axis: Draws the Axis of a profile

Draw Body: Draws the complete 3D-model of the profile in 2D wireframe

Draw Hide Body: Draws the complete 3D-model of the profile in 3D visual styles

Draw Hole Axis: Draws the axis of every hole in the structure

Draw Hole Cylinder: Draws the cylindrical path of all holes in the structure in 2D wireframe

Draw Hidden Hole: Draws the cylindrical path of all holes in the structure in 3D visual styles.
One can activate the hole subtraction here for a better visual representation, but do note that when a bolt is drawn through this hole, you would not see the difference. On top of that, the subtraction is heavy on resources. This is the reason why this option is disabled by default.
The edges of the hole are always drawn independently of this setting.


Additional Data

Remark: Can be used in a variety of ways. This field is maintained for every element. It has its own column in the part lists, and can be used for sorting part lists and workshop drawings. This property has no further influence

Material: This field also has its own column in the part lists and can be used for sorting, but this has a direct influence on the position number (and consequently the mark number). Two elements that are identical, but have another material assigned to, will be given another position number. This enables a total categorization of different materials in part lists and workshop drawings.

The weight factor of every material can be changed in Parabuild Properties - Global - Material/Finishing . Parabuild will use this weight factor to calculate the weight in the part lists.

Finishing: Same as Remark

Paint: Same as Remark

Manufacturer: Same as Remark

Surface Treatments: Will open the Surface Treatments dialog

Struct Group: This property can be freely used for the user's own purpose.

Cost category Code: These codes are usually determined while a quote for the project is made. This code can then later be assigned to the 3D model when the project was ordered. This way the parts can be traced from estimation to production and to completion inside ERP/MIS software. This value is exported to KISS files.

Assembly Cost category Code: See ‘Cost category Code’

Sequence: The erection sequence of the part. This value is exported to KISS files

Lot Name: The lot that the part belongs to. This value is exported to KISS files

Structural Type: For example: Bracing/Rafter/Stringer/Handrail/Post/etc.... You can use the variable %PbColStructuralType% to use this property in Bill of materials or annotations

Assembly Structural Type: For example: Stair/Railing/etc.... You can use the variable %PbColAssemblyStructuralType% to use this property in Bill of materials or annotations

Unique Identifier: The Unique identifier is allocated by Parabuild, or received from a CIS/2 or Ifc file import.

Advanced properties - Clicking on this button will open the advanced properties dialog, which contains the following properties for structures :

    • Pre-classified type and Assembly pre-classified type - This property is only useful for template drawings of connections/macros.
      This setting is a good alternative way to automatically assign structural types when it is too difficult or impossible to create filters that detect the type of part automatically.
      To make this work, you first have to set the pre-classified structural type here, and then save the template drawing in the library. Then the next time when the template drawing is used and inserted into the drawing, then this pre-classified structural type will be set in the structural type property of the part upon insertion.
      The purpose of this is to have an influence on the automatic assignment of the structural part type property, without having to rely on the automatic Structural types assignments through Object Filters.



Number Settings

Pos Prefix: Determines the prefix of the position number.

Pos Suffix: Determines the suffix of the position number.

Pos Start number: Determines the start number of the position number.

Pos preferred number: Forces Parabuild to use the preferred number as position number. Parabuild will comply if this number is not already in use by a different part.

Assembly Prefix: Determines the prefix of the assembly/mark number.

Assembly Suffix: Determines the prefix of the assembly/mark number.

Assembly Start number: Determines the start number of the assembly/mark number.

Assembly preferred number: Forces Parabuild to use the preferred number as assembly/mark number. Parabuild will comply if this number is not already in use by a different part.

Remove Pos & Mark number history: Lets Parabuild forget the preferred numbers and also the previous numbers that the part had.

Note! For more information on any of these items, refer to Numbering of elements


Output

Weight method:

  • Without cuts or holes (%): The weight of the complete length of the profile will be calculated, without subtracting the holes and cuts. In the next property you can adjust the percentage of this value that should be used.
  • Cut: The cuts in the profiles are subtracted to calculate the weight.
  • Cut and drilled: The cuts and the holes are subtracted to calculate the weight
  • Fixed value: The value you enter in the next property will be used as the weight for this element in kg or lbs (This value will be taken over in the BOMs without any adjustments).

Weight parameter: This property is being used in combination with the above properties ‘Default’ and ‘Fixed value’

Skip BOM: If this property to ‘Yes’, this element will not appear in the BOMs

Skip 2D view/annotations: Adjust this to skip this element for the 3D annotations or the 3D annotations + 2D view

Skip drawings: You can skip only the Position drawings, only the mark drawings, or both the Position and Mark drawings

Main view override: Select a plane that determines the main view's direction

Open position drawing: Will open the position drawing of the selected part

Open assembly drawing: Will open the assembly/mark drawing of the selected assembly

Generate as a STEP file: STEP file is a CAD file format, usually used to share 3D models between users with different CAD systems. Note! This command will only work in BricsCAD and when the Communicator module is installed and licensed. For more information, refer to Document generation Settings > Generate STEP Files