topic Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards?? in Modeling

Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:13:10 GMT

Good Evening/Morning,

Erm,

My external wall is showing the plaster on the outside on the section composite, with brickwork internally. This is not only incorrect but highly irritating.

Being an AC10 newbie, has anyone got any ideas?

Cheers for now

Pete

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

TomWaltz — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:39:53 GMT

Does it look the same way in plan?

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Link — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 18:58:52 GMT

It seems that you have used the incorrect construction method. When you are modeling your wall, hit the C key (for Construction Method) and watch what happens in your info box and what happens to the wall you are modeling. Keep tapping the C key and it will toggle between Left, Center and Right construction methods. You need to choose the one opposite to the one you were using!

This can be a little confusing especially for new users. If you take a look at a default composite in the Options> Element Attributes> Composites... dialog, you will notice that the top skin is the outer most skin of the wall. So if you reference your walls from the outside skin when you model them, you need to use the Left construction method if you model in an anti-clockwise direction, or use the Right construction method if you model in a clockwise direction.

The best bet is to stick with one system. Always build your composites in the same order when you create them (eg. the top skin is always the outside skin) and always model in the same direction, with the same construction method. This is crucial if you are using favorites to store your most commonly used walls.

It used to be that the composites would switch direction if we magic wanded slabs that were also modeled in different directions, but our good friends at Graphisoft have solved that problem!

Hope that helps.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 19:21:02 GMT

Done, job jobbed many thanks I understand now,

I just extended my slab out the thickness of the ext skin in all directions, added the wall back in and bingo!

Cheers guys,

Pete

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Anonymous — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 21:48:48 GMT

Pete,
If you draw a wall incorrectly you can always change
the reference side by selecting the wall, go to design->modify wall->reference line.
Peter Devlin

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Ignacio Azpiazu — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:06:17 GMT

Link wrote:
This can be a little confusing especially for new users. If you take a look at a default composite in the Options> Element Attributes> Composites... dialog, you will notice that the top skin is the outer most skin of the wall.

Uh oh. In my AC10-discovery-adventure day I notice that the composite thumbnails in the composites/fills pop-ups show layered left-to-right, as opposed to top-to-bottom which is how they show in Attribute Settings. In AC9 you did not need to mentally rotate coordinates like that. I wonder what is the rationale behind the confusing enhancement.

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Link — Mon, 02 Oct 2006 22:29:02 GMT

I wonder what is the rationale behind the confusing enhancement.

Who knows? They have a logic all their own!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

Rod Jurich — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 15:09:41 GMT

Link wrote:
I wonder what is the rationale behind the confusing enhancement.

Who knows? They have a logic all their own!

Cheers,
Link.

As I've said before computer geeks at so called work! The originators of AC would be sqirming if asked what is happening to a once really great CAD produce.

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

TomWaltz — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 15:29:15 GMT

I think it's quite common for IT staff to completely focus on how cool something might be or how hard it is to do without regard for whether the people they are providing services for actually need it, want it, or have a use for it.

Re: Why is my external wall composite backwards??

__archiben — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 21:06:39 GMT

TomWaltz wrote:
I think it's quite common for IT staff to completely focus on how cool something might be or how hard it is to do without regard for whether the people they are providing services for actually need it, want it, or have a use for it.

oooh! can i use my favourite word again?! not that they ever listened during the two years i was beating their heads with it . . .

u s a b i l i t y

~/archiben