topic Re: Cut plane problem in Documentation

Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Fri, 07 Feb 2025 14:33:57 GMT

Maybe someone has solved this one:

I have a plan with a short wall (4'-8"h) beside taller wall.
The tall wall has a window with a sill height of 4'-9".

I want both walls to appear "cut" and the window to appear in plan. If the cut plane is set to cut through the window (4'-9" or higher) then the short wall is not cut. If the cut plane is set to cut through the low wall then it is below the window...you see what I mean.

A gold start goes to the first person to solve the problem. 😉

Thanks,

Re: Cut plane problem

Eduardo Rolon — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 03:22:55 GMT

Is there a reason as to why you cannot set the the Window display to symbolic?
Did I get the star

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 03:47:07 GMT

It is set to symbolic, but it still doesn't show when the cut plane is below it.

Re: Cut plane problem

Eduardo Rolon — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 04:21:17 GMT

Tried again and it works for me, unless I am misunderstanding something

Re: Cut plane problem

Aussie John — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 07:39:34 GMT

set the walls to projected and the cut line through the window and should work

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:25:40 GMT

I’m not sure I understood this correctly but the window shows up cut in plan regardless what I set my cut plane to (see image)
This is using the default AC 10 settings.

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 19:54:21 GMT

Hassanen,
You may have the window set to symbolic
In which case it will show regardless to the
floor plan cut plane. Set the window to
another floor plan display option and
see if that works.
Peter Devlin

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 20:20:31 GMT

Peter wrote:
You may have the window set to symbolic
In which case it will show regardless to the floor plan cut plane.

yes you're right..

Re: Cut plane problem

Link — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 21:49:02 GMT

Eric Wrote:

Maybe someone has solved this one:

I have a plan with a short wall (4'-8"h) beside taller wall.
The tall wall has a window with a sill height of 4'-9".

I want both walls to appear "cut" and the window to appear in plan. If the cut plane is set to cut through the window (4'-9" or higher) then the short wall is not cut. If the cut plane is set to cut through the low wall then it is below the window...you see what I mean.

A gold start goes to the first person to solve the problem.

Thanks,

Now's a good time to get familiar with the GS definition of 'Symbolic'. I like to think of Symbolic as meaning 'Show this element the same as it would have in ArchiCAD 9 or earlier'. This is the opposite to the term Projected, which can similarly be defined as 'Show this element in ArchiCAD 10 style, taking into consideration the Cut Plane'.

The are two options for your case.

1. Have the Cut Plane cutting down at a level where it cuts through your lower wall, and then force your upper window to show like it would have in ArchiCAD 9 or earlier, or

2. Have the Cut Plane cutting up at a level where it cuts through your window, and then force your lower wall to show like it would have in ArchiCAD 9 or earlier.

Lets take Option 1: Set your Cut Plane at say 4'. Both of your walls are set to Projected (either method - and Cut could work, but let's not confuse the issue). So now both of your walls are essentially set to take note of the new Cut Plane feature of ArchiCAD 10, and consequently display their Cut Fills. Now for the window, it will have to be set to Symbolic, so as not to take the cut plane into effect. So it needs to be set to Symbolic to show up like in ArchiCAD 9, because it is above the Cut Plane. Just try setting it to Projected and you will see that it disappears because it is above the Cut Plane, and it is using the Cut Plane to determine how it displays.

Or we could go with Option 2: Set your Cut Plane at say 5'. First thing you'll notice is that your lower wall, which is still set to Projected does not show it's cut fill, because it is no longer being cut. Your window however will now appear because the Cut Plane is cutting through it. So all you need to do is force your lower wall to 'Show the same as it would have in ArchiCAD 9 or earlier', and you do that by setting it to Symbolic (Cut). You can only do this if the wall's 'Shown On/Link To Stories' setting is set to 'Own Story Only', as that was the only option in ArchiCAD 9.

IMHO as a rule of thumb, it is best to leave your cut plane at one set height, and force the odd element to Symbolic where the Cut Plane does not cut through them. Basically just force them to 'show like they were in ArchiCAD 9 or earlier'.

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Cut plane problem

Thomas Holm — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:04:33 GMT

Peter wrote:
Hassanen,
You may have the window set to symbolic
In which case it will show regardless to the
floor plan cut plane. Set the window to
another floor plan display option and
see if that works.
Peter Devlin

I feel there is something wrong with this. I want a clear hierarchy. Of course, a window set as symbolic should display like that whereever it displays. But WHERE and IF it displays should be determined by the WALL's settings. If the wall is set to Cut Only and not visible, I should'nt see the window either. If the wall is set to cut only, and the cutplane doesn't touch the window, it shouldn't display either. If I want a window to display when it is not touched by the cutplane, the WALL should be set as Symbolic. If the wall is set as Projected, and the cutplane doesn't touch the window, it should be seen but in a subdued mode - maybe dashed - but HOW the window looks -that is to be determined by the window's settings! This is a wish!

Re: Cut plane problem

__archiben — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:12:04 GMT

Eric wrote:
A gold start goes to the first person to solve the problem. 😉

shouldn't be a problem. depending on your cut plane height:

in the example below...
cut plane at 1100mm (3' 7") AFFL;
wall with window 3000mm (approx. 10') high, base at 0mm, 'projected';
perpendicular wall 1400mm (4' 7") high, base at 0mm, 'projected';
window sill at 1500mm (4' 11") AFFL, 'symbolic'.

if you want your window 'projected' rather than 'symbolic', you need to raise your cut plane above the sill level and switch the low-level wall to 'symbolic' . . .

unless i'm misunderstanding . . .
~/archiben

Re: Cut plane problem

Jefferson — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:17:44 GMT

Hi Eric -

I have taken to setting my cut planes to 0, with 0 in both floor plan range settings..........from there I adjust individual elements only as needed, on an instance by instance basis to show up when and how I need them to display. Almost all walls are set to projected. [Projected with overhead is seldom used, so far anyway.] Windows and doors are set to symbolic. It is my attempt to keep the complexity to minimum, AND, to keep myself from having to think through the ramifications of every elements settings constantly..........I should add that my work is relegated to single family residential, [THANK GOD!]

A simple stepped foundation wall, using cut planes with settings other than 0, or a situation like you're experiencing now, can give you fits, trying to track on all elements settings becomes way too much work, IMHO.

With cut planes and floor plan ranges set to 0, it is very similar to drawing in ver 9, [8.1 for me], yet I can, when I want adjust the appearance of specific and individual elements to appear on other stories. [A multi-story wall, set to projected, which used to be a major work-around, basically now solves itself.]

So far, this is how it all is working best for me.........

Re: Cut plane problem

__archiben — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:19:02 GMT

ah! i see link got there before i'd composed my reply! gold star sir!

Link wrote:
IMHO as a rule of thumb, it is best to leave your cut plane at one set height, and force the odd element to Symbolic where the Cut Plane does not cut through them.

agreed. that was the principle i was working to in my example . . . your solution no.1

~/archiben

Re: Cut plane problem

Link — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:49:37 GMT

Jeff wrote:

Hi Eric -

I have taken to setting my cut planes to 0, with 0 in both floor plan range settings..........from there I adjust individual elements only as needed, on an instance by instance basis to show up when and how I need them to display. Almost all walls are set to projected. [Projected with overhead is seldom used, so far anyway.] Windows and doors are set to symbolic. It is my attempt to keep the complexity to minimum, AND, to keep myself from having to think through the ramifications of every elements settings constantly..........I should add that my work is relegated to single family residential, [THANK GOD!]

A simple stepped foundation wall, using cut planes with settings other than 0, or a situation like you're experiencing now, can give you fits, trying to track on all elements settings becomes way too much work, IMHO.

With cut planes and floor plan ranges set to 0, it is very similar to drawing in ver 9, [8.1 for me], yet I can, when I want adjust the appearance of specific and individual elements to appear on other stories. [A multi-story wall, set to projected, which used to be a major work-around, basically now solves itself.]

So far, this is how it all is working best for me.........

Yes - I was lucky enough to be there when Jeff had this stroke of genius! Glad to hear it is still working well. There is an inherent problem in ArchiCAD 10 in that if you want to dimension a slanted wall, there is no way to dimension it the way a builder wants it - by it's base thickness. Setting the cut plane down at this height (0), as Jeff suggests, solves this problem. Plus it just simplifies the cut plane - at least on simpler models!

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Cut plane problem

Jefferson — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 22:56:33 GMT

I'll take that as a compliment Mr. Ellis, thank you............was that discovered before beers or after, can't recall?

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 02:00:23 GMT

Sorry for not getting back to this thread soon enough. I totally neglected to mention that both walls are complex profiles and I fear this may have someting to do with it.

I am familiar with the symbolic representation of doors & windows and if I recall correctly the window is already set to symbolic. I will verify in the morning at the office.

If that's not the case and it still doesn't work I will upload a module for reference.

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 14:05:29 GMT

I just realized I had offered a gold "start", whatever that is! Typing too fast.

(Thinks to himself: system-wide inline spellcheck on the Mac would have caught that.....stupid Windows XP)

I discovered that the wall containing the window was set to display "cut only" and when set like this the window does not display, even when the window is set to symbolic. The wall display setting overrides the window display setting.

After setting the wall to "projected" it displays as expected. So, I guess Aussie John gets the gold star since that was actually the option that fixed it.

Thanks for the help!

Re: Cut plane problem

Aussie John — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:48:07 GMT

awww I was looking forward to the gold start

Re: Cut plane problem

Link — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:59:03 GMT

Eric wrote:
I just realized I had offered a gold "start", whatever that is! Typing too fast.

(Thinks to himself: system-wide inline spellcheck on the Mac would have caught that.....stupid Windows XP)

So are you saying that the Mac would have picked up the word 'Start' as a spelling mistake? Gimme Windows XP anyday!

Eric wrote:
I discovered that the wall containing the window was set to display "cut only" and when set like this the window does not display, even when the window is set to symbolic. The wall display setting overrides the window display setting.

After setting the wall to "projected" it displays as expected. So, I guess Aussie John gets the gold star since that was actually the option that fixed it.

Thanks for the help!

While I think John is always gold star worthy, I think your solution sounds dodgey mate. Complex walls can be set to Cut Only and still show windows. It's just that the cut plane has to cut through the Window! Still sounds like a Cut Plane Height problem to me....

Cheers,
Link.

Re: Cut plane problem

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2006 23:17:20 GMT

OK, I guess I wasn't spelling OR thinking.

Trust me...that's what the fix was. I'll be happy to show you the file.

When the wall was set to cut only and the window was set to symbolic only the wall showed. If the wall was set to projected and the window was symbolic the window was visible.