Combining 2 of the same elements into a single element

[Anonymous]

Hello: In the building I am creating it has 2 towers and a bridge between them. In the 2 towers there is an open atrium that goes from the first floor to the top of the building. So when it came to the bridge section it is easy to copy the slab/floor from the floor below it and copy it. Problem is that I either have to place another slab for the floor of the bridge or extend on of the slabs to mate with the slab in the other tower. Since the bridge has 10 stories to it I would prefer the slab be a single element that I can copy and yes I know I could group the slabs and copy or select and copy the slabs independently but that doesn't see the best way as I see it as the slab is to be a continuous pour so it should be a single element. I also don't want to create a NEW slab with the appropriate openings as that will take some time. What I would like to know is whether or not AC has a function that would allow me to merge/joint multiple slabs into a single slab assuming that the slabs are the same thickness, material type and such.

Regards.

[Anonymous]

There is no Merge, as such, but you can use the pet palette "Add" button - select the first slab, click on an edge to bring the pet palette up, click on the "Add" button, magic wand (hold down space bar) the 2nd slab edge and it will add that 2nd shape. The original 2nd slab will remain though, so delete it once you have finished.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the tip Stuart but unfortunately it does not seem to work. It seems that when I do as you indicated it does add the 2 slabs together but it only adds the perimeter of the slab and does not add the openings in the slab that is being added. In my case there are openings in both slabs for stairs and other such things. Also, it didn't matter which order I selected the 2 slabs. Either way the openings in the second slab don't get added. The reason for wanting to merge or add the 2 slabs is that I don't want to have to recreate the openings. Any other ideas.

Regards.

[Anonymous]

You are correct, the openings will have to be re-created, but using the magic wand this should not take long.

Also, if you have the Quick Layers palette on, select your slabs, hit the "Hide all others" button on Quick Layers (and all other layers will turn off) to make it real easy to perform your magic wanding. Hit the quick layers Undo button when complete to revert to previous layer state.