Modeling
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Curtain wall / window opening

Anonymous
Not applicable
I've been reading posts about curtain walls, and have some questions. Firstly, I'm not sure if a curtain wall is the best tool for my needs. What I want is a large window opening, divided horizontally into two. The top and bottom will both have vertical mullions, but they aren't meant to line up with each other.

I've tried doing this with a curtain wall but the curtain wall doesn't cut a hole in my wall. Also, I can't stagger the mullions of the upper and lower sections. So I cut a hole in my wall and used two separate curtain walls to create both sections. I was hoping to group all this and be able to copy it along the wall and have it cut holes as I placed the group. I guess you can't select holes, so this didn't work. Others are saying to use Trussmaker to create curtain walls. I also need to vary the width of the mullions.

Can someone get me on track, this must be easier than I'm making it out to be.

Thanks,

Jason
8 REPLIES 8
Anonymous
Not applicable
jkipfer wrote:
What I want is a large window opening, divided horizontally into two. The top and bottom will both have vertical mullions, but they aren't meant to line up with each other.

I've tried doing this with a curtain wall but the curtain wall doesn't cut a hole in my wall. Also, I can't stagger the mullions of the upper and lower sections. So I cut a hole in my wall and used two separate curtain walls to create both sections. I was hoping to group all this and be able to copy it to be.
The curtain wall object doesn't cut a hole, it is designed to go in a gap between walls. Try using two windows instead.
Anonymous
Not applicable
Using window presents a different problem. I can get the window divided into two using a transom and further divide these two areas by changing the number of panes in the sash frame attributes, but what if you don't want these spaces to be equally divided?

Unless I make up 6 small windows to create my large window-but that doesn't seem right.

I only have 7 windows in my metal windows library and they all have similar custom settings. The curtain walls have an option to input the x and z coordinates of the frames, allowing you to create any spacing you want. Is their a window type that I'm missing that will do this?

Also, the left panel of the parameters (in object settings) often cuts off the description. ex. in my window object under sash frame, it says "mullions eddited by hot.." By hot what? Is there a way to expand this? It happens often.

Thanks,

Jason
Djordje
Virtuoso
jkipfer wrote:
Using window presents a different problem. I can get the window divided into two using a transom and further divide these two areas by changing the number of panes in the sash frame attributes, but what if you don't want these spaces to be equally divided?
Jason,

You should have a Curtain Wall Window in your library; see attached - this is International version, you should open the Window tool and browse all the folders.

HTH,
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Anonymous
Not applicable
That solves the problem of being able to cut a hole in the wall, but I still have the same problem with the mullion spacing. It can be set to whatever I want, but I can't have 7 divisions in the top half and 6 divisions in the bottom half. I'm trying out a door from objectsonline.

Thanks,

Jason
Djordje
Virtuoso
jkipfer wrote:
That solves the problem of being able to cut a hole in the wall, but I still have the same problem with the mullion spacing. It can be set to whatever I want, but I can't have 7 divisions in the top half and 6 divisions in the bottom half. I'm trying out a door from objectsonline.
You have to use two I suppose ...

Is any GDL wiz in the mood?
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Anonymous
Not applicable
Day 4 of trying to create a window/door/curtain wall object. In the end, what I have is two door (curtain wall) objects, one window object inbetween the two doors, and a curtain wall object spanning over top of the other three. This is all placed in a hole in the wall. I'm having a real hard time copying these objects for use elsewhere (on the same floor). My problems are: You can't group window and door objects.
Selecting in the plan view, I can't get all the objects at once. I can't use a layer filter because although the curtain wall object at the top of my assembly shows up on the Furniture and Equipment layer, both the WM Double Sash window and the door (curtain wall) objects don't appear to list the layer they are on. Selecting in the 3d window hasn't worked either. I can select everything, but if I pan the drawing to where I need to copy, the model doesn't regenerate. If I use the Edit Motion tools, I seem to cancel out of the drag a copy command.

Thanks in advance.

Jason
Djordje
Virtuoso
jkipfer wrote:
Selecting in the plan view, I can't get all the objects at once.
But you can get them by Find&Select. Group - no, you can't - then create selection. Multiply the holes, or drag a multiple copy. Multiply the selection. Done.

What ArchiCAD are you on? Please include in the signature.
Djordje



ArchiCAD since 4.55 ... 1995
HP Omen
Anonymous
Not applicable
jkipfer wrote:
You can't group window and door objects.
You can group them after a fashion. Make a section of wall that is entirely filled by the assembly of doors and windows. This wall can then be placed in empty holes in the main walls and moved and copied as an assembly.