• Interior Elevation Tool

Interior Elevation Tool

The current project eliminates the awkward usability problems of the old Interior Elevation add-on. It places Interior Elevations on a whole new model-based footing that is consistent with existing ArchiCAD features (like Sections and Elevations). The new IE concept fits into the existing Virtual Building workflow (dedicated IE tool and markers; own project map item; IE views; bidirectional model-based update; associative dimensions).

The Interior Elevation Tool settings

Shaded Interior Elevation View with real editable Virtual Building elements:

Interior Elevations Using Section/Elevation Technology

Each of these three related elements – Section, Elevations and Interior Elevations –has a separate tool, with dedicated markers, and is listed separately in the Navigator.

Creation of Interior Elevations is no longer tied to a zone. However, Interior Elevations can be configured to take zone data and geometry into account.

New Input Methods for Interior Elevation

This input logic is optimized for Interior Elevations; all input methods will create a limited-depth Interior Elevation.

The input order is the reverse of the one used to create a section or elevation: first you define the IE limit polyline (the targeted elevation plane), and second the IE line (placed at the view distance).

Input methods include: Simple line Polyline Rectangle Rotated rectangle

These lines can also be achieved automatically using the Magic wand method.

Four geometry methods are available for the Interior Elevation Tool:

Creating an Interior Elevation

The user manually draws the IE limit polyline using one of the input methods. The next click places both the IE line (at the place you click) and the marker. The IE line (located at the IE marker) is the same length as the facing segment of the elevation polyline. Depending on user preference, IE marker(s) are placed at the middle of each segment of the IE line or at the center of the room. Interior elevations use a dedicated IE marker, a GDL object with editable parameters. The resulting Interior Elevation group contains the same number of viewpoints as the number of segments on the elevation polyline.

Selecting Elevation Markers and Section Lines/Elevation Polylines

Selecting any part of the IE limit polyline will select the entire line of views. Selecting a center marker makes the IE limit polyline visible and selected. Selecting a marker of a particular segment – or selecting its corresponding IE line - will select only that segment, and the Settings will apply to the selected segment only.

Editing the Elevation Polyline

Each IE viewpoint (i.e. each edge of the IE limit polyline) can be edited using the pet palette’s familiar line-editing options. Inserting or deleting nodes results in a new IE viewpoint or deletes the IE (an alert warns the user that deleting an IE is not undoable.)

Horizontal and Vertical Range of the Interior Elevation

Any given segment of the IE limit polyline represents the horizontal range of the resulting IE view. To include connecting structures in an IE, you can graphically stretch any segment of the IE limit polyline.

An IE viewpoint’s vertical range is set manually by the user, or remains at the default value. Each IE view (i.e. each edge of the IE limit polyline) can have a separate, custom vertical range value, if desired. Optionally, if a zone is detected, its height can be set as the vertical range of the IE view.

Interior Elevation Viewpoints Along Input Polyline/Rectangle

An IE created using one of the polyline or rectangle input methods will have a separate IE viewpoint for each edge of the line; each viewpoint is created perpendicular to the edge. Thus, a separate “foldout” option is no longer necessary, because the user-created edge defines the target elevation plane for each desired elevation viewpoint.

Consequently, the user can now easily create IE’s for even rooms with very complex geometries. More typically, the user will create IE’s of all walls of a given room by placing an input rectangle or tracking the walls automatically with the Magic Wand. This way, a single IE marker will produce one IE viewpoint for each wall of the room. Alternatively, each segment can have a separate marker (of the same marker style.) Also, any selected segment can be configured not to display show a marker (assign the “No Marker” option in the Marker Panel.)

IE viewpoints created from the same polyline/rectangle share certain settings (such as Show on Stories and Layer settings) which can be applied only to the group as a whole. However, the settings of any single segment are accessible individually.

Any segment of the IE group can be deleted individually; the corresponding viewpoint is then deleted. (It can also be stored on command.)

Interior Elevation as Dedicated Viewpoint

As of ArchiCAD 11, the Interior Elevation has its own dedicated Interior Elevation window. Each Interior Elevation is a separate viewpoint in the Navigator Project Map.

Since Interior Elevations are typically created in groups (e.g. four IE’s created by placing a four-segment polyline around a single room), such IE’s are handled as a group for purposes of numbering, display, Reference usage, and placement on a layout. These IE groups will be automatically listed together in their own subsets in the Project Map’s Interior Elevation section.

Interior Elevation views are grouped in the Navigator:

Configure Interior Elevation Groups for Output/Placement on Layout

Any such subset of IE viewpoints can be made into an IE group, within its own Clone folder in the View map.

When placing multiple Interior Elevation views onto a layout, you can now preconfigure their arrangement on the Layout (similar to the function of the former Interior Elevation Add-On). These settings include:

set the order of the views; set the order based on Autotext content set gap between views adjust adjacent IE/Section/Elevation views to correspond to their story levels in the project optimize arrangement to best fit in space available; place “overflow” views onto automatically created new layout optionally arrange IE views by their IE group: one group per row on the layout

These configuration settings are part of the layout’s Master Layout Settings. Arrange multiple drawings after placing them onto Layout

• Place all building elevations in one step
• Place an Interior Elevation group (IE views of the same Room) in one step

User Benefit: No need to manually rearrange drawings after placing the Layout. Grid based or dynamic placement options are stored with Master Layouts.

Bidirectional Update; Model-based Editing with Virtual TraceTM Features

The new Interior Elevation is analogous to a Model-type Section. Edits made on an Interior Elevation can be reflected in the Model, and vice-versa: model changes can be reflected in the Interior Elevation following an update. Dimensions are associative.

To aid in editing and tracking model changes, the expanded Virtual TraceTM possibilities in ArchiCAD 11 can be put to good use, by using any Layout or View as Reference beneath an Interior Elevation. A typical workflow can be to place an IE view group onto a Layout, then use this Layout as Reference beneath the IE or Floor Plan. By default, Reference IE, Section and Elevation views will be displayed relative to the Active Content with their vertical positions corresponding to their elevation.

Consistent Labeling/Formatting of IE Views

• A dedicated IE Marker object can be assigned to individual segments of an IE limit polyline; alternatively, a single IE marker can be assigned to the whole group
• Full range of formatting and adjustment options
• Full range of numbering options (including Drawing Number, alphanumeric, etc.)
• All model effects of Sections are available: 3D hatching/shading/materials

Customizable Content of IE Views

• Use Layer settings to hide unnecessary elements
• Intervening walls/objects are automatically hidden
• Any cut elements can be filtered out (disable “Cut Elements” attributes in IE Settings)
• Wall accessories displayed

Changes or Losses of Functionality as compared to the IE Add-On

We believe that the new IE Tool in AC11 exceeds the capabilities of the former IE Add-On. However, some functionalities of the old add-on have ceased to exist:

• Screen content of IE by element type (AC 11: use model Layers to screen content)
• Foldout view (AC 11: define multiple views with IE limit polyline and place them as a group on the Layout with preset display configuration)
• Foldout of arced walls will not be available, since these cannot be edited consistently with the model.