The Wall Dialog Box - Selecting a Wall

You can select the properties of a wall being added or edited in the Wall dialog box. The title bar of the dialog box displays the name of the selected wall. You can accept the default wall properties or select the desired layers for the wall, and their properties. The wall added last is the default.

Dialog Box Options

Wall libraries and wall types

You may have several libraries available. The walls are grouped by selection groups in the libraries. Select a library and selection group from the list at the top left corner of the dialog box. You can search for a library by activating the list box and pressing Ctrl+F. Enter the desired character string in the text field. If you wish to collapse or expand all libraries, right-click to open the context-sensitive menu and select Expand all or Collapse all.

Thumbnail images of the walls are displayed below the list.

Wall

Select the thumbnail image of a wall in the bottom left corner of the dialog box. You can search for a wall by activating the list box and pressing Ctrl+F. Enter the desired character string in the text field.

You can select the parameters for exterior and interior walls, their layers, and the layer parameters in the center of the dialog box.

When the wall properties have been modified to differ from the properties saved in the library, the thumbnail image of is highlighted in color. You can restore the default properties as follows:

1. Select the thumbnail.
2. Right-click to open the context-sensitive menu.
3. Select Restore Default.

Representation of Wall Thumbnail Images

Wall Parameters

Wall parameters are available for selection when you have made a wall thumbnail image active by clicking, and no layer is selected in the Layers list or the preview image. If necessary, deselect a layer by clicking an empty space in the Layers list.

As a default, the following parameters are displayed in the dialog box:

• Color fill for whole wall - When this check box is ticked, the wall's color fill will be displayed in the floor plan. All layers will then have the same color fill. Select the type of the color fill from the list. The type properties (layer, pen, scale, color) are defined in the wall library. If necessary, you can change the color by selecting a new color from the list. The color fill is usually added to layer 31.

  

  When this check box is empty, the color fill for the whole wall is disabled. However, you can define individual color fill parameters for each layer. These color fills will be displayed in the floor plan when the color fill for the whole wall is disabled.

  

  The color fills will be displayed in the floor plan when the Show Color Fills setting is enabled:

  1. Select > Preferences > Drawings, Models.
  2. Select the View tab.
  3. Select Drawing: Show Color Fills.
• Use building default heights - When this checkbox is ticked, the height positions of the top and bottom edges of the siding and framing layers are read from the building parameters. Other layers retain their height in relation to the framing layer.
• Bearing - When this checkbox is ticked, the layer is load-bearing. This information is required in wall panel design.

You can display more parameters as follows:

1. Open the context-sensitive menu in the parameter list.
2. Select Show All Parameters.

Wall Parameters

Layers

The default properties of the layers of parametrized exterior and interior walls are defined in the wall library. If necessary, you can select the type, material, thickness, and the bottom and top heights for each layer. You can add and delete layers, move a layer depthwise to the wall, or divide a layer into two parts in the vertical direction.

• Type - Select the type from the list. In addition to the main type, you can define a specifier for some layers, which limits the alternatives displayed on the Material list. For example, main type "Siding", specified "Siding Brick".
• Material - Select the material from a list. The list will only contain the alternatives that are possible for the chosen type.
• Thickness - The value is updated automatically according to the selected material. If necessary, you can also enter the desired value in the field.
• Bottom Height and Top Height - If you ticked the Use building default heights checkbox, the top and bottom heights of the siding and framing layers are loaded from the building parameters. The heights of the other layers will be updated so that they retain their relative positions to the framing layer. This relation is also retained when you edit the top or bottom height of a structural layer by entering a new value in the field. If necessary, you can enter the desired values in the height fields.

  If the wall layer has been shaped in the model, the layer heights cannot be edited in the wall properties (the fields are gray). See Shaping a Wall in a Model.

A wall must always have a frame layer.

Add a Layer to a Wall

Edit a Wall Layer

Select a Framing Tool

Layer Parameters

Layer parameters are available for selection, when you have selected a layer in the Layers list or in the preview image.

Select a Wall Layer

As a default, the following parameters are displayed in the dialog box:

• Color Fill - Color fill for a layer is enabled when this checkbox is ticked, but it will only be displayed in the floor plan when the wall parameter Color Fill for Whole Wall is not selected. Select a color from the list, or select a pen color or RGB color in the dialog box (list options Add or RGB).

  Pen Color

  RGB Color

  The color fills will be displayed in the plan when the Show Color Fills setting is enabled.

  1. Select > Preferences > Drawings, Models.
  2. Select the View tab.
  3. Select Drawing: Show Color Fills.
• Can Be Stretched to Roof - When this checkbox is ticked, the layer can be stretched to a roof above it.

You can display more parameters as follows:

1. Open the context-sensitive menu in the list.
2. Select Show All Parameters.

Wall Layer Parameters

Log walls, foundation walls, other walls

The properties of log walls, foundation walls or space divider walls are not divided by layer; you will always select the properties for the entire wall structure.

Log Wall Parameters

Parametric Foundation, Block + Footer

Fictitious Wall for Dividing Room Space

When you change the wall parameters, you can refresh the preview windows by clicking the Refresh button.

Pick

You can select a wall in the building by clicking the Pick button. Click a wall in the drawing or in the model. The dialog box will not reopen; you can directly continue using the wall adding or editing function.

Plan / Model preview

The model and floor plan presentation of the wall are displayed in the preview windows. The model is either coarse or accurate, depending on which presentation method you used last when adding a wall. The coarse and accurate models of a wall may look different, because different surface materials may have been defined for the layers of coarse and accurate models in the wall library. You can change the presentation method of the model in the preview window as follows:

1. Select Model for the preview window.
2. Open the context-sensitive menu in the list.
3. Select Accurate or Coarse.

If the model disappears from the preview window, click the button at the top of the window: . It will zoom to the extents of the model so that all geometry is within the limits.

Select framing, Framing

These features are available when using the non-layered panelizing method. If a Framing tool has been selected for even one layer of the wall, the features are disabled. See Select a Framing Tool.

If you have several different framing libraries available (for example large panels, precut, steel), select the framing library and framing to be used in wall panel design by clicking the Select Framing button.

Select the framing parameters used in the wall panel design by clicking the Framing button.

Framing Parameters of an Exterior Wall

Framing Parameters of an Interior Wall