99 Shapes and Shape Manager

Transcription

1 99 Shapes and Shape Manager Copyright Bentley Systems. Introduction Bentley Rebar asks the user to place a bar by the number of legs, rather than input of the code shape as some other programs do. This unique way is very powerful, as the model is not linked to any country code, giving the availability to switch from a code to another, or use objects from libraries despite different project setting; it also allows the user to modify the geometry in a way that will change the code shapes of the bars. The user needs to care only how to fit the bar in its geometrical space; Rebar takes care of all the rest, including detecting the shape code that has been formed. Shape codes Until now, shape codes have been hard-coded inside Rebar, providing fast recognition process. Almost 1000 shapes have been coded like that, not only supporting many country codes, but also responding to specific users requests while they detail more and more complex concrete pieces. A file barmarks.sys allows the user to activate or not the shapes he wants to be recognized. By default a PNG figure is given for each standard, with all defined codes. All shapes that are not coded in the standard are called 99 shapes. In that case, the shape by itself cannot be detailed, only the total length is calculated. In such cases, usually the user can find an existing code that applies to that particular shape, so he can use this recognized shape to detail the bar, by activating that shape to recognition process and giving it an external name. Shape manager In order to provide more flexibility and better response for our user needs, the development team has decided to provide a new tool that will cover most requests to detail any shape, still allowing very fast shape recognition. Shape Manager Page 1

2 Settings When Rebar encounters a shape that it is not recognized through the activated shapes, it automatically creates a 99 shape, stored locally in the RDB file. These shapes can rather be stored in a separate file for later use and share common definitions between users and/or projects. To have these shapes stored in a file (extension.shp), check the button Automatically Shared Shapes. The name of the file appears in the grayed field under the check button: This shape file can be managed by the two buttons, to import or export such file: and Shape Manager Page 2

3 Using Import option The first one allows the user to load an existing shape file. A notice will inform the user that if there are some existing shapes in that file, they can override the local definitions of 99 shapes. And attach new definitions of bars to the one already defined. If you continue by pushing Yes Rebar will ask you if it merges all the shapes defined in the library into the local depository of the shapes. If Yes, all the shapes from the library file will be merged into your local file keeping intact your existing ones, so if you send this file to somebody else, he will get all the shapes either used in that RDB or not. If you answer No, then the shapes from the library will replace your existing shapes if found to be identical. Shape Manager Page 3

4 Using Export Option This is somehow the reverse of the procedure above. This option allows you to save the shapes defined locally in a RDB file into a new shape file so it can be shared with others. If you press Yes, then your existing RDB shapes will merge into the library overriding any similar shapes in that file. If you press No then only the different shapes will be exported to the library file. External Setting of the shape file The shape file path can be automatically defined through MicroStation environment variable: REBAR_SHAPESFILE The path can be a Project Wise format. Shape Manager Page 4

5 Use of the shape manager During interactive placement of a bar If you place a bar with continuous schedule display on, you will notice that if you place a bar that is not a standard shape automatically this bar shape is now calculated by the shape manager: All length and angles have been calculated, we will see later how we can modify that. If you take a look at the schedule in the database, you will find out that a shape (and so on ) has been created for that bar. Shape Manager Page 5

6 So no more 99 dummy shapes will appear in the schedule. Shape definition This shape definition can be done in two different ways, by the shape detector or with the shape manager directly. Use of the shape detector If we continue with the bar we have previously placed, we will get the two different menus when detecting the shape The reason is that this shape can be described using another existing shape, hard coded in Rebar. You may choose as before to activate this shape changing the name if you want. If you want to change or omit some dimensions, you will have to go and edit the file barcodes.sys. By using the standard shape, Rebar will cease to use the Auto-Shape for this bar. If you decide to customize the shape directly using the shape manager, you can do the following things: - Rename the shape. Click on the name to change it. - Rename the dimensions. Click on any dimension to rename it. - Give equal relationships between dimensions simply by giving the same name to both dimensions. - Give range to angles. The shape detector will consider this when detecting the shape for the next bar. Shape Manager Page 6

7 - Switch from a length display to a projected length display. Click on the extra options cell in the last column. - Switch from non Standard Radius to length - Give recognition constraints on ends Non standard shape For a shape that has not been hard coded you will get the following messages: And finally get the shape manager menu: Shape Manager Page 7

8 We will now see the different edition we can do in the shape manager Rename the shape Simply click on the name and edit and enter a new name. You can put twice the same name for different shapes, answering yes at the warning message: If you place different names to similar shapes or at least shapes that can fit to your bar, you will able to sort them with priority. Shape Manager Page 8

9 Rename the dimension As for the name, just click on the name of the dimension and enter the new code. A code is limited to One Alpha code (A-Z). If you require that two dimensions to be equal (square or rectangular shape for example), just put the same name to the dimensions. In that way only the bars following that rule will satisfy that shape. The dimension may vary, except for hook dimensions, we will see that just after. Displaying or not Dimensions As in Barcodes.sys you can indicate that a dimension will not be displayed, you can do the same with shape manager Shape Manager Page 9

10 Besides each dimension name (length and angle) you have an option button where you can toggle between Show Hide If End Show will force the dimension to be displayed in the barchart. Hide will hide the dimension from the barchart If End, only for the first and last leg and angle, will hide the dimension of that leg and angle if part of a standard hook, otherwise will show the dimensions, as shown for these bars: Give range to angles You can give an acceptable range for angle. You can for example, check that an angle is square (90:90) or set an angle to a specific range (45:135). Just be aware that the first angle must be less than the second (be careful if it is minus values!). The other thing is that you cannot change the side of a leg that will force for example a range of (-45:45) Shape Manager Page 10

11 Switch from a length display to a projected length display By default dimensions are along the legs, but if you press on the Ex column, a tick will appear and the projected length dimensions will be added in the list The same apply for non standard radius where you can toggle between radius and angle or Radius and length: Shape Manager Page 11

12 Give recognition constraints on ends We have seen that in shapes we can change the display of dimensions if the end is a standard hook or not. The shape by itself will apply to both standard hooks other standard legs. It is possible to define specific shape for specific endings. The constraints for recognition for each end can be Hook Crank Thread Shape Manager Page 12

13 In this sample bar, the shape will be recognized only if the first end is a standard 180 hook, but either if we have a 90 hook on the other end or a normal leg at 90, it will suit. The only difference will be in the display of C and E that will only be done is it s not a standard 90 hook on second end. Shape Manager Page 13

14 Bar Charts With the use of 99 bars, we are forced to somehow indicate the meanings of the different dimensions we list for that shape. Rebar is providing simple method to automatically display a diagram of the 99 shapes within or aside Barcharts. The diagram is stored in a cell. The syntax to display a diagram in a barchart for a standard shape is: // a b c d e f g h i j k l m n p q r bar bara ~$qlb to $qle~ Where c is the name of a cell representing the diagram of the shape For a shape from the shape manager, it will be the same. The name of the Bar will be directly the name of the shape you have set. The name of the cell is free. Just have in mind that if in an annotation of a bar you use the parameter $! Or $!! That will insert a diagram (without or with dimensions substitution) the cell whose name is directly the name of the shape will be placed for that. In order to help you to generate cells for diagrams, the shape manager provides you with a simple tool to generate that cell First define all the dimensions you want to be displayed with the names you want and hide the others. Then press Move your cursor away from the box, and enter a point to place the graphic. You can then store this part of graphic as a cell after some edits if you want Shape Manager Page 14

15 For the placement of the graphics you can choose between different orientations. This orientation will also define on which axis you project the legs in order to get the projected length value. The default orientation is given as the first leg for X-Axis: You can give also a rotation angle for that axis: Or simply use the current bar placement as reference Be careful to store the bar with the same definition to be sure that projected value are identical to the diagram definition Shape Manager Page 15

16 Shape file Manager As shapes will be continuously created and eventually stored in your shape file, it is sometimes useful to manage the file. This can be done using directly the function in General defaults: The same dialog appears but with all shapes in the RDB file: You can then by selecting a bar, set the order of recognation depressings the arrows: or simply delete the bar depressing the button : one when the corresponding bar is redrawn.. After deleting a shape, Rebar will detect a new Shape Manager Page 16