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BD32-2 Learn how you can use Architectural Desktop objects for much more than their obvious use. Why does a wall have to
be just a wall? Can a door be more than a door? Take advantage of all the capabilities Architectural Desktop has to
offer. Discover the possibilities, then dazzle your co-workers back at the office. A sure-fire way to get a ticket to attend
next year!
Topics Covered:
* How to use Architectural Desktop objects and displays to solve everyday problems
* Use Wall objects for more than walls
* Use Doors for more than just doors
* Use objects for innovative solutions
* Learn how Architectural Desktop can help solve problems in unexpected ways
jaarhus@prosoftnet.com
How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
The topics I selected for this presentation were collected from friends, co-workers, other user
groups; and of course the newsgroups.
If you have an idea or a great tip to pass along….I invite you to share your ideas with other users.
This only works when we ALL share ideas and concepts. Keep the information flowing….and thanks
to all those who helped with this collection of ideas.
Topic available in Architectural Desktop 3.3 (although not as easily in most cases)
Thanks to everyone who contributed ideas to this session. And remember me if you have a clever
way to use ADT, send me YOUR ideas. We all learn through sharing!
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Doors
Can a DOOR be a SINK? (Paul Aubin -Autodesk)
This example will demonstrate how you can use a door
object as a sink.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 2: <Double-Click> to edit the new door style and select the DISPLAY
PROPERTIES Tab
STEP 3: Select the MODEL representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 4: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
Pick OK to SAVE
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 10: Before we place this “door” we need to turn off some of the default door displays.
Select the LAYER/COLOR/LINETYPE Tab
STEP 11: Use the ADD DOOR command to place the SINK into a CASEWORK wall
STEP 1: Select the KITCHEN SINK in the FRONT view and <Right-Click> to access the
EDIT DOOR STYLE command
STEP 2: Select the ELEVATION representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY
PROPERTIES button
STEP 3: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
You can continue to edit each view as needed the same way until you have EXACTLY the look you
want!
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 4: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
Pick OK to SAVE
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 11: Before we place this “door” we need to turn off some of the default door displays.
Select the LAYER/COLOR/LINETYPE Tab
STEP 12: Use the ADD DOOR command to place the FIREPLACE into the existing wall
STEP 1: Select the FIREPLACE in the PLAN view and <Right-Click> to access the
EDIT DOOR STYLE command
STEP 2: Select the PLAN representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 3: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
You can continue to edit each view as needed the same way until you have EXACTLY the look you
want!
• To really get the true benefit of this method….modify the HEIGHT and WIDTH of the “door”
aka “fireplace”
STEP 2: Modify the height of the door to 4’ and the width to 3’6”.
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Walls
Can a WALL be a CHURCH PEW?
This example will help you set up an easy to use
church pew
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 3: Rename the first component to BENCH and ADD a second component named
CUSHION.
Pick OK to SAVE
STEP 1: Select the BENCH polyline and <Right-Click> to access the CONVERT TO Æ
PROFILE DEFINITIONS…
STEP 2: Select the insertion point as shown by the node in the drawing
STEP 4: Select one of the CUSHION polylines and <Right-Click> to access the
CONVERT TO Æ PROFILE DEFINITIONS…
STEP 5: <Right-Click> to ADD RING and select the second CUSHION polyline
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 6: Select the insertion point as shown by the node in the drawing
Now we need to add these sweeps to the wall style CHURCH PEW
STEP 2: Select the new “wall” and <Right-Click> to access the SWEEP Æ
ADD…command
STEP 3: Select the wall component BENCH and the profile definition BENCH
Pick OK to SAVE
STEP 4: Select the new “wall” again and <Right-Click> to access the SWEEP Æ ADD…
STEP 5: Select the wall component CUSHION and the profile definition CUSHION….
Pick OK to SAVE
STEP 1: Select the wall CHURCH PEW and <Right-Click> to access the EDIT WALL
STYLE command….and select the MATERIALS Tab
STEP 2: Select the BENCH component and select the EDIT MATERIAL button
STEP 3: Select the GENERAL HIGH DETAIL display representation and pick the STYLE
OVERRIDE checkbox.
STEP 4: Select the OTHER Tab and change the RENDER MATERIAL to
WOOD.WHITE.ASH
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
• If you want to draw another CHURCH PEW wall….it won’t look like this unless you use this
wall as the selected object. Try it this way instead.
STEP 1: Select the existing CHURCH PEW wall and <Right-Click> to access the
ADD SELECTED command
STEP 2: Now you can draw a CHURCH PEW without having to “sweep” the wall style
again.
• If you draw a corner wall you might need to run the SWEEP MITRE command to clean up the
corners. But it still works great!
• You might need to change the CUT PLANE in PLAN VIEW for the desired appearance. Try
turning on DISPLAY INNER LINES BELOW and setting a manual cut plane at 1’-4”
and 3’-6”. Does that look better!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 1: Make a NEW wall style and name it
CUBICLE DESK
STEP 2: <Double-Click> to edit the new wall style and select the COMPONENTS Tab
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Pick OK to SAVE
Now we need to add the ENDCAP condition to the CUBICLE DESK wall
STEP 2: Select the new “wall” and <Right-Click> to access the ENDCAPS Æ
CALCULATE AUTOMATICALLY
STEP 3: Select the polyline and answer NO to delete the polyline…until you know this is
what you want
Pick OK to SAVE
• If you want to have the return on just one end you can just use the OVERRIDE PROPERTIES
to modify the specific wall end as needed.
STEP 1: Select the wall and <Right-Click> to access the ENDCAPS Æ OVERRIDE
ENDCAP STYLE and set either end of the wall back to the STANDARD
endcap style.
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 4: ADD the following additional components and set their parameters as shown:
Top Shelf
Width: 1’0”
Edge Offset: BW*1/2
Bottom Elevation: -2” from WALL TOP
Top Elevation: 0” from WALL TOP
Middle Shelf
Width: 1’0”
Edge Offset: BW*1/2
Bottom Elevation: 6’0” from WALL BOTTOM
Top Elevation: 6’2” from WALL BOTTOM
Bottom Shelf
Width: 1’0”
Edge Offset: BW*1/2
Bottom Elevation: 3’0” from WALL BOTTOM
Top Elevation: 3’2” from WALL BOTTOM
Pick OK to SAVE
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 1: Select the WALL and <Right-Click> to access the PLAN MODIFIERS Æ
CONVERT POLYLINE TO WALL MODIFIER…command
STEP 2: Select the first polyline for the bottom shelf and answer NO to deleting it. Give
this modifier the name BOTTOM SHELF
STEP 4: Repeat for the MIDDLE SHELF wall component and set
START ELEVATION to 6’0 from BOTTOM
END ELEVATION to 6’2 from BOTTOM
STEP 5: Repeat for the TOP SHELF wall component and set
START ELEVATION to -2” from TOP
END ELEVATION to 0 from TOP
STEP 1: Select a WALL and <Right-Click> to access the EDIT WALL STYLE command
STEP 3: Select the MODEL representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 4: TURN OFF the BY MATERIAL option for BOUNDARY 1 and modify the color to
COLOR 123
STEP 5: Select a ROOF and <Right-Click> to access the EDIT OBJECT DISPLAY
command
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 7: Select the MODEL representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 8: TURN OFF the BY MATERIAL option for ROOF and modify
the color to COLOR 43
STEP 9: Key-in the RMAT command and IMPORT the following materials:
AQUA GLAZE
GREEN GLASS
STEP 11: SHADE the model view to see the “clear walls”
You can also use materials to obtain the “translucent” wall effect, however, I prefer to leave
the wall materials for later use in the project and use the render materials for the “working
translucent” effect. But you decide which works best for you!
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
• You might need to make one other change to your default display settings.
button
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Slabs
Can a SLAB be a DESK? (Matt Dillon)
This is another good example of how you can set up an easy cubicle desk using a slab instead of
the wall shown earlier. This is another good “use” of ADT objects.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Pick OK to exit the slab styles dialog and SAVE these changes
STEP 5: Select the INSERTION POINT as shown and name the new profile
BACKSPLASH
STEP 7: Select the INSERTION POINT as shown and name the new profile
BULLNOSE
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 2: <Double-Click> to edit the new slab edge style and select the DESIGN RULES
Tab
Pick OK to exit the slab edge styles dialog and SAVE these changes
STEP 4: Make another NEW slab edge style and name it BULLNOSE
STEP 5: <Double-Click> to edit the new slab edge style and select the DESIGN RULES
Tab
Pick OK to exit the slab edge styles dialog and SAVE these changes
STEP 7: <Right-Click> on the SLAB tool in the tool palettes to access the APPLY TOOL
PROPERTIES TO Æ LINEWORK AND WALLS
STEP 8: Select the POLYLINE that represents the footprint of the desktop
Answer NO to erasing the layout geometry until you are confident in the results.
STEP 9: Select the new SLAB and modify the style to the new slab style CUBICLE DESK
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Next we need to modify the appropriate slab edges to our new slab edge styles
STEP 1: Select the new slab and <Right-Click> to access the EDIT SLAB EDGES…
command
STEP 2: Select both of the back edges and modify the following parameters:
Edge Style: BACKSPLASH
STEP 3: Select all of the front edges and modify the following parameters:
Edge Style: BULLNOSE
Your desk should now be complete. What do you think of this method?
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Curtain Walls
Can a CURTAIN WALL be AUDITORIUM SEATING? (Paul Aubin - Autodesk)
This is a good example of how you can set up auditorium seating that is great for keeping file size
small and makes rendering much easier. This is one of my favorite “miss-uses” of ADT objects.
Thanks Paul, you’re a genius!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 1: Make a NEW curtain wall style and name it AUDITORIUM SEATING
STEP 2: <Double-Click> to edit the new curtain wall style and select the DESIGN
RULES Tab
STEP 4: Select ELEMENT DEFINITION Æ INFILLS…and create a NEW infill type CHAIR
INFILL using the following parameters:
Name: CHAIR INFILL
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 7: Select the MODEL representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 8: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick the ADD button to add a custom block
STEP 10: Before we place this “curtain wall” we need to turn off some of the default curtain
wall displays. Select the LAYER/COLOR/LINETYPE Tab
STEP 12: Use the ADD CURTAIN WALL command to place the AUDITORIUM SEATING
in your drawing. Try using STRAIGHT are ARC curtain walls. This one works
GREAT doesn’t it!!!!!
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 1: Select the AUDITORIUM SEATING in the PLAN view and <Right-Click> to
access the EDIT CURTAIN WALL STYLE command
STEP 2: Select the PLAN representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 3: Select the CUSTOM PLAN COMPONENTS Tab….and pick ADD to add a
custom block
You can continue to edit each view as needed the same way until you have EXACTLY the look you
want!
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 2: <Double-Click> to edit the new curtain wall style and select the DESIGN
RULES Tab
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 7: Select the MODEL representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 8: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block and set the
following parameters:
Component Type: MULLION
Component Name: PARKING STRIPE
Draw Custom Graphics: ON
Replace Graphics: ON
Select Block: PARKING STRIPE
Insertion Point: CENTER, FRONT, BOTTOM
STEP 9: Before we place this “curtain wall” we need to turn off some of the default curtain
wall displays. Select the LAYER/COLOR/LINETYPE Tab
STEP 10: Use the ADD CURTAIN WALL command to place the PARKING STRIPES onto
your parking lot layout
STEP 1: Select the PARKING STRIPES in the PLAN view and <Right-Click> to access
the EDIT CURTAIN WALL STYLE command
STEP 2: Select the PLAN representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 3: Before we place this “curtain wall” we need to turn off some of the default curtain
wall displays. Select the LAYER/COLOR/LINETYPE Tab
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
STEP 4: Before we place this “curtain wall” we need to turn off some of the default curtain
wall displays. Select the LAYER/COLOR/LINETYPE Tab
You can continue to edit each view as needed the same way until you have EXACTLY the look you
want!
Structural Members
Can a COLUMN be a LADDER? (Ron Palma)
This example will help you set up an easy to use ladder similar to what you would see in a utility
vault.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
STEP 4: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Pick OK to SAVE…you can use the PREVIEW button to check your work.
STEP 7: Before we place this “column” we need to turn off some of the default structural
displays
STEP 9: Use the ADD COLUMN command to place the LADDER next to the existing wall
STEP 10: Modify the HEIGHT of the column and note that additional rungs are added as
needed.
STEP 1: Select the LADDER in the PLAN view and <Right-Click> to access the EDIT
MEMBER STYLE command
STEP 2: Select the PLAN representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY PROPERTIES
button
STEP 3: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
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How to Miss-USE and Abuse Autodesk® Architectural Desktop
Pick OK to SAVE…you can use the PREVIEW button to check your work.
STEP 1: Select the LADDER in the SIDE view and <Right-Click> to access the EDIT
MEMBER STYLE command
STEP 2: Select the ELEVATION representation and select the EDIT DISPLAY
PROPERTIES button
STEP 3: Select the OTHER Tab….and pick ADD to add a custom block
Pick OK to SAVE…you can use the PREVIEW button to check your work.
Pick OK to SAVE…you can use the PREVIEW button to check your work.
WELL…..that's probably more than I have time for….but hopefully not more than you wanted to
know! I hope this session has been a benefit to each of you….and have a GREAT CONFERENCE!
Thank you for your time……I hope I didn't talk too fast!
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