Slab Modification is now done using the Modify Slab dialog. This dialog can be found by using the universal 'Modify Properties of Selected Elements' tool (3D Modify Tool Box>Modify Properties of Selected Elements) and selecting the Slab you desire to modify. You can also activate the tool by selecting the Slab, Right-Clicking, then selecting Modify Slab. The Modify Slab dialog box displays the catalog entry name for the selected slab. The...

Tool Icon Identifier The STR Report Spreadsheet tool searches your model and populates the spreadsheet template with material and quantity data using a predefined format. Reports include both Structural Members and Bentley Building elements. The columns are headed by Family, Part, Section Name, and other pertinent data associated with the element. You may notice a small red triangle at the top of many of the columns. These red triangles are comments...

Almost everyone uses the delivered Help files at some point, but many never get beyond the Contents tab, or possibly the Index when looking for something specific. However, the next two tabs represent the real power of the Bentley help file format, and can go a long way in helping you to find and recall what you’re looking for. Let’s start by using the Search tab. In this case we’re going to look for “hand rail”. Notice...

As you may know, the Items tool is a very useful tool but in AECOsim you can also export elements to Excel. This tool has been enhanced in the AECOsim Building designer with the option to export specific element(s) from the Design Model. The Items tool can be accessed from the Primary Tools box or by choosing File > Item Browser. - Exporting elements to Excel: a) To export specific elements, select the item(s) and choose ‘Show Details’...

A series of tools is available to aid the user in “converting” their existing discipline-specific dataset content to AECOsim Building Designer’s updated DataGroup schemas and single unified dataset. Utilities associated with AECOsim Building Designer are loaded into MicroStation's Utilities drop-down menu when AECOsim Building Designer is started. These utilities reside as submenu items under the “Building Designer Utilities”...

The Solar Exposure Calculator produces both solar radiation and shadowing analysis over a user-defined time period. This is important in designing buildings for optimum heat loss (or gain) as well as placing photovoltaic panels for energy generation. The Solar Exposure Calculator performs an analysis of the amount of solar exposure that is received during a user-specified time period. It accumulates both the total time (and shadowed) time as well...

When importing RAM RSS files that contain a defined Story whose name includes a forward slash, Floor Manager will now retain the slash in the newly created Floor name. New Floors cannot be created with a forward slash, as this is still an invalid character for MicroStation Models and Drawing Extraction definitions, but when an RSS file is imported the slash is retained in the Floor name. In AECOsim Building Designer you can also now open the Structural...

The green building schema , refers to as “GBXML” was developed to better facilitate the transfer of building information stored in cad building models , enabling smoother integrations between building design models and a wide verity of engineering analysis programs and tools. In this session we will illustrate how a 3D BIM model created in Bentley Architecture can serve for energy analysis by sharing its data via gbXML for use in energy...

In MicroStation SELECTseries3, the Mini toolbar is a type of context menu that displays when you move the pointer over a Marker or a Callout. The Mini toolbar appears semitransparent at first. Then when you move the pointer ahead over the Mini toolbar, it becomes opaque allowing you to select the tool icons. The tools in the Mini toolbar will change depending upon the Callouts or Marker selected and the active model type. One of the purposes of using...

In older versions of Building Applications, the variable BB_FLOORMASTER_DGN defined the what BB_FloorMaster.dgn was active. Within this file the various Floor Definitions were defined. When launching the Floor Manager, the actual BB_FloorMaster.dgn was entered. That is, the active file became the FloorMaster. This was obvious as the background became blue, and red rectangles appeared, displaying the defined Floors. Some users had a tendency to work...

In the Newest Product AECOsim Bentley Building Designer, There is a distinct difference in placement of the tool Interface. NOTE: The end results will be the same in both products when identical Raceways are selected. There are two ways to place raceways using Bentley Building Electrical Systems and AECOsim Building Designer.You can place them component by component or you can place an entire route on a line or line string. The Create Raceway tool...

The AutoCAD AEC days of the mid 90’s were probably my first foray into Parametric 3D modelling. But as a design tool I found it very stiff and inflexible. Lots of products have since come and gone. There was a pretty good one called Reflex (not sure what company or if it still exists) but it seems to have died a natural death not having the resources of Autodesk or Bentley. Vector works also seems to be a pretty good product. Being a diehard...

You can now use Mechanical Rules in AECOsim Building Designer when creating drawing views. From the View Attributes dialog box, select the Mechanical tab under the Building pane and click the “Attach New Rule” icon to add a new rule to the view. Similar to Drawing Extraction rules, it can be based on Building Elements, Part and Family, Criteria Set, Saved Query, Selection Set and Grouped Criteria Set. If, for example you choose Part and...

As you may already know, the Drawing Extraction process will eventually be replaced by Drawing Views, in the interim Drawing Views need to be able to perform some of the standard features that Drawing Extraction Manager support, such as drawing rules. For example, in the current version of Select Series 1 Structural Modeler, drawing rules do not exist when creating Drawing Views. However, this will change in the upcoming AECOsim Building Designer...

From the Settings>Design File>Working Units pull down menu of any design file in the Resolution category of the Advanced Unit Settings for working units, it is important to note that Positional Units are used as a count to make one sub unit and that the Positional Unit or Resolution represents the smallest possible distance available in MicroStation. For a metric design file example, a resolution value of 10 could be used, and that would mean...

How can I identify some of the new Tools in my Task Interfaces? When you first open the AECOsim Tasks, if this is a fresh install, your Task Interfaces will be displaying Panel Mode, as shown in the product HELP. However, if you are upgrading a pre-existing install, the display Mode set prior will be picked up from your Preference Files. There are changes to some of the Icons within the various Building disciplines, so until you get used to the new...

When using the ‘Handrails’ tool in Bentley Architecture V8i, you will notice that not many orientation options are avaliable at the time of placement: - After selecting the tool and choosing a handrail type you can place the handrail at the desired location. The problem is that is not easy to get the handrail to be placed along the stairs… Right? Well, let’s see what AECOsim Building Designer new ‘Place Railing’...

In XM and v8i the 'Apply Part' tool was located within the 'TF Change Attributes' toolbar. In AECOsim Building Designer it is now part of the 'Change Form Attributes' toolbar. This is also available in the ‘Main Building’ tools at the top of the Building Designer Task Interface, under the Change Attributes tool (shortcut 5). The new Apply Part tool gives you the ability to open the DataSet Explorer so that you can...

In Bentley Architecture (or any of the building products) if detailed information about the element is needed you can do so by using the Building Element Information tool, then select the element. In the Building Information dialog you will find tabs that display different types of element data. Also , by selecting the “More Info” button from the Building Element Info dialog the element ’ s attributes can be changed. Another way...

AECOsim Building Designer allows for an easier, more intuitive process of creating Drawing Views when comparing it to V8i SS1 Building applications. First, open the Detailing Symbols toolbox from the Tools pulldown menu or Drawing Composition interface menu in AECOsim Building Designer. To create a Drawing View Floor Plan, click on the Place Plan Callout tool in the Detailing Symbols toolbox, and create a section cut through the model in a Front View...

The forums are full of people discussing various challenges and successes around their use of Bentley BIM technologies, and other building tools as well. I know this is late, but if you weren't aware, the Mid Continent MicroStation Community is hosting their annual conference in the Kansas City suburbs, and there is a dedicated BIM track. The track includes sessions around AECOSim Building Designer, Workspace setup, AECOSim Energy Simulation,...

There is a little known feature of Bentley Architecture that allows users to apply a text label derived from an exported list of NBS codes. To do this users need access to both Bentley Architecture and NBS software ( www.thenbs.com ). Please watch the attached video it is fairly straight forward and self explanatory from a use point of view. For the sake of clarity I would add here that the exported Keynote file has to be placed in the "workspace...

Please submit portfolios and resumes via email at info@tossani.com Felipe Londono Senior Architect riccardotossani architecture www.tossani.com

Wenn z.B. ein Fenster platziert wird und dieses hat beim Platzieren einen Z-Versatz, kann dieses 2 Ursachen haben. 1. Es handelt sich um die angegebene Brüstungshöhe. Diese kann ich beim Platzieren des Fensters im Dialog „Fenster platzieren“ als Wert angeben. 2. Es handelt sich um einen Z-Versatz, der beim Rahmen des Rahmenbauteils angegeben ist. Um diesen zu ändern können sie wie im angehängten Video angezeigt...

We have on going contracts and a potential for a new contract that will exceeds our current capacity for our Bentley BIM professional network. We need V8i BIM production experienced professional for all disciplines for building design and civil site modeling work as well. The work will be on contract basis and could become a long term relationship for the right professionals that can maintain quality and meet dead lines. The nature of this work does...