Structural data

Question

Hi 
 I'm trying to clean up the definitions when placing beams, columns, walls and slabs to fit our way of work. But I can't get rid of the Structura Data, it don't show in the catalog editor. Super annoying when the betongbalk (concrete beam) has default material steel. 
 
 Any ideas? Running connect edition, Aecosim update 4. 
 Regards, 
 Roebrt

Steve Cocchi · Answer

Hi Robert, 
 The Catalog Item Manager can be used to define the list of visible Catalog items per Catalog Type: https://communities.bentley.com/products/building/building_analysis___design/w/building_analysis_and_design__wiki/36222/catalog-item-manager---moving-datagroup-content 
 It's also possible that those values are coming from an MRU (Most Recently Used) list stored in MRU_Lookups.xml: https://communities.bentley.com/products/building/building_analysis___design/w/building_analysis_and_design__wiki/38561/default-catalog-item

Paul Wagner · Answer

Structural Data is defined by the Family & Part system. Defaults are defined in the Family/Part Editor ('Dataset Explorer' in V8i versions). So these values are defined per part. 
 
 Structural data is utilized when exporting directly to RAM, STAAD, etc. The direct to RAM and STAAD export is one option for exporting to analytical applications, newer in AECOsim Building Designer (now OpenBuildings Designer) and Bentley's structural analysis programs is the Integrated Structural Model technology for exporting, importing and round-tripping models from analysis to Buildings Designer. 
 
 This is information from the help documentation, topic Part/Families and DataGroup Data : 
 Structural discipline is delivered with predefined parts and part families; however, you can define new parts and part families to suit any specific project type you may have. Part/Families data includes the default symbology definitions for Structural physical and analytical members used for both design and drawing environments. Part/Family data also includes Structural data , Structural attributes and user defined structural data used in analytical translation between Structural discipline and external analysis programs. 
 The Data Group System is a data schema utility common to all Building Designer applications. In Structural discipline , it manages extended Structural data and attributes as well as Part/Family data . It is integral to various Structural discipline functions including Analytical Translation and Automated Structural Drawings. 
 
 So, the Structural Data is originally defined by Family & Parts and is 'managed' by the DataGroup system (used by all disciplines) which is 'extended' to include Structural Data.

Paul Wagner · Answer

Hi Robert, there is a structural discipline specific tool for adding structural attributes to slabs and walls. 
 In CONNECT Edition it is named "Add Structural" and is in the ribbon interface's Data/Reporting tab here: 
 
 As far as not displaying the information, for items already in your models, the values of the properties can be 'blanked out' so that no value appears. A fast way to do this is with the Data/Reporting Schedules utility. The values can be blanked out in the Family/Part editor for newly placed items. 
 If you don't want to display those properties in the structural pop-up that displays when you are modeling (during structural placement, when you snap onto items in the model you get that pop-up that displays info about the item snapped onto) that is controlled by user preferences. Go to the File tab, Settings > User > Preferences > Building Structural. Switch off the Hints you don't want to see. Since this is a user preference each user would need to set this. 
 
 If you don't want the info in a schedule, create a new layout in the Schedules utility and remove the properties you don't want to see in the schedule. 
 Let me know if this supports what you are trying to do. 
 Thanks

Paul Wagner · Answer

Hi Robert, you're welcome. I'll try to break this down in this reply (long reply). 
 Structural Data 
 From what I gather in your reply, in your situation, I want to recommend that you don't need to utilize Structural Data. As I mentioned this was used when exporting-round-tripping directly to RAM or STAAD analysis programs (some had to be defined for the exporting to work properly). That capability was in earlier V8i versions and has been superseded by the newer ISM technology. Having values for structural data could be used in ISM but isn't imperative. In the ISM process defaults can be set for material grades, but is more so handled in the analytical applications. The structural engineer assigns them there, if brought back into AECOsim those values would get populated in the importing process. 
 Organizations using this methodology in earlier versions still have it as an option in CONNECT Edition. 
 I don't see a way to not display the structural data at this point of CONNECT Edition releases, I am pinging colleagues to double-check. 
 I'll address your question about the error you get and the grayed out properties at the end. That being said let's look at the DataGroup properties... 
 DataGroup Properties&mdash;BIM Information 
 For your BIM information we should consider the DataGroup properties. By default, for framing components, we have these structural catalog definitions: 
 
 Structural Parameters 
 Steel Beam Results 
 Structural Framing Common 
 Object Structural Usage 
 Object LEED 
 Structural Quantities 
 
 And these common definitions: 
 
 Object Classification 
 Object Fire Resistance 
 Object Identity 
 ObjectPhasing 
 etc. 
 
 You get the idea. So we could use the Identification&mdash;ID | Type ID for the member Type (Beam, Column, etc.), the Identification &mdash;ID | Item ID for the Mark (C-1, B-2, etc.) and the Object Identity&mdash;ID | Description for the Material (Steel, Concrete), the Identification&mdash;ID | Notes for the grade (A992, etc.) and the Construction Phase&mdash;Phase for Status (New Construction, Existing to Remain, etc.). All this BIM information can be used in schedules for reporting capabilities. 
 You can create your own catalog items with default values and/or pick-lists for your modelers to select from less work for them. Also you can create your own custom definitions for any information you want. Achieved with the definition editor and catalog editor. 
 Properties Dialog, Property Panel and Building Element Info dialog 
 On the grayed out properties, keep in mind the Properties dialog is for reviewing the information on building components , whereas the Property Panel is used to edit values, the Property Panel is used during placement and during editing (the header will say Modify Structural Attributes during editing). 
 I did add some values to the Structural Data on some components in a model and I see them in the Properties dialog. Note that AECOsim (OpenBuildings) has it's own properties dialog: Building Element Info in which you can edit these values. I think of the Properties dialog as 'generic', it can be used to modify primitive elements like changing the color of lines, circles, etc. 
 Load Bearing 
 When placing walls there is a Structural Usage definition category with Structural | Function and Structural | Material . The Structural | Function value is a list with two options: Structural and Non-Structural . This is designed to differentiate load bearing and non load bearing walls as the wall tool is shared between the structural and architectural disciplines. 
 Analytical Information 
 Just so you know what is happening with your trying to use the Add Structural tool (as mentioned before I don't think you necessarily need these). In the Family/Part Editor the Parts View options include (among others) Definition and Analytical Information. There are two Part Types available in the Definition: TriForma (goes way back in the history of the software) and Structural, when set to Structural there is an option to "Include analytical information". Once that is set then in the Analytical Information Parts View you can then click in the Analytical column to turn it on. 
 I'll leave at this for now. If needed I can delve into setting up the DataGroup Types and Items as I note in the D ataGroup Properties&mdash;BIM Information section above for adding definitions, creating custom items and pick lists. 
 Kudos to you and your team for wanting to add consistent BIM information.