Product(s):	OpenBuildings Designer
	Version(s):	CONNECT Edition and 2023
	Area:	Drawing Views
	Subarea:	Drawing Rules

Problem

We've created a steel framing plan using our custom Structural drawing seed, and even though the Single Line option is enabled in the Rules dialog box the structural members in the drawing display as double lines. The project started with an aggressive timeline so our team had to initially use a Bentley delivered dataset to get things moving. However, we are now using a ProjectWise managed workspace to meet client standards. Is it possible that the Bentley delivered settings are different than and/or excluded from our current configuration and that's why we are seeing these results?

Solution 

It is possible that missing or different settings could be a factor. There are a few configuration variables that would be a good starting point to determine whether this might be the case:

- TFDIR: This points to the root \Dataset folder used by the current WorkSet (every WorkSet is linked to a dataset). Often that will be a Bentley delivered dataset (US, NM. UK, etc.) that is essentially the "foundation" for the configuration, with custom content stored in the WorkSpace and/or WorkSet folders. This content will include DataGroup catalogs and Family/Part data, both of which are vital to the drawing production process.

- PS_SHAPESDATABASES: This identifies the regional shape libraries (I, Tee, Channel, etc.) used for Structural (ProStructures) placement tools. This will typically include one a library from the \Program Files folder (system level) and at least one from the WorkSpace. The members in the existing DGN files should be compared against the currently loaded databases to ensure they match up.

- MS_DGNLIBLIST_DRAWINGSEEDS: These are the folders containing the available drawing seeds (DGNlib), which typically predefine the included drawing rules.

- STFFILE_DRAWINGRULES_ORGANIZATION, STFFILE_DRAWINGRULES_WORKSPACE and STFFILE_DRAWINGRULES_WORKSET: The location for the structural drawing rule file can be defined at all three levels, though out of the box only the Organization (dataset) level is defined. While it may or may not be a factor, it's best to know where the rule file(s) being used are stored.

Aside from possible configuration related issues, there is usually one of two reasons why a Structural drawing rule would not work:

1. The criteria defined by the rule is not set to an attribute used by the desired elements. For example, the "Based On" drop-down could be set to "Part and Family" with the values "Steel" and "Beam" as shown below, while the actual structural members being processed are assigned to a similar but different Family & Part such as "StructuralSteel" and "Beams". If these two do not match, the members will not be processed.

 

2. The Tolerance Angle value is not sufficient to include some or all of the structural members: this value represents the maximum angle difference between the Cut Plane orientation and the orientation of the structural members to be resymbolized. While not common in cases where a plan view includes horizontal beams or a section view includes vertical columns, a simple one degree skew or rotation for any members would exclude them if the Tolerance Angle is set to 0 degrees.

In its simplest form, the ability for a drawing rule to resymbolize a structural member (as single line in this case) depends on that rule being able to find and identify the elements in question. There are more details available in the online help located here: https://docs.bentley.com/LiveContent/web/OpenBuildings%20Designer%20Help-v8/en/ApplyDrawingRulesViewAttribs.html