How to better dimension Complex Profiles in ArchiCAD
Let me show you how!
When creating documentation drawings, it is important to ensure the information indicated on the drawings is always the latest, so as usual, ‘live’ automated labels are the key.
ArchiCAD has a good library of labels that can automatically dimension and indicate detailed features of certain building elements such as walls, slabs and complex profiles.
By using a Dimension Label I can quickly show the information embedded in the complex profile - in this case, a roof parapet that I have created - but, as you can see from the image below, the label only indicates the overall size, which is useful to a certain extent. However, there are other ways of retrieving detailed measurement information from a complex profile, using alternative labels available in ArchiCAD.
Why Complex Profile?
The beauty of the ArchiCAD Complex Profile is that you can draw every component forming part of a building element in sections and then use that cross-sectional profile to model actual construction elements in the project. A sometimes overlooked tool, the Complex Profile is a powerful and effective instrument to equally create and modify 3D elements in the ArchiCAD model.
To exemplify how to make the best out of ArchiCAD annotation, I have created a simple roof parapet with stone coping, which has brick-facing cladding and an RC concrete wall as an inner skin. If I want to annotate the size of this parapet using the in-built Dimension Label, I would be limited to the overall size of the Complex Profile. This is useful if the overall dimensions change, but when the changes are not apparent, the Dimension Label is going to give the same reading, even if the parapet has been fundamentally changed.
So to dimension an element that is part of the roof parapet, I need to pick a label that can read the information from within the profile, hence I will use the simple Text/Autotext Label, as this covers a great deal of information built within the project elements. Thus, using the Autotext Label instead of the Dimension Label, I can show the dimensions of any of the elements forming the Complex Profile.
Creating custom Offset Modifiers inside the Complex Profile
However, if I want to dimension the constituent parts of the parapet, such as the brick skin, the RC wall, or the stone coping, I will need to go back a step and add what is called a Profile Modifier aka Offset Modifier. To do that I need to edit the Complex Profile and create a custom Modifier which I'm going to call RC Height and press OK. Next, I need to define the extent of the modifier, by selecting the outline or the outer points of the profile elements and dragging a dimension to the side. Since there is no limit on the number of custom modifiers one can have, I can further create a Brick Height and a Cavity Width modifier. Although there is no element for the cavity width, I can still create a width modifier for the blank space between the two skins. As long as I snap to either sideline, I can define the width of the cavity so I can also annotate that on the plan.
Quick tip: If something is not correctly linked to the 2D elements of the profile or if the modifier is not snapping to the elements the way it should, then you're going to get an error that the modifier you have created is unavailable, so always make sure that your modifiers are snapping to the object you want to dimension.
All I have left to do is save the changes, then go back on plan and select the Autotext Label to annotate my parapet. I will need to choose the modifiers I have just created from the drop-down list and click outside the label. The Autotext Label will only display the value - this is the dimension of the RC wall, so to make things clearer, I will add a plain text description as part of my label ie Cavity Width and RC Height, so my label will read RC Height 1.10.
In a nutshell
The advantage of choosing for the Autotext Label to dimension a Complex Profile is that in the situation where the parapet changes, such as the RC wall increases in height or the cavity width modifies, the dimension note is automatically updated, which is of tremendous help when working with an everchanging model or an evolving design. This way, there is no need to remember to manually amend the size information every time the model changes, as your labels will keep up with the changes. You will instantly see the change in plan and have your documentation drawings up to date in an instant.
There, have a go at it and you can thank me later!
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