Here’s a tool that probably is over looked by most people new to ABS. That tool is anchors. Anchors are pretty much self descriptive. They are used to anchor one object or entity to another. When an object is anchored a host object, movements of the host trigger identical movements in the object. This might come in real handy to keep switches anchored to doors that change their swing or hinge, or keeping light fixtures and diffusers within a referenced ceiling grid, or keeping receptacles on a wall. Hmmm, let’s take a closer look at anchors.
There are two categories of anchors; automatic like a structural column is automatically anchored to a structural grid, and a manual anchor that can be set by the user. The Manual Anchor category has 6 types.
Object Anchor – to anchor an AEC object to another AEC object.
Curve Anchor – to anchor objects to the base curve of other objects.
Leader Anchor – to anchor nodes on a layout curve with a leader.
Node Anchor - to anchor nodes on a layout curve or grids
Cell Anchor – to attach objects to positions on a 2D layout grid or 3D volume grid.
Volume Anchor – to anchor objects to volumes on 3D grids.
All those anchors can make things seem awful confusing. Let’s simplify things by assuming that your architect is using ADT. In this case we’ll use the Object anchor because we need ABS objects to anchor to ADT objects. The first problem you’ll have is finding the Object anchor. Open the Content Browser and drill down to Sample Tools catalog. All of the manual anchors are inside Parametric Layout and Anchoring Tools. The object anchor, when invoked, asks for the object to anchor then the object to anchor it to… that’s it. But wait, there’s a little more, it works through X-references. Now I’m real happy. The architect can now move the ceiling grids and walls at will, and my anchored lights, diffusers, switches and thermostats cheerfully follow along. Now, that’s why I use ABS.
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Scheduling In ABS
One of the most powerful tools in ABS is scheduling. Using a predefined schedule is easy, but figuring out how that schedule works and how to customize it is not. I hope to answer those questions in this article.
How does it work?
Objects in ABS possess sets of properties specific to that object. For example, a diffuser has a property for flow, a receptacle has a property for circuit number, and a sink has a property for fixture type. These properties can be assigned by the designer or extracted from the object or style, linked to the object by the tag and reported by a schedule. The best way to understand these relationships is to create a schedule from scratch.
Creating a basic schedule.
When creating a schedule, first determine what it is the schedule should report. For this example I will create a small diffuser schedule that reports the number of diffusers in a drawing, the diffuser type, and the diffusers flow.
Before creating this schedule, place some diffusers in a drawing and set different CFMs in them. Tag the diffusers to link the property set data to the diffusers so it can be released to the schedule. Unlinked data will result in schedule cells or properties being left blank or the schedule reporting “?”s. This is the schedules way of telling you that it knows the object is out there but it can’t read all of its properties.
Schedules, like other objects in an ABS drawing are controlled by a style. If you are familiar with a text style in AutoCAD, the same general premise applies. The text style is used to control the text height, width, and font of the text, the same way our schedule style will control the columns, content and look of our schedule.
To create a new schedule style, open the Style Manager by selecting it from the Format pull down menu. Schedule styles are found under the Documentation Objects heading of the current drawing. Select Schedule Table Styles, right click and then select New. This will open the new schedule table style for edit. There are 7 tabs in a schedule table style. Let’s start at the left and visit each tab that will define our schedule.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%201.jpg)
Start with the General tab and name this new style “Diffuser 1”. You may then supply a description if you like and attach any notes by selecting the Notes Button.
The Default Format Tab controls the text appearance and cell configuration of the schedule. Assign the text style, alignment, height, gap, and rotation here. There is a control Matrix symbol. This is used in matrix columns or if checked to denote true/false values. Cell size can also be controlled. For this example I will accept all of the default values in this tab.
The Applies To tab is used to filter the types of objects to schedule. Click the Clear All button to uncheck all the object types, then recheck “Multi-View Part”. Under Classifications select “Air Terminal”. This schedule will now only extract data from multi-view parts that are air terminals and ignore everything else.
The Columns tab is used to define what the column headings are and how the data below should be formatted. First check the Include Quantity Column check box. This will give us our first column header of Quantity. Next select the Add Column… button. This brings up the Add Column Dialog box. Properties that you can add as a column are sorted by the properties set they come from in the Categorized tab or alphabetically in the Alphabetical tab. In either tab select “Flow_CFM”. In the Column Properties area, change the Column Heading to “CFM”. Ensure the Data Format is Flow-CFM. You can change the cells properties if you like using the “Override Cell Format…” button. In the Column Position area select “Insert After” then QTY. This places the CFM column directly after the Quantity Column.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%202.jpg)
Next select the Add Column… button again. This time select “PD Part description”.
Select OK to insert the column in the last position. Now Select the Part Description column, hold down your “ctrl” key to also select the CFM column. With both columns selected click the Add Header... button and type “PART INFORMATION” to add a header over the CFM and Part Description columns.
The Sorting tab allows the user to define how the schedule rows will be sorted. Select the ADD button to choose a property to sort by. The sort order can be set by property to ascending or descending. Add more properties sub-sorting like first by CFM then by quantity. Properties are sorted starting from the top and going down. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to change the sort order.
The Layout tab supplies a place to define the table title or schedule name. It is also the place where overrides for text appearance and cell configuration of the title, column headers and matrix headers can be applied. I will make my table title “Diffuser Schedule” and set a different style for the title and column headers text by selecting the “Override Cell Format…” buttons next to them.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%203.jpg)
The Display Properties tab allows me to define color, visibility, layer and more for all parts of the schedule. Check the “Style Override” check box to open the Display Properties dialog box.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%204.jpg)
Select OK in the Display Properties dialog box, and APPLY and OK to close the Style Manager.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%205.jpg)
The schedule is now complete so let’s test it. One of the easiest ways to add this schedule to a drawing is to insert a standard schedule then change its style in Properties to the new schedule style. You can also drag the new style from the Style Manager to your palette. Once in the drawing, the new schedule can now be dragged into a palette for future inserting. A word of warning, If you were in Drawing1.dwg when you dragged the schedule to the palette and you later move or delete Drawing1.dwg, the palette tool will no longer function because it is only a link to the drawing where the style definition came from. A good practice is to only drag tools to a palette from a safe network or local drive that you are sure you will not accidentally move or delete.
One last piece of advice, don’t start from scratch if you can help it. Check the palettes and Content browser for any schedule that may be close to what you are trying to produce. Insert this schedule into a blank drawing. Select the schedule right click and pick Copy and Assign to create a copy of the original style that can be freely changed.
How does it work?
Objects in ABS possess sets of properties specific to that object. For example, a diffuser has a property for flow, a receptacle has a property for circuit number, and a sink has a property for fixture type. These properties can be assigned by the designer or extracted from the object or style, linked to the object by the tag and reported by a schedule. The best way to understand these relationships is to create a schedule from scratch.
Creating a basic schedule.
When creating a schedule, first determine what it is the schedule should report. For this example I will create a small diffuser schedule that reports the number of diffusers in a drawing, the diffuser type, and the diffusers flow.
Before creating this schedule, place some diffusers in a drawing and set different CFMs in them. Tag the diffusers to link the property set data to the diffusers so it can be released to the schedule. Unlinked data will result in schedule cells or properties being left blank or the schedule reporting “?”s. This is the schedules way of telling you that it knows the object is out there but it can’t read all of its properties.
Schedules, like other objects in an ABS drawing are controlled by a style. If you are familiar with a text style in AutoCAD, the same general premise applies. The text style is used to control the text height, width, and font of the text, the same way our schedule style will control the columns, content and look of our schedule.
To create a new schedule style, open the Style Manager by selecting it from the Format pull down menu. Schedule styles are found under the Documentation Objects heading of the current drawing. Select Schedule Table Styles, right click and then select New. This will open the new schedule table style for edit. There are 7 tabs in a schedule table style. Let’s start at the left and visit each tab that will define our schedule.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%201.jpg)
Start with the General tab and name this new style “Diffuser 1”. You may then supply a description if you like and attach any notes by selecting the Notes Button.
The Default Format Tab controls the text appearance and cell configuration of the schedule. Assign the text style, alignment, height, gap, and rotation here. There is a control Matrix symbol. This is used in matrix columns or if checked to denote true/false values. Cell size can also be controlled. For this example I will accept all of the default values in this tab.
The Applies To tab is used to filter the types of objects to schedule. Click the Clear All button to uncheck all the object types, then recheck “Multi-View Part”. Under Classifications select “Air Terminal”. This schedule will now only extract data from multi-view parts that are air terminals and ignore everything else.
The Columns tab is used to define what the column headings are and how the data below should be formatted. First check the Include Quantity Column check box. This will give us our first column header of Quantity. Next select the Add Column… button. This brings up the Add Column Dialog box. Properties that you can add as a column are sorted by the properties set they come from in the Categorized tab or alphabetically in the Alphabetical tab. In either tab select “Flow_CFM”. In the Column Properties area, change the Column Heading to “CFM”. Ensure the Data Format is Flow-CFM. You can change the cells properties if you like using the “Override Cell Format…” button. In the Column Position area select “Insert After” then QTY. This places the CFM column directly after the Quantity Column.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%202.jpg)
Next select the Add Column… button again. This time select “PD Part description”.
Select OK to insert the column in the last position. Now Select the Part Description column, hold down your “ctrl” key to also select the CFM column. With both columns selected click the Add Header... button and type “PART INFORMATION” to add a header over the CFM and Part Description columns.
The Sorting tab allows the user to define how the schedule rows will be sorted. Select the ADD button to choose a property to sort by. The sort order can be set by property to ascending or descending. Add more properties sub-sorting like first by CFM then by quantity. Properties are sorted starting from the top and going down. Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to change the sort order.
The Layout tab supplies a place to define the table title or schedule name. It is also the place where overrides for text appearance and cell configuration of the title, column headers and matrix headers can be applied. I will make my table title “Diffuser Schedule” and set a different style for the title and column headers text by selecting the “Override Cell Format…” buttons next to them.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%203.jpg)
The Display Properties tab allows me to define color, visibility, layer and more for all parts of the schedule. Check the “Style Override” check box to open the Display Properties dialog box.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%204.jpg)
Select OK in the Display Properties dialog box, and APPLY and OK to close the Style Manager.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/Figure%205.jpg)
The schedule is now complete so let’s test it. One of the easiest ways to add this schedule to a drawing is to insert a standard schedule then change its style in Properties to the new schedule style. You can also drag the new style from the Style Manager to your palette. Once in the drawing, the new schedule can now be dragged into a palette for future inserting. A word of warning, If you were in Drawing1.dwg when you dragged the schedule to the palette and you later move or delete Drawing1.dwg, the palette tool will no longer function because it is only a link to the drawing where the style definition came from. A good practice is to only drag tools to a palette from a safe network or local drive that you are sure you will not accidentally move or delete.
One last piece of advice, don’t start from scratch if you can help it. Check the palettes and Content browser for any schedule that may be close to what you are trying to produce. Insert this schedule into a blank drawing. Select the schedule right click and pick Copy and Assign to create a copy of the original style that can be freely changed.
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Creating Electrical Device Styles
Autodesk Building Systems comes with quite a bit of predefined electrical symbology that covers most electrical design needs, but chances are you will need to customize or create devices for your company’s needs. To do this, understanding electrical device styles is a must. In this article, I’ll expose the machinery behind the magic of electrical device styles.
A Word on Styles
If you have used AutoCAD, you may be familiar with a text or dimension style. These styles are used to change the appearance of the text and dimensions. The font, color, height, and width of the text or dimension can all be controlled, but the actual text or length of the dimension does not change. Electrical device styles are used in much the same manner. For example, a duplex receptacle can become a quadraplex receptacle by applying a new style, but the location and connections it has will remain unchanged.
Creating a device.
For this article, I’ll create a 2x4 surface mount fluorescent fixture, but before a new device style can be created, several blocks need to be created. These blocks are used to represent the device for the different perspectives in which it will be viewed. You can create separate blocks for top, bottom, front, back, left, right and models views, but for most electrical devices a model view, a plan view (which can also be used as a reflected view) and an annotation view are all that is required. The model view block needs to be created with 3D solids in order for Collision Detection to function. All the other blocks should be 2D. The Autodesk standard styles have some nice 3D blocks associated with them, and I don’t feel a bit bad about renaming those blocks for my own needs. Do try to adhere to some sort of block naming convention as you go. I created the following blocks for this device. See figure 1.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure1.jpg)
Figure 1
To create a new device style, open the Style Manager by selecting it from the Format pull down menu. Device styles are found under the Electrical Objects heading of the current drawing. Select Device Styles, right click and then select New. This will open the new device style for edit. There are 6 tabs in a device table style. Let’s start at the left and visit each tab that will define our device style.
In the General tab, name this new style “Acme 2x4 Surface”. You may supply a description if you like and attach any notes by selecting the Notes Button. See figure 2.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%202.jpg)
Figure 2
The Design Rules tab allows you to define Type, Layer Key and Wire Cleanup. Select “Lighting” for Type and “LIGHTCLG” for the layer key. If LIGHTCLG is not available choose an appropriate layer key for fixture. The Wire Cleanup option allows you to define how circuited wire is cleaned up with the defined device.
There is no clean up with the None option.
The Bounding Box option will clean up circuits to an imaginary box that encompasses the limits of the devices shape.
Inscribed Circle cleans up circuited wire to an imaginary circle inside a box that encompasses the limits of the devices shape.
Circumscribed Circle cleans up circuited wire to an imaginary circle outside a box that encompasses the limits of the devices shape.
Trace Geometry uses the geometry of the device for wire cleanup.
Choose Trace Geometry for this example. See figure 3.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%203.jpg)
Figure 3
The Views tab is where you define which block to use to represent the device based off the view direction. Select the “Add” button to add a view. In the View Name box, name this view “Model”. Next select the 3d block made to represent this device when viewed from a model perspective (in this case “Acme_FL_2x4_Surface_M) from the View Block list. Select the “Model” Display Representation, then select the “Front”, “Back”, “Left”, “Right” and “3D” View Direction check boxes. See figure 4. The Model view is now configured to show the model block when viewed from any direction other than “Top” or “Bottom” when the Display Representation is Model. See figures 5 and 6 for the Plan view and Reflected view configurations.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%204.jpg)
Figure 4
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%205.jpg)
Figure 5
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%206.jpg)
Figure 6
The Connectors tab is where the ABS connection point is defined. If you do not define a connection point, circuits running to the fixture will have nothing to connect to. To set a connection point, assign the System Type to “Power & Lighting”. To center the connection point on the 2x4 fixture, set the Connection Point X value to 2’-0” and the Connection Point Y to 1’-0”. Set the Number of Poles to “”, the Voltage to “277V”, the Load to “100 VA”, and leave the Demand Factor as “”. You can prevent users from overriding these last four values in this drawing by setting the corresponding Prevent Override setting to “Yes”. Set Load to “Yes” to prevent an override. See figure 7. When the device is inserted later, we will see it is locked at 100VA.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%207.jpg)
Figure 7
The Classifications tab allows the classification of device styles. Some typical classifications for device styles are “Lighting”, “Receptacles” and “Fire”. Classifications are required for schedules to differentiate this light from anything else a device can be. Select “Lighting” as the device classification. If “Lighting” is not a choice in the Classification list, a classification definition for device type must be added to drawing. Classification definitions are found in the Style Manager under Multi-Purpose Objects. See figure 8.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%208.jpg)
Figure 8
The Display Properties tab allows me to define color, visibility, layer and more for all parts of the device style. Check the “Style Override” check box to open the Display Properties dialog box. Since a layer key has already been applied in the Design Rules tab, overriding layers and colors here is a moot point. Select OK in the Display Properties dialog box, then APPLY and OK to close the Style Manager.
The device is now complete. To insert the device into this drawing select the Add Device tool and change the library to “”. See figure 9.
![](//photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%209.jpg)
Figure 9
Notice the Acme 2x4 Surface fixture is now listed with a preview image (Arrow A in Figure 9). Note that the VA listed for the device is grayed out (Arrow B in Figure 9). This is because we selected “Yes” to the Prevent Override prompt in the Connectors tab.
Device styles are powerful but can be somewhat complex. Hopefully they are not so intimidating now. As with anything, start simple and build from there. Don’t start from scratch if you can help it. Find a style that is close to what you want to produce, insert it into a blank drawing, select it, right click and pick Copy and Assign to create a copy of the original style that can be freely modified.
A Word on Styles
If you have used AutoCAD, you may be familiar with a text or dimension style. These styles are used to change the appearance of the text and dimensions. The font, color, height, and width of the text or dimension can all be controlled, but the actual text or length of the dimension does not change. Electrical device styles are used in much the same manner. For example, a duplex receptacle can become a quadraplex receptacle by applying a new style, but the location and connections it has will remain unchanged.
Creating a device.
For this article, I’ll create a 2x4 surface mount fluorescent fixture, but before a new device style can be created, several blocks need to be created. These blocks are used to represent the device for the different perspectives in which it will be viewed. You can create separate blocks for top, bottom, front, back, left, right and models views, but for most electrical devices a model view, a plan view (which can also be used as a reflected view) and an annotation view are all that is required. The model view block needs to be created with 3D solids in order for Collision Detection to function. All the other blocks should be 2D. The Autodesk standard styles have some nice 3D blocks associated with them, and I don’t feel a bit bad about renaming those blocks for my own needs. Do try to adhere to some sort of block naming convention as you go. I created the following blocks for this device. See figure 1.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure1.jpg)
Figure 1
To create a new device style, open the Style Manager by selecting it from the Format pull down menu. Device styles are found under the Electrical Objects heading of the current drawing. Select Device Styles, right click and then select New. This will open the new device style for edit. There are 6 tabs in a device table style. Let’s start at the left and visit each tab that will define our device style.
In the General tab, name this new style “Acme 2x4 Surface”. You may supply a description if you like and attach any notes by selecting the Notes Button. See figure 2.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%202.jpg)
Figure 2
The Design Rules tab allows you to define Type, Layer Key and Wire Cleanup. Select “Lighting” for Type and “LIGHTCLG” for the layer key. If LIGHTCLG is not available choose an appropriate layer key for fixture. The Wire Cleanup option allows you to define how circuited wire is cleaned up with the defined device.
There is no clean up with the None option.
The Bounding Box option will clean up circuits to an imaginary box that encompasses the limits of the devices shape.
Inscribed Circle cleans up circuited wire to an imaginary circle inside a box that encompasses the limits of the devices shape.
Circumscribed Circle cleans up circuited wire to an imaginary circle outside a box that encompasses the limits of the devices shape.
Trace Geometry uses the geometry of the device for wire cleanup.
Choose Trace Geometry for this example. See figure 3.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%203.jpg)
Figure 3
The Views tab is where you define which block to use to represent the device based off the view direction. Select the “Add” button to add a view. In the View Name box, name this view “Model”. Next select the 3d block made to represent this device when viewed from a model perspective (in this case “Acme_FL_2x4_Surface_M) from the View Block list. Select the “Model” Display Representation, then select the “Front”, “Back”, “Left”, “Right” and “3D” View Direction check boxes. See figure 4. The Model view is now configured to show the model block when viewed from any direction other than “Top” or “Bottom” when the Display Representation is Model. See figures 5 and 6 for the Plan view and Reflected view configurations.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%204.jpg)
Figure 4
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%205.jpg)
Figure 5
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%206.jpg)
Figure 6
The Connectors tab is where the ABS connection point is defined. If you do not define a connection point, circuits running to the fixture will have nothing to connect to. To set a connection point, assign the System Type to “Power & Lighting”. To center the connection point on the 2x4 fixture, set the Connection Point X value to 2’-0” and the Connection Point Y to 1’-0”. Set the Number of Poles to “
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%207.jpg)
Figure 7
The Classifications tab allows the classification of device styles. Some typical classifications for device styles are “Lighting”, “Receptacles” and “Fire”. Classifications are required for schedules to differentiate this light from anything else a device can be. Select “Lighting” as the device classification. If “Lighting” is not a choice in the Classification list, a classification definition for device type must be added to drawing. Classification definitions are found in the Style Manager under Multi-Purpose Objects. See figure 8.
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%208.jpg)
Figure 8
The Display Properties tab allows me to define color, visibility, layer and more for all parts of the device style. Check the “Style Override” check box to open the Display Properties dialog box. Since a layer key has already been applied in the Design Rules tab, overriding layers and colors here is a moot point. Select OK in the Display Properties dialog box, then APPLY and OK to close the Style Manager.
The device is now complete. To insert the device into this drawing select the Add Device tool and change the library to “
![](http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4912/1996/320/05-12%20Figure%209.jpg)
Figure 9
Notice the Acme 2x4 Surface fixture is now listed with a preview image (Arrow A in Figure 9). Note that the VA listed for the device is grayed out (Arrow B in Figure 9). This is because we selected “Yes” to the Prevent Override prompt in the Connectors tab.
Device styles are powerful but can be somewhat complex. Hopefully they are not so intimidating now. As with anything, start simple and build from there. Don’t start from scratch if you can help it. Find a style that is close to what you want to produce, insert it into a blank drawing, select it, right click and pick Copy and Assign to create a copy of the original style that can be freely modified.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
The Top 5 Reasons to Switch to ABS
What’s so great about Autodesk Building Systems? Why should I walk away from a proven product like AutoCAD, when I have so much invested in it? These are very valid questions that many CAD Managers and Owners are asking themselves lately. Of course the answer can be different for everyone of them depending on individual needs and uses of the software, but I would like to offer up what I see as the big ticket items that make ABS so appealing.
Compatibility
At last, I can open any ADT drawing file without issue. I can link to VIZ Render which comes with ABS. I can plot to DWF and 3D DWF. I can export ABS objects to AutoCAD choosing to flatten them to 2D AutoCAD entities or convert them to be read by an appropriate object enabler. The time I have spent in the past dealing with compatibility issue was wasted time.
Faster
I produce construction documents faster in ABS. I have an arsenal of productivity tools that have cut my production time down considerable. 2 line duct, pipe and conduit can be drawn with standard elbows and transitions in little more than the picks it takes to define it’s length. Objects are keyed to layers so I no longer have to assign or manage their layers.
More Accurate
Properties stored in my objects can be instantly linked and reported in customizable schedules. Those links means I always have the correct data in my schedules.
More Design less Draft
Engineering data in the DWG is used as a graphical tool that speeds the design process and highlights trouble spots. Getting drafting work done faster means I spend saved time engineering the best design, making my clients happier and saving me post design questions and rework. Built in sizing capability for duct, wire, sanitary and schematic pipe allow me to quickly start and revise designs.
Third Party Partners
Trane Trace 700
Elite
Eastcoast CAD
Geo Praxis
In the posts that follow, I will explain the ins and outs of my top 5 reasons to switch to ABS.
Compatibility
At last, I can open any ADT drawing file without issue. I can link to VIZ Render which comes with ABS. I can plot to DWF and 3D DWF. I can export ABS objects to AutoCAD choosing to flatten them to 2D AutoCAD entities or convert them to be read by an appropriate object enabler. The time I have spent in the past dealing with compatibility issue was wasted time.
Faster
I produce construction documents faster in ABS. I have an arsenal of productivity tools that have cut my production time down considerable. 2 line duct, pipe and conduit can be drawn with standard elbows and transitions in little more than the picks it takes to define it’s length. Objects are keyed to layers so I no longer have to assign or manage their layers.
More Accurate
Properties stored in my objects can be instantly linked and reported in customizable schedules. Those links means I always have the correct data in my schedules.
More Design less Draft
Engineering data in the DWG is used as a graphical tool that speeds the design process and highlights trouble spots. Getting drafting work done faster means I spend saved time engineering the best design, making my clients happier and saving me post design questions and rework. Built in sizing capability for duct, wire, sanitary and schematic pipe allow me to quickly start and revise designs.
Third Party Partners
Trane Trace 700
Elite
Eastcoast CAD
Geo Praxis
In the posts that follow, I will explain the ins and outs of my top 5 reasons to switch to ABS.
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