13 replies to this topic

[Brian Ficek]

Just wondering if anyone has ever done one of these windows in Softplan.

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[Keith Almond]

I've never used them, but what is the issue Brian. They're easy enough to create.

[Brian Ficek]

I have created 

 

I've never used them, but what is the issue Brian. They're easy enough to create.

I have created standard windows before but not a angled parallel one.  How would you go about that?

[Keith Almond]

Okay, quick tutorial:

 

1. Draw the required window with lines - to your own requirements - Add lines for FRAME, SASH & BEAD, and make sure all the corner joins are filleted properly.

 

 

2. IMPORTANT - Add glazing - Draw with dotted lines (Softplan understands that in this context, the dotted lines represent glass).

 

3.Go to FILE > SYSTEM OPTIONS > SYSTEM LIBRARY - Choose Library Type as ELEVATION OPENINGS > Select required Library - Click ONE STEP and draw a box around the window you have just drawn > OK

 

 

4. Change the library to OPENINGS - Again Select the required Library - Click ONE STEP - Name the Opening - Click Custom Opening Radio Button - Type (in this case) WINDOW - and select the library and window that you saved in Step 3 - OK

 

 

5. CONFIGURE OPENING - EDIT INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT and (again in this case) on the ELEVATION TAB change SILL TYPE to NONE - OK - OK - OK

 

 

6. Go to your opening library, select the just constructed window and Insert into plan wall ...

 

 

7. View model - Add trim as necessary

 

 

And if everything worked properly, you should have a new window you can use anytime.

 

ANY size and configuration of window can be created this way. If you require glazing bars, add single lines within the glazing area, and again Softplan will understand that they are grilles.

[Keith Almond]

There are four basic methods to create custom windows, ranging to VERY simple to the method above.

 

METHOD ONE:

 

Add a window similar to the one that you require on the plan - UNCHECK - PRODUCT CODE and EDIT ITEMS as required.

 

 

SIze:

 

 

Number of Sections:

 

 

Deflection:

 

 

etc. etc. It may be simple but it's still a custom window

 

When everything is how you want it CLICK Add Product Code, and save your custom window for posterity.

[Keith Almond]

METHOD TWO:

 

Stack individual windows NEXT TO EACH OTHER and ABOVE EACH OTHER AS REQUIRED.

 

EDIT > UNIT OPENINGS

 

 

 

 

And again ... Give the resulting opening a PRODUCT CODE and save for posterity.

[Keith Almond]

METHOD THREE:

 

Add a basic window ... EDIT > ADD PRODUCT CODE and give it a Product Code that reflects the final configuration.

 

 

Go to FILE > DRAWING OPTIONS > DRAWING LIBRARY and select the product you just created ... EDIT SYMBOL ... ADD ... SELECT and OPENING and locate it and configure it to suit.... and carry on adding until satisfied ... EDIT INDIVIDUAL COMPONENTS to make each section what you want/need. You can edit each component for sections, grilles, deflection etc. etc.

 

 

 

 

OK - OK - OK

 

Add new PRODUCT to drawing.

 

 

 

This is quite powerful and can create very complex windows quite quickly ... They can also be edited easily in the drawing library.

 

NOTE: As mentioned in another window tutorial a long time ago,

 

A custom window that includes concave areas will NOT trim properly. The trim will not follow any concave area ... However, as long as a custom window doesn't have a concave area, it can be assembled with other windows that don't contain concave areas, EVEN IF THE ASSEMBLY CONTAINS CONCAVE AREAS, and the trim will follow the ASSEMBLY correctly.

[Keith Almond]

METHOD FOUR:

 

Method Four is the COMPLETE CUSTOM creation, used to create the Parallelogram window in POST #4 above:

 

Method one is obviously the easiest, but each method has pro's and cons. Some items can only be created one way, others can be done whichever way you find easiest.

 

Any questions, feel free to ask ...

[Keith Almond]

If anyone from Softplan is reading this ... I'd just like to reiterate that it would be nice if you could save a PRODUCT CODE opening to either the SYSTEM LIBRARY or the DRAWING LIBRARY, as I have created a lot of custom windows that I'll never use again, when drawing up existing buildings. I'd rather they didn't clutter up the SYSTEM LIBRARY. 

[Philip Frank]

I agree!

[Yvon Gonthier]

I agree. Also that you can create openings such as doors with side lites and/or transoms and not need to have one for right opening and another for left.

[Brian Ficek]

Okay, quick tutorial:

 

1. Draw the required window with lines - to your own requirements - Add lines for FRAME, SASH & BEAD, and make sure all the corner joins are filleted properly.

 

2018.06.06_19h35m44s_001_.png

 

2. IMPORTANT - Add glazing - Draw with dotted lines (Softplan understands that in this context, the dotted lines represent glass).

 

3.Go to FILE > SYSTEM OPTIONS > SYSTEM LIBRARY - Choose Library Type as ELEVATION OPENINGS > Select required Library - Click ONE STEP and draw a box around the window you have just drawn > OK

 

2018.06.06_19h42m33s_002_Add Elevation Opening.png

 

4. Change the library to OPENINGS - Again Select the required Library - Click ONE STEP - Name the Opening - Click Custom Opening Radio Button - Type (in this case) WINDOW - and select the library and window that you saved in Step 3 - OK

 

2018.06.06_19h46m55s_003_Add New Opening.png

 

5. CONFIGURE OPENING - EDIT INDIVIDUAL COMPONENT and (again in this case) on the ELEVATION TAB change SILL TYPE to NONE - OK - OK - OK

 

2018.06.06_19h49m05s_004_Opening Component.png

 

6. Go to your opening library, select the just constructed window and Insert into plan wall ...

 

2018.06.06_19h51m38s_005_.png

 

7. View model - Add trim as necessary

 

2018.06.06_19h55m45s_007_.png

 

And if everything worked properly, you should have a new window you can use anytime.

 

ANY size and configuration of window can be created this way. If you require glazing bars, add single lines within the glazing area, and again Softplan will understand that they are grilles.

 

 

Thank you!

[Chris Robinson]

This is awesome Keith. I need to save this post. Thank you for taking some much time to explain this. I am sure you had better things to do!

[Keith Almond]

Glad to be of assistance.