Creating sections

Module(s): Associative Views

You can use the Create Section tool to create a section based on 3D elements or existing views and sections.
The layer set on the Format toolbar is used for the label and cannot be changed. The view border is always created on the DEFAULT layer, regardless of this setting. The layer for the section is taken from the 3D components. You can also specify it in the dialog boxes for hidden line images and sections.

Some notes on associative views and architecture

Unlike architectural sections (created with the Define Section and Activate Section tools), you cannot display finishing surfaces in associative views.

Some notes on associative views and engineering

Check that the section depth exceeds the spacing between stirrups, for example. Otherwise, you might define a clipping area that is between the stirrups and, consequently, you can only see the longitudinal bars.

To create a section

1. Click Create Section (How).
   

   Activate Create Section in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Engineering Views, Details Associative Views

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Associative Views

2. The following options are provided in the input options:
   • Normal: the viewing angle you specify in the following steps is based on the selected elements displayed in plan view.
   • Plane: the viewing angle you specify in the following steps is based on a plane you specify. For example, you get the real length of a roof plane by clicking within the circle when it comes to defining the viewing direction.
   • Free: the view is based on any view, e.g. an isometric view.
3. The remainder of the procedure varies depending on the setting you have made in the input options:
   • Normal: click the element from which you want to create a section or specify a region or click the border of an existing view or section in order to create a section based on all the elements in this view or section. Specify the viewing direction.
   • Plane: click the element from which you want to create a section or specify a region or click the border of an existing view or section in order to create a section based on all the elements in this view or section. Specify the viewing direction and the plane to which the viewing angle applies. Clicking within the circles sets the viewing direction so that it is perpendicular to the plane.
     You can define the plane by clicking three points of the plane. You can also click an edge and one point of the plane or the plane itself. Open an isometric view of the 3D components to click the points.
   • Free: display the 3D components in any view (e.g. isometric) by clicking Views on the View menu or using the Window toolbar and select the elements you want to display. Switch back to plan view.
4. Define the first clipping area in one of the following ways:
   • Enter a clipping area within the 3D elements or the existing views and sections to define the section polygon. To do this, click as many points as you want or define the polygon using a selection rectangle.
     If you want to use fixed values to define the height of the section object in the Section dialog box, it is useful to enter the clipping line in plan.
   • Click Match in the input options and click an existing section object of any 3D object.
     The height of the section object is obtained from the height of the object clicked. Any entries you make for the height of the section object in the Section dialog box have no effect.
5. You can now place the new section (a preview of the section is attached to the crosshairs) as you require. Various data entry tools are provided to help you position the section accurately.
6. If needed, enter a second clipping area within the 3D elements or within the existing views and sections.
   You can reduce two dimensions of the first clipping area by entering a second clipping line. You cannot enlarge the clipping area.
7. If you have created an Axis Grid and if at least one point where the axes intersect is in the area of the section, you can use the crosshairs to define the height of the axis labels.

   The program displays all the axes that intersect the reference axis selected automatically and that pass through a 3D component displayed in the section.

   Example of axis labels

   Note: When the axis grid and the 3D model are in different drawing files, the axis grid will not update automatically when you modify it (e.g. move the grid, change the width of the grid).

8. If necessary, enter a label for the section created and confirm your entry. The section identifier is automatically incremented by 1 with each new section (if a section identifier is specified in the Section dialog box). This is also done if the clipping path and/or label is/are not created.
   After you have entered text, you can make general text settings for the label and place it in the workspace.