Panel Input

With the panel entry, panels can be entered manually into the different layers of a roof surface. This entry is of interest when solid wood panels are to be entered or when the automatic paneling and boarding function from the model area 'Roof Determination' does not yield the desired result.

A build-oriented entry and a layer-oriented entry are distinguished. In the build-oriented entry, the edge processing of the affected layers is also taken into account. That means the generated panel adopts the section angles of the layer(s) in which the panel was created. For both entry types, various options are available in the lower part of the dialog box. These are explained in more detail below.

After selecting the function, select the roof surface on which the panels are to be entered. The program then automatically switches to the single roof surface and displays the roof surface on the screen so that the eave is at the bottom edge of the image. A dialog box opens with the following options:

With the selection list at the top of the dialog box you can choose existing settings. Using the disk icon you can save the current setting under the same name or a new name. Via the management icon you can create new settings, also by adopting existing settings, or modify or delete existing settings. See 'Save settings' in the 'General Help' manual.

Ident number: For the panel, the identification number can be entered or selected from the component catalog using the browser. Further meaning according to the chapter 'Volume Information, Component Catalog'.

Post type: The 'post type' represents a list of designations with which components can be labeled. Here you can either enter a post type number you already know, or select a post type number via the browser button at the right end of the field. As soon as you have selected a number here, the corresponding designation is automatically displayed in the next field.

Designation: The designation allows the function of an individual component to be described. The predefined designations, the so-called bar types, can be called up via a number key in the field to the left of the designation. If this is done, a designation is automatically suggested in the 'Designation' field. However, this can be changed manually to use any custom designation.

If you require a specific designation more frequently, you can enter it via the browser button to the right of the designation field. This icon opens a list of existing designations. You can enter your own designation at the end of the list. On the next call of the list the new designation will then be sorted alphabetically. As soon as you start typing the designation in the 'Designation' field, the list opens automatically and shows only the designations that begin with the entered letters.

Thickness, width, length: The panel dimensions are entered here. If you select an identification number above for which one or more dimensions are already specified, the corresponding dimension fields are deactivated and the corresponding value from the database is displayed.

Laying angle: The angle between the longitudinal axis of the wall and the longitudinal axis of the panel is set here. Therefore, to position the panel perpendicular, enter 90°.

Front side of the panel toward: For panels with different sides (e.g., different qualities on the front and back), you can specify which side of the wall the front side of the panel should face. The better (qualitatively higher-value) side of the panel is considered the front side.

Gap in width, gap in length: A spacing between panels in the direction of their width or length can be entered. When entering the panel, the mouse cursor will then have the corresponding offset from the positioning point.

Position: It is defined which layer the depth position refers to. To place a panel centered in layer 1, it is not necessary to calculate a depth position that refers to the entire roof surface thickness. Only layer 1 is specified and the 'centered' option is set in the depth position.

The panel does not necessarily have to lie exactly flush with the top and bottom within a layer. The panel can be shifted in depth or penetrate multiple layers. However, it is helpful if the panel finishes flush with a layer both at its top and at its bottom.

The selected layer here also simultaneously determines the 'group' to which the component is assigned. Thus, a panel entered in layer -1 automatically belongs to group -1. Via the groups (function 'File -- Settings -- Display') components can be switched on and off.

Depth position: For the depth position we always refer to the layer selected in the previous field. There are automatic functions centered, flush front, and flush back, which conveniently place the panel at the correct depth. For special cases, you can also specify a defined distance from the front side of the layer (visible side) to the front side of the panel using the 'Value' option.

Positioning point: As positioning points, six different points on the panel view or the 'Choice' function can be selected. With the 'Choice' function, the panel is first placed with the last used positioning point and then you can cycle through the six positioning points with the right mouse button. The desired position is selected with the left mouse button.

Up to this point, the entries are the same for all panels, regardless of which entry type you choose next. The further options depend on the next field of the dialog box:

Type of panel formation: The type of panel formation affects the rest of the dialog box and the way the panels are created in the layer:

Layer-oriented: This type largely corresponds to the panel entry as it also exists in wall construction and the ceiling. The panel edges are cut at right angles and the panels are bounded by the layer polygon layer edges that were selected in the field above. In addition, the roof areas (which do not exist in the wall) and, if applicable, the element boundaries are taken into account. You can also make settings similar to those known from the automatic boarding function. (See next fields)

Build-oriented: This type of panel entry does not yet exist in any other model area and provides special options, as required for example for solid wood panels or American SIP panels in the roof area.

The panels receive the edge profile of the layer(s) in which they are installed. These can also be multiple angles on a panel edge (e.g., plumb-level cut at the eave). In addition, special settings can be made for roof lines where two roof surfaces intersect (ridge, hip, and valley).

Layer-oriented:

Create in roof areas: If you have chosen the 'Layer-oriented' type, you can specify in which roof areas (eave overhang area, developed area, undeveloped area) the panels should be generated. For this, you must first have calculated the overhang areas in the roof determination. During panel entry, the contours of the roof areas are displayed.

Depending on which roof areas are selected, the panels are automatically cut at the corresponding roof area boundaries. How the panels are trimmed is also influenced by the next two fields.

Termination A: Here you set whether the individual panels are cut at their end along the respective boundary or perpendicularly along their longest length.

Cut at area boundaries G: This setting only affects the parts of the panels that abut horizontal area boundaries. In some cases the individual panel must then be cut out according to the boundary; it then ends exactly at the boundary. In other cases, for example often with over-roof insulation, the panel should remain whole.

Build-oriented:

For the three line types 'ridge line', 'hip line' and 'valley line' you can make separate settings that influence the formation of the layer polygons for panel entry. In the respective drop-down list you can choose three different options:

Roof intersection: With this option, the layer contours remain as they come from the roof determination. Depending on the number and thickness of the layers meeting at the individual roof line, this intersection can look different. However, these intersection rules come directly from the roof determination and cannot be further modified. For this reason, the following two fields are also disabled and have no meaning.

Plumb: The layers that meet at the respective ridge, hip, or valley line are simply cut plumb. This can result in offsets between the layers of the two roof surfaces. If you choose this option, you can also enter an offset value below.

Penetration: With this option, the layer edges can be shifted so that they penetrate the layers of the adjacent roof surface and "run" up to an adjustable layer.

From bottom up to layer: This setting is only available with the 'Penetration' option. With this setting you specify up to which layer of the adjacent roof surface the new panel should extend. The panel automatically connects to the layer specified here.

Distance in plan: This setting is only available with the 'Plumb' option. It allows you to additionally shift the layer contour by the amount entered here.

During the placement of panels in the roof there are a few peculiarities. Since in a true view of the roof surfaces (view perpendicular to the roof surface) the walls, ceilings and other components would be displayed in a highly unfavorable position, we remain with a view perpendicular to the entire roof (perpendicular to global XoY). As a result, a panel to be entered would actually have to be drawn with multiple lines due to the different section angles at the edges, and many points would lie very close together in the corners. This makes things very confusing and it is often unclear which edge or which point must be chosen for placement.

For this reason, when placing a panel a cut through this panel is made and only this exact cutting plane is displayed. The cutting plane of the panel thus consists only of a polygon that can be placed easily. The panel can actually be larger depending on the section angles it has. The cutting plane for the panel is determined by the selected layer and the depth position of the panel within the layer.