Plates

This function is used to enter panels in the different layers of the current ceiling field.

The following can be set in the dialog box:

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.

Panels are generally automatically limited at the layer boundaries. If a panel protrudes beyond a layer contour during entry, it is automatically "trimmed" by that layer contour. The word is intentionally in quotation marks, as no actual cut occurs. The panel is constrained by the contour. This also applies when recesses occur in the panel, for example due to window openings. It does not matter whether the opening is entered first and the panel afterwards or whether the ceiling opening is entered later or an existing opening is moved. The panels are always automatically adjusted to the changed layer contour.

Ident number: For the component, 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 'Bar type' represents a list of designations that can be used to label the components. Here you can either enter a bar type number you already know, or select a bar type number via the browser button at the right end of the field. Once 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 X-axis of the ceiling field and the longitudinal axis of the panel is set here. Therefore, if the panel should appear vertical on the screen, 90° must be entered.

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 ceiling field the front side of the panel should face. The better (higher-quality) 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: This determines which layer the depth position refers to. To place a component centered in layer 1, it is not necessary to calculate a depth position referring to the entire ceiling. Only layer 1 is specified and the option 'centered' is set in the depth position.

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 in which the panel lies. There are automatic functions centered, flush forward, and flush backward, which conveniently place the panel at the correct depth. For special cases you can also use the 'value' option to specify a defined distance from the front of the layer (visible side) to the front of the panel.

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.