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#76703 by Neil Blanchard
Tue Jul 16, 2019 1:32 pm
I am trying out Smart Entities again, after a long time of not using them - I am tripping on my habits. I am only intending on using smart entities for 2D. I and creating doors, and I have Cut Wall toggled on, but I am still seeing lines (header or floor?) - how do I get them to look like regular 2D doors?

Can I toggle Cap off by Area?

Switching between door widths is a lot less convenient that with 2D doors - how do you deal with this?
#76707 by Neil Blanchard
Tue Jul 16, 2019 2:26 pm
Okay, I found the way to draw various width single swing doors - but now I can't find how to draw them a specific width? As I am dragging the strike side, the angle won't go parallel with the wall - without flipping the door to the other side of the wall. I am using Dir/Dis, by the way. Ortho is on.
#76710 by Mark Bell
Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:44 pm
Hi Neil,

Turn Ortho off to prevent the door insertion from flipping as you describe.

If you open the DTM there's a box across the top titled Fixed Width. This allows you to create doors of a fixed width (ticked) or free-width (un-ticked). The key with any parametric system (DataCAD, Archicad, Revit etc.), is you need a database of existing symbols/objects to use. The out-of-the-box DataCAD has a small number of smart entities included so you will need to progressively create your own. This is probably best done as you work through various projects, creating them as you need. Unless you're using specialised items, doors would be standard construction components so you can create several typical fixed door width Smart Door Types from the basic DTM. Using metric as an example, 800Door, 900Door, 1000Door for various opening width door types, each being a Fixed Width component. When inserting a specific door width just toggle to that door type via the DTM pulldown icon bar and insert it.
The DTM also allows you to create more detailed door types and mix 2D/3D symbols so you can show the actual manufacturer profiles in plan and 3D, including door hardware etc. and include scale dependent symbols to show more or less detail depending on the screen/plot scale. For now, I'd stick with the basic DTM you're using.
Again, there's room for further development of the smart entities as per wishlist posts I've sent in the past.
#76711 by Mark Bell
Tue Jul 16, 2019 6:51 pm
Neil wrote - I am trying out Smart Entities again, after a long time of not using them - I am tripping on my habits. I am only intending on using smart entities for 2D. I and creating doors, and I have Cut Wall toggled on, but I am still seeing lines (header or floor?) - how do I get them to look like regular 2D doors?

For doors or windows to cut into walls, the walls need to have a z/b and z/h that will allow the 3D door/window to cut and fit into it. If you only intend to using the smart entities for 2D plans, just assign any wall height to the whole drawing, then press 'U' to update and the doors/windows should display correctly.

Can I toggle Cap off by Area?

Yes - Architect/Edit Walls/Clean-Cap and turn Cap off, then Area your walls

Switching between door widths is a lot less convenient that with 2D doors - how do you deal with this?

Either Edit/Search&Replace or ctrl-right click and select a different door. Remember Alt+I over a door type you want will allow you to then insert that door type.

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