Using this option, you can assign positions automatically to a whole structure model or to defined structure elements. It is available from the context menu in the Object Inspector dialog.
After you select the option from the context menu, the Automatic positioning dialog displays:
The Numbering tab
- Positioning with division into element types
If this option is selected, the Prefix field is unavailable. Names of positions will be assigned according to the syntax adopted for individual structure elements in the Job Preferences dialog (the Position name option), and you can specify the number with which to start positions.
If this option is not selected, you can use the Prefix field to define a prefix for positions generated for all structure elements (regardless of an element type). All element types will be assigned names beginning with the character string specified for Prefix, and you can specify the number with which to start positions.
- Numbering of elements
If you select According to the order of element selection, you need to select structure elements in the drawing area after you click Run. The order in which elements are indicated will be the criterion of assigning numbers to positions.
If you select According to element locations, the Axis and Order of axes options are available. These options let you define a direction of the element numbering on a story, as shown.
Axis:
Order of axes: X Y Numbering of positions will run as follows
Axis:
Order of axes: Y X Numbering of positions will run as follows
The method of element numbering is determined by the location of the element center (the midpoint in the length of a beam or column, for example).
The Options tab
- Inform about overwriting an existing position
If this option is selected, the software will display a question asking whether to overwrite an existing position with a new position name.
- Find and assign a common position to identical elements
If you select this option, geometrically identical elements will be assigned the same position, either within a story or for the current selection.
- Consider material
If selected, this option assigns different positions to elements that are geometrically identical but made of different materials (for example, an RC or brick column, a beam made of a different-class concrete).
If you clear this option, elements that are geometrically identical but made of different materials (for example, an RC or brick column, a beam made of a different-class concrete) will be assigned the same position.
- Consider adjoining elements
If selected, this option assigns different positions to elements that are geometrically identical, but adjoin elements of different geometrical dimensions (such as an RC column that meets with an RC column (from top) with a different section, or if one of the columns does not meet with a column from top).
If you clear this option, adjoining elements have no effect on position definition.
Click Run to activate the Positioning operation. Positioning is performed automatically for all selected structure elements.
See also: