Modify a Point Selection Rule

A dimension point selection rule contains settings for model objects and geometric restriction, point type, position on object or on main part.

• Model objects and geometric restriction - a filter for defining the objects used for selection of dimension points.
• Point type - the properties of the objects geometry used in the points selection process (e.g. objects contour, object features, holes, etc.).
• Position on object or on main part - the object points used for dimensioning (e.g., only the left or only the bottom of the object).

The Points selection rules can be shared by different dimension strategies. Consequently, modifications affect all the dimension strategies that use the modified points selection rule.

Select a predefined point selection rule from the list. The existing rules can be renamed and new rules can be added.

Button	Function
	Define a new point selection rule. A copy of the current settings is created and a new item appears in the drop-down list.
	Rename a point selection rule. The current settings are saved under a different name.

Select the model objects to be dimensioned

Select model objects and the geometric restrictions for defining the objects used in the selection of dimension points. Click (Set) to configure the model objects. For more information, refer to Model Objects.

Define the points to be dimensioned

Select the properties of the objects geometry used in the points selection process (e.g. objects contour, object features, holes etc) in the Point type selection area. Furthermore, points can be used as reference.

The following table lists the sub-styles for specifying which points from what objects will be dimensioned.

Option

All as reference

All attaching parts as reference

All holes as reference

All points defining object processing as sub-objects

All points that are to be dimensioned of the object

All points that define object features

All points that define the object contour (without features)

Attaching parts at the objects

Bended beam inside as reference

Bended beam outside as reference

Bended beams inside

Bended beams outside

Center point as reference

Center point of the objects

Development lines

Extreme size of the objects in dimension direction

Holes in the objects

Main part Collision Dimensions

Main part Collision Dimensions as reference

Object contour as reference

Object features as reference

Object size as reference

Stencil point as sub objects (grouped together)

System as reference

System points of the objects

Template reference point as reference

Templates reference point

It is possible to distinguish between three categories of point types:

1. As reference -This option provides dimension points only when there are other dimension points; otherwise, those points will not be used. This point selection type is useful when no dimensions are necessary.

   Example:

   A dimension line if there is a hole, and if there is no hole in the main part, no dimension chain is created.

   Points selection rule	Result
   Holes - All features Main Part - Extreme as reference

2. Features and Contour

   There is a difference between feature and contour dimension points.

   In Advance Steel, there are two main types of feature processing:

   • Finite processing (e.g. rectangular contour feature)
   • Infinite processing (e.g. shortening and cope features)

   For dimensions, the object features points means the points created by the finite processing.

   The object contour (without features) points means the points of the elements contour, including the points created by the infinite features.

3. Beam end processing - Provides the dimension for the beam end contour points, including the points created by the finite processing that affect the beam end contour.

   Examples:

   Points selection rule	Result
   Holes - All Beam - Extreme as reference
   Beam - Extreme Holes - Beam
   Holes - All Beam - Extreme as reference Center points as reference
   Holes - All Beam - System as reference

Visibility status selection

Visible and hidden dimension points for each dimension definition and dimensioned elements are selected using the Visibility status.

Option	Description
Default	The default option will be used.
Hidden	Only the hidden objects will be dimensioned.
Visible	Only the visible objects will be dimensioned.
Visible and hidden	Visible and hidden objects will be dimensioned.

Point position on object

Set geometrical restriction of the selected points in the Point position on object area. Two options are available:

• Point position on object - used to filter the points depending on their position on the attached parts.
• Point position on main part - used to filter the points depending on their position on the main part.

The following restrictions are available:

Option	Description
Any	All object points.
Bottommost	The most bottom point is used.
Bottom	The bottom points.
BottomLeft	The points on the bottom-left side.
BottomRight	The points on the bottom-right side.
Left	The points on the left side.
Left & Right Extremes	The points on the left side and the right extreme points.
Leftmost
Right	The points on the right side.
Rightmost
Top	The points on the top side.
Top & Bottom Extremes	The points on the top side and the bottom extremes.
TopLeft	The points on the top-left side.
Topmost
TopRight	The points on the top-right side.

The restriction refers to the dimension line direction or to the object direction. Only some of the object points can be dimensioned (e.g. only the left part or only the bottom of the objects).

Option	Description
Relative to dimension line direction	The axis is based on the dimension line direction.
Relative to object direction	The axis is based on the object direction. This option is useful when the dimension direction is not perpendicular to the object. Example: The steps of a stair:

Examples: Point position on object and on main part.

The following example illustrates the behavior of setting a point position on the object and on the main part for a beam with holes and two attached plates in the front view of a beam.

• The behavior of the Point position on object setting:

  Use the Left restriction relative to the object for the attached plates and the holes.

  Both attached plates and all groups of holes from the main part are dimensioned as shown in the following image:

  
  
  

• The behavior of the Point position on main part setting:

Only the attached plate and the holes placed in the left side of the main part are dimensioned as shown in the following image: