To Create a Mass Element Tool

Use this procedure to create a mass element tool and add it to a tool palette. You may want to create your own tools if you frequently place multiple mass elements of specific styles that have the same properties.

  1. Open the tool palette on which you want to create a tool.
  2. Create the tool:
    If you want to… Then…
    create a tool from a mass element in the drawing select the object, and drag it to the tool palette.
    create a tool from a mass element style in the Style Manager click Manage tabStyle & Display panelStyle Manager.

    Locate the style you want to copy, and drag it to the tool palette. Click OK to close the Style Manager.

    copy a tool in the current tool palette right-click the tool, and click Copy. Right-click, and click Paste.
    copy a tool from another palette right-click the tool, and click Copy. Open the other palette, and click Paste.
    copy a tool from a tool catalog click Home tabBuild panelTools drop-downContent Browser, and locate the tool you want to copy. Position the cursor over the i-drop handle, and drag the tool to the tool palette.
  3. Right-click the new tool, and click Properties.
  4. Enter a name for the tool.
  5. Click the setting for Description, enter a description of the tool, and click OK.
  6. On the Properties palette, expand Basic General.
  7. Click the setting for Description, enter a description of the mass element created from this tool, and click OK.
  8. Specify a layer key and any layer overrides if you do not want to use the layer assignments specified in the layer key style used in the drawing.
  9. Select a mass element style.
  10. Select the drawing file containing the style used for this mass element.
  11. Under Bound Spaces, define if this mass element tool can be used as a bounding object for associative spaces.

    You can select three options here:

    • Yes: this mass element tool can be used as bounding object for associative spaces.
    • No: this mass element tool cannot be used as bounding object for associative spaces.
    • By style: this mass element tool will use the bounding settings from the mass element style.
  12. Select a shape.
  13. Expand Dimensions.

    The options that display under Dimensions depend on the mass element tool you copied to create the new tool.

  14. Specify the dimensions of the mass element:
    If you want to… Then…
    specify the width of the mass element in its relative X direction enter a value for Width.
    specify the depth of the mass element in its relative Y direction enter a value for Depth.
    specify the height of the mass element in its relative Z direction enter a value for Height.
    specify the radius of the mass element enter a value for Radius.
    specify the rise of the mass element enter a value for Rise.
  15. Click OK.

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