About Valid Boundary Objects for Associative Spaces

The following table lists all objects that are valid as boundary objects for associative spaces. There are different valid boundary objects for 2D/extruded 3D spaces and 3D freeform spaces. 3D freeform spaces must be bounded by objects that have a 3D geometry; 2D and extruded 3D spaces can be bounded by 2D linework, too.

All valid boundary objects must have their Bound Spaces property set to Yes in order for associative spaces to be generated from them. The Bound Spaces property for an object is located on the Properties palette. For objects that use styles, the Bound Spaces property can also be set in the style. The default value of the setting varies depending on the object type. Objects like walls and curtain walls ave a default Bound Spaces value of Yes. Others, like structural members or linework have a default Bound Spaces value of No. Change the Bound Spaces properties of objects as needed to generate your spaces.

Attention: Objects that are set as boundary objects for associative spaces and then are placed on a frozen or hidden layer still participate in the generation of associative spaces. It is possible to generate spaces from invisible boundary objects. If this is the case, review your layer settings, and unhide or unfreeze those layers as necessary.

The following table lists all valid boundary objects for both 2D/Extruded 3D spaces and 3D freeform spaces, as well as the default value of their Bound Spaces property when inserted in a drawing:

Object	Boundary object for 3D freeform spaces	Boundary object for 2D/Extruded 3D spaces	Default Bound Spaces value
Wall	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated at the near face of the wall body (at base curve) Note: If a modifier creates a hole or gap through the wall, then the gap might be ignored in the space generation if the maximum gap size value is greater than the width of the hole. Plan modifiers, body modifiers, interferences, sweeps, end caps, and opening end caps are included in the geometry of the generated space.	Yes	Yes (by Style)
Curtain wall/Curtain wall unit	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated at the curtain wall body. Interferences, roof line, floor line, and frame profiles are included in the geometry of the generated space. Note: Empty cells or holes created by a curtain wall modifier do not impact the space generation. They are ignored and the space is generated as if the curtain wall was closed.	Yes	Yes (by Style)
Door and window assembly	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated at the near face of the frame (at base curve). Interferences and frame profiles are included in the geometry of the generated space boundary. Note: Empty cells or holes created by a door and window assembly modifier do not impact the space generation. They are ignored and the space is generated as if the assembly was closed.	Yes	Yes (by Style)
Door/Window/Opening	Yes Note: If a door, window, or opening is anchored in a wall, the Bound Spaces setting of the wall is used for the opening, too. The opening shape also defines openings in generated freeform space surfaces.	Yes	Door/Window: Yes (by Style) Opening: Yes
Mass element	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated on the near face of the mass element body.	Yes The 2D/Extruded 3D space is generated at the near face of the mass element body at the mass element bottom.	No (by Style)
Roof	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated at the near face of the roof body.	No	Yes
Roof slab	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated at the near face of the roof slab body (at cut plane). Body modifiers, fascia, and soffit bodies are included in the geometry of the generated space boundary. Note: Interferences and holes in the roof slab will be ignored when the space is generated.	No	Yes (by Style)
Slab	Yes The 3D freeform space is generated at the near face of the slab body (at cut plane). Body modifiers, fascia, and soffit bodies are included in the geometry of the generated space boundary. Note: Interferences and holes in the slab will be ignored when the space is generated.	No	Yes (by Style)
Structural member	Yes The freeform space is generated at the near face of the member body (at base curve). Holes or gaps in the structural member are ignored when the placement of the space boundary is determined.	Yes	No (by Style)
Multi-view block	Yes In order to bound 3D freeform spaces, a multi-view block must contain objects that have a 3D geometry and are valid boundary objects for spaces. The geometry stored in the model view block is used to generate the space. The space is generated from the model geometry (at bottom).	Yes	No (by Style)
Custom display blocks	Yes	No	Yes (by Style)
Block	Yes In order to bound 3D freeform spaces, a block must contain objects that have a 3D geometry and are valid boundary objects for spaces.	Yes	Dependent on the objects contained in the block
External Reference	Yes In order to bound 3D freeform spaces, an external reference must contain objects that have a 3D geometry and are valid boundary objects for spaces.	Yes	Yes
Line	No	Yes	No
Circle	No	Yes	No
Polyline	No	Yes	No
3D Polyline	No	Yes	No
Ellipse	No	Yes	No
Spline	No	Yes	No
Arc	No	Yes	No

Tip: AutoCAD 3D solids are not valid boundary objects for spaces. In order to use a 3D solid to generate a space, use one of the following methods:

• Convert the 3D solid to a mass element and use the mass element to generate the space.
• Wrap a polyline around the solid and use the polyline to generate the space.