To Create an Opening Tool

Use this procedure to create an opening tool and add it to a tool palette. You may want to create your own opening tools if you are placing multiple openings that have the same properties.

For example, you are creating a restaurant floor plan that contains openings of various sizes. To work efficiently, you can create an opening tool for each size. You can then select the appropriate tool to place openings in the floor plan.

1. Open the tool palette where you want to create a tool.
2. Create the tool:

   If you want to…	Then…
   create a tool from an opening in the drawing	select the opening, and drag it to the tool palette.
   copy a tool in the current palette	right-click the tool, and click Copy. Right-click, and click Paste.
   copy a tool from another palette	open the other tool palette, right-click the tool, and click Copy. Reopen the palette where you want to add the tool, right-click, and click Paste.
   copy a tool from a tool catalog	open the tool catalog in the Content 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.

   This description is used as the tooltip on the tool palette, and to describe the tool if it is stored in a tool catalog.

6. Expand Basic, and expand General.
7. Enter a description of the opening that you can create using this opening tool.
8. If you do not want to use the default layer key for openings, select a layer key.
9. If you want to override the default layer name for openings, select a layer override.
10. Select a shape for the opening.

    To specify a custom shape, select Custom for Shape, and select the profile that provides the geometry of the shape for Profile.

11. Expand Dimensions.
12. Enter values for Width, Height, and Rise.

    Rise is available only for arch, gothic, peak pentagon, and trapezoid shapes.

13. Expand Location.
14. If you are placing the opening in a wall, specify the opening position:

    If you want to…	Then…
    position the edge of the opening at a specific distance from the end of a wall segment	select Offset/Center for Position along wall, and enter a value for Automatic offset.
    center the opening on a wall segment	select Offset/Center for Position along wall, and specify a point near the center of the wall segment.
    position the opening anywhere along the wall	select Unconstrained for Position along wall.

15. Specify whether you want the opening to be aligned vertically by sill height or by head height:

    If you want to…	Then…
    align the opening by sill height	select Sill for Vertical alignment, and enter a value for Sill height.
    align the opening by head height	select Head for Vertical alignment, and enter a value for Head height.

16. Click OK.