Before creating the project documentation, the structure must be numbered. The basis for numbering is finding identical parts that should have the same mark. Each object in Advance Steel has two part marks: a single part number and an assembly part number.
During the numbering process, the numbering tool:
- Analyzes the model to identify equal parts and determines quantities.
- Analyzes the relationship between parts to identify assemblies and main parts.
- Assigns part and assembly numbers to the objects in the structure.
Single parts and assemblies are automatically numbered for the entire model.
The elements are compared by geometry, material properties, coating, and commodity (and behavior). The properties name and lot/phase are not considered for numbering. The model role is used by the prefix tool to assign prefixes but it is not used directly for numbering.
Types of parts in the model
During the numbering process, an Advance Steel element can be identified as one of the three types of parts:
- Main part - The heaviest (largest) part of an assembly. It affects numbering. Assembly drawing views are oriented according to the main part so that the main part is usually horizontal (depending on the drawing style).
- Single part - All parts that are not main parts.
- Standalone part - A part that has no attached parts. It may be considered an assembly consisting of only one part.
Numbering prefix
In a steel structure you can use prefixes to make the difference between single parts and assemblies. Prefixes can be manually assigned, separately for parts and assemblies, or assigned automatically, during the numbering process, according to the model role of the model elements (e. g. beam, column, rafter, plate etc.).
The numbering tool
The Advance Steel numbering tool automatically numbers single parts and assemblies for the entire model. If no objects are selected, the entire model is numbered. When objects are selected only those items are numbered. The results in either cases are displayed in a dialog box (or by a default setting, they can be recorded in a text file that can be saved).
The main part of an assembly
You can perform main part assignment either manually or by using the Create main part of the assembly command, which automatically detects attached parts. Alternatively, during assembly numbering, the biggest part automatically becomes the main part.
Numbering workflow
- At first, all structural parts should be numbered, so start with single part marks.
- The program then determines the assembly marks for parts connected in the shop. The biggest part of an assembly is the main part and will get an assembly mark while all the other parts are considered attached parts and will have a single part mark.
- Standard parts are numbered using additional options. Any part in the current model that matches a standard part in the template will get the same mark (single part mark or assembly mark, according to the case).
- A post numbering method can be applied after the initial numbering is complete in order to obtain the desired result.
During the numbering process beams, followed by plates, are the first to be numbered. In each case, the group with the most elements will get the lowest number.
Switch between Single Parts and Assemblies
In the Output tab 
Part marks panel, the highlighted button (Toggle switch display SP/MP) is a switch between single parts and assemblies. According to the switch position, the numbering options refer to single parts or to assemblies.
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Switches to single parts. In the Numbering dialog box, only Process single parts is selected. |
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Switches to assemblies. In the Numbering dialog box, only Process assemblies is selected. |