Custom Blocks for Windows and Doors


This functionality provides the means to attach one or several blocks to window and doors to provide additional geometry e.g. a window sill, door knob, shutters.
You can attach custom block to entire window/door or to different parts.
To make a door with components you must create the block first. The block used for this must be composed only of ACIS solids.
Multiple muntin blocks can be assigned to each style. This allows you to have different patterns of muntins for each panel of glass, or to combine muntin patterns.
To setup muntins component please do the following:


  1. Open the Style Manager Palette.
  2. Navigate to the Door or Window styles.
  3. Select the style you wish to add blocks to.
  4. Expand the Design properties category and click Blocks.
  5. The Custom Blocks dialog will appear.


This dialog contains list of all blocks assigned to the door or window style.


Custom Block Dialog


Disable Blocks: When ON - custom blocks are ignored.
Add: displays Custom Block dialog to add new custom block.
Edit: displays Custom Block dialog to edit selected custom block
Remove: deletes selected custom block
Blocks list: contains list of blocks attached to the window style.


Custom Blocks Editor


 

Block combo-box: Used for selecting the block (from the list of blocks) that is attached to the window/door style.


Scale To Fix Controls Group


Width check box: when ON - block is scaled to fit window/door width.
Height check box: when ON - block is scaled to fit window/door height.
Depth check box: when ON - block is scaled to fit window/door depth.
+ : The Plus ( + ) fields allow you to add additional width, depth or height to a block in surplus to the scaled fitting.
Lock XY Ratio check box: works in combination with one of the (Width, Height, and Depth) check boxes.
For example, when Width is ON and you click Lock XY Ratio the block is scaled in a way to keep XY ratio.


Mirror In Controls


Mirror X check box: mirrors block relative X axis.
Mirror Y check box: mirrors block relative Y axis.
Mirror Z check box: mirrors block relative Z axis.


Insertion Point controls group


X: combo-box: Defines how the block's origin is attached relative to window/door in X Axis (to Left Side, Center or Right Side)
Y: combo-box: Defines how the block's origin is attached relative to window/door in Y Axis (to Back Side, Center or Front Side)
Z: combo-box: Defines how the block's origin is attached relative to window/door in Z Axis (to Bottom Side, Center or Top Side)
X: Y: Z: edit boxes: define the offset from block origin point


Component Controls Group


Frame Component:


Outside - block is attached to entire window
Inside - block is attached to inside frame


Window Component


All - block is attached to all window component
Single - block is attached to single window component


Materials Controls Group


These controls allow define material that will be used for this custom block in render.


Example of use


Suppose you would like to create custom sill for our window style.
Create a block.
First, we create a geometry for our sill (just a box with 10x2x0.2 in size



Note: Block used for Custom Blocks must be composed of ACIS solids. For best results align your block with the origin of the drawing.



Make Block


1. Select the box and select Format | Create Block.

2. Enter "Custom Sill" as the Block name and click OK.

3. Navigate to the style manager palette, select Standard window style and click the Block property in the properties of the window style.

4. The Custom Block dialog opens. It contains a list of all the blocks that are attached to the window style.  

 

5. Click the Add button to add new block to the window style.

6. The Custom Block Editor dialog opens.

7. Click the Block combo-box and select the desired block.  

8. Right click on the preview pane to display pop-up menu and select Isometric_SE item from it (to have better point of view)

9. Now let's adjust the block size and position.

10. Check Width check box (to scale the block width to the width of window).

11. Select Back from Y: combo-box (to place the block to back side of window)

12. Click OK.

13. Click OK again.

14. Now create a wall in drawing and insert a window (of Standard style) into it.