Space tool

[Peter Eichel]

I was just getting comfortable with the "old" space tool and VW's 2011 comes along!

Can someone tell me how to change the text size of the room label and how to add the room's net area below the room's dimensions.

[Robert Anderson]

The Space Tags are controlled by symbols. The symbols are drawn at 1:1 and the Space Object handles all the scaling, etc. So the symbols control everything using "variable" text (similar to linked text, but more powerful).

For a complete discussion, look for the following topics in your online help:

"Using Custom Space Labels"

"Creating Space Label Symbols"

HTH, Robert

[Robert Anderson]

Oh, I'd like to add a some other points on the new Space Labels:

Space Label symbols can be multi-color, multi-class, multi-font, multi-whatever;

Space Label symbols can include any graphics you want as well as text.

Any Space Label text and graphics are scalable in viewport "advanced properties" using the text scaling factor.

[Peter Eichel]

Thanks Robert, however, it seems like a workaround to display the text style you want, it would be a lot simpler if it was available from a pick list on the OIP window. Also, I requested how to show the net area below the room dimension. It's a common request from contractors and estimators.

[Robert Anderson]

Peter, you're right -- it would be simpler. But more limited, also. I don't think this is a "workaround". It is a little more involved than the old 'additional data' method in VW-2010 and earlier but removes all limits on what you can display on the space and give you total design freedom on how you can display it.

The trade-off in having vastly improved features is, sometimes you have to learn how to use them.

The method for showing area is described in the sections of the online help that I mentioned.

[Peter Eichel]

Well, I figured out how to add the area to my room label, now I'm having a problem with the text style. The space tag symbol, when edited, shows a text size of 0 points. When changed to 8 points the scale becomes emormous and the room label is lost, instead taking on the appearance of the symbol thus (#1#).

Well Robert!

[mike m oz]

Peter, as Robert pointed out in his post you have to create and edit the text size in a Layer that has its scale set at 1:1. Set the text to the required size in that 1:1 layer and that is the size it will be in all layers.

What I like about this new system is I can decide how I want the room label to look. I'm not stuck with having to choose from a limited range. Having created my own I can then set that as the default and thus not have to choose from the options each time.

Edited September 23, 2010 by mike m oz

[Dieter @ DWorks]

I really like the space label. It always bugged me that it never came up right in viewports.

The next thing we still need for spaces is the volume. We only can have rooms with one height, but what with spaces under a roof? Then we need another volume.

[Peter Eichel]

Thanks Mike, I got it!

Now, why doesn't the space tool paint bucket work when annotating SLVP's? Can the default class be changed from "wall-interior" to "area-specs"? Why does the space tool place the label off center from the 2nd placement onward?

No more questions after this, I hope.

[Robert Anderson]

Responses:

1. I really do not recommend using spaces on sheet layer viewport annotations. More than any other kind of notation, Spaces are viewed in multiple viewports and therefore must be created in the design layer. Spaces are definitely part of the model, not a view-specific note.

2. The default class can be whatever you want.

3. I don't know. I have not seen this with rectangular spaces -- will look into it. Feel free to enter a bug..

[Jeffrey W Ouellette]

Also, realize that it is not "just" a label. The Space object is a BIM object, containing a great deal of data as well as geometry.