Converting a reference surface to a 3D surface for editing

Tool(s): Convert Elements

Allplan provides numerous tools for editing 3D surfaces. Therefore, we recommend that you convert a reference surface to a 3D surface before you modify it. You can then change the 3D surface and convert it back to a reference surface.

Note: By converting a local reference surface in the drawing file, you remove any height settings of architectural elements that are based on this reference surface. You can use Change Archit. Properties (How) to reassign these height settings.
If the reference surface is part of a plane model, you can replace the reference surface using Insert or replace reference surface in the Planes palette, thus retaining the height settings.

Activate Change Archit. Properties in one of the following ways

• Actionbar:Change task area
• Actionbar:Role Architecture Task Elements Task area Components

• Menu bar: Change Architecture General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

• Palette: Tools Change area in the following module(s):

General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

Basic: Walls, Openings, Components

Special: Walls, Openings, Components

Rooms, Surfaces, Stories

Stairs

Frame Construction: Rafters, Roof Beams, Posts

To convert a reference surface to a 3D surface

1. Click Convert Elements (How).
   

   Activate Convert Elements in one of the following ways

   • Actionbar:Change task area

   • Menu bar: Create Architecture General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

   3D Modeling

   Bridge and Civil Engineering

   Basic: Walls, Openings, Components

   Special: Walls, Openings, Components

   Stairs

2. Select Architecture, U-D Element to 3D solids in the dialog box.
3. Select the reference surface you want to convert.
   

   • To select a single element, click it.
   • To select elements in a selection rectangle, hold down the left mouse button and open a selection rectangle around the elements you want to select.
   • Some tools allow you to select all elements in the current document by clicking All in the input options or pressing CTRL+A.

   To get detailed information on all selection options provided by Allplan, see Selecting elements, overview.

   When selecting elements, you can use filters, which allow you to filter by element type or property. For more information, see Using filters.

   Allplan immediately converts the reference surface to a 3D surface in the current document, retaining the format properties.
   Using the Modify Attributes tool (How), you can change the Name attribute, which is the name of the reference surface.

   

   Activate Modify Attributes in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Change Bonus Tools Attributes

   • Palette: Tools Change area in the following module(s):

   Attributes

   Note: Architectural elements whose height settings are based on the local reference surface in the drawing file will be associated with the corresponding default reference plane.

4. Select more reference surfaces you want to convert or press ESC to quit the tool.
5. Change the 3D surface using the tools in the 3D Objects and Boolean Operators task areas.
6. Convert the 3D surface back to a reference surface and enter a name for it.

   Note: Architectural elements whose height settings are based on the local reference surface in the drawing file will be associated with the corresponding default reference plane.

   If the reference surface is part of a plane model and you want to retain the height settings of the architectural elements, do the following:

7. Open the Planes palette.
8. Switch on Modification mode.
9. Select the reference surface you want to replace in the plane model.
10. Click Insert or replace reference surface on the toolbar.
11. Select the reference surface you just changed.

    Allplan replaces the reference surface in the plane model, displaying the name of the reference surface in the Planes palette.

12. Click Apply to save the changes in the plane model.