Reference surfaces in plane model

You can create a reference surface from any polygonal or freeform 3D surface in a drawing file or document. To do this, you can use the 3D surface to reference surface tool on the shortcut menu of the 3D surface. A local reference surface created in this way exists in the drawing file only. You can move, copy or mirror local reference surfaces. In addition, you can edit them by using Add point to surface, for example.

If the project has a plane model, you can insert the local reference surface in the plane model by using the Insert or replace reference surface tool in the Planes palette. You can specify how to connect the reference surface with the upper or lower plane of the structural level to which you have added the reference surface.

Do not connect (default setting)
Connect with bottom level
Connect with top level

Note: The reference surface in the plane model is no longer linked with the local reference surface.

You can define the height settings of components in relation to a local reference surface or a reference surface in the plane model. As with custom pairs of reference planes, the component must be in the area of the reference surface from which the component takes its height settings.

Local reference surfaces apply only to the drawing file in which they are located. Once you have inserted a reference surface in a plane model, you can use this reference surface to define the height settings of components in all drawing files. The only requirement is that the components are in the area of this reference surface. Unlike a roofscape, the reference surface need not be assigned to other drawing files.

You cannot change the geometry of a reference surface in a plane model. Extract the reference surface from the plane model or adjust a local reference surface and replace the reference surface in the plane model by selecting Insert or replace reference surface. This does not change the height definition of components.

Note: Reference surfaces cannot replace Roof Frames or roofscapes in all cases: Elements like a Roof Covering or timber elements like Rafters do not have their own height definition. Instead, they take their height settings from the roof frame.

What do you want to do?

Insert a local reference surface in a plane model

Replace a reference surface in a plane model

Extract a reference surface from a plane model

Use reference surfaces multiple times