Clipping path - defining any section with any viewing direction

Tool(s): Clipping Path

To define any section with any viewing direction

1. Click Clipping Path (How).
   

   Activate Clipping Path in one of the following ways

   • Actionbar:Role Architecture Task Elements Task area Sections

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

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

   General: Roofs, Planes, Sections

   Views and Sections

2. The Create Clipping Path palette opens. Select the Advanced method for Input and define more parameters for the section.

   The following parameters are important for this section type:

   • Select the Normal or Free input option.
     

     You can use this option to define how the viewing direction controls the section display.

     • Normal: The viewing angle is based on the selected elements in plan view.
     • Custom: The view is based on any view, e.g. an isometric view.
   • Select the Observer or Folded reference mode.
     

     You can use this option to specify how to display the section:

     • Observer to display the section from the observer’s viewpoint. The bottom edge is placed so that it is always horizontal; in other words, horizontal edges are always horizontal, regardless of the viewing direction.
     • Folded to display the section as folded. The section is folded so that it is perpendicular to the viewing direction.
   • Specify whether you want to create a soffit.
     

     Using the Soffit option, you can specify whether you want to create a plan view, which is commonly used by architects (option not selected; default setting), or a soffit, which is commonly used by engineers (option selected).

     This option is only available if you have set the reference mode to Observer.

3. Enter the outline of the section object in plan as you would a polyline.
4. The way you continue depends on the input option set:
   • Normal: Click a point in the workspace to define the viewing direction. In order to define the line representing the viewing direction, you can find a number of tools in the input options.
     
     Note: The line representing the viewing direction starts with a circle. If you click within this circle, Allplan takes the view from this point (z-direction for plan view or soffit).
     

     The following drawing aids are provided in the input options to help you define the line for the viewing direction:

     Enter normallines: draw the line as you want, there are no constraints.

     Enter at right angles: all the lines are drawn at right angles (to the system angle set).

     Enter using cursor snap: draws lines based on a cursor snap angle.

     8 Cursor Snap Angle (3-360): defines the cursor snap angle.

   • Free: Set any view, for example an isometric view ( View flyout on the Viewport toolbar).
     
     Click in the workspace to confirm.
     
     Finally, switch back to plan view.
5. To view the section, click Section Display (How).
   

   Activate Section Display in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: View
   • Toolbar List box on Viewport toolbar

Note: The label and clipping line symbols can be moved independently of each other.

Tip: You can change the clipping line using Stretch Entities. To do this, you need to select the Section object option in the Create Clipping Path palette. You can use handles to modify the section object and the entire clipping path.

Tip: You can modify the clipping path by selecting Modify Clipping Path or Properties on the shortcut menu.