Definition ranges

Precast Slab module

You can use the Definition Ranges tool to define areas with special attributes, loads, reinforcement and additional reinforcement. Whereas additional reinforcement is only created directly for the defined area, all the other parameters are applied to all precast elements belonging to the definition area even if a precast element only touches this area.

Right-clicking in the input area of the palette opens a shortcut menu where you can show and hide the graphics at the top of the palette and the description at the bottom.
In addition, you can add the currently selected area or parameter to the quick input list and move QuickInput to the top of the palette so that it is the first tab displayed in the palette. Similarly, you can remove the currently selected area or parameter from the quick input list. As soon as you remove the last parameter from the quick input list, the QuickInput tab is hidden. To make sure that QuickInput is always open when the palette starts, select Start with QuickInput on the shortcut menu.

This section provides detailed information on the parameter currently selected. If there is not enough space to display the entire text, three dots at the end of the text indicate that some text is missing. You cannot scroll the description.

To enlarge the section so that you can read the full text, you can increase the width of the entire palette and/or move the line separating the parameter area from the description up.

Basic information

To specify definition areas

1. Click Definition Ranges (How).
   

   Activate Definition Ranges in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Precast Precast Slab

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

   Precast Slab

2. The Define Definition Ranges palette opens. Specify how the area is to be labeled and select the Text display option in the Properties tab.
   

   Apart from choosing not to create a label, you have two options for displaying text:

   • With Option 1, text is created in a two-line table with an outer border. The first line, which consists of two columns, shows the name and priority of the area. The name is displayed with the surface element specified.
     The second line lists all the parameters that have changed and the values defined.
   • With Option 2, text is created in a two-line table with two columns but without an outer border. The first line shows the name and priority of the area.
     The second line lists all the parameters that have changed and the values defined.
3. Define the display options (Line, Pen, Color) of the area and its Surface elements and Priority.
   

   The Priority only has an effect on the parameters of the Attributes, Loads and Reinforcement tabs. It is not included in the calculation of additional reinforcement. Furthermore, the priority is of relevance only when several definition areas are on top of one another. In this case, the definition area that has the highest Priority always applies in the overlapping area. If the overlapping definition areas have the same Priority, the area that is valid is chosen randomly by the program.

4. Enter the relevant area depending on the setting you have made in the input options:
   • When set to Polyline, enter the outline of the area using polyline entry tools.
   • When set to Room edge, enter an offset in the dialog line, if necessary, and click a room edge.
   • When set to Panel full, select one or more slab elements. The area is created over the whole panel area.
     

     • To select a single element, click it.
     • To select elements in a region, use the left mouse button to open a selection rectangle around the elements you want to select
     • To include all the elements in the current document, click All in the Input options or press CTRL+A. Please note that this option is not available for all tools.

     For more information on the options available for selecting elements in Allplan, see Selecting elements, overview.

     When selecting elements, you can use the Filter Assistant to apply a filter based on element types and/or properties. For more information, see Filter Assistant.

   • When set to Panel edge, enter an offset in the dialog line, if necessary, and click the edge of a single panel.
   • When set to Line, enter the start point and end point of the line. The definition range is created according to the following rules:
     • If the specified point lies on the edge of a panel, the panel edge you click is used as the boundary of the range.
     • If the defined point is within a panel, the program creates a line parallel to the span direction of the panel. This line serves as the boundary of the definition range.
       Please note that the boundaries of the definition range will not update when you change the span direction later.
5. Define the parameters of the definition range using the Attributes, Loads, Reinforcement, Additional Reinforcement and, if necessary, Attached Reinforcement at Bottom and Attached Reinforcement at Top tabs.
6. Press ESC to create the definition range.

   If you have selected a text display option and entered one or more values in at least one tab (Attributes, Loads or Reinforcement), a label with the values of the changed parameters is attached to the crosshairs.
   If you have entered values on the Additional Reinforcement tab only, the program does not create a label.

7. Specify the text parameters and the label's angle of rotation and place the label or press ESC if you want to skip labeling.

   You can place the label later by clicking the definition range with the right mouse button and selecting Label Fixture on the shortcut menu.

Notes:

• You can use Match to match the parameters of a different definition range.
  You can use Reset input parameters to replace a part of the existing parameters with the settings made in the configuration.
  You can use Save as a favorite to save the settings and Load favorite to read the settings back into the palette, where you can modify them. Click Favorite QuickSelect to select from the five favorites you have used most recently.
• To modify the definition range, you can use the properties palette.