LSS Arch Entity

Entity Structure

Basically the end result of LSS Arch tool processing is an 'arch' entity.
Typically it is a group of elements (faces and edges), which represents somehow real life object such as wall, column, slab etc. It may also be a set of component instances (in case of opening). Opening entity is slightly more complex, than other entity types so its structure will be described apart from common types.
Usually mentioned group of elements contains faces, which represent object's body and often there is a hidden group, which contains some edges, which represent object's contour (or its axis line). Faces, which represent body of an object are sort of 'passive' part of an entity. Group, which represents object's contour is a sort of 'active' part of an entity.
'Arch' entity group has name, which corresponds to a tool name and each group is placed to a layer, which also corresponds to a tool name.

Entity Attributes

Each group has an attribute dictionary called 'LSS_Arch_Entity', which stores all parameters listed in a corresponding LSS Arch tool dialog inside attributes of this dictionary.
Stored attributes can be grouped into the same groups as parameters listed within corresponding tool dialog:
  1. geometry
  2. materials
  3. reporting
  4. identification
  5. misc
First two groups of attributes ('geometry' and 'materials') could be called 'affecting' or 'active' ones. It means that if an 'affecting' attribute was changed, then 'arch' entity will be also changed after its rebuilding.
'Reporting' group could be called 'passive'. It means that values of reporting attributes are filled with automatically calculated 'measured' geometrical data such as surface areas or volume of created 'arch' object.
Attributes of 'identification' group are used basically for labeling purposes and for creation lists of elements, which contain names and/or reference numbers of elements.

There are two basic ways for access to 'arch' entity's attributes (properties):
  1. using a tool dialog of a corresponding entity type
  2. using 'Properties' dialog: 

First way provides access to properties of only a single picked (selected) 'arch' entity. Also note that it is possible to pick only an entity of a type corresponding to a tool name. The advantage of using a tool to access to 'arch' object's attributes is that tool provides way for direct manipulation of geometrical parameters of picked 'arch' entity such as width, height etc. Tool displays so-called 'adjustment points' or handles (or grips). It is possible to drag those handles and change geometrical parameters interactively immediately observing outcome. In addition to that it is possible to enter values of geometrical parameters right from keyboard while hovering over corresponding handle (adjustment point).
Since the version 1.2.3 each tool also provides ability to specify type of picked object's contour segment (linear, arc, curve). This ability allows to create curved objects easily. Refer to Curved Segments chapter in order to learn more about this feature.
 'Properties' dialog provides read/write access to properties of any (reasonable) number of selected 'arch' objects of all types. So it might be used for viewing reporting summaries about selected 'arch' entities (read access) and for adjusting properties in a batch manner (write access).

Modification Using SketchUp Tools

It is possible to modify 'arch' object using native SketchUp tools such as for example 'Scale' tool. In order to refresh such scaled 'arch' object it is necessary to rebuild it using  'Rebuild' command. Result of rebuilding will be an 'arch' object, which contour was scaled (moved or rotated) but other geometrical parameters remained unchanged.
It is highly recommended to rebuild 'arch' objects, which were created by copying of other previously created 'arch' objects using SketchUp's move tool for example. Especially it is necessary to rebuild objects, which contain openings in order to refresh some internal attributes.
There is no need to rebuild copies, which were made using direct manipulation provided by LSS Arch itself, since extension's own copying logic works as creation of a new object from scratch (not just copying of existing group of faces).

Opening Entity

Opening is a stand-alone type of 'arch' entity. First of all it is a type of entity, which is nested inside other 'arch' entities. It means opening can not exist independently as a group in an active model. It may exist only inside a 'host' entity. Besides only certain types of 'arch' entities may host openings:
The structure of opening entity is more complex in contrast to common 'arch' entity types. Opening entity consists of the following parts:
  1. opening component instance
  2. two 'opening hole' component instances
  3. reveals component instance

Opening component instance contains (optionally):
Opening hole component instance contains a hidden face, which coincides with an opening contour. Hole component glued to a face of a 'host' entity and 'cut hole' option of hole component's behavior is turned on. That's how holes inside 'arch' entities are made. For example if it is necessary to make an empty hole into a floor slab, it is possible to cut an empty opening (without frame, panel and grids).

Reveals component instance contains surfaces of inner and outer opening reveals

Related Information

Learn more about LSS Arch Tool
Learn more about 'Rebuild' command
Learn more about 'Properties' dialog
Learn more about Global Settings
Learn how to make curved segments