Create Combined Shapes


Product(s):ProStructures CONNECT Edition
Version(s):CONNECT Edition (10.XX.00.XX)
Environment:N/A
Area:Utilities
Subarea:Utilities
Original Author:Alistair Lobo, Product Advantage Group

Overview

The Combined Shapes option in ‘Create User Shape’ tool allows users to place shapes together to make modelling more efficient and less time consuming.
In some instances, there are shapes that need to be placed together at multiple places in a model. The Combined Shapes option is the best tool for this scenario.

This document will guide you on how to select and create combined shapes, as well as their placement in the drawing model.

Method

1) Create the shapes you want to be placed together and get it to the Object centered view by using the View > Display Tools > Object View Centered

2) Now got to Utilities > Utilities > Create User Shape

3) Right click on the Combined Shapes and select ‘Create catalog’ and give it a name. (In this case ‘My_Test_shapes’)

4) Then click on the newly created folder and select ‘Create Combi Shape’ and then select ‘Create normal resolution’ 

      


5) Now select all the shapes that need to be combined and press the ‘End selection of shapes’ 



6) Then select the insertion points and click on ‘End definition of insertion points’ 



7) After this, you will be prompted to fill in the details in the ‘User Shape Properties’  dialog box and say OK. 



8) Now you will see your newly created shape appearing under the Combined Shapes list and on clicking on that, you will see a preview of the same.



9) To place this new combined shape in the model, go to your model, select Shapes with Shape type = Combined shape,
     under Shape class select the shape you have just created and the shape size, and then click on any of the insertion
     options and place your combined shape.



10)  Then accept the placement and say OK. Your selected combined shape is now placed.

In this way one can create Combined Shapes for any shape combination.
This is a very useful tool to create combined shapes when the project needs some specific requirements.