Hello. Don't know if this is the best forum for ZAC questions, but the ZAC Forum seems to not get as much traffic so I'll ask here.

Is there a recent tutorial for creating custom ZAC window components? I know there was a video tutorial from Matthew C. about how to create 3d windows, but I'm not sure that method is compatible with the ZAC system.

More specifically, I would like to know what is required in terms of layers for the ZAC system to work correctly- levels of detail for both plan and section, where entities need to be located in relation to the file's origin, etc. Also the importance/necessity of the Opening polyline and the Stretch Axes- what is their purpose and use?

Thanks.

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Christopher Dickson
Camille-Alberice Architects
Asheville, NC USA

Hi Chris,

Easiest way to understand it is to open an extg window file and investigate the layer structure and entities on each layer save as a new name then modify to suit your requirements, just don't move the bottom left corner of stuff as that is all located at absolute zero.

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Warren Payne
Director
Ashton Mitchell Architects Ltd

The ZAC window / door is made up of a component that is a separate drawing file (component file). SPIRIT references this file to display the win/door in the drawing file ZAC wall.

The component file consists of two main parts.
1: the 2D display
2: the 3D display

So when in the drawing file in a plan view SPIRIT will display the 2D part of the component file and when in a 3D view SPIRIT will display the 3D part of the component file.

The Component file has layers for the 2D display and a layer for the 3D display.

Plan Low to Plan Hight are for the 2D drawings that will display the 2D representation of the component in the drawing file. These four layers give the Low to high level of detail.

The layer 3D is for the 3D representation of the win/door in the drawing file.
The Opening Layer is for the cutout of the ZAC wall that creates the void for the window or door.

It must be noted that SPIRIT does not reference the layers as such from the component file but the GoToView and the layer combination of that.

Win/Door components can be fixed size of free size. Free size components have stretch axis added to them. These stretch axis are actually help lines which when used in a component become a stretch axis.

When building a component you must be aware of Absolute 0 and z height 0 for the position of the drawings in the component. SPIRIT uses these as a reference point for the position of the component in the drawing file wall.

This whole system is very clever as it gives us the ability to make any custom component that we want. There is an auto component generator coming but this will be SPIRIT 2010.xxxx

Clear as mud?

Matt

That should round out Chris' appreciation Matt and I think Warren's advice is the sensible and practical application of it but Chris' specific interest was for an outline of the layers which go to form the various component files. That doesn't exist (in the public realm) except by way of use of existing component files.

I produced empty files (with a Z-base, 0,0 marker) for each component type with my favoured settings (as many will have) but these are not much use to Chris as they are metric. There is an argument that a straight list of the component layers is not that useful in the face of a block of basic, empty (component default) files for metric and imperial useage.

It should be quite easy to provide these rather than have each go about deleting and changing to suit every time. Mine are available but they would be suitable to few, (they use AS2700 and particular screen setups which would be just as tedious if you dont use them as the presently included files were for me)

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I keep those in the default folder by the way.

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SKYPE: CALLTO://jaid01

Warren, Matt and Ian-
Thanks for your replies. I think I have (and had) a pretty basic understanding of the principals, principles, and processes of the ZAC component system, but your information is helpful and adds some new information that I didn't previously possess. Specifically, that it is important to keep track of Absolute Zero when creating/modifying components, and that Level of Detail is based upon the GoToView, not layers.

I still think it would benefit some Spirit users who are beginning to jump into custom ZAC component creation to have a detailed tutorial available on the Spirit Website that explains the What, Where, How, and Why of the process in detail. Matt's explanation would be a great starting point.

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Christopher Dickson
Camille-Alberice Architects
Asheville, NC USA

One maybe useful detail : all ZAC components I use and I'd modified are in millimeters units.

George

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George T. Ioannidis
G&N Architects
Athens
Greece

To Create Components as they are at the moment you need 3D knowledge to be able to create the 3D part of the component (Not hard) so I have started some 3D movie tutorials under General Discussion.

Matt