Home > SIX 2013 Documentation > User Guide > Projects > Visio Interface > Visio Shapes for SIX > Elevation Shapes

Elevation Shapes

Details

 

Elevation shapes are shapes that scale automatically based on the dimensions of a Product and are located in the Elevation Shapes Visio stencil.

 

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Shape Data Window

 

All user adjustments are accessed through the Shape Data window. 

 

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Most used adjustments can also be access by right-clicking on a shape.

 

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Show  Text Blocks:  This will show or hide the text block in the middle of the shape.  This text block can be moved outside of the shape by moving the little yellow dot in the middle of the shape.  Default is set to True.

Merge Text Blocks:  You can break out the text block into separate Manufacturer, model and Component ID text blocks with separate movement options.  Default is set to True.

Snap Text Block Position:  You can have the text snap to specific areas on the shape or if  you turn it off you can free form the text.  Default is set to True

Show Text Callout: This displays a line that connects the text to the shape.  Default is set to True.

Show Faceplate Text:  Faceplate text is smaller text that stays within the shape and is designed to mimic the look and feel of actual manufacturer equipment.  Usually used with the Text Blocks set to False.  This is handy for creating photo real shapes. Default is set to False.

 


 

Hide Model:  This will hide the model on both the text block and faceplate text.  Good for hiding info on jobs that could get shopped. 

Mount Type:   There are four different mount types:

  • Rack: Show ears, no feet, hide feet.  If the Rack Mounted check box is checked in the specifications section of the Product Editor (double-click on a shape) then the Mount Type will be set to "Rack" on drop.
  • Shelf: Hide ears, has feet, show feet
  • Faceplate: Hide ears, has feet, don't show feet  (this setting is used for items that go in a rack with a custom cut faceplate)
  • None: Hide ears, no feet, hide feet  (this setting is generates a generic, scale box shape)

 


 


 

Color of Screws & Feet: Easily change the color of the screws and feet on the shape

Color of Rack Ears: Easily change the color of the rack ears

Feet Height:  The feet in these shapes automatically adjust based on the height and the width of the parent shape.  However there are edge cases where the shape just does not look right with too big or small feet.  It is kind of nit-picky but we decided to give the user the ability to fine tune the feet height to make the shape look better.  Default is set to 100%

Color of Faceplate:  Easily change between black, white and three shades of gray.  There is some code in the shape that will turn the text black or white automatically depending on the faceplate color.  Nice feature for creating photo real shapes.  Default is set to White.

Faceplate Pattern: Most of the current D-Tools shapes have a subtle shading that makes them look like they are lit from the top left.  This option allows you to turn it on or off.  Default is set to solid.


 

Rack Size:  While most electronics are made for 19" racks there are some edge cases that use half rack and 23" rack sizes. Changing this will only affect shapes that have Mount Type set to Rack by changing the rack ear size based on the overall width of the device. These match up with the new equipment rack shape detailed below. Default is set to 19"


Unified Shape Data UI:  Unified the Shape Data window across all shapes. This is a new Visio feature that allow you to edit multiple shapes at once. For example, in the past you had to customize each shape one at a time. If I wanted to deploy rack ears across a group of shapes all I have to do is open the Shape Data window (in Visio 2010 View->Task Panes->Shape Data). Highlight the shapes you want to customize and choose the right option. You can also easily modify the Text Blocks, feet and ears, color of feet, ears and screws, and adjust the feet height. This is a HUGE time saver.

 

Missing Dimensions

 

Elevation shapes have a feature that deals with the long-standing issue of what happens when there are not dimensions associated with the product.  In previous versions of D-Tools if there was a missing height/width dimension in the data then the shape would render effectively invisible.

To solve this issue we added some code to all of the elevation shapes that will render a missing dimensions graphic if either the height or width of the object has a zero value.  If you drop a shape on to a page and you see the warning below all you have to do is double-click on the shape to open the product editor, go to the specification tab and enter in the correct dimensions.

 

RealPic Shapes

 

RealPic shapes function the same as the Generic shapes with the exception that they look exactly like the product that they are representing.  We developed a process that uses the actual front panel image for a perfect representation of the product. Click here for more information.

 

Top View Plan Scale Shape

 

This shape responds to the width and depth dimensions to automatically scale to the proper dimensions.  It is designed to be used in the plan page but can be used on any page.  It is a pretty simple shape and doesn't do much except show the width and depth of the object.  The new shape utilizes the Shape Data window.  Not sure if this will make it into the first release of SIX but SIX.x will have functionality similar to the side view so the user can generate either a top or side view or both and have the components not count in the final project total.  

 

 

Side View

 

This shape responds to the Height and Depth dimensions of the specific product.  Again a pretty simple shape with the same movable text options as the other shapes.  This one can be used as a stand alone shape or it can be used as a functional copy (same component ID) by using the right-click D-Tools->Shape->Generate Side View.  If you toggle the Rack Mount option to TRUE you will not see the feet.

 

Equipment Rack

 

A shape literally 14 years in the making.  This is a unique and complex shape that will automatically draw just about any 19", 23", Half equipment rack you can name with just the overall width, overall height and number of rack units from the database.  It has built-in connection points at each 1.75" rack space and all of our elevation shapes and designed to "snap" into place at these 1.75" increments.  Same text options as the other shapes and you can also change the color and adjust the headers with the shape data window.  The header adjustment is for racks that are not symmetrical on the top and bottom.

 

We added a Shape Data UI for Rack Style so this same shape could be used for 19", 23" and Half racks.  Default is 19".

 

DIN Rail Shapes

DIN Panel/Rail/Enclosure

The DIN Panel/Enclosure shape is a multi-function shape that changes based on the dimensions and the Shape Data UI settings.   It is stored on the Elevation Shapes stencil with the name DIN Panel/Enclosure.  Depending on the dimensions and settings this shape can look like an enclosure with one or more DIN rails, a rack panel with one or more DIN rails or a single DIN rail.

 

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The DIN Enclosure Shape Data UI is where the magic happens.  Here are the fields that you can adjust to get the shape to look the way you want it to.

  • DIN Rail Count will allow you to add more rails, up to 10 within the enclosure.  Each rail that you add has a yellow control handle dot that can be used to move the rail vertically within the enclosure.
  • Mount Type has just two choices.  None, which does nothing and Rack which adds rack ears to the shape
  • Rail Height allows you to set the height of the DIN rail.  This is set to the most common size 1.38 in as a default.
  • Rail Margin allows you to set the rails top, bottom and sides at a specific distance from the enclosure sides.   

 

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DIN Component

The DIN Component is a pretty simple shape.  It is designed to snap in the middle-center of the shape to the DIN Rail shapes.  If you use the text control handle to move the text away from the shape the text will grow in size.  It will also shrink if you put it back in the shape.

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