Clash Utility enhancements

The Clash utility uses a new form, which shows all the options; it uses a grid gadget for filtering and grouping and a 3D view of the clash with aid graphics. Simple clipping, navigation, reporting and printing are also available.

When the form is first shown, the current element is selected in the Check field. Users can change this as they wish by typing any Design name or syntax such as ZONE. The element to be checked is always named in this text box. The options available are:

The Clashes are displayed in a grid, with the usual facilities for filtering, grouping etc:

The whole grid can be printed or saved to file by the RH popup menu options:

• Print Preview

• Save to Excel…

It is necessary to scroll the grid to the right to see all the information about the clash such as Position

There are also columns for the primary element that clashes or obstructs; any column can be dragged in the grid to group rows, for example:

The example groups all clashes per branch and then clashes against the same obstruction. This is a common useful grouping so there is an option to set the default presentation.

Other options on this panel are covered by the standard DESCLASH defaults.

In addition to the DESCLASH options there are various other presentation defaults such as the View background colour and options to display aid constructs to in the 3D view.

By default each clash is displayed in a clipped view; the clip box size can resized by direct input or a slider bar above the view – or clipping can be switched off.

When checking for clashes, the default obstruction is All; this mean that the element is checked for clashes against everything in the MDB. In practice, it is perhaps more realistic to check for clashes against specific obstructions. This is specified in the Obstruction/Exclusions panel:

There are several options to help the user add to these lists:

• Current Element

• Pick Element

• Current Selection

• Current List

• All

Remove removes any selected elements and Clear clears the entire list.

The application allows a limits volume to be set so that only clashes within these limits are reported. If all values are zero then there are in effect no limits to the clash check. This can be reset using the Clear button.

The volume box can displayed using the Display option:

To set limits the Position can be directly input or set using the options:

• Current Element

• Picked Elements

• Defined by 2 Picks

• Current Selection

• Current List

The 3D view has all the expected functionality of a standard 3D view and can be Printed and Saved to file by setting focus to the view and selecting from the View > Print Graphics… and Copy Image options.