Contents:
Greetings ---- Getting Started ---- Using this KIT ---- Reporting Problems

OPEN IN SEPARATE WINDOW

The Fences eKit comes from our personal efforts to maximize the 3D output of ADT while working at the rate of traditional 2D AutoCAD drafting. What we focused on therefore, was the process of getting linework in 2D Construction Documents that are equivalent to simple Line and Pline outlines but with the added benefit of getting good Elevations, Perspectives and 3D Renderings.  Fences have been created with Railing Styles because of the various options and features offered by this object.  In many cases we have added numerous custom Blocks to make fences that look more like actual fences instead of railings..  Because of these custom Blocks you may find some modifications a bit tricky; but if you are well versed in working with Styles and custom Blocks, you should be able to modify these styles to do almost anything you want. 

Windows	Use Explorer to Unzip and Move Folder to Location described below
Menu	Design> Design Content
Keyboard	ADC
Links
Download	fences.zip - To use this product you must purchase an access code.
$20.00 US	Access Code

The first task you must complete in order to get going is that of downloading the eKit.  The "fences.zip" file contains all of the information needed to draw, view and render the objects discussed here.  Once you have downloaded the .zip file to your local machine, unzip the contents of the .zip file into a temporary folder so you can then copy the contents to the Design Folder within Architectural Desktop's Content Folder.  The Zip file comes complete with the subfolder structure illustrated to the left so all you have to do is Drag the  "Fences folder to the Design Folder within your Architectural Desktop's Content > Imperial Folder location.  This is usually located on your hard drive under Program Folders; see Autodesk Architectural Desktop 3 or Autodesk Architectural Desktop 3.3.

Included with this KIT you will also find a Rendering Folder containing a sample Rendering Template File and sample Materials that are designed to demonstrate how easy and how quick it is to create great looking renderings with little to no additional work.  Put the Rendering Template File anywhere you can gain quick access to it and copy the material files to the "Textures" folder under Architectural Desktop 3.3

Once you have added the Fences Folder to your ADT Content Folder, you should find that the DesignCenter will now see a new Content Folder - as illustrated to the right.  From the Fences Folder, you can now drag-n-drop as with any other ADT content items.

Menu	Design > Railings > Railing Styles...
Keyboard	RailingStyle
Links	Chain Link Fence - Additional Comments - for additional information on altering the display representation for Model Display

This Kit was designed to be used through the DesignCenter in ADT but since it is basically comprised of Railing Styles with custom Blocks, you can employ any means you see fit to use this KIT.  Illustrated to the right is an example of how the Fence Styles appear, once loaded into a drawing file, in the Railing Style Manager Window.

In many cases, we tend to copy Fences from one design into another because they have unique settings that we don't want to bother repeating.   The Copy/Paste method of importing ADT Styles is valid.  You can also use the Import feature of the Style Manager to access other drawing files.

To minimize the detail of Fences in Construction Documents, we altered the default Plan Display Representation to use a linetype and/or Post location as illustrated to the right.  To alter this in any way, Select a Fence, right-click and use the Entity Display... option on the object specific pop-up menu to Edit Display Props...  On the Layer/ Color/ Linetype tab you can alter the Linetype (see "fence_centerline_plan"), turn it and other components On or Off and even change the Colors.

Menu	Design> Railing> Add Railing...
Keyboard	RailingAdd

Since these Fences are actually Railing Styles, you can use the Add Railing dialog box to place them in your drawing.  All of the fences in this Kit come with a set of pre-configured values such as a Width, Height and Justification but any style that has the prefix "X" in the Style Name will allow for variations of these settings.  Railings generally don't have options on the Add Railing dialog so you will need to use the Properties or Style tools to make changes to these fence styles.

When Adding Fences, you will not find many options for changes so accepting the default options is usually the best approach.  After drawing a fence, you can use the Railing Properties dialog box to make Height and Distance adjustments - as discussed below.

Menu	Design> Railing> Modify Railing... [Properties button]
Keyboard	RailingModify [Properties button]
Mouse	Select object, Right-click > Railing Properties...

We have attempted to use as many of the native Railing components as possible so you can more easily make unique adjustments but some fences rely on a lot of custom Block objects and you many find adjustments difficult to manage.   Illustrated to the right is the Railing Properties dialog box that you can use to make basic changes to the Heights and Distances for Guardrails, Handrails, Bottomrails, Posts, Dynamic ( in between ) Posts and Balusters.  By playing with these settings you should be able to figure out how we attached some of the custom blocks so you can control their heights.  In the case of Fences, we did not use Guardrails, Handrails and Balusters in the traditional translation of these terms but more as controllers of other components.

In the illustration to the left, for example, you can adjust the Height of the Guardrail but if you don't match the adjusted Height for the Handrail, the Custom Screen Block will protrude up through the Handrail.  This object was actually created with a custom Window Style and if you look for it, you could alter its dimensions to match whatever you need here.

Menu	View > Render > Render...
Keyboard	Render

A Rendering Template File has been included with this Kit and all you have to do is Xref your Fence Design into this Template file to get instant results.   In this Rendering Template File, materials have already been configure to automatically map to the color assignments we set for the various objects and styles within this kit so metal fences will automatically render as iron and logs will automatically render as gray cedar/redwood.  The great thing about the rendering template file system is that you can modify it, save it with a unique name and use it to generate another Fence rendering that uses completely different colors and materials; i.e, in one rendering you could have white painted fences but in another you could have stained cedar fences.

Note:
If you see any material error messages or simply notice that the Rendering results do not appear to show the materials illustrated to the right, you may not have set the Rendering Type correctly or checked the Apply Materials checkbox.  If these settings are correct but you still don't see materials, you may not have the default Material Library that comes with AutoCAD and Architectural Desktop.  You will need to get them from your Installation CD.  The default materials reside in a folder named "Textures" and this folder should be under the AutoCAD or Architectural Desktop's location ( under Program Files on your computer ).

Menu	View > Render > Materials...
Keyboard	Rmat
Colors	Material Name	Material Type	Attachment
23	DEF_ WOOD_ LITE	Gray Cedar/Redwood	Decorative Elements in Fences
33	DEF_LIME	Yellow Limestone	Columns along Fences
34	DEF_AGG	Aggregate	Concrete Fence Top
35	DEF_CEDAR	Light Grain	Wood Fences
72	DEF_GREN	Flat Dark Green	Iron Fence
135	DEF_STON	Stone	Concrete Fence Base
141	DEF_GLASS	Clear Reflective Glass	Glazed Railing Insert
249	DEF_BLCK	Flat Black	Iron Fence
253	DEF_ALUM	Aluminum	Chain Link Fence
255	DEF_WHTE	Flat White Paint	Picket Fences

For all of the objects and styles in the this Kit, we have assigned default color values that were designed to work together with a default material map.  The system we have employed here is actually part of a larger color system that we have been working on for a couple of years now.  You can see the evolving color chart as it applies to ADT by looking for the "Aec Object Style Colors" chart on the Cover Page for the ADT Development eGuide and the ADT Presentation eGuide.

Illustrated to the right I show what the Materials dialog box will look like when you work in one of our Rendering Template Files.   The list of "DEF_*" materials indicate the default materials we have assigned to the Colors within the Multi-View Blocks and Object Styles that come with this Kit.  You should find that there are more materials than we have used because we are continually adding materials in an effort to create a complete package that will cover everything from Foundations to Skies.  You can use any of these materials to replace those that we have assigned by default and create completely different rendering results.

Illustrated to the right I show the four basic steps required to change a default material mapping.

1) Find the Color Number assigned to the Multi-View object or Object Style Component and highlight it under the "Select ACI" column.

2) Use the Detach button to remove the default mapping assignment.

3) Find another Material in the "Select a Material" column and highlight it.

4) Use the Attach -> button to map the new material to the current Color.

When you Render your scene again, you should see a new material in place of the previous one.

If you wish to use a material that is not in the Default list, you can use the Materials Library... button on the Materials dialog box to Find and Import a material from AutoCAD's Texture Folder.

Our Chain Link Fence is a bit unique due to the need for this object to be "realistic" in Elevations, Isometrics and Renderings.  In order to provide the best solution for all cases, we used a Window Style with a 2D Muntin as part of the Fence or Railing Style.  To allow for a Chain Link look in Renderings, we assigned the Glass Color 19 and included a Chain Link image that will automatically be mapped to this Color in our Rendering Template File.   In order to make this obvious to you, the Glass is On by default and will appear as a Solid Black Color in shaded modes.   If you want to view your Model with this effect turned Off, use the WindowStyle command to Edit the "Fence_chain_link" Window Style.  On the Display Props tab, make sure the Display Representation is set for "Model" and then use the Edit Display Props... button to access the Layer /Color/Linetype tab where you can now turn Off the "Glass" Component.

Note:
You will need to turn the "Glass" Component On again when Rendering.

This Kit was developed first to serve our personal drafting, design and presentation needs and secondly to be an equally valuable asset in your toolkit for ADT work.  This means that though we have done our best to remove all the bugs, there are likely to be some odd things that we just never encountered or thought about.  If you find a bug or would like to recommend an improvement, please feel free to inform us at the following e-mail address:

kits@archidigm.com