CYPE Architecture

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In the "Sketch" tab, the program has new features to create objects from drawing elements. These features can be accessed from the "Sketch" tab in the "Objects" section.

Sketch objects allow us to group lines, surface areas and groups, isolating them from the rest of the elements, with the aim of making it easier to handle sets of drawing elements (move, copy, rotate, symmetries, etc.). The objects also isolate the elements they contain from the rest of the drawing, thus preventing them from overlapping with each other.

When an object is created it is added to a local library, unlike sketch groups that do not have a library.
The library allows users to export and import objects for reuse.

Sketch objects are related to each other, so modifying one object will affect the copies of that object.
To modify an object, users must explode it, make the necessary modifications, and finally recreate the object with the same reference as the one they want to modify. This will overwrite the object in the library and therefore also all its copies.

The "Objects" section of the "Sketch" tab has the following features:

  • Library
    Allows objects to be imported and exported, and access to the object's colours.
  • New
    Creates a new object from lines, surface areas and groups.
  • Insert
    Allows an object from the library to be inserted.
  • Explode
    Allows an object to be broken down into lines, surface areas and groups.
  • Isolate
    Creates a new object from an existing object that will no longer be related to the source object.
  • Add
    Allows lines, surface areas or groups to be added to an existing object. The drawing elements will be added to all copied objects.

Objects interact with the Move, Copy, Delete, Rotate, Symmetry and Scale tools, but do not allow the surface areas' properties to be modified or extruded. To do so, the object must be exploded and then created again.

The program has two new features for grouping or ungrouping drawing elements in the "Sketch" tab. These features can be accessed from the "Sketch" tab in the "Drawing elements" section.

Sketch groups allow us to group lines and surface areas, isolating them from the rest of the elements, with the aim of making it easier to handle sets of drawing elements (move, copy, rotate, symmetries, etc.). The groups also isolate the elements they contain from the rest of the drawing, thus preventing them from overlapping with each other.

The “Sketch” tools interact in the following way with the groups:

  • Move, Copy, Rotate, Scale and Symmetry will affect the whole group.
  • Extrude will affect the surface areas by adding extruded elements to the group.
  • Invert, Edit, Assign colour and Assign label will affect the surface areas, adding the properties to the group.
  • Offset will affect the surface areas but will not add the new offset elements to the group.

Each generated group is unique, modifying an element of a group will not affect copies of the same group. To learn how to create matching sets, see the new feature: "Sketch objects".

As of version 2023.e, some CYPE applications have a new dockable window system that replaces the main screen user interface. As a result, users can now customise the workspace to suit their needs.

The list of applications that have this dockable window system appears at the end of this new feature. In future versions, the number of applications with this window system will be increased.

Dockable windows can be moved and resized. They can be either floating windows, pinned to a location within the application's main dialogue box, dragged outside of it, or even moved to another monitor.

  • Move windows
    A docked window can be moved by clicking on the title bar at the top of the window and dragging it.

    When dragging a dockable window, several visual aids are displayed to make its relocation easier. Next to the cursor, a text box appears containing the title of the dockable window being moved. Whenever the cursor approaches the edge of another window, a box appears showing a preview of the space it would occupy.

    It is possible to leave a window as a floating window without docking it to another window, and it is also possible to dock windows within a floating window. Holding down the CTRL key can prevent a floating window from being docked while it is being moved.

  • Group windows
    It is possible to group several windows in the same space by dragging one window to the top left-hand corner or to the bottom left-hand corner of another window. When this is carried out, tabs will appear at the bottom or top of the group, allowing users to alternate between the grouped windows. If the tabs are at the bottom, the title of the group of windows corresponds to the active window. On the other hand, if the tabs are at the top, they will be used as the title.

  • Show/Hide windows
    The icon to close the window can be found in the top right-hand corner of each dockable window.

    To manage the display of the dockable windows in the user interface, a "Window" button () has been added to the application environment, next to the "General Settings" button (icons on the top right-hand side of the program). By clicking on it, a drop-down menu appears with the available dockable windows and users are able to change their status. In addition, there is the "Reset Window Layout" option which allows users to restore the default workspace.

    In some cases, such as the "Work area" of applications with a 3D environment, the window cannot be hidden. In these cases, the icon for closing the window is not displayed and, in the "Window" menu (), the "Work area" will be locked.

  • Collapse windows
    When several dockable windows are arranged vertically, an icon is displayed, next to the close icon, which allows each window to be expanded or collapsed. When the window is collapsed, it will return to its previous size.

The window layout and display settings are saved when closing the application.

It is important to note that not all floating windows in an application are dockable windows. In order to tell them apart, the icon has been added to the title bar of windows that are dockable.

The following applications now include the new floating window environment in version 2023.e:

  • AcouBAT by CYPE
  • CYPE Architecture
  • CYPE Connect
  • CYPEFIRE
  • CYPEHVAC Hydronics 3D
  • CYPEPLUMBING Water Systems
  • CYPESOUND
  • CYPETHERM LOADS
  • Open BIM Analytical Model
  • Open BIM Construction Systems
  • Open BIM COVID-19
  • Open BIM Layout
  • Open BIM Lightning
  • Open BIM Quantities
  • Open BIM Site
  • StruBIM Steel
  • The floating window environment also includes the "Bill of Quantities" tab in all applications that have this tab.

The program has a wizard that allows users to load space types according to the use of the building. In the first version of this wizard, there are space types for single-family and multi-family dwellings. The space types in the wizard contain the necessary tag information to be read in other programs from the Open BIM workflow.

The categories that exist within each of the layers can be displayed. In addition, the categories within each layer can be switched on and off, the display mode can be changed (normal, transparent and wire) and it can be locked.

To display the categories of a layer, simply expand the layer.

In the 3D view of the application, the model's own shadows can be displayed as well as the shadows cast by adjacent buildings.

Users can choose the solar time for any day of the year on which they wish the shadows to be reproduced, as well as display the sun's position and trajectory.

This new feature is available via the "Options" group of the 3D view in the top right bar of the work area.

The location of the job must be specified by indicating its latitude and north in the "Own elements" window of the "Shadows" option.

As of version 2023.d, when a lift is entered in the model (available in the "Connections" tool of the "Building elements" group in the "Architecture" tab), the program detects the floor slabs it crosses and will add an opening in them automatically. It also detects any walls next to the lift door and, in that case, it also adds an opening to them automatically.

It should be noted that, if the lift is deleted, the lift openings that have been created will remain in the model and must be manually deleted if they are no longer needed in the model.

In previous versions, difficulties could arise when using the "Divide wall or floor slab" and "Edit geometry" tools in plan views ("Building elements" section in the "Architecture" tab). This was because the tools were intended to be used in 3D. The new improvements allow these tools to be used in plan views in a simple and intuitive way.

  • Edit geometry of walls, curtain walls, louvres and railings in plan views
    As of version 2023.d, the "Edit geometry" tool works differently if it is used from a plan view or from a 3D view when being applied to a wall. In plan view the tool will prioritise the movement of the edges instead of the ends, allowing users to stretch the length of the elements in an easy way. 

  • Divide wall at a point
    When the "Divide wall or floor slab" tool is selected, it is now split into two options: "Divide wall or floor slab" and "Divide wall at a point". With "Divide wall at a point", a wall can be divided by a single point in plan views (but also in other types of views), which makes the program easier to use.