The predefined work section structure "France - UNTEC Method" has been added when creating a new "Set of measurement rules" (Open BIM Quantities) or a "Mapping file" (applications with a "Bill of quantities" tab).
Update history
- Solutions
- CYPE Lightning
- Update history
CYPE Lightning
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 (
- 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
The following applications now include the new floating window environment in version 2023.e:
- AcouBAT by CYPE
- CYPE Architecture
- CYPE Connect
- CYPEFIRE
- CYPEHVAC 3D
- CYPEPLUMBING Water Systems
- CYPESOUND
- CYPETHERM LOADS
- Open BIM Analytical Model
- CYPE Construction Systems
- Open BIM COVID-19
- Open BIM Layout
- CYPE 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.
Since version 2022.a, the applications integrated within the Open BIM workflow via the BIMserver.center platform include a tool for managing project reference systems. This option is available from the configuration window that appears when linking or updating a BIMserver.center project via the "Geographic location and reference system" option. As of version 2023.d, the applications now allow users to run a graphical environment where they can visually define a reference system for their model. To do this, the "Geographic location and reference system" window now contains the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" option.
From the "Visual editing of the local reference system of the model" window, the origin and orientation of the reference system of the model can be indicated in the workspace with the "Define the reference system of the partial model" tool. Both the axes of the reference system of the model, which we have just entered and the axes of the reference system of the site can be viewed in the workspace. The latter appears with a "Site" tag.
To make it easier to define the reference system, the 3D models corresponding to the BIMserver.center project contributions selected during the linking process are displayed. The management of the visibility and object snaps of these models is carried out from the "Elements read" menu in the left sidebar of the window. The "Views" menu can also be found in the same options bar, from which different types of 2D and 3D views of the model can be generated. These tools can already be found in several CYPE applications. For more information on how they work, please refer to the User’s Manual for the 3D work environment tools available in CYPE applications.
Apart from 3D models, 2D drawings or plans can also be imported from CAD files (".dxf", ".dwg", ".dwf") or images (".jpeg", ".jpg", ".bmp", ".png", ".wmf", ".emf", ".pcx"). These files and object snaps are managed through the "DXF-DWG Template" and "Template object snaps" options accordingly.
Once the editing is complete, the coordinates and orientation of the reference system of the model with respect to the reference system of the site are moved to the corresponding fields in the "Geographic location and reference system" window.
As of version 2023.d, all applications with a "Bill of quantities" tab now have a new set of tools that allow users to measure the work area. More specifically, the following options have been added:
- Measure length
The distance between points inserted in the work area can be measured. Several segments can be entered and the application will calculate the sum of the lengths of each one. - Measure area
The area of a polygon defined by points inserted in the work area can be measured. Several polygons can be entered and the application will calculate the sum of the areas of each one. - Measure angle
The three-point angle inserted in the work area can be measured. Several angles can be defined and the application will calculate the sum of them. - Count the number of objects
The number of selected 3D model objects can be counted. - Measure the area of objects
The total area of the selected 3D model objects can be measured. - Measure the volume of objects
The total volume of the selected 3D model objects can be measured.
In order to make it easier to measure the quantities of the model, the work area has been modified to incorporate the 3D work environment tools that are already available in other CYPE Open BIM applications:
- Defining views
Different types of 2D and 3D views of the model can be generated from the "Views" panel in the sidebar of the work area. - Elements read
The visibility and object snaps of model components can be controlled from the "Elements read" panel in the sidebar of the work area. - Inserting components
When entering a measurement in the work area, the application provides a toolbar to make it easier for users to interact with the environment.
As well as measuring the 3D model, this new set of tools can be used to take measurements on plans or 2D drawings imported from CAD files (".dxf", ".dwg", ".dwf") or images (".jpeg", ".jpg", ".bmp", ".png", ".wmf", ".emf", ".pcx"). These files and the object snaps are managed through the "DXF-DWG Templates" and "Template object snaps" options respectively.
In order to use the measurements in the project's bill of quantities in a simple way, a button with a blue arrow has been added to the editing panel of the detail lines next to the editing window of each variable (A, B, C and D). Clicking it will assign the value of the measurement made on the work area to the variable.
The option to "Zoom" into the 3D model element has been added in the following cases:
- "Quantities of the BIM model" tab in Open BIM Quantities
In previous versions, users could frame a component of the IFC model in the 3D view. The same can now be done for the different groups of elements (types, entities, structure, layers and groups).
- "Bill of quantities" tab in applications
In previous versions, users could frame the elements used in a quantity detail line of the bill of quantities in the 3D view. The same can now be done for items and work sections.
The "Font size" option has been added to the general configuration menu of the applications. This tool allows users to increase or decrease the basic size of the font used in the user interface of the programs. Thanks to this implementation, the accessibility of the applications has been improved while also ensuring the correct visibility of the content on devices with different screen resolutions.
To enter a "Basic size" the "Set custom font size" option must be checked. The size users can enter is the application's basic font size. Any other font sizes that may exist in the program's interface will be automatically modified proportionally according to the change in the basic size.
It is important to note that, as this is a common parameter, its modification will affect all installed CYPE tools.
A new tool has been implemented in the user interface that is common in Open BIM applications with a 3D working environment. Now, the management of the elements from the digital model of the building, which comes from the associated BIMserver.center project, is carried out from the "Elements read" menu located in the left sidebar of the application.
The elements read are structured in the form of a tree based on two classification types: "Models" and "Categories". The organisation by "Models" allows users to inspect each contribution linked to the job and each associated 3D model within it. On the other hand, the "Categories" group the "Elements read" into families according to their features. Next to each tree component, three buttons are displayed to control the visibility, the display mode (solid, transparent or wire) and the object snap. It should be noted that the organisational settings applied to the organisation by "Models" prevail over those indicated by "Categories".
Applications can have default visibility and object snap settings when creating a new view. Furthermore, when entering new components with the tools in the program, the application itself can force the activation or deactivation of the visibility and object snaps of certain categories. When this happens, a yellow padlock will be displayed next to the set options. When users finish using the tool, the tree will return to its original state.
In previous versions, the management of the visibility of BIM project models was carried out in the configuration panel of a view. As a consequence of this improvement, editing is now managed from the "Elements read" menu in the left sidebar and has therefore been removed from the previous location. However, in the editing panel of a view users can indicate whether the view should have its own configuration for viewing these elements or whether it should use the general configuration of the job. For this purpose, the "Use a specific view configuration for the view" option has been added. When this option is active, the "View" text will appear in the "Elements read" menu.
In addition to the component tree of the external models, the "Elements read" menu includes a toolbar with a group of buttons that allow the following actions to be carried out:
- Isolate selection
Allows elements from the 3D model to be isolated. Users can select the elements of the 3D model that they wish to isolate and when right-clicking on them, the rest of the elements from the model will disappear. - Hide
Allows the selected elements to be hidden. Users can select the elements from the 3D model that they wish to hide and by right-clicking on them, they will disappear. - Show all
Shows all hidden elements. - Aspect
Allows users to choose between normal drawing or monochrome drawing. - BIM information
Displays a panel showing the attributes associated with the selected component.
In version 2023.a, the management of visibility and object snaps of external elements is available in the following CYPE Open BIM applications:
- CYPE Architecture
- CYPELEC Distribution
- CYPELEC Electrical Mechanisms
- CYPELEC PV Systems
- CYPEPLUMBING Water Systems
- CYPETHERM RE2020
- CYPEURBAN
- Open BIM Analytical Model
- CYPE Construction Systems
- Open BIM COVID-19
- CYPE Lightning
- Open BIM Sampling
- Open BIM Site
Version 2021.g of CYPE’s programs is a closing version of the 2021 version.
As well as the new features and improvements expressly indicated in each version of CYPE software, process optimisation involving internal updates for all our programs is normally included. In each revision, all programs are systematically checked and changes are made to improve their performance, therefore, we recommend that our users (in this case those of v.2021) always update their version to the latest one, regardless of the country for which they are using CYPE software or the language in which it is installed.
A tool has been added with which users can modify the coordinate system of the application. This tool is being implemented in several applications. In the 2021.a version, the tool is available in the following applications:
- IFC Builder
- CYPECAD MEP
- CYPEHVAC
- CYPEPLUMBING Sanitary Systems
- CYPEPLUMBING Water Systems
- CYPEPLUMBING Solar Systems
- Open BIM Lighting
- CYPELUX
- CYPELUX CTE
- CYPELUX RECS
- CYPELUX HQE
- CYPELUX LEED
Some CYPE OPEN BIM programs have a 3D workspace to enter the elements of the installation. This 3D interface is currently available in the following applications:
- Open BIM Analytical Model
- CYPE Construction Systems
- Open BIM Model Checker
- Open BIM Vertical Connections
- CYPE Lightning
- CYPEHVAC Ductwork
- Open BIM MOVAIR
- Open BIM RenoZEB - Focchi Facades
- Open BIM TVITEC
- Open BIM UNEX
- Open BIM URSA AIR
- Open BIM VAILLANT
- CYPELEC PV Systems
A user guide for the tools of this 3D workspace is published with the 2020.f version.
Download it here: 3D workspace. 3D workspace tools user guide.
The "Bill of quantities" tab has been included in the 2020.e version. Now, users have tools that can be used to generate and manage the bill of quantities of the elements that have been introduced in these programs.
More information on this new feature can be found in the "Bill of quantities" tab in project phase Open BIM applications section, which affects several CYPE Open BIM programs.
