Library Items, Doors/Windows/Symbols

All 3D library items have a dxf base. Thus any 3D dxf file can be used. DXF does vary considerably and if a file does not load send it to us and we will take a look.

If you are looking to find out how to make your own library items in In2Space go here:

Types of Library Item

Both are placed and scaled in the same way.

Each type of file has its own unique extension eg: 4 Panel.door etc

Such as ....

Type   Extension
BillBoards   .tga
Doors   .door
Symbols   .symb
Windows   .wind

These are situated in the main Hard Disk path:-

HD/Library/Application Support/In2Space/In2SpaceLibrary.

Then in individual nested folders as appropriate; for example

Doors   Exterior
    Garage
    Gates
    Internal

 

How to create your own symbols....

Library items are made in Plan view.

Use Export as Library in FILE to save an in2s model as a Library item. You must preserve the Layer System and Profiles described below for Materials and cutting of apertures to work properly. Templates for each library type is shipped with the sample files.

TIP. When pasting from PCadd use coarse polygons with few points as this will reduce the size of the library item. It is very easy to balloon the size of library item with very fine curves, the use of more objects, or increaing the complexity of objets that are not seen. Simplicity and coarse curves are needed to ensure small in Mb terms objects are created.

Remember Symbols are placed by their origin we have a convention of top left bottom corner of object. Be sure to move the made library to the origin before exporting.

When in Export to Library you will be asked to select which type of Library items you are saving. ie Door/Window/Symbol. After making your choice the file will be saved to the USER folder in the main Folder. Eg Door/USER

3D symbols are simply 3D DXF files. If they are to function as Window or Door items they need a cutting profile as described below. PROFILE must exist as a Layer in the in2space file. Colors are mapped as Layers in Library export. But you MUST follow the LAYER system as described below. Best to use the templates until you understand the system.

Simple rules must be followed for these library items to work.

The profile must be an enclosed polygon. It must be placed on a LAYER called PROFILE.

Each Library type must use Materials as described below. These will be mapped to the appropriate object in the library item on Export. They need little explanation.

A Window must have Materials named as follows..

Frame
Sill
Panel
Lintle
Furniture
Glass

A Door must have Materials named as follows..The

Frame
Door
Panel
Furniture

 

A Symbols must have Materials named as follows..

Mat1
Mat2
Mat3
Mat4

 

If using another modeller you simply save as DXF. V10 is ideal as files are small. Follow the rules on use of LAYERS as described below to ensure materials are mapped properly. Ensure doors and windows are in the correct plane, FRONT view is the front of the model when placed.

Cutting Profile

Doors and windows use a cutting plane. This has its own special layer which must be called profile. The profile can be anywhere within the item's vertical plane. It is simply a Polygon FACE (3 or more points connected). This face is used to cut the wall and position the item on the surface of the wall. The polygon will have a winding or normal which must be running clock wise.

Careful positioning of this cutting plane will allow for accurate placing of doors and windows with frames nestling up to the wall surface etc.

 

Important

If no 3D object is present in a library file the profile becomes a cutting plane as in the Cut Profiles collection.

Layers and Materials
Each Layer in the model is mapped to an aspect of the Library item: eg: Layer DOOR is where the Door 3D model must be. When the library item is read into i2s it looks to this layer for its material. The table below indicates how materials are mapped. As long as you make the 3D dxf file with this basic layer structure it will work.

 

Table of Layer Names
Doors

Layers used in Door Libraries

 

  
FRAME Frame Color
PANEL

Can be used to color panels in doors
DOOR Door Color
FURN Color of Handles etc
PROFILE Cutting profile. Not visible.
THICKNESS In2Space reads this as the thickness if no default.Not visible.
Windows
Additional Layers in Windows  
SILL Sill Color
LINTLE Lintel Color
Symbols
Symbols have a Simple Layer name System  
MAT1  
MAT2  
MAT3  
MAT4  

Headers.

If you are making your own library files you do not actually have to do the Header file for them to work. But if you want defaults enabled then you need to prepare the header.

Headers are the first few lines in a file. In the case of Library files they are Text based. The headers control the size and colors used when the item is first used. The 3D library files can be opened with Text Edit or any word processor. TGA files are binary and cannot be edited manually. To edit the file simply open with Text Edit and add the following information. You can of course just open a stock in2s library file and simply copy the information to the newly made item.


Typical anatomy of a 3D Window library file. Sizes are in mm
Label Applies to
0
SECTION		  
2
IN2SPACE		 Indicates this is an In2Space header.
10
761.5 		width
20
279.4 		thickness
30
2032 		height
31
2032 		sill height
1
White 		frame
2
Oak 		sill color
3
Glass 		panel color
4
Black 		lintel color

5
Steel

furniture color

6
Glass

glass color
0
ENDSEC		 End of the In2Space header.

 

2D Billboard Symbols

Billboards are Targa files: A common format. Preview for example will save TGA files.

A billboard has an Alpha channel. The alpha channel is read and rendered transparent by in2s. Typically this is the background to clip out the image contained. Alpha channels can be made in Photoshop and also by Preview and most image editors. Its beyond the scope of this article to cover the technical aspect of making Alpha channels.

Important

The targa file must conform to a specific size. We render using the industry standard OpenGl engine. Apple UI is driven by OpenGl.

This means that each edge must conform to a proportion of the square of 2. Eg 4*4, 8*8, 16*16, 32*32, 64*64, 128*128, 256*256 etc. It does not have to be square.

The image left is 256*512.

 

Tips

Sketch UP.

In2Space can read SU 3D DXF files no problem. But you must make sure that components are exploded. SU does not explode components when exported as a DXF file. Also ensure that the + red axis is to the left when facing the item. This ensures the item is the correct way around in 3D space. Don't forget to use layers appropriately as discussed earlier in this section. You may need to manipulate normal's in SU to read properly in in2s. We only display 1 side of an object which means we gain 50% in re-draw speeds.

One problem with SU dxf files is that they are big! Typically 4 times bigger than they need to be. If you have a big file send it to us and we can squeeze it down for you.

Don't forget to make appropriate Layers and a Profile poly to make the cut.