Use the Space tool’s Preferences to set the default parameters for space objects before you create them, including the label style, automatic numbering, boundary calculations, and 3D graphic attributes. For maximum control over the display of spaces, you can set default classes for the label, label leader line, 2D attributes, 3D attributes, and the entire space object. Preference settings are an easy way to apply common, consistent settings to all spaces.
The space’s 2D graphic attributes are not taken from the Preferences settings. Instead, set the appropriate fill and pen styles in the Attributes palette before you create the spaces.
Once the spaces have been created, use the Object Info palette to edit the properties of individual spaces, including space name and occupant, room finishes, and any additional data attached to the space. The items that are changed most frequently are available on the Shape tab. To access the full set of space properties, click the Settings button to open the Space Settings dialog box.
The properties that are available from the Object Info palette are determined by the Advanced Settings pane on the Space Settings dialog box. See Space Settings: Advanced Settings Pane for details.
To reduce the time required to regenerate space objects after properties are edited, Vectorworks only regenerates the space components that are changing and only recalculates the bounds of the spaces if necessary. To force the complete regeneration of edited space objects, select Tools > Utilities > Reset all Plug-Ins.
The fields that display on the Space Settings dialog box are slightly different, depending on whether you access the dialog box with the Preferences button of the Space tool or with the Settings button from the Object Info palette.
The settings are grouped into several panes of related parameters. Select each group of parameters from the list in the left pane of the dialog box; the parameters display in the center pane.
The right pane of the dialog box always displays a preview of the space label based on the current settings. To edit the appearance of any of the space labels (for example, to change the font size or the pen color), click the label’s Edit Layout button at any time.
A few controls can be edited directly from the Object Info palette, as described in Space Properties.
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Space Label Preview |
Dynamically displays a preview of the space label with the currently selected parameters; see Space Settings: Space Label 1, 2, and 3 Panes Space Label 1 previews by default. Space Label 2 and Space Label 3 preview only if Enable multiple labels is selected on the Advanced settings pane and Display Space Label is selected on the Space Label 2/3 pane. |
Edit Layout |
Click to enter object editing mode to edit the format of the specified label; see Object Editing Mode |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Space Number |
When you set the default preferences for the Space tool, if the Space Number Style is Manual, leave this field blank and add the numbers to spaces after they are created. For all other numbering styles (auto-numbering), the field displays the Next value and cannot be edited. When you edit a space using the Settings button from the Object Info palette, if the Space Number Style is Manual, enter a number for this space. For all other numbering styles (auto-numbering), the field displays the space’s assigned number and cannot be edited. |
Space Number Style |
Specifies the type of numbering to use on space objects. ● Select Manual to enter a number for each space manually in the Space Number field. ● Select Counter Only to have the Vectorworks program automatically assign the next available number to each space as it is created. ● If custom number styles were created, they display at the bottom of the list; select the style to use to auto-number each space as it is created. |
Edit Number Styles |
Opens the Edit Number Style dialog box to create or edit number styles. See Custom Number Styles for details. |
Auto-Number Settings |
Specify the following values if auto-numbering is in use (that is, Space Number Style is not set to Manual) |
Start value |
Specifies the numeric value to assign to the first new space |
Increment |
Specifies the amount to increment the numeric value of each new space; this number is automatically added to the Next value each time a space is created |
Next value |
Specifies the numeric value to assign to the next new space that is created |
Validate Auto-Numbering |
Available only when you edit a space using the Settings button from the Object Info palette (not when you set the default preferences for the Space tool); opens the Validate Auto-Numbering dialog box to adjust the automatic space numbers. See Validating Auto-Numbering for details. |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Space Type |
Identifies a space as either Normal (for example, a room) or Full Floor (the entire floor of a building) |
Space Name |
Specifies the space name; the spaces in an adjacency matrix are listed by space name, and the space name can also be used in space labels. Select a name from the list, or select Custom and enter a name in the field below the pull-down list. The top portion of the list contains the space names that are currently used in the drawing. The lower portion of the list displays all available space names that are still unused, compiled from lists in the Vectorworks program folder, your user folder, and your designated workgroup folder. To customize a space name list, select Edit List from the bottom of the list to open the Edit Space - Space Name List dialog box. See Editing Lists of Space Names and Occupant Organizations.
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Occup. Organization |
Specifies the organization associated with the occupant; the spaces in the stacking diagram are grouped by the organization name. This field is very similar to the Space Name field above. The list is separated into sections based on whether the available names are currently in use. Select a name from the list, or select Custom and enter a name in the field below the pull-down list. To customize an occupant organization list, select Edit List from the bottom of the list to open the Edit Space - Occ Organization List dialog box. |
Occupant Name |
Specifies the individual occupant name |
Proposed Area |
Specifies the programmed area for the space |
Click the column to the left of a zone name to select it. Up to five zones of different types can be assigned to a space; only one zone can be assigned from each zone type (HVAC, Preservation, Security, and so on). When you edit a space from the Object Info palette, click the Assign Zones button to open a dialog box with the same zone information that displays on the Occupancy pane. To customize the zones list, click New to open the Create Zone dialog box. ● To add a zone to an existing zone type, select the Zone Type, enter the Zone Name, and click OK. ● To create a new zone type, select Add New Zone Type from the Zone Type list, enter a name, and click OK. To delete a zone, click the zone name, and click Delete to remove the zone from the list. The IFC Zones, Systems and Group command attaches IFC data to space zones. See Assigning IFC Data to Zones, Systems, and Groups. |
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GSA Occupancy |
If Enable GSA is selected (Advanced Settings pane), opens the GSA Occupancy dialog box to enter the data required for GSA projects (see GSA Data). When the drawing is complete, select File > Export > Export IFC Project to save the file in IFC format. |
Many parameters on this pane are available only if the space is connected to adjacent walls.
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Boundary Display |
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Show 2D Boundary |
Displays the polyline that represents the space; if this option is selected, also select an option for the 2D Boundary Display. |
2D Boundary Display |
Specifies what to display for the space: Inside Walls less Columns, Inside Wall Faces, Wall Centerlines, Net Boundary, or Gross Boundary. A Net boundary is defined by the inside face of the surrounding walls; the Gross boundary display is defined by the Gross Boundary Def. setting. If the area and perimeter values for the space are used in a worksheet, the values always match the displayed boundary. |
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Specifies the definition to use for the gross boundary: Wall Centerlines, Building Gross, Outer Wall Core, Center Wall Core, BOMA Rentable, or Custom. If Outer Wall Core or Center Wall Core is selected but the wall has no core component, the space boundary is defined by the outer edge or center, respectively, of the entire wall. The Custom option is only available for an existing space object surrounded by walls. If Custom is selected, click Edit Gross Custom to open the Edit Custom Gross Boundary dialog box. Do one of the following: ● Select each wall in the display window, and then select the appropriate bounding definition for it. ● Click Reset Gross Boundary to set all boundaries for the space to one of five pre-set options (Centerlines of All Walls; Centerlines of Interior Walls, Outer Core Component of Exterior Walls; Centerlines of Interior Walls, Center Core Component of Exterior Walls; Centerlines of Interior Walls, Inside Face of Exterior Walls; Centerlines of Interior Walls, Outside Face of Exterior Walls). |
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Specifies the definition to use for the net boundary: Inside of Walls, or Custom. If Custom is selected, click Edit Net Custom to open the Edit Custom Net Boundary dialog box: Enter an amount to offset the space boundary from the wall. When the space is edited from the Object Info palette and it contains wall projections, columns, and/or pilasters, also choose whether to exclude wall projections and column “islands” from the area calculation. |
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Area Calculation |
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Net Area Modifier |
Adjusts the net area value by the specified percentage |
Gross Area Modifier |
Adjusts the gross area value by the specified percentage |
Calculate Room Dimensions |
Automatically calculates the Length and Width dimensions of the space object; when deselected, the Length and Width can be entered manually |
Length/Width |
Displays the dimensions of the space; when Calculate Room Dimensions is deselected, the Length and Width can be entered manually. Manual changes affect the display of the length and width values, but do not change the actual dimensions of the space object. |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Show 3D |
Select to display the space volume boundaries in 3D
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Volume Display |
Select whether to display the Net or Gross volume; the actual net or gross volume depends on the height boundary selections and any offsets |
Height Net / Gross Height |
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Height |
Directly sets the desired net or gross height of the space. When the space height is determined manually by this method, the Top Bound property of the space is automatically set to Layer Elevation, and the Top Offset value is modified accordingly. When the top of the space is bound by the layer wall height value or by a story level, the space height displays automatically. |
Top Bound |
Sets the vertical reference that determines the top of the space. The Layer Wall Height value is set by the design layer (see Setting Design Layer Properties). Alternatively, the top of the space can be bound by one of the story levels defined for the story or the story above it. By setting the top of the space to a level type, if the elevation of the associated story changes, the height of the space changes automatically to match. |
Top Offset |
Sets the offset of the top of the space from its specified top bound height |
Bottom Bound |
Sets the vertical reference that determines the bottom of the space. Alternatively, the bottom of the space can be bound by one of the story levels defined for the story or the story below it. By setting the bottom of the space to a level type, if the elevation of the associated story changes, the height of the space changes automatically to match. |
Bottom Offset |
For the bottom of the space, sets the offset from its specified bottom bound height |
As many as three space labels can be independently formatted and positioned for each space. The Space Label 1 pane is available by default; to add the Space Label 2 and Space Label 3 panes to the dialog box, select Enable multiple labels on the Advanced Settings pane (see Space Settings: Advanced Settings Pane).
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Display Space Label |
Select to display the space label on the drawing Each label that is displayed is added to the Space Label Preview column on the right side of the dialog box. |
Class |
To control appearance of the entire space label, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Space Class> to place the label in the same class as the space object. Individual elements of the space label may be assigned to different classes, as well. To control the visibility of each space label separately, assign each label to a different class. |
Space Label Symbol |
Select the symbol to use for the space label from the list of symbols available in this document. To create a new text-based symbol, or to designate another symbol within the document as a space label, click Manage Space Labels. |
Space Label Angle |
Enter an angle to rotate the label, if desired |
The fields defined for the label symbol display; when a field is selected from the list, the field is highlighted in red in the Space Label Preview. To edit a field, select it from the list, and then do the following: ● To use different part of the data for a label (for example, to show the gross area instead of the net area), select the new definition from the Format Field list. From the Space Label pane, you can only edit the fields currently on the list. To add or delete fields, you must edit the label symbol. ● To change the prefix or suffix that will display along with the field value on the label, click Edit to open the Edit Format dialog box. Enter the desired values and click OK. |
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Manage Space Labels |
Opens the Manage Space Labels dialog box to create, rename, duplicate, or delete the space label symbols for this document; see Customizing Space Labels for details |
Save As Default |
Opens a dialog box to save the current space label settings to a template file in your user folder, which makes it one of the available labels for new documents. Enter a name for the label and click OK. The template file is created (or updated) automatically in the space stamp file in the user folder’s default library (see Concept: Resource Libraries). |
Parameters to position the leader line for space label 1 are available by default; leader line parameters for space labels 2 and 3 are available only if Enable multiple labels is selected on the Advanced Settings pane. The leader lines’ class and appearance are set on the 2D Attributes pane (see Space Settings: 2D Attributes Pane).
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Display Leader Line 1/2/3 |
Select to display a leader line for the corresponding space label |
Start Point on Space |
Specifies whether to start the leader line on the space’s anchor point or edge |
End Point on Label |
Specifies where to end the leader line relative to the space label. Auto position: Automatically centers the leader line end point on the closest center point of the space label’s bounding box. Custom: Adds a control point at the end of the leader line; the control point can be moved to define where the leader line ends. This option is available only if an existing space is being edited, not as a default setting for new spaces. Nearest Locus: Ends the leader line on the space label locus point nearest to the space’s anchor point. This option is available only if the chosen space label symbol contains one or more loci. |
These settings apply to the space object only; the space label is a symbol, which can be edited with the Edit Layout button, or from the Resource Manager (see Editing Existing Space Labels).
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Space Object Class |
To control appearance and visibility, select a class for the entire space object from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class |
2D Boundary |
When you set the default preferences for the Space tool, only the Class parameter is available for the 2D Boundary, because the fill and pen attributes are determined by the Attributes palette. When you edit a space using the Settings button from the Object Info palette, all of the 2D boundary parameters are available. |
Class |
To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Space Class> to place the boundary in the same class as the space object. |
Fill Style |
Select a fill style for the space object, and then customize the fill using the additional fields that display. For example, select the color for a solid fill, or select a hatch from the list of those available. For hatch, tile, gradient, and image fills, click Edit to open a dialog box for editing the fill. To use the fill specified for the selected class, select Class Style. |
Pen |
Select the pen style for the space object, and then customize the pen using the additional fields that display. For example, select the thickness for a solid pen, or select a color for a dash pen. To use the pen specified for the selected class, select Class Style. |
Opacity |
Use the slider or enter a percentage to specify the opacity of the space object, or click Use Class Opacity to use the opacity setting for the selected class. |
Leader Line |
If the label is placed outside the space boundary, a leader line is drawn automatically |
Class |
To control appearance and visibility, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Space Class> to place the leader line in the same class as the space object. |
Pen |
Select the pen style for the leader line, and then customize the pen using the additional fields that display. For example, select the thickness for a solid pen, or select a color for a dash pen. To use the pen specified for the selected class, select Class Style. |
Marker Start/End |
To include start or end markers for the leader line, check the appropriate box(es). Then select the style for the markers, or select Custom to create a new marker style. |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Class |
To control appearance and visibility, select a class for the 3D attributes of the space object from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Space Class>, to place the 3D attributes in the same class as the space object. |
Fill Style |
Select a fill style for the space object, and then customize the fill using the additional fields that display. For example, select the color for a solid fill, or select a hatch from the list of those available. For hatch, tile, gradient, and image fills, click Edit to open a dialog box for editing the fill. To use the fill specified for the selected class, select Class Style. |
Pen |
Select the pen style for the space object, and then customize the pen using the additional fields that display. For example, select the thickness for a solid pen, or select a color for a dash pen. To use the pen specified for the selected class, select Class Style. |
Texture |
To use a texture for the space object, select a texture from the list of those available. To use the texture specified for the selected class, select Class Style. |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
On Room Finish Schedule |
Includes the space object in the Room Finish Schedule; if enabled, select the appropriate finishes for the ceiling, walls, base trim, and floor of the space object. Alternatively, to assign room finishes to multiple existing spaces at the same time, select the desired spaces and click Assign Room Finish from the Object Info palette. This opens the Assign Room Finishes dialog box, which has the same functionality as the Room Finishes pane. |
Ceiling |
Select a finish for the space object’s ceiling. The top portion of the list contains the ceiling finishes that are currently used in the drawing. The lower portion of the list displays all available ceiling finishes that are still unused, compiled from lists in the Vectorworks program folder, your user folder, and your designated workgroup folder. |
North, East, South, and West Walls |
Select a finish for each of the space object’s walls. The top portion of the list contains the wall finishes that are currently used in the drawing. The lower portion of the list displays all available wall finishes that are still unused, compiled from lists in the Vectorworks program folder, your user folder, and your designated workgroup folder. |
Base Trim |
Select a finish for the space object’s base trim. The top portion of the list contains the base trim finishes that are currently used in the drawing. The lower portion of the list displays all available base trim finishes that are still unused, compiled from lists in the Vectorworks program folder, your user folder, and your designated workgroup folder. |
Floor |
Select a finish for the space object’s floor. The top portion of the list contains the floor finishes that are currently used in the drawing. The lower portion of the list displays all available floor finishes that are still unused, compiled from lists in the Vectorworks program folder, your user folder, and your designated workgroup folder. |
Remarks |
Allows entry of additional remarks about the finishes |
Edit Finishes |
Opens the Edit Room Finishes dialog box |
Once the room finish information is entered, add the Room Finish Schedule to the drawing file.
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
You can attach data to the space object and display the information in a space label, or in a worksheet. All available fields display in a list, along with any data that has been entered for the fields. For most fields, simply click the field name in the list, and then enter the desired data in the entry field that displays below the list of field names. To attach data that is not available on the list, you can use up to ten Additional Info fields; click Rename User Fields to name these fields. The Room ID and Formula fields have additional functionality. The Room ID allows you to specify an identifier based on a formula that can include data fields from the space as well as user-defined static text. This ID can then be used as a variable in a space tag symbol. For example, you might define a space’s Room ID using the design layer and space number fields as variables. |
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If you entered data for any of the Additional Info fields, click this button to open the Rename User Fields dialog box and enter names for the fields. When you click OK, a message displays that the change will be applied to all space objects that use that field. |
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Override IFC Data Mapping |
Normally, to assign IFC data to the space objects in the drawing, IFC Data Mapping should be used, and this option should be deselected; see Managing IFC Data Mapping. IFC Data Mapping allows you to define how the space object parameters are mapped to IFC fields. When this option is selected, default mapping of IFC data to Pset fields is used instead of IFC Data Mapping. The default presets automatically link the space parameters to their logical best IFC equivalent. An alert opens; confirm that the IFC data will be mapped by default. If you have any additional, custom parameters that you have attached to specific space objects, these can be mapped manually for those selected space objects; click IFC Data to specify the Pset equivalents for the custom parameters through the IFC Data dialog box. When this option was selected, but then it is deselected, IFC data you have manually set may change. An alert opens; select whether to switch to IFC Data Mapping, or whether each IFC data field should be manually set to either use data mapping or use specific IFC data you set. Choosing the second option sets the data fields by instance, retaining any previously set data. Override IFC Data Mapping remains deselected. |
IFC Data |
This option is available for space objects selected on the drawing, after clicking Settings from the Object Info palette. It is only necessary for custom parameter mapping to IFC data, when Override IFC Data Mapping is selected. The IFC Data dialog box allows you manually map the data (see Viewing and Editing IFC Data). |
In addition to the energy analysis space information located on the Energos Project Setting panes, individual space settings control the space’s participation in the energy analysis calculations.
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Include in Calculations |
When selected, the space is eligible to be included in energy calculations, depending on the energy analysis settings for layer/class, element inclusion, and so on. |
Manual Area Input |
Select this option to override the automatically calculated area for the space |
Area |
Enter the manual value for the space area |
Area Factor |
If needed, an additional factor can be included in the floor area calculation |
Manual Volume Input |
Select this option to override the automatically calculated volume for the space |
Volume |
Enter the manual value for the space volume |
Advanced |
For a finer level of detail about the spaces, click Advanced. The Advanced Settings dialog box opens. Specify advanced settings and then click OK. ● Extract Air Room: When the space requires a special air extraction mechanism (for example, a bathroom fan), select the type of system. For a custom flow rate, click Custom. The Extract Air Room dialog box opens to specify the air flow rate; click OK to return to the Advanced Settings. ● Space Use Pattern: Select the typical usage pattern for the space for energy analysis calculations. The system list can be modified; see Specifying System Sets ● Lighting Control: Select the method of turning the lights on and off ● Installed Lighting Power: Specify the power requirements for lighting ● Lighting Full Load Hours: Enter the average number of hours that full lighting is necessary in the space, overriding the automatically calculated value ● Motion Detector: Select this option if the lighting in the space is activated by a motion detector |
Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Enable GSA |
Includes the GSA data for the space object when the file is saved in IFC format; click GSA Occupancy (on the Occupancy pane) to assign the GSA Occupancy information for the space. See GSA Data. |
Enable multiple labels |
Adds Space Label 2 and Space Label 3 panes to the Space Settings dialog box; see Space Settings: Space Label 1, 2, and 3 Panes. When this option is selected, parameters for leader lines 2 and 3 are also added to the Leader Line pane. |
Make picked up attributes the default |
When the Pick Up Attributes mode of the Space tool is used, the attributes selected in the Eyedropper Transfer Properties list are set as the default for new spaces. If the 2D Boundary Attributes are selected, the picked up attributes will be set as the default in the Attributes palette. This allows you to create new spaces with the same attributes as an existing space. |
Eyedropper Transfer Properties |
Specifies which properties of a space object will be transferred when the Pick Up Attributes and Apply Attributes modes of the Space tool are used. The available attributes display in the Attribute column, grouped by category. To see the attributes in a category, click the disclosure arrow to the left of the attribute name. Click the Use column next to an item to select it; if the item is a category heading, such as Finishes, all items in the category are selected. |
Space Properties on Object Info Palette |
Specifies which properties of a space object will be displayed for editing from the Object Info palette. The available properties display in the Property column, grouped by category. To see the properties in a category, click the disclosure arrow to the left of the property name. Click the Show column next to an item to select it; if the item is a category heading, such as Occupancy, all items in the category are selected. |
Restore Default Properties |
Resets the space properties on the Object Info palette to the default settings |
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Editing Lists of Space Names and Occupant Organizations
Customizing the Space Settings