Inserting Pipe-and-Drape Assemblies

The Soft Goods tool creates pipe-and-drape assemblies typically used in event planning, such as when creating temporary booths in a convention center. To draw a pipe-and-drape assembly, either use the Soft Goods tool, or create a polyline and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see Creating Objects from Shapes).

Once created, the soft goods object can be edited by selecting the object, and then selecting Modify > Edit Soft Goods. Reshape the soft goods polyline with the Reshape tool; click Exit Profile to return to the drawing.

The pipe-and-drape assembly parameters can be edited from the Object Info palette.

Parameter	Description
Function	Select Pipe-and-Drape
Adjustable Length	Specifies the length of a straight pipe-and-drape assembly
Height	Indicates the height of the pipe-and-drape assembly
Show Centerline	In Top/Plan view, displays the center line of the pipe-and-drape assembly
Draw Slider(s)	Draws the soft goods slider segments at the top of the assembly
Slider Options	The number of sliders (panel segments) created depends on the Adjustable Length of the entire assembly, the selected Slider Options range, and the Target Length specified. Select from a list of standard slider size ranges, or select Custom to create a non-standard slider size and enter the number of panels to include.
Target Length	Sets the desired slider length within the range specified in Slider Options. If Custom is selected for the Slider Options, enter the specific length for the slider.
Actual Length	Displays the calculated slider length used for the segments
Slider Total	Displays the actual number of slider segments used; if Custom is selected for the Slider Options, specify the number of slider segments desired
Running Length	Displays the total length of the pipe-and-drape assembly
Base Plate Options	Select from a list of standard base plate sizes, or choose the rounded boom base
Base Diameter	For the round boom base option, indicates the diameter of the boom base
End Hardware	Select whether to include end hardware (base plate and upright) at each end of the assembly
First Plate Shift	When a base plate is included at the start of the assembly, select whether it is centered on the upright (None), or shifted towards the inside (In) or outside (Out). This option does not apply to a boom base.
Last Plate Shift	When a base plate is included at the end of the assembly, select whether it is centered on the upright (None), or shifted towards the inside (In) or outside (Out). This option does not apply to a boom base.
Upright/Plate Total	Displays the number of uprights and base plates in the assembly
Show 3D Uprights	Displays the upright hardware in 3D views; deselect this option for faster rendering
Stock Drape Width	Specifies the width of an individual drape panel
Minimum Overlap	Indicates the total distance of drape overlap
Tied Fullness %	Sets the overlap percentage at each curtain tie, and affects the Total Drape Count
Total Drape Count	Displays the number of drape panels required based on the specified stock drape width
Show Drape Breaks	Places markers where each drape ends and the next one starts
Show Overlap	Indicates where the drapes overlap
Simple 2D	Temporarily simplifies the Top/Plan view of the pipe-and-drape assembly, showing it as a line
Simple 3D	Temporarily simplifies the 3D view of the pipe-and-drape assembly, showing it as a flat surface
Pleat Width	Indicates the distance between pleats
Pleat Depth	Indicates the depth of the pleats
Flip Pleats	Switches the positive and negative portions of the pleats
3D Curtain Options	Opens the 3D Curtain Options dialog box, for setting the appearance of the pipe-and-drape assembly in 3D; see Setting Soft Goods 3D Display Options
Current Option	Displays the currently selected 3D option
Location	Enter notes about the pipe-and-drape assembly location, if desired
Material Color	Enter notes about the pipe-and-drape assembly color (does not affect the drapery appearance)
Material Type	Enter notes about the pipe-and-drape assembly material (does not affect the drapery appearance)
Note	Enter any miscellaneous information required, such as stock number or other data
Text Options	Opens the Text Options dialog box, to enable the display and format the text of labels; see Formatting Soft Goods Object Labels
Default Text Positions	Text labels can be moved by dragging their control point; this option returns them to their default locations
Classes	Opens the Classes dialog box, to specify class naming for the various portions of the soft goods object. This allows portions of the soft goods to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible. Use the suggested standard class, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Soft Goods Class> to place the soft goods element in the same class as the soft goods object. ● Class Prefix: Specifies an optional default root class naming standard for all soft goods parts; click Use Standard Classes to begin all soft goods class names with the prefix, so that they are sorted together. ● Use Standard Classes: Sets the class names for all soft goods elements to the default suggested standard names, using the Class Prefix if there is one. ● Soft goods elements: For each portion of the soft goods object, specifies the class name standard; the class names shown here are applied to the elements.
Update	Updates the object when changes have been made to the Object Info palette parameters
Load Information	A soft goods object is considered to be a distributed load in Braceworks calculations; the pipe-and-drape line needs to be parallel to the structural element. Load information is used for Braceworks calculations and reports (Braceworks required).
Include in Calculations (Braceworks required)	Includes the soft goods object in Braceworks calculations; deselect to exclude the object from participating in structural calculations
Load Group Name	The load category is always Scenery for soft goods objects
Load ID	Enter a unique ID for the load for informational use in reports
Load Name	Identifies the object in load calculations
Distributed Weight	Enter the distributed weight of the soft goods object; changes here also affect the Total Weight value
Total Weight	Enter the total weight of the object
Vertex Parameters	Edits the vertices of the path object that the curtain is based upon; see Editing Vertex-Based Objects.

To create an opening in the pipe-and-drape assembly, edit the vertex parameters from the Object Info palette. Select the vertex prior to the opening as described in Editing Vertex-Based Objects, and then click Hide Next Edge.

Inserting Pipe-and-Drape Assemblies

Parameter

Description