Setting curtain wall panel parameters
The panel settings and appearance are specified in the Panel Settings dialog box. See Concept: Editing guidelines for curtain wall grids to understand how the panel definition parameters respond to custom edits of a curtain wall instance.
If setting up curtain wall preferences, these parameters are available from the Definition tab of the Wall Preferences dialog box. For an existing curtain wall, they are available from the Curtain Wall Grid dialog box.
If a material resource is used to define a component, the material typically provides the fill, texture, physical attributes, and construction information needed for drawings, renderings, and reports.
To set the curtain wall panel appearance:
From the Definition tab of the Wall Preferences dialog box, or from the Edit Wall Style dialog box, click Panel Settings.
Alternatively, from the Object Info palette of a selected curtain wall, click Curtain Wall Grid, and then click Panel Settings.
The Panel Settings dialog box opens.
Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.
Parameter |
Description |
Definition |
|
Type |
Select the kind of panel to place between the frames. Glazed panels are typical glass panels, and spandrel panels are opaque. Spandrel face panels are decorative panels. Open panels provide empty space between the frames. |
Preview |
Displays a labeled diagram of the selected panel type; the numbers indicated on the diagram correspond to the labeled parameters below the preview, for easy identification |
Thickness |
Specifies the panel thickness. The inset is controlled by the Panel Inset parameter in the Frame Settings dialog box. The combination of panel Thickness and Panel Inset parameters creates the channel for the panel inserted in the frame. |
Use infill (spandrel and spandrel face only) |
Allows the area to the right (interior of the curtain wall as drawn) and between the frames to be filled. The attributes of the infill panel are determined by the panel. |
Infill Depth |
Specifies the additional depth of the infill panel |
Face Depth (spandrel face only) |
Sets the depth of the spandrel face |
Wall Thickness |
Displays the Wall Thickness value from the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box for reference |
Offset Reference |
Displays the offset reference that is selected in the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box |
Offset |
Shifts the panel position relative to the offset reference. Enter a positive value to shift the panel to the left side of the wall as drawn, or enter a negative value to shift the frame to the right side of the wall. To center the panel on the wall, select Center Line as the Offset Reference in the Curtain Wall Grid or Wall Preferences dialog box, and use an offset of 0. |
Panel/Face Class |
The panel and the spandrel face (if selected as a panel type) can be placed in distinct classes to control their appearance and visibility. Select the class to use from the current list of classes, create a new class, or select <Object Class> to place the panel or spandrel face in the same class as the curtain wall. |
(Architect required) |
Opens the Panel Energos Properties dialog box, for specifying the panel’s energy analysis parameters. Vectorworks Architect is required to conduct an energy analysis; however, energy-related parameters can be specified here for informational purposes. Include in Calculations: When selected, the panel is eligible to be included in energy calculations, depending on the energy analysis settings for layer/class, element inclusion, and so on. If the panel contains any valid building element objects, like doors and windows, that can also participate in energy analysis calculations, you are asked whether to include or exclude those objects when you select or deselect this option for walls. Glazing: Select the type of window glazing. Sets can be created and edited; see Specifying system sets. Shading: Select the level of shade for each type of shading near the panel, or, for custom shading, select Custom from any of the lists. The Edit Shading dialog box opens, to manually enter a percentage for when the panel is in the shade. |
Materials |
Select the material for the panel and/or face (for Spandrel with Face Type only) from the Resource Selector. The associated fill and texture settings are set to the material’s settings, and the fill parameters are disabled. |
Panel/Face Fill |
Specifies the part appearance in section views. If the part uses a material, the fill is set to the material’s fill, and the controls are disabled. Otherwise, select a fill style, or Class Style to set the fill attributes by class. Depending on the Style selected, select a fill color, pattern, or resource (hatch, image, gradient, tile). |
Panel/Face Pen |
Select Class Style to use the class style for the pen attribute, or choose a style. Depending on the Style selected, select a color, pattern, or line type resource for the wall. |
Panel/Face Texture |
Applies the selected texture to the part. If the part uses a material, the texture is initially set to the material’s texture, but this can be overridden. Select a texture from the Resource Selector, or click one of the buttons to use no texture, to use the class texture, or if the selected item's material texture was previously overridden, to revert to the material's texture. |
Make All Attributes By Class |
Sets all fill, pen, and texture attributes by class, except those that come from a material |
Remove By Class Settings |
Removes all class settings for fill, pen, and texture attributes; does not affect material definitions with attributes set by class |
IFC |
Attaches IFC data to the curtain wall panels for exporting to IFC format |