Inserting pipe-and-drape assemblies

Mode

Tool

Workspace: Tool set

Soft Goods

Design Suite: Detailing

Spotlight: Event

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 closed 2D shape and then select the Create Objects from Shapes command (see Creating objects from shapes).

To display hanging points for soft goods objects, enable Hanging Point Classes in the Braceworks preferences (see Braceworks preferences).

Mode	Description
Polyline creation options	Selects the method for drawing the polyline upon which the object is based; see Creating polylines
Soft Goods Style	Opens the Resource Selector to select a resource for placement; double-click a resource to activate it
Preferences	Sets the default parameters that are used for each new curtain or truss border

Click the tool and mode.

Do one of the following:

Click Soft Goods Style on the Tool bar to select a resource from the Resource Browser.

Click Preferences to open the object properties dialog box and specify the tool's default parameters; select Pipe-and-Drape from the Function list.

The parameters can be edited later from the Object Info palette. Some information from parameters can also be placed on the drawing using the Text Options.

Click to show/hide the parameters.Click to show/hide the parameters.

Parameter	Description
Style	Replace, remove, or edit the current style, or create a new plug-in object style for this object. Editing a style changes all instances in the file that use the style.
Hide style parameters (Object Info palette only)	Hides the parameters that are set by style; these cannot be edited from the dialog box or Object Info palette
Function	Select Pipe-and-Drape (for curtains or borders, see Inserting curtains and borders)
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
Double wall	Creates a double-wall assembly, by offsetting the first curtain, drawing a second parallel curtain, adding double curtain hardware, and doubling the number of sliders and amount of material required
Show slider(s)	Draws the soft goods slider segments at the top of the assembly
Slider Options	The number of sliders (divisions) created depends on the 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 Divisions per Segment to include.
Target Length	For standard Slider Options ranges, enter the ideal slider length. If the value entered falls within the selected Slider Options range, the tool calculates the best length based on even divisions of the total Pipe-and-Drape run length. If the value entered falls outside the selected range, the tool adjusts the value to fit within the range.
Divisions Per Segment	For Custom Slider Options, enter the number of divisions per segment
Actual Length	Displays the actual calculated slider length used; for a multiple-segment object with different slider lengths, the parameter indicates widths vary
Division Total	Displays the total number of divisions in the assembly
Highlight non-standard slider segments	Highlights slider segments of a non-standard length
Running Length	For multiple segment assemblies, displays the total length of the pipe-and-drape assembly
Hardware to Include	Select which types of hardware to draw and count
Base 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
Base Pin Location	Select the pin/upright's position on the baseplate relative to the object's path
First Base 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 Base 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.
Base/Upright Color	Displays the base/upright color or texture specified on the 3D Options dialog box, Hardware pane
Slider/Upright/Double Wall Hanger/Base Total	Displays the number of sliders/uprights/double wall hangers/base plates in the assembly
Show 3D uprights	Displays the upright hardware in 3D views; deselect this option to create seamless pipe-and-drape instances
Stock Drape Width	Specifies the width of an individual drape panel
Minimum Overlap	Indicates the total distance of drape overlap for adjacent drape panels
Vertical 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
Drape Clips	Enter data about drape clips, if needed
Sandbags	Enter data about sandbags, if needed
Simple 2D	Simplifies the Top/Plan view of the pipe-and-drape assembly, showing it as a line
Simple 3D	Simplifies the 3D view of the pipe-and-drape assembly, showing it as a flat surface
Pleat Width (Visual Only)	Indicates the distance between pleats
Pleat Depth (Visual Only)	Indicates the depth of the pleats
Flip pleats (visual only)	Switches the positive and negative portions of the pleats
3D Options	Opens the 3D Options dialog box, for setting the appearance of the pipe-and-drape assembly in 3D; see Setting soft goods 3D display options
Current Drape Option	Displays the currently selected front and, if available, back 3D curtain option from the 3D Options dialog box
Materials and Finishes
Main Material Type	Enter notes about the pipe-and-drape assembly's front and, if applicable, back main material (does not affect the drapery appearance)
Color	Enter notes about the pipe-and-drape assembly's front and, if applicable, back material color (does not affect the drapery appearance)
Weights
Final Total Weight	Enter the total weight; the Final Distributed Weight is automatically calculated based on the current settings
Final Distributed Weight	Enter the distributed weight; the Final Total Weight is automatically calculated based on the current settings
Position	Displays the name of the associated rigging object, if the pipe-and-drape assembly is attached. Optionally, attach this object to a rigging object, or change the rigging object association, by entering the Position Name of the rigging object. Delete the name to break the association. For other methods to attach loads, see Making the attachment.
Purpose	Enter notes about the object's purpose
Container ID	Enter notes about the object's container ID
Vendor	Enter notes about the object's vendor
Cost	Enter notes about the object's cost
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
Parts Classes	Opens the Parts Classes dialog box, to specify class naming for the various parts of the soft goods object. This allows parts of the soft goods to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible. Use the 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 Assign Default Classes With Prefix to begin all soft goods class names with the prefix, so that they are sorted together. Assign Default Classes With Prefix: Sets the class names for all soft goods elements to the standard, using the Class Prefix if there is one. Soft goods parts: For each part of the soft goods object, specifies the class name standard; the class names shown here are applied to the parts. Parts classes for the soft goods styles are controlled as a group. If Parts Classes is set by style, the dialog box is inaccessible and the settings cannot be changed for individual instances. If Parts Classes is set by instance, all settings can be changed.
Update (Object Info palette only)	Updates the object
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 rigging object. 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	Displays the distributed weight of the soft goods object
Total Weight	Displays the total weight of the object
Position	Displays the name of the associated rigging object, if attached. Optionally, attach this object to a rigging object, or change the rigging object association, by entering the Position Name of the rigging object. Delete the name to break the association. For other methods to attach loads, see Making the attachment.
Equipment Subparts	Lists the subparts that make up the object. These subparts are counted and reported separately in equipment and inventory lists. The parameters must be selected for display for this type of object in Spotlight preferences: Inventory pane.
Equipment Virtual Parts	Virtual parts are associated with an object and are reported in equipment and inventory lists, but do not display in the drawing. After adding virtual parts, they are listed in the Object Info palette.
Edit Virtual Parts	Opens the Virtual Parts dialog box to add virtual parts to the object; see Managing virtual parts and independent virtual parts
Assign Sources	Opens the Assign Sources dialog box to assign the object and its subparts and virtual parts to an inventory source; see Assigning equipment to an inventory
Vertex Parameters	Edits the vertices of the path object that the curtain is based upon; see Editing vertex-based objects

Click to set the soft goods object’s start point.

Click to set the end of the segment and the beginning of the next. Continue drawing segments in this manner until the pipe-and-drape assembly is complete, and then double-click.

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.

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.

Optionally, create a style resource for the object (see Standard plug-in object styles without catalog options).

Inserting curtains and borders

Setting soft goods 3D display options

Formatting soft goods object labels

Inserting soft goods

Concept: Attaching loads to rigging objects

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