Profile Builder

Version 1.0
User Guide
Written by Dale Martens 2008
1 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
Table of Contents
Installing Profile Builder..................................................................................................................................................3
Wat is Profile Builder!.................................................................................................................................................."
Wat is a Profile!............................................................................................................................................................"
Wat is a Profile Me#ber!............................................................................................................................................."
Profile $ibraries..............................................................................................................................................................."
%reating a Profile $ibrary..........................................................................................................................................."
%reating %usto# Profiles................................................................................................................................................&
%reating Profile Me#bers...............................................................................................................................................'
Profile Me#ber (rientation...........................................................................................................................................8
Pla)e#ent Point........................................................................................................................................................8
Mirror........................................................................................................................................................................*
(ffset.........................................................................................................................................................................*
Rotation...................................................................................................................................................................10
+#ooting ,ngle..........................................................................................................................................................10
-diting Profile Me#bers...............................................................................................................................................11
,).uiring /ro/erties fro# e0isting Profile Me#bers....................................................................................................11
-diting Profile Me#ber Pats.......................................................................................................................................12
Profile Me#ber Pat Inferen)ing 1PMPI2......................................................................................................................13
+ele)t by Me#ber ,ttributes.......................................................................................................................................1"
Wor3ing 4it Profile $ibraries......................................................................................................................................1&
Installing do4nloaded libraries...............................................................................................................................1&
%reating a )usto# or net4or3 /at for libraries......................................................................................................1&
Deleting Profiles......................................................................................................................................................15
Profile 6a#ing rules and Rena#ing /rofiles...........................................................................................................15
Bat) ,dding Profiles to a $ibrary............................................................................................................................15
,dding Profiles to 7avourites...................................................................................................................................1'
Deleting $ibraries.....................................................................................................................................................1'
%reating 8uantity Re/orts............................................................................................................................................18
Wat are te Profile and Me#ber 6a#es!.............................................................................................................1*
9o4 is $engt deter#ined!.....................................................................................................................................1*
9o4 is Volu#e deter#ined!...................................................................................................................................1*
9o4 are :nits and Pre)ision deter#ined!..............................................................................................................1*
,ssigning Mar3 6u#bers 1Bat) 6a#ing2....................................................................................................................20
Profile Me#bers; <rou/s; and %o#/onents................................................................................................................20
=roublesooting...........................................................................................................................................................21
2 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
1. Installing Profile Builder
,fter do4nloading Profile Builder; you sould ave a >IP file na#ed ?ProfileBuilder.@i/A.
12 :n@i/ te )ontents of ?ProfileBuilder.@i/A using an a//li)ation su) as Win>i/. =a3e note of 4ere te
un@i//ed files are no4 lo)ated.
22 ,fter un@i//ing; you sould ave a file )alled ?/bBloader.rbA and a folder )alled ?ProfileBuilderA. %o/y bot
te file and te folder to your +3et):/ /lugins dire)tory 1see ste/s 3 and "2
32 If you are using Windo4s; te /at 4ill be so#eting li3e tisC %CDProgra# 7ilesD<oogleD<oogle +3et):/ 5D
Plugins
"2 If you are on a Ma); te /at 4ill be so#eting li3e tisC UsersE$ibraryE,//li)ation
+u//ortE+3et):/'E+3et)u/EPlugins. =e /lugin #ay 6(= 4or3 if installed to te follo4ing dire)toryC
Ma)intos 9DE$ibraryE,//li)ation +u//ortE<oogle +3et)u/ 5E+3et):/EPlugins
&2 %lose +3et):/ if you ave it o/en.
52 Run +3et):/.
'2 %e)3 your ?PluginsA #enu. If you see te Profile Builder #enu ite#; te installation 4as su))essful.
82 If you do not see te #enu ite#; go to Windo4FGPreferen)esFG-0tensions and #a3e sure tat ?Profile
BuilderA is )e)3ed.
3 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
2. What is Profile Builder?
Profile Builder is a +3et):/ /lugin tat allo4s you to )reate Profile Me#bers .ui)3ly and a))urately. =e /o4er of
te /lugin lies in its ability to )reate intelligent geo#etry tat )an be )anged and edited 4ile still /reserving te
intelligen)e. =is is useful for all ty/es of designers in)luding 4ood4or3ers; engineers; ar)ite)ts; and interior
designers be)ause geo#etry )an be .ui)3ly #odified as te design /rogresses or to e0/eri#ent 4it alternative
design o/tions 4itout aving to re#odel te geo#etry. =e t4o )ore
)on)e/ts of Profile Builder are Profiles and Profile Me#bers.
3. What is a Profile?
, Profile is si#/ly a t4oFdi#ensional sa/e tat for#s te )rossFse)tion
of an obHe)t. It )an be any si@e and ave any nu#ber of oles. Many
building #aterials are defined by teir /rofile. =e 4orld of design is
filled 4it tousands of /rofiles; #any of 4i) ave standard
di#ensions. -0a#/les of standardi@ed /rofiles in)lude di#ensional
lu#ber 1eg. 20"2; steel 4ide
flange sa/es 1eg. W80182; and standard /i/e 1eg. "I +%9 "02.
4. What is a Profile Member?
Profile Me#bers are treeFdi#ension obHe)ts tat ave a )onstant Profile
1)rossFse)tion2. , Profile Me#ber is defined by its Profile 1sa/e and
orientation2 and a /at. =e /at )an be a single line; /olyFline; or )urve.
=e /at )an also be a )losed sa/e 1eg. %ir)le2. Profile Me#bers )an
re/resent #any ty/es of building #aterials su) as 4ood studs; #ouldings;
steel bea#s; /i/es; rebar; )ladding; 4alls; and eaves trougs.
5. Profile ibraries
, /rofile library is a file tat )ontains /rofiles tat you )an sele)t to build Profile Me#bers. (n)e you ave at least
one /rofile library; you )an add )usto# /rofiles to it; re#ove /rofiles; or rena#e /rofiles.
!reating a Profile ibrar"
=o )reate a ne4 /rofile libraryC
F (/en te Profile Builder dialogC PluginsFGProfile Builder
F %li)3 on te $ibrary dro/Fdo4n list
" Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
F ,t te botto# of te list; sele)t te ?%reate 6e4...A
o/tion.
F -nter te na#e of your ne4 library. =y/e in ?My
ProfilesA and )li)3 ?(JA .
F ,n e#/ty /rofile library 4ill be )reated 4it te
given na#e.
Profile libraries are ,+%II te0t files 4it te e0tension P$B. ,ll
/rofile libraries 1P$B files2 are stored in te
ProfileBuilderE$ibraries 14itin your Plugins2 folder by default. If
you do4nload additional libraries; tey #ust be )o/ied into tis
folder.
#. !reating !ustom Profiles
6e4 )usto# /rofiles )an be )reated in +3et):/ by follo4ing
tese ste/sC
F (/en te Profile Builder dialogC PluginsFGProfile Builder
F +ele)t te /rofile library file tat you 4ant to store te /rofile fro# te ?$ibraryA dro/Fdo4n list.
F +ele)t a fa)e in +3et):/.
%li)3 on te ?,dd ProfileA button
F -nter te na#e of your ne4 /rofile and )li)3 ?(JA
F , ne4 /rofile 4ill be saved in te )urrently sele)ted library. =e
ne4ly )reated /rofile 4ill be)o#e te ?a)tive /rofileA and 4ill no4 be
sele)ted in te ?ProfileA dro/Fdo4n list.
& Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
TIP: In order to ensure that the profile is saved with the correct orientation, it is recommended to create all
profiles in the X-Y plane with the Y axis pointing up. In other words, you should switch your view orientation to
Top! and draw the profile as if you were drawing on a piece of paper. "ll of the points of the profile should #e
the same depth $i.e. have the same % coordinate&.
In tis /lugin; a /rofile is oriented 4it te K a0is 1red2 /ointing rigt and te L a0is 1green2 /ointing u/. It does not
#atter 4ere in 3D s/a)e tat you )reate a /rofile. =e origin 1a0is2 of te /rofile 4ill al4ays be te botto#Fleft
)orner of te /rofileAs bounding bo0.
5 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
$. !reating Profile Members
Lou )annot )reate a /rofile #e#ber 4itout aving at least one /rofile library and one saved /rofile. +ee above for
o4 to )reate /rofile libraries and /rofiles. 6e4 Profile Me#bers )an be )reated in t4o 4aysC Defining te /at ?on
te flyA (R by first sele)ting an e0isting /at. Re#e#ber; a /rofile #e#ber is defined by a Profile and a /at. ,
/at is a series of /oints in s/a)e.
=o )reate a Profile Me#ber ?on te flyAC
F %oose te a)tive /rofile fro# te ?ProfileA
dro/Fdo4n list.
F %li)3 te ?BuildA i)on
F %li)3 a /oint in 3D s/a)e to start te #e#ber.
F %li)3 a se)ond /oint to )reate a linear 1one
seg#ent2 #e#ber.
F Lou )an no4 )oose to )o#/lete te #e#ber
by /ressing te ?-s)A 3ey or you )an )ontinue
)li)3ing additional /oints to add to te /at of
te #e#ber.
=o )reate a Profile Me#ber by sele)ting an e0isting
/atC
F +ele)t te a)tive /rofile fro# te ?ProfileA dro/Fdo4n list.
F +ele)t any nu#ber of )ontinuous lines; edges; or )urves (R sele)t a single fa)e.
F %li)3 te ?Build along /atA button.
F , Profile Me#ber 4ill be )reated along te sele)ted /at.
' Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
F , dialog 4ill be dis/layed as3ing you if you 4ant to reverse te /at dire)tion. %li)3 ?yesA to reverse te
dire)tion of te #e#ber or ?noA to a))e/t te #e#ber dire)tion as so4n.
'(T): *hen you create a Profile +em#er, a group of geometry is created that is automatically named the same
as the name of the current Profile.
%. Profile Member &rientation
Profile Me#bers are defined by a /rofile and /at. 9o4ever; te orientation of te /rofile )an be #odified using
te follo4ing /ro/ertiesC Pla)e#ent Point; Rotation; Mirror; K (ffset; and L (ffset.
Pla'ement Point
Pla)e#ent Point deter#ines te KFL /osition of te
/rofile along te /at. =ere are nine o/tions for
/la)e#ent /oints. Pla)e#ent Points 4ill for# te
referen)e line of te /rofile #e#ber.
Different ty/es of Profile Me#bers tend to ave different
/la)e#ent /oints de/ending on te sa/e of te /rofile
andEor te 4ay te #e#ber is used. 7or e0a#/le; te
referen)e line of a verti)al /i/e or )olu#n is usually te
)enter. 9o4ever; te referen)e line of a steel bea# or
4ood Hoist is usually te =o/FMiddle. 1see i#age belo42
8 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
Mirror
=e Mirror /ro/erty is useful for unsy##etri)al Profiles. If enabled; te /rofile 4ill be effe)tively #irrored about a
verti)al line going troug te /la)e#ent /oint.
&ffset
In addition to te Pla)e#ent Point /ro/erty; you )an also use te offset /ro/erties to adHust te KFL /osition of te
/rofile along te /at. Re)all tat te KFa0is /oints to te rigt and te LFa0is /oints u/. If you enter a /ositive
value for K (ffset; te /rofile 4ill be sifted rigt and if you enter a /ositive value for L (ffset; te /rofile 4ill be
sifted u/. 6egative values 4ill sift te /rofile in te o//osite dire)tion. Lou )an enter units in te offset value
bo0 1eg. 1&##2. If you do not enter units; te units 4ill default to te default +3et):/ #odel units.
* Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
(otation
=e Rotation /ro/erty allo4s you to s/e)ify te rotational orientation of te /rofile along te /at. =e a0is of
rotation is te >Fa0is 4i) /asses troug te /at of te Profile Me#ber and is s/e)ified in degrees. , /ositive
angle of rotation 4ill rotate te /rofile )ounterF)lo)34ise 4ile a negative angle of rotation 4ill rotate te /rofile
)lo)34ise. (ne ting to re#e#ber is tat Profile Builder a//lies te rotation /ro/erty before te offset /ro/erty.
1see i#age belo42. =e #irror attribute is a//lied last.
). *moothing +ngle
=e s#ooting angle /ro/erty allo4s you to soften and s#oot te edges of te /rofile #e#ber auto#ati)ally. =e
result is identi)al to using te +3et):/ ?+often -dgesA 4indo4. =e angle is s/e)ified in degrees.
10 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
'ote: If you are using profiles with many curved edges or if you are creating a profile along a complicated curved
path, it is recommended to change your smoothing angle to ,., in order to improve performance. Then, you can
smooth the edges manually using the -.etch/p -often )dges! tool.
1,. -diting Profile Members
=e /ro/erties of any Profile Me#ber )an be edited any ti#e after )reation. Lou )an edit several /rofile #e#bers
si#ultaneously. =o edit a Profile Me#berC
F +ele)t at least one Profile Me#ber.
F %li)3 te ?-dit #e#ber /ro/ertiesA button.
F , /ro/erty sele)tion dialog bo0 4ill be dis/layed /ro#/ting you to )oose te /ro/erties tat you 4is to
edit.
F +ele)t te /ro/erties tat you 4is to edit by ?)e)3ingA te#.
F Wen you )li)3 ?,//lyA; te )urrent /ro/erties in te Profile Builder dialog 4ill be a//lied to te sele)ted
#e#bers .
11. +'.uiring /ro/erties from e0isting Profile Members
=o /o/ulate te fields of te Profile Builder dialog 4it te /ro/erties of an e0isting Profile Me#berC
F +ele)t a Profile Me#ber.
F %li)3 te ?,).uire /ro/erties fro# sele)tionA button
F ,ll of te fields e0)e/t for te ?$ibraryA and ?ProfileA dro/Fdo4n list 4ill be /o/ulated 4it te /ro/erties of
te sele)ted #e#ber.
F =e a)tive /rofile 4ill be )anged to te /rofile of te sele)ted #e#ber and te /rofile /revie4 i#age 4ill
be u/dated.
I+P(0T"'T: The active Profile may '(T always #e the one that is displayed in the dialog drop-down list. This
situation occurs when ac1uiring properties of a selected mem#er. The active Profile is "2*"Y- the profile that is
displayed in the profile preview window. The name of the active Profile $along with the height and width& can #e
viewed #y holding your mouse over the profile preview window. $see image on next page&
11 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
12. -diting Profile Member Paths
=e /at of a /rofile )an be #odified after )reationC
F +ele)t a Profile Me#ber
F %li)3 te ?-dit #e#ber /atA button
=e sele)ted #e#ber 4ill be idden 1#a3e sure you ave 9idden <eo#etry turned off in te Vie4 #enu2
and a ne4 grou/ 4ill be )reated )ontaining edges tat re/resent te /at of te #e#ber. =e na#e of te
ne4 grou/ 4ill be ?MemberNameB/atA; 4ere Me#ber6a#e is te na#e of te Profile Me#ber you are
editing. , te0t label 4ill also a//ear /ro#/ting you to doubleF)li)3 te /at grou/.
F DoubleF)li)3 te ne4 grou/ to begin editing te /at.
12 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
F :se te standard +3et):/ tools 1line; ar); erase; #ove; et).2 to )ange te /at of te #e#ber.
F Wen you are satisfied; )lose te grou/.
F Wen you )lose te grou/; Profile Builder 4ill try to find a valid /at fro# te lines tat you ave edited or
)reated. =e /at #ust be )ontinuous. ,ny geo#etry besides lines 1edges2 )ontained in te /at grou/ 4ill
be ignored.
F If a valid /at is not found; an error #essage 4ill be dis/layed. =o fi0 tis /roble#; you #ust re/eat te
ste/s above and #a3e sure tat tere is a )ontinuous set of edges )ontained in te /at grou/ /rior to
)losing te grou/.
F If a valid /at is found; te /at grou/ 4ill be deleted and te original Profile Me#ber 4ill be u/dated to
follo4 te ne4ly )reated /at.
0)+)+3)0: *hen you are editing a path, the original Profile +em#er is automatically hidden, not deleted.
*hen you are finished editing the path, the Profile +em#er will #e automatically unhidden!. Try editing a Profile
+em#er with the (utliner *indow open to #etter understand how the process wor.s.
I+P(0T"'T: 4o '(T clic. on any geometry in the (utliner while you are editing a path. This will cause a 3ug
-plat if you try to re-select the path group you were editing.
I+P(0T"'T: You cannot alter the path of a profile mem#er #y moving, rotating or scaling the path group. You
must ma.e your changes inside group-edit mode.
13. Profile Member Path Inferen'ing 1PMPI2
Profile Me#ber Pat Inferen)ing is a s/e)ial te)ni.ue tat allo4s you to te#/orarily re/la)e Profile Me#bers 4it
teir /at so tat you )an inferen)e to te /at. 1+ee +3et):/ do)u#entation for #ore infor#ation about
inferen)ing2. =ere are t4o 4ays to a))ess PMPI. Lou )an a))ess it via )onte0t #enu 1rigtF)li)32 or 4ile you are
using te Build tool by /ressing te %=R$ 3ey.
=o use PMPI via )onte0t #enuC
F Rigt )li)3 on a Profile Me#ber to o/en te )onte0t #enu.
13 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
F +ele)t ?PMPIA.
F =e #e#ber 4ill be idden and a ne4 grou/ 4ill be )reated tat re/resents te #e#ber /at.
F =o )lear all PMPI /ats and unide te #e#bers; sele)t ?)lear PMPIA fro# te )onte0t #enu.
=o use PMPI 4it te Build toolC
F Wile you are using te build tool; over your #ouse over a Profile Me#ber and /ress te %=R$ 3ey.
F =e #e#ber 4ill be idden and a ne4 grou/ 4ill be )reated tat re/resents te #e#ber /at.
F PMPI 4ill be auto#ati)ally )leared 4en te Build tool be)o#es dea)tivated.
F Lou )an also )lear PMPI by te )onte0t #enu.
PMPI is es/e)ially useful 4en trying to )onne)t #e#bers tat use )enter /la)e#ent /oints. 7or e0a#/le; in
te se.uen)e of i#ages belo4; a /i/e as been )reated using a )enter /la)e#ent /oint. We no4 4ant to Hoin
anoter /i/e so tat te )enterFlines of bot /i/es interse)t. =is )an be done easily by )li)3ing te %=R$ button
4ile overing your #ouse over te first /i/e.
TIP: In order to use P+PI with the 3uild tool, the .ey#oard focus! must currently #e the -.etch/p window, '(T
the Profile 3uilder 4ialog. The easiest way to set the focus is to right-clic. on empty space in your model (0 use
the middle mouse #utton to or#it your model prior to initiating P+PI.
14. *ele't b" Member +ttributes
It is /ossible to )reate a sele)tion set based on any of te Profile Me#ber attributesC
F 7irst; set te /ro/erties of te Profile Builder dialog to te )riteria of your desired sele)tion. 7or e0a#/le; if
you 4is to sele)t all #e#bers 4it a )enter /la)e#ent /oint; )ange te )urrent /la)e#ent /oint to
?%enterA.
F %li)3 te ?+ele)t by #e#ber attributesA button
F , /ro/erty sele)tion dialog bo0 4ill be dis/layed /ro#/ting you to )oose te /ro/erties of your desired
sele)tion set.
F +ele)t te /ro/erties tat you 4is to add to your sele)tion )riteria by ?)e)3ingA te#.
F Wen you )li)3 ?,//lyA; te Profile Me#bers tat #at) all of te sele)tion )riteria 4ill be added to te
sele)tion set.
'(T): The selection set will not #e cleared prior to using this feature. This is so you can add new
mem#ers to an existing selection set.
1" Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
15. Wor3ing 4ith Profile ibraries
Installing do4nloaded libraries
Profile $ibraries 4ill be available for do4nload fro# te +#ustard 4ebsite
1444.s#ustard.)o#Es)ri/tEProfileBuilder2. ,ll /rofile libraries #ust be in te sa#e folder on your )o#/uter 1or
net4or32 in order to be a))essible by te /lugin. By default; /rofile libraries are stored in te
ProfileBuilder/Libraries folder. =e i#age belo4 so4s a ty/i)al Windo4s installation. (n)e you ave )o/ied your
/rofile library file 1P$B2 to te )orre)t folder; te ne0t ti#e you o/en te Profile Builder dialog; te library 4ill be
sele)table.
!reating a 'ustom or net4or3 /ath for libraries
If you 4ant to be able sare /rofile libraries a)ross a net4or3; or )reate a )usto# lo)ation for your /rofile libraries;
you #ust do te follo4ingC
12 %reate a te0t file )alled ?libraryB/at.t0tA lo)ated in your ProfileBuilder folder.
22 =e )ontents of tis te0t file #ust be a valid /at to te folder of your )oi)e. 1+ee i#age on ne0t /age2.
32 If te ?libraryB/at.t0tA file e0ists; Profile Builder 4ill loo3 for your P$B files in te designated folder te ne0t
ti#e you start +3et):/.
"2 Ma3e sure tat any ne4 libraries you do4nload are /la)ed in tis folder.
1& Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
5eleting Profiles
If you 4is to delete a /rofile fro# a library; si#/ly sele)t te /rofile fro# te Profile dro/Fdo4n list and )li)3 te
?Delete ProfileA button. =e sele)ted /rofile 4ill be re#oved fro# te )urrent library.
Profile 6aming rules and (enaming /rofiles
=o rena#e te )urrently sele)ted /rofile; )li)3 te ?Rena#e /rofileA button =e na#ing rules to 3ee/ in #ind
4en na#ing a /rofile areC
F Lou )annot ave any 4ite s/a)e in te /rofile na#e.
F Lou )annot use te M ; ? 1single .uote2 or te N 1double .uotes2 )ara)ters in te /rofile na#e.
Illegal )ara)ters 4ill be auto#ati)ally deleted 4en you )reate or rena#e a Profile.
Bat'h +dding Profiles to a ibrar"
It is /ossible to .ui)3ly build large Profile $ibraries fro# e0isting +3et):/ fa)es by ?bat) adding /rofilesA. 7or
e0a#/le; if you ad )reated a +3et):/ #odel )onsisting of several undred +3et):/ fa)es; you )an add te# all
to a Profile $ibrary 4it one o/eration. Oust follo4 tese ste/sC
F +ele)t te Profile $ibrary tat you 4is to add te ne4 Profiles to fro# te ?$ibraryA dro/Fdo4n list or )reate
a ne4 Profile $ibrary.
F +ele)t te fa)es tat you 4ant to save as Profiles. =ere is no li#it to te nu#ber you )an sele)t.
F %li)3 te ?%reate ne4 ProfileA button
15 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
F Lou 4ill be /ro#/ted to enter te na#e of te ne4 Profile. 9o4ever; 4en you ave #ore tan one fa)e
sele)ted; a ne4 Profile 4ill be )reated for ea) fa)e. =e first Profile )reated fro# te sele)tion set 4ill be
na#ed 4atever you in/ut for te Profile 6a#e. =e re#aining ne4 Profiles 4ill be na#ed 4it an
in)re#ental nu#eri) suffi0. 1eg. )airRail; )airRail1; )airRail2; et).2
0)+)+3)0: To ensure the profiles are saved with the correct orientation, it is recommended to model the faces
on the X-Y plane and to have the front side of the faces point up.
+dding Profiles to 7a8ourites
Lou )an add te )urrent Profile to your favourites by )li)3ing te ?,dd to 7avourites ButtonA Profile Builder 4ill
)reate a ne4 Profile $ibrary )alled ?7avourties./lbA te first ti#e you )li)3 tis button. =is 4ill give you .ui)3 a))ess
to your #ost )o##only used Profiles.
5eleting ibraries
If you 4is to delete an entire Profile $ibrary; you #ust delete te P$B file in your /rofile library folder. Lou )annot
delete a library using te Profile Builder dialog.
1' Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
1#. !reating 9uantit" (e/orts
Wit Profile Builder; you )an )reate a re/ort tat is useful for esti#ating .uantities of building #aterials.
4I-52"I+)0: 6uantity 0eports created with Profile 3uilder are for estimating purposes only and should not #e
used to determine material cut lengths!. *hile linear Profile +em#ers should provide accurate 1uantity reports,
curved mem#ers, or mem#ers created from multiple path segments will only produce an approximation to the
actual material lengths and volumes. "lso, any mem#er that has #een edited inside group-edit! mode will not
provide an accurate 1uantity report.
=o )reate a .uantity re/ortC
F <o to PluginsFGProfile Builder :tilitiesFG-0/ort 8uantity Re/ort
F If you ave no geo#etry sele)ted; te re/ort 4ill in)lude all Profile Me#bers in your #odel 1in)luding
idden #e#bers2
F If you ave #ade a sele)tion; te re/ort 4ill in)lude only te Profile Me#bers in your sele)tion set.
F %oose te file for#at fro# te dro/ do4n list. Lou ave te o/tion of %+V 1)o##a se/arated values2 or
Plain =e0t 1fi0ed 4idt ,+%II2. %+V files )an be o/ened dire)tly by #any s/readseet a//li)ations su) as
-0)el.
F Lou 4ill be /ro#/ted for te na#e and lo)ation to save te re/ort.
F (n)e you )li)3 ?+aveA; te re/ort 4ill be )reated and auto#ati)ally o/ened.
F =e .uantity re/ort )ontains te follo4ing fieldsC Profile; Me#ber 6a#e; +eg#ents; $engt; and Volu#e
F ,t te end of te re/ort is a su##ary of te total .uantities for ea) ty/e of /rofile.
F +ee i#age belo4 for a sa#/le .uantity re/ort.

18 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
What are the Profile and Member 6ames?
=e /rofile na#e is Hust te na#e of te /rofile tat 4as used to )reate te #e#ber. =e #e#ber na#e is
e.uivalent to te +3et):/ grou/ na#e. Lou )an )ange te #e#ber na#e by sele)ting a Profile Me#ber; o/ening
te ?-ntity InfoA 1under te Windo4 #enu2; and )anging te grou/ na#e. Wen you )reate a ne4 Profile Me#ber;
te grou/ na#e is auto#ati)ally set to te Profile 6a#e. If you later )ange te Profile by editing te #e#ber
/ro/erties; te grou/ na#e 4ill not )ange. 7or tis reason; te Profile 6a#e and te Me#ber 6a#e #ay not
al4ays #at).
:o4 is ength determined?
Me#ber lengt is deter#ined fro# te lengt of te /at tat 4as used to )reate te #e#ber. If a grou/ tat
)ontains te #e#ber as been s)aled using te +3et):/ s)ale tool; te lengt of te #e#ber 4ill still be
)al)ulated )orre)tly. 9o4ever; if you enter grou/ edit #ode for te Profile Me#ber and #a3e )anges to te
geo#etry 1for e0a#/le; by using te PusPull tool2; te )al)ulated lengt of te #e#ber #ay no longer be )orre)t.
:o4 is ;olume determined?
Volu#e is deter#ined fro# te /rodu)t of te Profile area and te )al)ulated lengt 1see above2. If a grou/ tat
)ontains te #e#ber as been s)aled using te +3et):/ s)ale tool; te volu#e of te #e#ber 4ill still be
)al)ulated )orre)tly.
:o4 are Units and Pre'ision
determined?
=e out/ut units; for#atting and /re)ision are deter#ined
fro# your )urrent units settings in +3et):/. =o )ange
te units and /re)isionC
F (/en te Model info Windo4 1Windo4FGModel
Info2 and sele)t :nits
F =e settings )ontained in units dialog bo0 4ill be
used to for#at te dis/lay of te .uantity re/ort.
TIP: 3efore exporting the 1uantity report, set your units format to 4ecimal! and turn off 4isplay /nits
7ormat! if you plan to open the report with spreadsheet software. $see a#ove&
1* Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
1$. +ssigning Mar3 6umbers 1Bat'h 6aming2
Profile Builder allo4s you to rena#e several Profile Me#bers at te sa#e ti#e. Lou )an easily assign se.uential
identifi)ation nu#bers using te follo4ing ste/sC
F +ele)t at least one Profile Me#ber
F %oose PluginsFGProfile Builder :tilitiesFG,ssign Mar3 6u#bers
F , dialog bo0 4ill o/en allo4ing you to in/ut te Prefi0; +uffi0; and
starting #ar3 nu#ber.
F Lou )an in/ut ?PPA for te /refi0 or suffi0 to substitute te na#e of
te /rofile.
F Lou )an leave te ?+tart 6u#berA field blan3 if you do not 4ant to
use in)re#ental nu#bers in te #e#ber na#e.
1%. Profile Members< Grou/s< and !om/onents
Jee/ tese tings in #ind 4en 4or3ing 4it Profile BuilderC
Profile Me#bers are <rou/s 1not )o#/onents2.
If you )onvert a Profile Me#ber grou/ to a %o#/onent; it 4ill no longer beave as a Profile Me#ber.
Profile Me#bers %,6 be nested inside grou/s or )o#/onents.
If you assign #ar3 nu#bers to Profile Me#bers tat are nested inside a )o#/onent; all instan)es of te
)o#/onent 4ill be assigned te sa#e na#es.
20 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1
1). =roubleshooting
I 'an>t see the Profile Builder menu item or toolbar.
=ere is #ost li3ely an installation error. =ry re#oving all te Profile Builder files and installing te /lugin again.
+o#eti#es; te subfolders get lost 4en )ertain /rogra#s un@i/ te @i/ file. Ma3e sure you ave te file
?/bBloader.rbA and te folder ?ProfileBuilderA in te )orre)t lo)ation 1+ee Part 1 Installation2. If you are on a Ma);
#a3e sure you install te /lugin in te QUsersE$ibraryE,//li)ation +u//ortE+3et):/'E+3et)u/EPlugins folder Q 1not
te usual Ma)intos 9D subfolder2.
M" /ath is a 'losed loo/. Wh" 4on>t m" Profile Member 'lose?
%oosing te /ro/er /la)e#ent /oint is very i#/ortant in order to get te Profile Me#ber to for# a )losed loo/.
7or best results; )oose a /la)e#ent /oint tat )oin)ides 4it a verte0 on te /rofile 1li3e a )orner2. %enter and
#iddle /la)e#ent /oints are less li3ely to result in a )losed Profile Me#ber.
*ometimes< m" Profile Member disa//ears as I am dra4ing it. What is 4rong?
=is is 3no4n issue tat see#s to o))ur for so#e users running +3et):/ 5. It is not 3no4n to o))ur in +3et):/ '.
Wh" does the /rofile orientation t4ist along a three dimensional /ath? I 4ant to
use a heli'al /ath.
=is is a 3no4n issue 4it te ?follo4 #eA fun)tion in +3et):/ as 4ell. =ere is )urrently no solution.
I am tr"ing to use PMPI b" /ressing the !=( 3e" but nothing is ha//ening.
Ma3e sure tat te 3eyboard Qfo)usQ is in te +3et):/ editing 4indo4 by orbiting your vie4 4it te #iddle #ouse
button or by rigtF)li)3ing e#/ty s/a)e in your #odel. ,lso; you ave to #a3e sure tat you are )urrently 4or3ing
in te sa#e )onte0t as te #e#ber you are trying to use PMPI on.
I 3ee/ getting the error message ?+ 8alid /ath 4as not found...? e8en though I 3no4
the /ath is 8alid.
=e reason for tis )ould be tat tere is are e0tre#ely s#all edges a))identally sele)ted tat you are not a4are of.
If you do a QWindo4 +ele)tQ to sele)t te edges; or tri/le )li)3 to sele)t all )onn)ted edges; you #ay be
unintentionally sele)ting so#e edges. =ry singleF)li)3ing ea) edge to sele)t te /at instead.
21 Profile Builder Manual Rev 1