RebarCAD Palettes

User Guide
A quick guide to help you
explore this feature
Introduction ..................................................................................................................... 3
Icon Guidance in this Guide ............................................................................................ 3
Drawing Bars .................................................................................................................. 4
Editing Bars .................................................................................................................. 10
Drawing Ranges & Runs ............................................................................................... 13
Editing Ranges & Runs ................................................................................................. 16
Palette Customization ................................................................................................... 18

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Introduction
The RebarCAD Palettes feature allows you to detail bars, ranges and runs more productively.
Close integration with the AutoCAD tool and property palettes means you can quickly create and
edit bars without the distraction of dialogs that obscure your drawing. The use of AutoCAD tool
palettes also opens up RebarCAD to much greater user customization allowing you to tailor your
detailing environment for maximum efficiency.

Icon Guidance in this Guide

We have made use of icons throughout this guide in order to help you find different sections
easily and quickly. These icons mark the different sections in each chapter:

This shows where a new Concept is introduced.

This shows a Command Explanation, a section explaining what the command

does, how to use it and how it can be applied when detailing. It may also be
used to clarify the use of dialogs.

This shows the start of a section of Hints & Tips, advice to help you get the
best out the described feature.

The mouse icon is an invitation to Try It!

This shows Key Points, sections to reinforce your understanding of the feature
you have just read about and tried as exercises.

The paperclip marks the Command Reference List.

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Drawing Bars
This section describes how to use the AutoCAD palettes to draw new bar marks, sets and views.
This feature uses the AutoCAD tool and property palette, so you must first ensure the AutoCAD
tool palette is activated. You can do this by either selecting the Tool Palette Window command
from the AutoCAD Tools menu, or by simply using the CRTL-3 shortcut key combination.
On activation of the tool palette window you should be shown a Console palette within the
RebarCAD palette group. If this is not the currently open palette then you will need to locate this
palette using AutoCAD.

This Console palette offers a variety of icons for creating bars, ranges and run. This palette
represents an example of how the tool palettes might be customized. The significant topic of tool
palette customization will be covered in a later chapter. For the purpose of this chapter we will be
working from the Draw Bar and Bend Types Palettes.

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The Draw Bar palette contains commands that duplicate the behaviour of the standard New
Mark, New Set, Add View and In Section commands, but they utilize the AutoCAD property
palettes instead of traditional draw bar dialog.
The RebarCAD palette group also contains a Bend Types palette for drawing new bar marks of
specific bend types. This palette offers all the bend types currently deployed within the default
USA.BDF bar definition file. Selecting these icons will trigger the creation of a new bar mark of
the selected bend type.

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Single click on one of these bend type icons, or alternatively select and drag one into the drawing
area. A number of things will happen on doing this:
1. The properties palette will appear if not already activated
2. The property palette will offer you a number of RebarCAD properties
3. The command line will be requesting a start point
You can consider the property palette to be a tabulated version of the draw bar dialog. You are
now free to specify your required bar properties.

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Once you have the bar properties set as required then you can complete the process by
specifying the start point, orientation, any outstanding dimensions, and then by attaching a label
in exactly the same way as with the existing draw bar mark command.

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Try it: Create a new bar mark from the tool and property palettes
1 Single click on the 0 icon within the Bend Types palette
2 Specify the required bar properties within the property palette
3 Pick a point within the drawing to specify the location of the bar
4 Specify a second point to either specify the B dimension and/or bar orientation
5 Place a bar label and leader when prompted

Try it: Create a new bar set from the tool and property palettes
1 Single click on the New Set icon within the Draw Bar palette
2 Select any previously draw bar from the drawing when prompted
3 Specify any required bar properties (e.g. number of bars) within the property palette
4 Pick a point within the drawing to specify the location of the bar
5 Pick a second point to specify the orientation of the bar
6 Place a bar label and leader when prompted

Try it: Create a new bar view from the tool and property palettes
1 Single click on the Add View icon within the Draw Bar palette
2 Select any previously draw bar from the drawing when prompted
3 Specify any required bar properties (e.g. view) within the property palette
4 Pick a point within the drawing to specify the location of the bar
5 Pick a second point to specify the orientation of the bar if necessary

Key Points
 All RebarCAD palettes are within the RebarCAD palette group
 New bar marks are created by selecting bend type icons, or the generic New Mark command.
 New bar sets and views are created from the commands within the Draw Bar palette
 Bar properties are now specified within the AutoCAD property palette and not within the Draw
Bar dialog
 You can still draw bars using the existing commands that show the Draw Bar dialog
 The existing Over Stock Length (OSL) feature will be triggered as with the existing Draw Bar
command

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Tips
 Activate the Tool Palette by using CTRL-3
 Use the TAB key to move to the next properties within the properties palette
 You can hide any unnecessary groups of properties (e.g. couplers) by using the collapse
arrows within the property palette
 There are many ways to change the presentation of the tool palettes. Right click within the
palette itself and select the View Options… command. For example you can reduce the size
of the bend type or range icons and use the tooltips on these instead of showing icon text
 You can control the positioning, docking, hiding and transparency of the palette by using the
options available via a right clicking on tool palettes’ vertical title strip
 You cannot draw a new set or view of an OSL bar via the palettes. You should instead use
the AutoCAD copy commands to duplicate the OSL bar and respond to the resultant set or
view message
 You can only review the coupler properties during new set/view palette commands. You
should use the Add/Edit Coupler command to revise previously drawn couplers, or to add
couplers to existing bars

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Editing Bars
This section describes how to edit bars via the property palettes.
Assuming you have the property palette activated (CTRL-1 shortcut key) then you can edit any
previously drawing bar by simply selecting any of the drawn RebarCAD entities. This will result in
the property palette immediately offering all the associated RebarCAD properties for review and
edit.

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Note: You cannot edit a bar that belongs to an OSL group using the palettes. You should instead
use the existing Edit Bars command or double click edit functionality to trigger the OSL dialog.
You can easily edit the properties of multiple bar sets by simply selecting all the associated
RebarCAD entities. All the properties with differing values will be identified with the word
*VARIES* as shown below.

Try it: Edit the size of a bar via the property palette
1 Ensure the property palette is activated
2 Select a previous drawn bar from the drawing
3 Edit the bar size within the property palette
4 The bar will be immediately updated on specifying an alternative bar size
5 Press ESC to unselect the bar

Try it: Edit the grade of two bars via the property palette

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1 Ensure the property palette is activated
2 Select two previous drawn bars from the drawing (hold down the SHIFT)
3 Edit the bar grade within the property palette. Note: the grade will appear as *VARIES* if the
grade of the two selected bars differ
4 The bar will be immediately updated on specifying an alternative bar grade
5 Press ESC to unselect the bars

Key Points
 On selecting of a bar all the bars’ RebarCAD properties will be available for review and edit
within the AutoCAD property palette
 You can edit multiple bars in one operation by selecting entities belonging to numerous bars
 You can still edit bars by either using the double click feature or via the Edit Bars command

Tips
 Activate the Property Palette by using CTRL-1
 Hold down the SHIFT key to make a multiple selections within the drawing
 You can hide any unnecessary groups of AutoCAD properties (e.g. 3D Visualization) by using
the collapse arrows within the property palette. As illustrated below:

 Use the “Select Object” icon at the top of the property palette if preferred. This command
works in conjunction with the PICKADD AutoCAD system variable which is also available at

the top of the property palette. When set to this will ensure that only a single bar
can be edited at a time.

 Use the Quick Select icon at the top of the property palette to filter for all the bars you
wish to edit. (e.g. specify a filter by color to select all bar labels assigned to a specific release)
 You cannot edit OSL bars with the property palette. You should instead double click on any
bar within the OSL group to access the OSL dialog.
 You can only review the coupler properties during edit from the property palette. You should
use the existing Add/Edit Coupler command to revise previously drawn couplers, or to add
couplers to existing bars

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Drawing Ranges & Runs
This section describes how to use the palettes to draw ranges and runs.
The RebarCAD palette group includes palettes for drawing ranges and runs.

The workflow for drawing ranges and runs from the palettes is different from the existing method.
In order to draw a range or run from the palettes you must first have drawing an instance of a bar
with the required bar properties. In the case of ranges you are essentially asked to draw the
indicator bar and then to turn this into a range by appending the range line. Drawing runs is
similar but the select bar is not incorporated into the drawn run, so you can consider this as
essentially a new range view operation. This workflow both breaks the range drawing process
down into more manageable segments and better fits with the powerful customization features
that will be demonstrated in a later chapter.
The range/run is drawn as a new mark, set or view depending on the assignment of the selected
bar.

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Try it: Draw a single indicator range new mark via the palettes
1 Draw a new bar mark of bend type 0 in side view, using any method. Do not label this bar
2 Single click on the Single Indicator icon within the Ranges palette
3 Select the previously drawn bar when prompted
4 Specify the range start and end points together with any end offsets. Ensure the range lines
intersect the previously drawn bar
5 Specify the centre spacing or number of bars
6 Label the range

Try it: Draw a general run new mark via the palettes
1 Draw a new bar mark of bend type 0 in any view, using any method. Do not label this bar
2 Single click on the General Run icon within the Runs palette
3 Select the previously drawn bar when prompted
4 Specify the run start and end points together with any end offsets, and side of line
5 Specify the centre spacing or number of bars
6 Label the run
7 [In this instance you may want to remove the possibly unnecessary bar]

Try it: Draw a single indicator range new view via the palettes
1 Draw a new bar mark of bend type 0 in side view, using any method. Label this bar.
2 Draw a new view of this bar using any method
3 Single click on the Single Indicator icon within the Ranges palette
4 Select the previously drawn new view bar when prompted
5 Specify the range start and end points together with any end offsets. Ensure the range lines
intersect the previously drawn bar
6 Specify the centre spacing or number of bars

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Key Points
 Drawing ranges and runs from the palettes requires selection of an existing bar
 In the case of ranges the selected bar becomes the range’s indicator bar
 In the case of runs you are essentially doing a new range view of the selected bar
 The range/run is drawn as a new mark, set or view depending on the selected bar
 You can select OSL bars in order to create OSL ranges

Tips
 If you are drawing a bar that will become an indictor bar for a range then it may be pertinent
not to label the bar during bar draw. This will mean that the full array of range labelling
options are available on completion of the range draw

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Editing Ranges & Runs
This section describes how to use the palettes to edit ranges and runs.
Assuming you have the property palette active (CTRL-1 shortcut key) then you can edit any
previously drawing range or run by simply selecting any of the drawn RebarCAD range entities.
This will result in the property palette offering all the RebarCAD range properties for review and
edit.
If you select a range line then the property palette might look like this:

Similarly if you select a bar in section that belongs to a run then the property palette might look
like this:

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Try it: Edit the number of bars within a single indicator range
1 Draw a Single Indicator Range using any method
2 Select the range line
3 Edit the number of bars within the Range Data section of the AutoCAD property palette
4 Press ENTER or TAB
5 The range will be immediately updated on specifying an alternative number of bars
6 Press ESC to unselect the range line

Try it: Edit the number of bars on a specific group within a single multiple pitch range
1 Draw a Multiple Pitch Range with three groups, using any method
2 Select the range line
3 Select the required group using the Group property within the Range Data section of the
AutoCAD property palette
4 Edit the number of bars associated with this group
5 Press ENTER or TAB
6 The range will be immediately updated on specifying an alternative number of bars
7 Press ESC to unselect the range line

Key Points
 Selecting the range/run using a single click and all the RebarCAD range properties will be
available for review and edit within the AutoCAD property palette
 You can edit the bar properties (e.g. size, dimensions) of a range/run by selecting either the
label or the indictor bar
 You can easily switch between groups within ranges/runs via the group property
 You can edit multiple ranges/runs by selecting numerous entities
 You can still edit ranges by either using the double click feature or via the Edit Range…
command

Tips
 Activate the Property Palette by using CTRL-1
 Hold down the SHIFT key to make a multiple selections within the drawing
 You cannot edit OSL ranges via the properties palettes. You should instead use the double
click edit feature or Range Edit command

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Palette Customization
This section describes how to customize the palette in order to achieve improved detailing
efficiency.
Probably the greatest advantage of a palette is that they can be easily customized so you can
tailor your detailing environment to best suite your preferred way of working.
Whilst you can edit the shipped palettes we advise you to create your own custom palettes and
palettes groups. This will ensure that all shipped tools and icons remain available and that any
subsequent software updates will not affect your customization.
You can, for example, create new palettes that can:
1. Just include the bend types and hook options that you use most often
2. Offers a selection of specific project bar marks that can simply be dropped into the
drawing
3. Offer bend types defaulted to commonly used grade, sizes, styles, etc.
4. Make the range and run types you most commonly use immediately available
5. Freely configure which commands are shown without creating custom toolbars
6. Combine dynamic block outlines with bend types typically used to detail these structures
7. Include your special bend types
The properties of the bend type icons are accessed by right-clicking on the bend type icon and
selecting Properties… from the subsequent menu. The tool properties for this icon will be
displayed. You will notice that the properties offered are identical to those used during bar input
and edit within the property palette. Any changes you make here will become the default values
within the properties palette during subsequent bar creation. You can of course change the
defaulted value in the property palette during bar input if required.
Modifications to the tool palette properties for commands (e.g. new set), ranges, and run icons
are not advised.

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The RebarCAD palette group comes with a Console palette that includes icons from numerous
other RebarCAD palettes. This has been included to offer an example of how you may like to
customize your palette. You may like to create your own version of this Console palette that only
includes the ranges and runs type that you most commonly use. This palette may include
selective bend types that default specific bar properties to save repeated data entry. It may even
include standard bar marks to aid bar mark standardization across the current project.
A Commands palette has also been included in the RebarCAD palette group to aid the inclusion
of RebarCAD commands in your custom palettes. These can simply be copied and pasted into
your custom palettes.

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Try it: Create a new palette of just the bend types I most often use
1 Activate the AutoCAD tool palette and right click within it to show available options. Select the
New Palette command and specify a name for your new palette (e.g. My Bend Types)
2 Switch to the Bend Types palette (by selecting the associated tab)
3 Hold down SHIFT and select numerous bend types icons
4 With all the required bend types still selected right click and select Copy
5 Return to your new palette
6 Right click and select Paste

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Try it: Adjust the default bar size and grade offered within the property palette
1 Follow the Create a new palette of just the bend types I most often use try it
2 Right click on one of the bend types icons within your new palette
3 Select Properties… (as shown below)
4 Revise the grade and bar size as required and click OK
5 The next time you use this bend type icon the property palette will automatically default to the
specified grade and bar size

Try it: Create a custom ranges palette containing just the range types I typically use

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1 Activate the AutoCAD tool palette and right click within it to show available options. Select the
New Palette command and specify a name for your new palette (e.g. My Range Types)
2 Switch to the Ranges palette (by selecting the associated tab)
3 Hold down SHIFT and select numerous range type icons
4 With all the required range types still selected right click and select Copy
5 Return to your new palette
6 Right click and select Paste

Try it: Create a custom palette of project specific bar marks

1 Activate the AutoCAD tool palette and right click within it to show available options. Select the
New Palette command and specify a name for your new palette (e.g. My Bar Marks)
2 Switch to the Bend Types palette (by selecting the associated tab)
3 Select a bend types icon, right click and select Copy
4 Return to your new palette
5 Right click and select Paste
6 Right click on the bend type icon within your new palette and Select Properties…
7 Specify the required bar mark and bar properties (e.g. bar size, grade, dimensions)
8 Revise the name and description to reflect the bar mark
9 You can now use these icons to repeatedly draw these bar marks. After the first time these
icons are used in the drawing the program will create new bar sets

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Try it: Transfer a custom palette to a different machine
1 Create your own palette as described previously
2 Right-click in the tool palette area and select Customize Palettes…
3 Select your custom palette from the Palettes list, right click, and select Export
4 Specify a name and location for your XTP file
5 Repeat these steps on the second machine selecting the Import command and the previously
output XTP file

You may want to create your own version of the Console palette that just offers the commands,
bend types, bar mark, ranges and runs that you most commonly use. This might look something
like this:

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Key Points
 Palettes allows you to tailor your RebarCAD detailing environment
 It is best to create new palettes instead of modifying the shipped ones
 You can adjust the default values shown with in the property palette during bar creation by
adjusting the values within the tool properties of a bend type icon
 You can create palettes that contain specific bar marks. When you first use these icons a
new mark is created. Subsequent use will result in the creation of new bar sets of this bar
mark
 You can easily transfer a custom palette or palette group between machines

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 A palette can contain bend types, dynamic block outlines, RebarCAD commands as well as
any standard AutoCAD objects and commands such as dimensions, leaders, hatch patterns,
etc. (see the AutoCAD Help for further information)

Tips
 Use the palette view options to produce the most suitable palette layout
 If you want to add a bend type not supplied with the product then it is easiest to copy and
modify an existing bend type icon. Be sure to revise the icon name and image!
 Use text and separators to better organize your tool palette icons. Right click within the tool
palette and select either Add Text or Add Separator.

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