Bentley Openbuildings Designer Connect Edition Structural Bim Quickstart S103: Structural Drawings and Schedules

Practice Workbook
This workbook is designed for use in Live instructor-led training and for OnDemand self study.
OnDemand videos for this course are available through CONNECT Advisor and on the LEARNserver.
®
Bentley OpenBuildings Designer TM
CONNECT Edition Structural
BIM QuickStart S103:

Structural Drawings and Schedules
About this Practice Workbook:
 This PDF file includes bookmarks providing an overview of the document. Click on the bookmark to
quickly jump to any section in the file.
 This workbook shows Imperial units—with International System (metric) units shown in blue italicized
text in brackets—for example:
Diameter 1 (D1 Ø): 12 [300], where the Imperial value for the diameter is 12” and the SI value is 300 mm.
 This course uses training examples delivered with the software.
Have a Question? Need Help?
If you have questions while taking this course, search in CONNECT Advisor for related courses and
topics. You can also submit questions to the Building Analysis and Design Forum on Bentley Communities
where peers and Bentley subject matter experts are available to help.
Revision: CE07 en.2 Course Level: Basic
DO NOT DISTRIBUTE - Printing for student use is permitted

Description and Objectives
Course Description
This workbook contains information extracting drawings from the 3D BIM Model. You will Learn how to create different types of Drawings,
including Plans, and Sections, and extract schedules.
This course is the third in a series of classes that are part of the OpenBuildings Designer Quick Start for Structural Designers. If you have not
completed the previous courses you will find all previous referenced files in the Supplement folder of the WorkSet.
Skills Taught
 Creating Framing Plans
 Creating Structural Building Sections
 Modifying Basic Drawing Information
 Drawing Rules
 Creating Column Schedules
 Working with Schedules
Copyright © 2021 Bentley Systems, Incorporated DO NOT DISTRIBUTE - Printing for student use is permitted 2
Design Models, Drawings and Sheets
OpenBuildings Designer has three types of models that can be used in your
files; Design Models (2D or 3D), Drawing Models (2D only) and Sheet models
(2D only). Each has properties that make it unique and will aid you while you
create your design and contract documents. We use these model types to
create files that contain the Models, Drawings and Sheets for your project.
Design Model Files

Purpose: Models that contain your 3D model components. The number of
Design Model Files in each discipline is dictated by how you want to divide the
work in your model.
Master Models are container files that have design models referenced into
them. Dynamic Views are generated in the Master Model (such as plans,
sections, elevation and details) and saved there.
Drawing Files
Purpose: Drawing files contain your 2D drawings, either referenced dynamic
views generated from your Design Models or 2D drawings created from scratch
(like details).
These files will have the dynamic views generated from the Master Models
attached. Automatic annotation, like grid lines and rule-based annotation will be
created in the drawings. This file is also be the appropriate place to add
additional annotation and geometry where needed.
Sheet Files
Purpose: Sheet files contain sheet models that are used for printing.
A Sheet file will have a title block border and one or more drawing model files
attached that are required for the information that you want to portray on that sheet. There will be some sheet annotation and depending on
your project standards, may contain additional annotation and geometry.
Exercise 01: Setting Up Drawing Composition Model
A drawing composition file is created and the working models are attached as reference attachments. This file is where we create our building
dynamic views for use in our drawings and sheets.
1. Start OpenBuildings Designer.

a. Set the WorkSpace to Building_Examples.
b. Set the Workset to the one created in the previous course or create a new workset using
the TrainingTemplate_US workset or TrainingTemplate_NM workset as the template.
2. Select New File.
a. Ensure the Seed file setting is set to DesignSeed.dgn.
This is the default seed file for model seeds. Seeds delivered with OpenBuildings Designer include:
 DesignSeed.dgn—for 3D models
 DrawingSeed.dgn—for 2D drawing models
 SheetSeed_Arch.dgn—for sheet models (US
dataset), this seed is setup for ANSI Arch E1 paper
size (30”x42”)
 SheetSeed_ISO.dgn—for sheet models (NM

dataset), this seed is setup for ISO A1 paper size
(594 mm x 841 mm)
Note: It is standard practice to customize the delivered

seed files in order to set up your own company standard
seed files. We will utilize the drawing and sheet seeds in
the third course in our QuickStart training series.
3. Name the new file S_Drawing Composition.dgn.

4. Select the Save button.
The newly created file will open.
5. Attach the files worked on in the previous QuickStart courses: S_Framing.dgn and S_Foundation.dgn. The Explorer Links can be used to
drag-and-drop to attach them as references. Attach them with the Attachment Method set to Interactive.
6. For each reference attachment set:
a. Logical Name: Foundation Struc and Framing Struc respectively.
b. Orientation: Coincident
c. Nested Attachments: No Nesting
d. Ignore Attachment When Live Nesting: Off
7. From the Manage View Groups window open View 4.
8. In the Ribbon Interface > View tab > Window Group select the Tile tool.
9. Set four different orientations in the
views: Isometric, Top, Front and
Right.
10. In the Floor Selector utility select the
list of floors and select the Ground
Floor.
11. Fit each view.
12. From the Quick Access toolbar
select the Save Settings tool.
Exercise 02: Reviewing Sheet Indexing
OpenBuildings Designer includes a sheet indexing function accessed from the Explorer. The Training WorkSets have the sheet indexing
already set up. In this exercise we’ll review the way the sheet index is set up. We’ll utilize the sheet index to automatically number our
construction document sheets when we create our drawings and sheets.
1. In the Explorer select the Sheet Index tab and expand the list to show the structural folders.
Note: These are virtual folders for organizing our sheet documents, in the actual WorkSet folder structure, all our sheets are created in
the Sheets folder.
2. Right-click on the \Structure\S1_Plans\

sheet index folder and select Properties.
We see that the sheets will be incremented
by 1 and will have 2 digits with a prefix of S1.
Also, the Show Leading Zero option is on and
the Start Number is set to 1. This will umber
the sheets incrementally staring with S101
and continuing with S102, S103, etc.
3. Right-click on the \Structure\S3_Sections\

sheet index folder and select Properties.
We see that the sheets will be incremented
by 1 and will have 2 digits with a prefix of S3.
As with the Plans folder the Show Leading
Zero option is on and the Start Number is set
to 1. This will umber the sheets incrementally
staring with S301 and continuing with S302,
S303, etc.
Each folder is set up the same just with a different prefix. The sheet indexing properties are saved to the workset’s .dgnws file (the
extension stands for ‘design workset’). Each WorkSet has a companion ‘.dgnws’ file associated with it. In order to create and edit folders
and properties of the sheet index the indexing must be opened for editing. We’ll just take a look at how this works as our indexing is
already set up for us.
The tools currently available in the Sheet Index tab are: Refresh, Open Sheet Index for Edit, Place sheet index as a table and Open Print
Organizer.
4. In the Sheet Index tab select the Open Sheet Index for Edit tool.
The Sheet Index tab now shows different tools: Make Sheet Index Read Only, Manage Sheet Index, Create Folder, Add Sheet, Delete. It
also still shows the tools: Refresh, Place sheet index as a table and Open Print Organizer.
5. Right-click on the \Structure\S1_Plans\ sheet index folder and select Properties.

We see that we can now edit any of the settings
or this folder as we are in the ‘edit mode’ for the
sheet indexing.
6. In the Sheet Index tab select the Make Sheet

Index Read Only tool.
Sheet Indexing is now set back to read only.
The sheet index utility can be used to

automatically re-number sheets, for example if a
sheet has to be inserted into the set at a later
stage of the project’s design. All drawing symbols
using the sheet numbers, e.g.,drawing titles, plan
symbols, section cut symbols, etc. will update top
reflect the new sheet numbers.
Exercise 03: Creating a Structural Foundation Plan
In this exercise you will create a structural foundation plan drawing and construction document sheet using the Drawing Production tools.
1. From the Ribbon Interface > Drawing Production tab > Create Views Group select
the Floor Plans tool.
2. In the Tool Settings dialog box set the method to Plan by Floor and set:
a. Drawing Seed: _Ex_Struc - Foundation Plan_Full Sheet
Note: The ‘Full Sheet’ part of the name indicates there is a drawing boundary set
up on the sheet. This drawing boundary is set up to center the drawing on the page.
b. Floor Selector: Ground Floor

c. View Range: Drawing Template
d. Align View: Global Coordinates
e. Create Drawing: On
3. Following the prompt enter a datapoint (left-click) in a view in a front orientation.
The View shows that

a clip volume has
been applied based
on the View Range
set in the Tool
Settings.
4. In the Create Drawing dialog box set:
a. Name: FOUNDATION PLAN
b. Create Drawing Model: On
c. Filename: On
 Select the Create New Drawing File icon and in the Create
Drawing Model Destination dialog name the new drawing file
S_Plan Foudation.dgn and click Save.
d. Annotation Scale: 1/8"=1'-0" [1:100]
e. Visible Edges: Cached
f. Create Sheet Model: On
g. Filename: On
 Select the Create New Sheet File icon and in the Create Sheet
Model Destination dialog name the new sheet file S101.dgn
and click Save.
h. Sheets: (New)
i. Annotation Scale: Full Size 1 = 1
j. Drawing Boundary: Foundation Plan
k. Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]
l. Add to Sheet Index: On
 Select the Select a folder from Sheet index icon and in the
Sheet Index Folder Picker expand the folder list and select the Structure S1_Plans folder and select OK.
m. Replicate Drawing in Sheet File: Off
5. Select OK.
OpenBuildings Designer performs the Create Drawing operation. With the settings that are applied, several things happen in this
operation:
 A clip volume is applied, and a saved view is created based on the clip volume
 A drawing model file is created, and the composition model is attached as a reference using the saved view
 Settings from the seed model are applied to the reference attachment including structural re-symbolization rules
 A sheet model file is created, and the drawing model is attached as a reference
 Drawing symbols are generated with navigation links
 Drawing numbers, sheet numbers generated using fields from detailing symbol styles
 View markers are generated with navigation links
6. In the Explorer Sheet Index tab expand the tree to the Structure > S1_Plans folder and double-click on the S101 sheet model.
The newly created sheet model opens. Note the drawing title includes the drawing number, drawing name, sheet number and annotation
scale. All these are fields that are populated by sheet model and drawing boundary properties.
7. With the Element Selection tool hover over the drawing title a mini navigation toolbar pops up, select the drawing icon.
The drawing model opens, the drawing title has a built-in link to the drawing model and the composition model we created the drawing
from. Note the drawing model has a slate background by default. Reference presentation settings have been applied to the reference
attachment: presentation settings, building settings including structural re-symbolization rules and clip volume settings including display
styles.
8. From the Ribbon Interface > Drawing
Production tab > Common Tools Group
expand the reference split button and
select the Set Reference Presentation
tool.
The Reference Presentation dialog
opens.
9. In the Building tab select the Structural

tab.
This shows the re-symbolization rules

being used for this drawing, we can see
that the concrete columns and spread
footing foundations have rules applied.
These rules are labeling the components
with datagroup properties from those
elements.
The column and spread footing Item ID

[Number] datagroup properties, C1, C4,
F1, F3, are being assigned by the
structural rules, resulting in the labels on
the foundation plan drawing. All the
Reference Presentation settings including
the structural re-symbolization rules come
from the seed template we chose,
_Ex_Struc - Foundation Plan_Full Sheet,
when we created the drawing.
10. Using the Explorer Links tab navigate

back to the S_Drawing Composition.dgn
file.
Exercise 04: Creating a Structural Concrete Framing Plan
In this exercise you will create a structural concrete framing plan drawing and construction document sheet using the Drawing Production
tools.
2. In the Tool Settings dialog box set the method to Plan by Floor and set.
a. Drawing Seed: _Ex_Struc - Concrete Framing Plan_Full Sheet
b. Floor Selector: Floor 1 (15:0)
c. View Range: Drawing Template
e. Create Drawing: On
3. Following the prompt enter a datapoint (left-click) in a view in a front orientation.
4. In the Create Drawing dialog box set:
a. Name: FLOOR 1 FRAMING PLAN
c. Filename: On
S_Plan FRAMING 01 and click Save.
g. Filename: On
and click Save.
h. Sheets: (New)
j. Drawing Boundary: Framing Plan
k. Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]
5. Select OK.
Again, OpenBuildings Designer performs the Create Drawing operation. We can use the same methods to navigate to the sheet and
drawing that was generated, taking note of the appearance of the drawing.
Exercise 05: Creating Structural Steel Framing Plans
In this exercise you will create two structural steel framing plans drawing and construction document sheet using the Drawing Production
tools. Multiple drawings can be created when using the same drawing seed, for these steel framing plans we’ll use the seed _Ex_Struc - Steel
Framing Plan_Full Sheet. To facilitate creating multiple drawing we use the exercise we use the Plan by Floor Set option.
1. From the Ribbon Interface > Drawing Production tab > Create Views Group select the Floor
Plans tool.
2. In the Tool Settings dialog box set the method to Plan by Floor Set and set:
a. Drawing Seed: _Ex_Struc - Steel Framing Plan_Full Sheet
b. Source: OpenBuildings Designer
c. Create Plan: Checked on for Floor 2 and Floor Roof
3. Select Next.
4. In this dialog box ensure that Create Drawing is checked On.
5. Select Create.
The Create Drawing dialog will open for each floor we checked on in the Tool Settings for Create Plan.
6. In the Create Drawing dialog box for Floor 2 set:

a. Name: FLOOR 2 FRAMING PLAN
c. Filename: On
g. Filename: On
and click Save.
h. Sheets: (New)
k. Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]
7. Select OK.
Again, OpenBuildings Designer performs the Create Drawing operation. This time we will be presented with the Create Drawing dialog
for the Floor Roof.
8. In the Create Drawing dialog box for Floor Roof set:

a. Name: ROOF FRAMING PLAN
c. Filename: On
g. Filename: On
and click Save.
h. Sheets: (New)
k. Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]
9. Select OK.
Again, OpenBuildings Designer performs the Create Drawing operation. We can use the same methods to navigate to the sheets and
drawings that were generated, taking note of the appearance of the drawing.
Exercise 06: Creating a Structural Building Section
In this exercise you will create a structural building section drawing and construction document sheet using the Drawing
Composition tools.
1. Open the drawing composition file S_Drawing Composition.dgn.

3. In the Tool Settings dialog box set:

a. Drawing Seed: _Ex_Struc - Building Section_Full Sheet
b. Height: From Model
c. Create Drawing: On
4. Following the prompt enter a datapoint (left-click) defining the start point of the section on the left side of the plan.
5. Following the prompt enter a datapoint (left-click) defining the start point of the section on the left side of the plan. And datapoint (left-
click) to define the direction and depth of the section.
The Create Drawing dialog opens.
6. In the Create Drawing dialog box for the section set:
a. Name: BUILDING SECTION 1
c. Filename: On
S_Section 1 and click Save.
g. Filename: On
and click Save.
h. Sheets: (New)
j. Drawing Boundary: Section
k. Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]
Sheet Index Folder Picker expand the folder list and select the Structure S3_Sections folder and select OK.
7. Select OK.
Again, OpenBuildings Designer performs the Create Drawing operation.
This time we’ll use the markers that are displayed in the views to navigate to the drawing and sheet.
Markers are transient icons that indicates the presence of a saved view, link or markup. Markers for different Detail Marker
types of saved views are: detail markers, elevation markers, plan markers and section markers.
Hovering over a marker invokes the Mini Toolbar context menu that can be used to navigate between the Elevation Marker
drawing, sheet and model associated with the call out, as well as various toggles depending on the type of
call out. Plan Marker
Section Marker
8. Using the Element Selection tool, hover the cursor over the Section Marker
for the newly generated section to invoke the Mini Toolbar pop-up.
The Mini Toolbar will appear semi-transparent, moving the cursor into the
toolbar makes the tools available.
9. Note: If the Markers are not visible open View Attributes and turn on
Markers.
10. Move the cursor into the Mini Toolbar to activate it and change the pull-
down target list to the drawing, BUILDING SECTION 1 and then select the
Open Target tool.
The section drawing opens. We want to turn off the S-LABL-SECT level.
11. In the Level Display dialog ensure the level S-LABL-SECT in the reference
file is turned off. Apply a Save Settings to save this change.
12. Using the Element Selection tool, hover the cursor over the Section Marker
displayed in the drawing and move the cursor into the Mini Toolbar to
activate it, change the pull down target list to the sheet, S301 and then
select the Open Target tool.
The sheet opens. One more feature of the Mini Toolbar context menu is a
toggle to display the drawing callout symbols on the drawings. We’ll
navigate to the foundation plan sheet to turn in the section callout symbol.
13. Use the Explorer Sheet Index to open the S101 FOUNDATION PLAN sheet.
14. With the Element Selection tool hover over the section marker and turn on the Show Callouts.
The section callout appears on the sheet.
15. If necessary, turn on the Fill in the View Attributes and apply a Save Settings to save this change to the View Attributes.
Exercise 07: Creating Schedules—Footing Schedule
We can create schedules for the construction documents utilizing the schedules reporting tool. Schedules report on the datagroup information
included on the components. Schedule layouts can be arranged and formatted per standards and placed on our construction documents
sheets as a table or as a linked spreadsheet. In this exercise we will create a spread footing schedule and place it as a table on our foundation
plan.
1. Use the Explorer Sheet Index to open the sheet model S101.dgn.
2. From the Ribbon Interface > Data/Reporting tab > Reports Group select the
Schedules tool from the Schedules split-button.
The Schedules utility dialog box opens.
3. Set the directory tree Show menu to Show Used.

4. In the Directory tree select the Structural > Foundation | Concrete Pier
catalog type.
The Schedules list box will show all the instances of Foundation | Concrete
Pier found in the active file and in reference attachments. In our case they are
all in reference attachments. We will create a new schedule layout and format it for our use.
5. In the directory tree right-press on the Foundation | Concrete Piers catalog type and
select New.
The Schedule Properties dialog box opens. Here we can name our schedule, choose
catalog types, properties, add filters, add sorting/grouping parameters, set text
formatting. We can set an Excel spreadsheet to use as a template and/or set a table
seed.
6. For the Schedule Name, name the schedule FOOTING SCHEDULE.

7. For the Destination File set the location to Workset.
8. Select the Create a New File icon and name the .xml file S-Schedule Layouts.xml.
9. In the Properties tab—using the properties list and move arrows—add and sort these
properties in this order:
a. ID | Item ID [Number]
b. Section Name
c. Length
d. ID| Notes
Note: The column header names can be edited. e.g., ID | Item ID [Number] can be
edited to TYPE, either through the schedule properties or in the Schedule list or in the
table after it is placed.
10. In the Sorting/Grouping tab check on Show items count.
11. In the Table tab set:
a. Seed: Grey Theme Table (Titles+Headers)
b. Retain Association: On
12. Select OK.
The Schedules list box updates to show the layout as we just defined in the
schedule’s property.
13. In the Schedules dialog box expand the Place Table tool and select From
Schedule.
14. In the Tool Settings or Place Table (from Schedule) ensure these settings are set:
a. Seed: Grey Theme Tables (Title+Headers)
b. Annotation Scale: On
c. Active Angle: 0
d. Retain Association: On
15. Select OK.
16. Datapoint (left-click) to place the table on the sheet.
The table functionality includes tools for formatting the table. When a table is selected the ribbon interface will show tools for editing the
table.
17. Select the table, from the Ribbon Interface > Table Tools Layout tab > Table Symbology
Group select the Borders tool from the Borders split-button and select Outside.
18. Set the line weight to weight 2.

19. select the Borders tool from the Borders split-button and select Inside.
20. Set the line weight to weight 1.
As we see, we can utilize the datagroup system’s properties that are included on our components for our scheduling needs. For more
information on using tables refer to the Help documentation.

Bentley Openbuildings Designer Connect Edition Structural Bim Quickstart S103: Structural Drawings and Schedules

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Bentley Openbuildings Designer Connect Edition Structural Bim Quickstart S103: Structural Drawings and Schedules

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Practice Workbook

CONNECT Edition Structural

BIM QuickStart S103:

 This course uses training examples delivered with the software.

Have a Question? Need Help?

Revision: CE07 en.2 Course Level: Basic

DO NOT DISTRIBUTE - Printing for student use is permitted

 Creating Structural Building Sections

 Modifying Basic Drawing Information

 Working with Schedules

Design Model Files

1. Start OpenBuildings Designer.

 SheetSeed_ISO.dgn—for sheet models (NM

Note: It is standard practice to customize the delivered

3. Name the new file S_Drawing Composition.dgn.

2. Right-click on the \Structure\S1_Plans\

3. Right-click on the \Structure\S3_Sections\

5. Right-click on the \Structure\S1_Plans\ sheet index folder and select Properties.

6. In the Sheet Index tab select the Make Sheet

The sheet index utility can be used to

b. Floor Selector: Ground Floor

The View shows that

 Drawing symbols are generated with navigation links

 View markers are generated with navigation links

9. In the Building tab select the Structural

This shows the re-symbolization rules

The column and spread footing Item ID

10. Using the Explorer Links tab navigate

6. In the Create Drawing dialog box for Floor 2 set:

8. In the Create Drawing dialog box for Floor Roof set:

1. Open the drawing composition file S_Drawing Composition.dgn.

3. In the Tool Settings dialog box set:

The Create Drawing dialog opens.

3. Set the directory tree Show menu to Show Used.

6. For the Schedule Name, name the schedule FOOTING SCHEDULE.

10. In the Sorting/Grouping tab check on Show items count.

18. Set the line weight to weight 2.

You might also like