Horizontal Planar Elements
The horizontal planar elements in Advance Design are created in combination with the level settings option. This option predefines the altitude where the element will be created by allowing the input of horizontal elements only at the superior limit of the level (on Z-axis). The level settings are defined in the system properties window. The position and the length of the element on X and Y axes can be specified by entering the coordinates in the command line or by snapping to other objects.
How to access the command
Below you can find the various methods to access the command:
-
From the Modeling toolbar: click
(click and hold 
dropdown list). -
From the Ribbon: navigate to Home tab > Linear & Planar panel > Planar section dropdown list > select Horizontal Planar Element.
After selecting the command you can explore the various methods to create horizontal planar elements.
How to create horizontal planar elements
To create horizontal linear elements, follow these steps:
- In the Project Browser, select a system in which to place the element. The selected system must have the Level option enabled and the level properties (top and bottom limits) configured in the system properties window. When enabled, the structure elements can be created only within the specified level limits. The horizontal planar elements are created at the top limit of the level.
- Access the command as described above.
- Configure the element attributes in the properties window.
- Create a horizontal planar element point by point:
- Option 1: Click the graphic area to define the position of each extremity on X and Y axes.
- Option 2: Input the X and Y coordinates for each extremity on the command line (press <Enter> after each input to validate). The cursors snaps automatically to the top limit of the level on Z axis.
- After defining all the extremities of the element, press <Enter> to validate it.
Tip: While drawing a planar element, it is possible to cancel the last point by pressing the <Delete> key. Repeat the procedure to cancel previously created points.
A planar element cannot have three or more colinear points.
Here's an example to illustrate the process
Creating a horizontal planar element on the first level of the structure, by snapping to models elements.
- In the Project Browser Tree-structure project navigator which displays different content in each working step of the project, enabling access to various Advance Design commands., create a system and name it (ex: 1st Level). To learn more, see Creating systems.
- Click the system to access its Properties window.
- In the Level category, enable the Level option.
- In the Top field enter the superior limit of the level: 3.00 m.
- In the Bottom field, enter the inferior limit of the level: 0.00 m.
- Access the command as described above.
- Snap to the model elements like in the following picture. To learn more, see Using snap modes.
Creating a horizontal planar element
- The planar element is automatically created at the level superior limit (3 m).
- You can configure the element properties:
- Before element creation, while the drawing tool is active.
- After the input, by selecting the element and accessing the properties window.
- After drawing the element, press the <Esc> key or right click and from the context menu select Finish to quit the drawing function.