Base Construction Line (BSCL)
Tool summary :
- BSCL stands for "Base Construction Line." It lets you base one or more construction lines off the construction line or straight grid line that you snap to.
- BSCL can be used in Modeling or the Drawing Editor . Simply snap to the desired construction line, then left-click ( Locate ) to open the Base Construction Line window, where you can specify the number and direction and spacing of the new construction lines. The new construction lines will be parallel with the construction line you are basing off of.
- If the construction line that is based off of is a finite construction line , the new construction lines will be finite also.
- Also, you can use BSCL to find out the angle of a construction line or a straight grid line . Just place your mouse pointer (
) so that it highlights the construction line or grid line that you want to know the angle of. The X-Y-Z display tells you the angle.
- See (on this page):
Also see :
VIDEO 
BSCL is used to lay out a grid of construction lines by basing off of construction lines which intersect at the 0, 0 global coordinate . This example was done in order to create INCL points for Add Grid Lines .
- Unshorten (before adding construction lines to a shortened drawing)
- Construction Line Add ( BSCL may be selected during)
- X-Y-Z display (displays angle of highlighted construction line)
- Undo ( all con lines added in Drawing Editor using BSCL )
- Construction line by basing off of a parallel item
BSCL instead of point location (also see instead of second point location ) :
The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse.
| Warning: If your current drawing has been Shortened (member details are shortened automatically), make sure that you first Unshorten . Operations that involve measurements may not be perfectly accurate in a shortened view. |
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1a : Invoke Construction Line Add . 1b : Select BSCL as the Locate option. |
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2 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so that it highlights the construction line you want to base off of, then left-click ( Locate ).
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3 . Enter the spacing between construction lines and a repeat factor, then press " Add ." |
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4 . Construction Line Add generates the number of new construction lines that you entered in step 2. |
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5 . Add more construction lines from the last added, or press " Exit ." |
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Temporary construction lines and BSCL :
To highlight a temporary construction line with BSCL , just hover your mouse pointer (
BSCL instead of first point location: With the temporary construction line you want highlighted, left-click ( Locate ) opens the Base Construction Line window so that you can base new construction lines off of that highlighted temporary construction line.
BSCL instead of second point location: With the temporary construction line you want highlighted, left-click ( Locate ). Construction Line Add will create a new construction line over the temporary construction line.
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BSCL instead of second point location (also see instead of point location ) :
When BSCL is used instead of locating a second point, Construction Line Add draws a construction line through the first point, parallel with the construction line or straight grid line that you locate. The following instructions assume that you are using a 3-button mouse and that the User and Site Options > General > " Point location target " is set to ' Fancy ' ( 
).
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1 . Invoke Construction Line Add . |
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2 . Place the mouse pointer ( ) so the target ( ) snaps to the first point ( INCL in this example). Left-click ( Locate ).
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3 . Select BSCL as the Locate option. Place the mouse pointer ( ) to highlight a nearby construction line or erection view, then left-click ( Locate ).
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4 . Construction Line Add draws a construction line through the first point, parallel to the item located in step 3. |
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The Base Construction Line window (click here for step-by-step instructions) :
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The Base Construction Line window opens when BSCL is selected and you left-click ( Locate ) after highlighting a construction or grid line to base off of. |
Dimension from construction line: The distance (in the primary dimension " Units " or other units ) that you want the first construction line you are adding to be from the construction line you are basing off of. This distance is also the distance between each adjacent pair of the new construction lines if you entered a " Repeat factor ." A negative sign (-) adds the new construction lines in a negative direction if you use the " Add " button (or use the " Add + " or " Add - " buttons to set the direction).
Repeat factor: The quantity ( 1 or 2 or 3 ...) of construction lines that you want to be added when you press the " Add " or " Add - " or " Add + " button. For the " Add +/- " button, this is the number of pairs of construction lines that will be added.
Lock base position:
or
. For the first set of construction lines added using BSCL , the base position is always the construction line or grid line that was originally selected to base off of.
If this box is not checked (
If this box is checked (
Pen color: Sets the on-screen display color of the construction line(s) that will be added when you press one of the " Add ... " buttons.
User and Site Options > General > " Default color " sets the color that is selected when this window first opens.
"Add" places the " Repeat factor " number of construction lines at distances from one another that are equal to the " Dimension from construction line ." For vertical construction lines, a positive " Dimension from construction line " places the new construction lines to the right of the line being based off of; a negative distance places them to the left. For horizontal construction lines, a positive distance places the new lines above the line being based off of; a negative dimension places them below. The line being based off of is either the line that you highlighted, or the last newly added construction line (unless you checked the box for " Lock base position ").
"Add -" places construction lines the absolute value of the " Dimension from construction line " to the left or below the line being based off (the line that you highlighted or the last-added construction line).
"Add +" is the same as " Add - ," except that the construction lines are placed to the right or above the line being based off of.
"Add +/-" places one or more pairs of construction lines. It adds one pair if the " Repeat factor " is ' 1 ', two pairs if the " Repeat factor " is ' 2 '. The spacing is the " Dimension from construction line " that is entered above. The base position remains the same when you press " Add +/- ." When you press " Add " or " Add+ " or " Add- ," the base position is the last-added construction line (except when " Lock base position " is checked).
"Exit" closes the Base Construction Line window. Construction Line Add continues to be active until you right-click ( Return ).
