5.2 Duct Linetypes

The 'duct types' part of the ducting menu, provides access to a set number of duct linetypes. However, the item on the menu can be change to whatever line is required by the user.

The ducts are drawn just like an AutoCAD polyline, with segments making up one duct polyline. It can even draw arced segments (just like AutoCAD) although in practice these may not be achievable unless flexi-ducting is used.

5.2.1 Duct Settings

There are a number of settings available on the Duct Tools menu.

From here you can assign the linetype that is produced by each of the duct linetype buttons. There are two preset linetypes and a 'custom' setting for each. If custom is selected for one of the line types then any AutoCAD linetype in the drawing or one from a separate .lin file can be used.

It is also possible to pre-set the width and the multiplication factor (used in Chapter 18 - Quantity Extraction) for each of the duct line types. When duct is drawn, generally one alignment line is drawn to represent a number of ducting types placed along that alignment. The multiplication factor is used to calculate the number and length of duct tubing.

The 'General options' button will take you through to the main KeySIGNALS settings, which offers more control over may things. Here the names allocated to each duct linetype and the names allocated to each duct box can be altered.

5.2.2 Masking at Duct Boxes

When you double click a duct alignment line there are a number of options available, in the usual KeyProperties dialog. One such property that can be turned on or off is the masking.

Normally the ducting will connect automatically to the centre of each duct box, as shown in the 'mask off' situation. However it often more desirable to stop each duct line at the edge of the duct box and this is achieved through masking.

5.2.3 Display Options (Duct Draw Mode)

Another option available in these properties is the 'Duct Draw Mode'.

This will pop up a number of different options for the way the duct alignment is drawn within the drawing.

When no cable is added there are two ways the duct can be seen. Unified (one line to represent the alignment of a number of ducts) or Multi duct (a number of parallel lines).

There are also options that only appear different when a cable is added along the ducting. These can be seen graphically in the image above.