Auto-Hardware analyzes panels within a selection set and adds the required trim and junctions. You must properly snap panels together for Auto-Hardware to work. Auto-Hardware detects manually placed connectors and marks them in the drawing, and does not place any of its own connectors at those locations. For example, you must place utility poles, since Auto-Hardware does not place another junction at that location.
-
Click
on the Automation palette.
This activates the tool and prompts on the command line to select objects. -
Use a window or crossing selection to select everything to be analyzed.
Note: You must select everything that is connected together in one selection set, so that all parts that impact each other are considered. Failure to do so results in incorrect trim and junction placements. -
When the selection set is complete, press Enter.
If this is the first time Auto-Hardware has been run for the drawing session, the Auto-Hardware User Preferences dialog opens.
Note: To access the Auto-Hardware User Preferences dialog 'on demand', clickon the Automation tool palette.
This dialog consists of two tabs: Notes contains important information regarding the Auto-Hardware function, and General contains choices for Junction and Trim Top Cap Material, Panel Top Cap Material as well as type of Change of Height Trim to apply. -
Once all necessary selections have been made, clicking Done dismisses the dialog and allows Auto-Hardware to start processing. A progress bar on the screen displays until the routine has finished, at which point the bar disappears and the drawing is displayed with the new connectors in place.
If any connectors have been placed manually prior to running Auto-Hardware, the routine finds those junctions and marks their locations with 10” yellow circles.
All connectors, whether manually placed or inserted by Auto-Hardware, appear in the Worksheet takeoff as standard connector line items.