Armacad V9: New Features

ArmaCAD V9 – New features
OTP
www.armacad.fr
ArmaCAD V9
New Features
OTP -March 2009 Page 1/36

Summary
1 Compatibilities __________________________________________________________ 3
2 User Manual ___________________________________________________________ 4
3 Rebars_________________________________________________________________ 5
4 Bar marks_____________________________________________________________ 16
5 Welded fabrics _________________________________________________________ 26
6 Bar schedules __________________________________________________________ 30
7 Management of configurations____________________________________________ 34
8 Compatibility with dimensioning software programs___________________________ 36

1 Compatibilities
• ArmaCAD V9 is compatible with Windows 2000, XP, VISTA.
• ArmaCAD V9 is compatible with AutoCAD 2002 to 2010, 32 bits and 64 bits.
• The compatibility between releases V8 and V9 is assumed in the two ways: A drawing saved
under V8 is fully managed by the V9 version with no limitation concerning the version of
AutoCAD. A drawing saved under V9 is mainly managed by the V8.
• Settings issued from V8 are compatibles with V9.
• ArmaCAD V9 is compatible with Bricscad 9.3:
• Improvement of the setup :

At the end of the setup, AutoCAD is launched and the ArmaCAD menus are
automatically inserted.
The setup creates now a program group in the Windows group programs menu:

2 User Manual
• The user manual has been improved by adding a lot of examples and screen shots. :

3 Rebars
• Commands « Modifiy Diameter » and « Modify Grade and bending » are gathered in a new
command « Modify properties »:
• The update options of the old command « Modify diameter » are now taken in account for type
and bending changes.

Filtered selection:
• The possibility of Batch processing (Filtered selection) has been extended to the bended bars.
(For instance, modifying the diameter of all the bars of a given diameter located on the
drawing).
• It is also possible to do a batch processing the modifications of bend, type and grade. (For
instance, updating the radius bending of the bars located on the drawing)
• Four filters are available for full size bars and two filters for figurative bars :
• The associated figurative bars are not included by default in order to avoid breaking the link to
the associated full size bars.
• Le line type of bending bars is no more changed in case of modifying properties.
Variable bars and Mean bars:
• If the selected bar belongs to a group associated with variable bar mark or an average bar
mark, the other members of the group are automatically updated along with the mark.

Thickened bars:
• Thickened bars allow you to increase the size of the bars with a little diameter (6 to 10) on
views using low scales without changing of configuration. The same plan may therefore
feature non-thickened bars on large-scale views and thickened bars on small-scale views
(1/50 or less). The thickening factors are calibrated via the “Diameters” tab in the project
options. The default thickening factors are calculated in such a way that no bar measures less
than 0.35 mm in a 1/50 scale view. Bars of the same diameter and with different thickening
factors may co-exist on the same plan.
By default, only straight bars (and all of the figurative bars) can be thickened.
However, it is possible to draw thickened shaped bars by unchecking the corresponding option
in the design control options (not recommended)::
• Added a new command “Thicken”: This command is used to thicken a set of bars or to reduce
the thickness of a set of bars that had been previously thickened. (Operation is similar to the
command « Fill <-> Wire »)

Figurative bars in sectional view:
• The old option “Auto offset” is named now « Support bar ». The direction of the distribution
depends now of the direction of the support bar. Moreover, the program does not require the
offset side, but automatically calculates it according to the relative position of the first round.
• Mode « Points » takes account of the option « Support bar » for all the points of the set :
Points can be designed without osnap, ArmaCAD, automatically repositioning them on the
support bar.
• The option « Support bar » allows automatically to reposition the rounds along the support bar
in the event of change of diameter of the rounds:
• The option « Support bar » also allows automatically to reposition the rounds along the
support bar in the event of change of diameter of the support bar:

• Added a new mode “Outline” capable of following the outline of any bar shape::
Figurative bars in plan view:
• Added type choice High or Round in the « Generate full size bar » option :

• Possibility of figurative bars, curved and hooked in a vertical planl :
Plan view drawing :
In the bar schedule: (Shapes n° 118 and 119)
• Angles and lengths of the hooks are modifiable through the « Modify hooks » command.

U-shaped bars:
• Added a new type of figurative bars: U-shaped bars :

Standard hooks:
• Possibility of adding an angle of 120° hooks as a standard hook :
• Added a specific offset value (Dimension A) different from the concrete cover value.

Standard bars:
• The « Standard bars » command has been supplemented :
Frames and stirrups:
• Possibility of giving a straight length different than 15ø for opened stirrups:
• Possibility of drawing half ties (Shape n° 28):

Overlaps:
• Added in the contextual menu, a new submenu “Overlaps” specific to bars with integrated
overlaps:
This submenu allows to:

• Integrate overlaps on bars that do not have any.
• Modify the value of existing overlaps.
• Delete existing integrated overlaps.
• The value of overlaps of great length bars is now modifiable through this submenu.
• Lengths of lend bar markings are now expressed in mm, indicating the desired length of the
marking as it must appear in the paper space. ArmaCAD thus calculates the required length in
the object space, taking account of the current scale. Dimension “A” is saved in the drawing:

Special shapes:
• Added a new type of bars : Bars to unfold : (Shapes n° 170, 171 and 172)

4 Bar marks
• The command « Copy » of AutoCAD is now managed while copies of couples

Bars/Associated Bar marks.
• Possibility of left offset and right offset of the dim lines and rakes, straights or curved, in order
to make easier the attachment to the formwork:
• The “Multiple” mode is now set in a new dialog box :
• In “Multiple” mode, the numbers of bars are now given for each dim line (or rake) and added in
the label of the bar mark.
• If the number of bars is given under the form “n+n+n”, the mode type is automatically switched
in « Multiple » mode, the number of the dim lines depend on the number of “+”, without having
to type “END” and the number of bars registered in the label of the bar mark under the form
“n+n+n”.
• In “Multiple” mode, spacing values are given, either « Fixed » for all the dim lines or rakes,
either « Multiple » for each dim line or rake.

• In “Multiple” mode, it is possible to indicate the spacing value on each dim line :
• Added a new mode «Continuous » (For example it is useful for beams) :
Examples in « Continuous» mode for a dim line and a rake:

• If the dim line doesn’t cut the bar to be marked, the bar is now automatically linked to the dim
line. (For example, it is useful for elevations of beams).
• A new function “Divide” allows to divide a dimension line or a rake (dynamic or otherwise) into
two parts, with the automatic updating of the associated bar mark (useful if a shaft is added,
for example)::
• Incrementing of the labeling in the « Copy/Mirror » command manages now alphanumeric

numbers. (For example: 1A -> 2A)

Bunches of bar marks:
• New type of bar mark, the bunch of bar marks:
For the single bar marks:
For the associated bar marks :
• If the first bar mark is already linked to a dimension line, a rake or a comb – dynamic or
otherwise –any change of number or distribution is automatically transferred to all of the
constituents of the bunch of bar marks. That is why it is impossible to modify the number or
distribution of a "Bunch" bar mark.

Combs for single bar marks and associated bar marks:
• Possibility to fix two offset values for the wires of the comb :
Mean length bars:
• The « Mean length bar » mode has been improved: The dimension line may be drawn
independently of the selected bars. It may be associated with figurative bars, or be dynamic if
the spacing is given, in the same way as the “Dimension line” mode:
• It is now possible to add a hook or modify a hook to a mean length bar without losing the
connection bars / associated bar mark.
• Modifying the properties of a mean length bar updates automatically the other members of the
set without losing the connection bars / associated bar mark.

Attachment of the bar marks, lines, marks and arrows:
• Now, by default, in order to make it easier to manipulate or clear bar marks, lines, markings,
arrows and marks are attached. The grouping of these objects can be unchecked in the user
options:
• To un-group a combination, right-click and select “Ungroup”. The “Regroup” command can be
used to regroup a set that has previously been ungrouped:
Single bar marks with duplicated data:
• While creating a single bar mark on a bar already linked to an associated bar mark, it is now
possible to duplicate the texts from the associated bar mark to the single bar mark. If the
properties of the selected bar are subsequently modified, the main text is automatically
updated:
• This feature can be unchecked in the project options, what causes to also deactivate the
“Associated->Single” command :

Rakes:
• Le length of the rungs is now modificable ine the “Rake” command. Dimension “A” is saved in
the drawing.
• In the same way that figurative bars, rungs can be thickened :

Crossing lines:
• It is now possible to add bridges to the dynamic dim lines created from release 9 of ArmaCAD:
(Lines or arcs, in dim lines, rakes or combs) :
• This function is now directly accessed by right click or double click on a line :
Options:
• It is no more necessary to give the diameter of the circles of the bar marks, ArmaCAD
calculating them automatically. It is thus possible to have get different sizes on single bar
marks and associated bar marks.
• Possibility to hide the labeling of the associated bar marks.

Bar mark control:
• This command shows more information:

Showing of the design errors :
Showing of the replacement text in the case of an overcrowded diagram:
• The “Search” command has a new tab « Inspect » allowing to do several visual
inspections :

Scales:
• The “Change scale” command has a new option “Fixed scale”: This option makes it
possible to redefine all of the objects in the selection at a given scale, whatever their
current scale may be. It is also used to redefine the height of texts and the length of
marks:
• The « Predefined Scale Areas » make it possible to automatically enter the size of scale to be
applied during the creation of markers, marks or texts whose insertion point is within a PSA.
This greatly reduces the risk of errors of scale and results in fewer subsequent reworks.
• A Predefined Scale Area (PSA) is a closed polygon delimiting a part of your drawing in the
object area, which is associated with a pre-defined scale.
• All of the functions featuring a “Scale” field include an “Auto” option which allows the user to
activate or deactivate this automatic feature..
• You can create as many PSAs as you want. They can be moved, stretched, duplicated and
cleared via the AutoCAD commands.
• You can change the scale of a PSA by right-clicking or by double-clicking on the polygon

5 Welded fabrics
Block texts:
• Due to the adding of grips, the three texts of a fabric can be moved easier :
• Possibility to modify the text heights of the three texts:

Overlaps:
• It is possible to determine the width of the first panel. For example, this is useful if you do not
want to superimpose the overlaps when laying two
layers:
Surface distribution:
This option is used to draw a welded fabric object according to an ordinary polygon in which you select
each summit.
If the polygon features arc-shaped segments, click on several points of each arc according to the
desired degree of accuracy.
This mode is used to draw just one single welded fabric object over the entire surface of the polygon.
In this case, the overlaps are calculated by ratios. These ratios can be configured via the Options
command using the “Edit the configuration file” button.
You can edit this fabric by double click in order to modifie the type, the working surface, the numer of
elements and the commentary.
It is not possible to stretch or move the wires of this type of fabric.

Covers and ledges:
• The cover values and ledge values can be set separateley on the longitudinal wires and the
cross wires:
• These values are stored in the drawing and are now specific to the fabrics.

New presentation « Traditional »:
• Choice of a new type of representation through the project options:
Specific toolbar and popup menu:
The commands specific to the welded fabrics are now accessed via:
- A new popup menu, by right-clicking or double-clicking on an object:
- A new specific toolbar, or the main menu:

6 Bar schedules
• In order to facilitate the processing of the bar schedules on several layouts, the options of the
bar schedule are stored in each layout:
Titles, Number of elements, scale, ranges of numbers, concrete volume …
• In case of bar schedule spread out over several presentations, it is possible to launch all of
them by selecting the “All” option
• Possibility of writing the ratio Weight/Concrete volume. You can set as many concrete
volumes as there are as layouts. (Also managed under Excel)
• Like the ratio, the mean diameter is now expressed for all type and grades.
• The title sections has now a background mask:

• New option for dimensioning the bars with threads: The dimension can be done without the
length of the thread :
• The project summary can be created under Excel : (Including Couplers and Mesh summaries)

• Possibility of a new column in the bar schedules: The total weight per mark number (For BS
purposes) :
• The diagrams at scale can be automatically turned:
• Bar schedules can be sorted by shapes (Useful for manufactures) :

• A new command “Audit” allows you to discover all of the parameters used in the creation of
the bar schedule. This command is therefore especially useful upon receipt of schedules for
which you want to verify which options were checked or unchecked when they were
generated.
An example of the Audit command is shown below:

.
Bar schedule of the drawing: Drawing1.dwg

Launch date: 03/02/2009
Used configuration:
C:\ArmaCAD\Support
Drawing scale:
1=1cm
Release ArmaCAD: 9.0-en
Licence: 7AD9269
Release AutoCAD: 17.2s (LMS Tech)
--------------------------------------------------------------
Design control:
Do not allow lengths more than 12.0 m:
No
Do not allow str. lengths less than 5 diameters:
Yes
Do not allow bending diameters less than standard values:
Yes
Do not create bars with integrated overlaps:
No
Do not allow faked associated bar marks:
No
Do not allow thickened shaped bars:
Yes
--------------------------------------------------------------
Options - Couplers:
Dimensioning of coupled bars:
Length bar alone
Dimensioning of threaded bars:
Total length

7 Management of configurations
The management of the different project settings is facilitated through a new command:
This new command allows to:
Select the location of the current configuration

Easily create a new configuration
Access each of the blocks comprising the current configuration
Easy access to the library of the current configuration:

Create a new configuration:
The second option “Based on a standard configuration” is an easy way to create a new configuration
in another language (e.g. for the schedule tables).

8 Compatibility with dimensioning software programs
It is now possible to recover all formwork drawing backgrounds automatically from dimensioning
software programs which are compatible with the ADD exchange format (e.g. Robot, CBS Pro,
Monomakh, etc.):
Enter “ADDLOAD” via the keyboard to launch the command.
After selecting the ADD file to be imported, ArmaCAD displays a list of elements constituting the entire
structure.
Three types of drawings are possible:
- Plan view drawing of the foundations: ArmaCAD draws a top view of all foundation elements (raft
foundations, footings and continuous footings) in addition to the foundation layers of posts and walls.
- Plan view drawing of a floor slab: ArmaCAD draws an underneath view of all elements in a floor slab
(slabs, walls, beams and posts). The choice of level to be drawn is made from the list of levels.
- Book of elements: ArmaCAD draws some or all of the following elements: continuous footings,
footings, posts, beams and walls in the form of a plan view and a sectional view for footings, in the
form of and elevation and sectional view for beams and posts and in the form of an elevation for walls.
The choice of level(s) to draw is made from the list of levels. The elements are numbered with an
order number and by their level for beams, posts and walls.

Armacad V9: New Features

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ArmaCAD V9 – New features

OTP -March 2009 Page 1/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 2/36

• ArmaCAD V9 is compatible with Bricscad 9.3:

• Improvement of the setup :

OTP -March 2009 Page 3/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 4/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 5/36

Variable bars and Mean bars:

OTP -March 2009 Page 6/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 7/36

Figurative bars in sectional view:

OTP -March 2009 Page 8/36

Figurative bars in plan view:

OTP -March 2009 Page 9/36

• Possibility of figurative bars, curved and hooked in a vertical planl :

Plan view drawing :

In the bar schedule: (Shapes n° 118 and 119)

OTP -March 2009 Page 10/36

• Added a new type of figurative bars: U-shaped bars :

OTP -March 2009 Page 11/36

• Possibility of adding an angle of 120° hooks as a standard hook :

OTP -March 2009 Page 12/36

• The « Standard bars » command has been supplemented :

Frames and stirrups:

• Possibility of drawing half ties (Shape n° 28):

OTP -March 2009 Page 13/36

This submenu allows to:

OTP -March 2009 Page 14/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 15/36

• The command « Copy » of AutoCAD is now managed while copies of couples

• The “Multiple” mode is now set in a new dialog box :

OTP -March 2009 Page 16/36

• Added a new mode «Continuous » (For example it is useful for beams) :

Examples in « Continuous» mode for a dim line and a rake:

OTP -March 2009 Page 17/36

• Incrementing of the labeling in the « Copy/Mirror » command manages now alphanumeric

OTP -March 2009 Page 18/36

Bunches of bar marks:

• New type of bar mark, the bunch of bar marks:

For the single bar marks:

For the associated bar marks :

OTP -March 2009 Page 19/36

Combs for single bar marks and associated bar marks:

Mean length bars:

OTP -March 2009 Page 20/36

Attachment of the bar marks, lines, marks and arrows:

Single bar marks with duplicated data:

OTP -March 2009 Page 21/36

• In the same way that figurative bars, rungs can be thickened :

OTP -March 2009 Page 22/36

• Possibility to hide the labeling of the associated bar marks.

OTP -March 2009 Page 23/36

Bar mark control:

• This command shows more information:

Showing of the replacement text in the case of an overcrowded diagram:

OTP -March 2009 Page 24/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 25/36

• Possibility to modify the text heights of the three texts:

OTP -March 2009 Page 26/36

OTP -March 2009 Page 27/36

Covers and ledges: