On This Page:
- Getting Started with Supports
- Exercise #3: Assigning Project Supports
- Supports Video
- Further Resources
Getting Started with Supports
A. Intro to Supports
Support or Support Group is a unique feature that allows users to define a physical construction sequence between the Non-3D (2D) element(s), 3D element(s), and group(s) in ALICE.
There are two support types in ALICE:
- Previous Support: Predecessor or Previous Element (purple color)
- Next Support: Successor or Next Element (blue color)
Select any element from the 3D view to see the assigned supports (selected elements are shown in yellow color).
One element or group can have more than one previous support and more than one next support assigned.
ALICE has three options to perform the grouping:
- Manual Supports
- Automatic Supports
- Support as Chain
Example: In order to better understand the concept of supports and how they interface with the assigned recipes, take a look at the example below.
Notice that the concrete slab is currently selected, and the concrete columns below are the previous support (purple must be completed before the yellow). The concrete columns above are the next support (yellow must be completed after the blue).
The next image below showcases how the assigned recipes for the concrete slab and the concrete columns interact with each other. Since the concrete column below must finish before the concrete slab based on the assigned supports, the “next elements” in the recipe is referring to the concrete slab recipe.
B. Manual Supports
B.1 Add Next / Previous Supports Manually
To add Next or Previous Supports:
- Select the element(s) or group(s) and go to the “Support” tab on the upper right
- Click on the “Add Support” sign: (previous) and (next) to activate the command
- sign will appear in the viewer once you move the mouse to the 3D view
- Click on the element(s) you want to assign a support
Note: You can use shortcuts "U" for the next support and "D" for the previous support.
- The Support Group Slider located at the top of the page allows you to view the physical sequence of the 3D model
B.2 Remove Next / Previous Supports Manually
ALICE has two options to remove the support assignments:
- Option #1
- Select the element(s) / group(s) you want to remove the support from
- Go to the “Supports” tab on the upper right
- In the “Supports” tab, you can see the list of previous and next supports assigned to the selected element(s) / group(s)
- Hover the mouse over the name of the element(s) / group(s) to see the sign
- Click the sign to remove the element(s) / group(s) from the list of supports
- Option #2
-
- Select the element(s) / group(s) you want to remove the support from
- Go to the “Supports” tab on the upper right
- Click on the “Add Support” sign: (previous) and (next) to activate the command.
- Note: this button may seem counterintuitive since it does not include the “-” symbol
- Click on the element(s) / group(s) that you want to remove the support assignment from
Note: The same commands can be used to add and remove supports
Note: Use the “Shift” key to work with multiple elements
B.3 Remove All Supports
To remove all supports from the selected element(s) / group(s), click “C” on the keyboard, then select “Yes” to complete the action.
Note: Other shortcut keys can be found in Intro to Plan / Prepare Module Section A.1
C. Automatic Supports
Automatic Supports help users quickly assign supports to 3D elements using directions (i.e. based on spatial awareness of what element(s) / group(s) are adjacent to them).
The “direction” is associated with the view cube located in the upper left corner of the 3D view.
To use Automatic Supports, we need to remove any existing supports from the model elements where we intend to use this functionality.
To remove all supports:
- Select the elements where we intend to use the Automatic Supports functionality.
Example: See video below. The entire model is selected with the selection box (or the user can select the element(s) / group(s) from the Element Tree) - Click “C” on the keyboard, and select “Yes” to complete the action
To activate the Automatic Supports function:
- Select the entire model and click the right mouse button on the blank area / white space
- Select the “Automatic Supports” function
- From the drop-down list, choose the direction
- Click to finish the command
- Use the Support Slider to review the support sequence
Note: Always refresh the browser after using the Automatic Supports function.
D. Support as Chain
Support as Chain helps users assign supports by following the element / group selection order. This functionality is powerful for all projects.
To use Support as Chain
- Select the element(s) / group(s) in the order in which they should be supported. ALICE will remember the selection order
- After the selection is complete, click the right mouse button on the blank area / white space, and select “Support as Chain” in the drop-down menu
Note: Always refresh the browser after using the Support as Chain function.
Example: See video below. By holding the “Shift” key, select the elements from foundation to the top slab. ALICE will remember the selection order. After selection, click the right mouse button on the blank area / white space and select “Support as Chain.”
E. Support Group Slider
The Support Group Slider located at the top of the page allows you to quickly view the current support groups.
Users can use both the support slider and the support arrows to review the support sequence.
Note: The support slider shows only the hard (physical) sequence. It does not include resource availability, demolition, and temporary works.
Exercise #3: Assigning Project Supports
Several of the ALICE Support Pages detail information on key ALICE topics. This learning can be solidified by completing an exercise on a trial project. To put your learning into practice, follow this link:
Exercise #3: Assigning Project Supports
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