ARCH ESSENTIALS: User Guide
Multi-Window Tool
Use for
- Outward opening casements.
- European-style inward opening casements
- French-style casements
- Contemporary flush casements
- Fixed Lights (individual and banks/grids)
- Medium-sized, straight curtain walls
Overview
A highly tweak-able plugin that can produce a wide range of window designs. Ideal for arch-viz, interior visualisations and set extensions.
What's New
Workflow
To use this tool,
- Click on the 'MultiWindow' button in the Arch-E Kit user interface.
- Left-click in the 3D viewport to create a window.
You can reset the tool’s attribute values to a preset condition by right/alt clicking on the ‘NX MultiWindow’ name in the tool pipe and selecting ‘Reset Tool’ prior to clicking in the 3D view. Note, please do not set the tool to ‘Auto Activate’ as this will prevent you from being able to reset the tool in the tool pipe prior to use.
Minimum and Maximum Values
This tool dynamically changes the minimum and maximum values for many attributes. Hence, you might hit a limit when tweaking a given value. If you wish to increase it further you must first increase the value of the attribute that is constraining it. In reality, this is much easier than it sounds; e.g. increase the size of the window opening if you want to add more sashes or make the sash frame deeper if you want thicker glass or big chamfers.
Shrink-to-Fit Frames
When the sash or fixed-light frame heights are too large to fit in a given location within the window, then they will automatically shrink to fit the space available.
User Interface
The MultiWindow user interface (UI) is very large, however, it's divided into logical sections for ease-of-use. To reduce visual clutter when the tool is active, I highly recommend that you collapse all sections that are not in use by clicking on their section names/dividers in the UI.
UI: Size and Style
Layout Preset
Apply and switch between many pre-made window layouts; i.e. commonly used combinations of fixed-lights and sashes. (Added: v1.2.0)
Frame Style Preset
You can now quickly switch between various frame styles from the included selection; e.g. uPVC, uPVC Flush, Alu, Alu Flush, Alu Slimline, Wood. (Added: v1.2.0)
Height
The height of the opening the window will fit into. The window will never exceed this height. Note, this tool prioritises the window opening (height and width) as the most important attributes, hence, modification of attributes (except Layout Preset) will never alter the window’s height or width.
Width
The width of the opening (e.g. in a wall) that the window will fit into. The window width will not exceed this value; Note, the window sill may extend at either end beyond this value.
UI: Frame
Height
The height of the frame around the outside of the window.
Extend Front
Extends the front (outside facing) face of the frame forwards. In order to apply bevels or chamfers to the front of the frame, you must first make space for them by increasing this value. Minimum value is 0.
Extend Back
Extends the back (inside facing) face of the frame backwards. In order to apply bevels or chamfers to the back of the frame, you must first make space for them by increasing this value. Minimum value us 0.
Modify
Select a corner of the frame profile to modify. Once, selected you can apply a chamfer/bevel to the selected point using the fields located immediately below.
Chamfer Primary
Apply a chamfer to the selected corner (see Modify, above). The size of the chamfer is the distance from the corner along the edge that connects to the previous or next point.
Chamfer Secondary
Creates a chamfer at each point created by the primary chamfer. When combined with the ‘Rounding’ attribute this allows for the creation of ‘rounded chamfers’, which are commonly used in window design.
Rounding
Apply rounding to the primary or secondary chamfer. Use larger numbers to create a smoother curve; The maximum rounding value is 10.
UI: Layout
Size Mode
Switch between automatic or manual sizing of the window parts.
- In automatic mode, the max. number of rows/columns is 20.
- In manual mode, the max. number of rows/columns is 5. If you have more rows and columns that the max. then their values will be reduced to max. For example, if you have 10 columns and then switch to manual mode, the column count will be reduced to 5.
Equalise Light Widths
In manual mode, sets all light widths (columns) to be equal; i.e. evenly distributed in the span of the window. (Added: v1.2.0)
Equalise Light Heights
In manual mode, sets all light heights (rows) to be equal. (Added: v1.2.0)
Column Count
The number of 'lights' (e.g. fixed-light or sashes) in the horizontal direction.
- In automatic Size Mode (see above), when columns are added or removed all the lights in the windows will remain equally sized and spaced.
- In manual Size Mode, adding a column will divide the endmost column in two in order to preserve the sizes of the other preexisting columns. When removing columns, the endmost column that remains will expand to fill the space.
Width: Col A to Col. E
In manual Size Mode, you can set the size of each column. Changing the size of a column will affect the size of its neighbour; for example, increasing the size of column A will reduced the size of column B. This behaviour continues from left-to-right with the exception of the last column which changes the size of the penultimate column.
Lights: Col. A to Col. E
You can selected to merge all the rows in any of the first 5 columns, which will create a single light; e.g. one fixed-light or sash will cover the whole column. Please note,
- The Light Type set for row 0 is used for the single light when switching from Split to Merge.
- The Light Type set for row 0 is used for all lights when switching from Merge to Split.
Mullion Width
Set the width of the dividers that separate the columns; Setting this value to 0 will remove the mullions from the window.
Mullion Extend Front
Extends the front face (outside facing) of the mullion forwards.
Mullion Extend Back
Extends the rear face (inside facing) backwards, This can be use to create the deep vertical dividers that you often see on the inside of office buildings.
Row Count
The number of 'lights' (e.g. fixed-light or sashes) in the vertical direction.
- In automatic Size Mode (see above), when rows are added or removed all the lights in the windows will remain equally sized and spaced.
- In manual Size Mode, adding a row will divide the topmost row in two, in order to preserve the sizes of the other preexisting rows. When removing rows, the topmost column that remains will expand to fill the space.
Height: Row 0 to Row 4
In manual Size Mode, you can set the size of each row. Changing the size of a row will affect the size of its neighbour; for example, increasing the size of row 0 will reduced the size of row 1. This behaviour continues from bottom-to-top with the exception of the topmost row which changes the size of the row below.
Transom Height
Set the height of the dividers that separate the rows; Setting this value to 0 will remove the transoms from the window.
Transom Extend Front
Extends the front face (outside facing) of the transom forwards.
Transom Extend Back
Extends the rear face (inside facing) of the transom backwards,
UI: Light Fixed
Frame Height
The height of the fixed-light's frame. Increasing this value will reduced the size of the glass pane within the light.
Frame Depth
The depth of the fixed-light's frame. Increasing this value, along with frame height, will allow you to apply larger chamfers/bevels.
Seal Depth
The depth of the seal that surrounds the glass.
Modify
Select a corner of the fixed-light's frame to modify. Once, selected you can apply a chamfer/bevel to the selected point using the fields located immediately below.
Chamfer Primary
Apply a chamfer to the selected corner (see Modify, above). The size of the chamfer is the distance from the corner along the edge that connects to the previous or next point.
Chamfer Secondary
Creates a chamfer at each point created by the primary chamfer. When combined with the ‘Rounding’ attribute this allows for the creation of ‘rounded chamfers’, which are commonly used in window design.
Rounding
Apply rounding to the primary or secondary chamfer. Use larger numbers to create a smoother curve; The maximum rounding value is 10.
UI: Light Sash
Frame Height
The height of the sash frame. Increasing this value will reduced the size of the glass pane within the sash.
Frame Height
The height of the sash frame. Increasing this value will reduced the size of the glass pane within the sash.
Frame Depth
The depth of the sash frame. Increasing this value, along with frame height, will allow you to apply larger chamfers/bevels.
Seal Depth
The depth of the seal that surrounds the glass.
Move Forward
Moves the sash forward in the window allowing it to protrude beyond the frame. Increasing this value above 0, will allow you to create the appearance of outward opening sash windows.
Tip: You should set 'Extend Front' for the window frame, mullion and transom to the same value to avoid creating holes in the window when setting 'Move Forward' above 0.
Overlap
Setting this value above zero will cause the sash frame to overlap the window frame, mullions and transoms. Use this in combination with Move Forward (see above) to create the appearance of outward opening sash windows.
Modify
Select a corner of the fixed-light's frame to modify. Once, selected you can apply a chamfer/bevel to the selected point using the fields located immediately below.
Chamfer Primary
Apply a chamfer to the selected corner (see Modify, above). The size of the chamfer is the distance from the corner along the edge that connects to the previous or next point.
Chamfer Secondary
Creates a chamfer at each point created by the primary chamfer. When combined with the ‘Rounding’ attribute this allows for the creation of ‘rounded chamfers’, which are commonly used in window design.
Rounding
Apply rounding to the primary or secondary chamfer. Use larger numbers to create a smoother curve; The maximum rounding value is 10.
UI: Light All/Common
Seal Height
Sets the height of the seals that surround the glass, for all light types. The minimum value is 0 and the maximum value is 15mm (0.59 inches).
Glass Depth
Sets the depth or thickness of the glass panes, for all light types. Tip: Glass depth is limited by the frame depth of the lights. Hence, you may need to increase both the sash frame and fixed-light frame depths before you can increase this value.
UI: Sill
Add Sill
When enabled sill (cill) geometry will be added to the model.
Extension
The distance the sill extends from the front of the window.
Height Rear
The height of the back part of the sill.
Height Front
The height of the sill at its front edge; This value cannot exceed the ‘Height Rear’ value.
Extend Length
The distance the sill extends from each side (to the left and right) of the window frame.
Upstand Height
Adjust the height of the upstand, which creates a step in the sill under the window frame. Setting this value to zero will remove the step. Note, this only applies when sill ‘Type’ is set to ‘Full’ (see above).
Upstand Inset
Adjust the inset of the upstand under the window frame. This can be used to add an extra element of visual interest to the outside of the window. Note, this only applies when the sill ‘Type’ is set to ‘Full’ and the ‘Upstand Height’ is greater than zero (see above).
Modify
Select a corner of the sill to modify. Currently, only a single point at the end of the sill extension is available for selection/modification.
Chamfer Primary
Apply a chamfer to the selected corner point. The size of the chamfer is the distance from the corner along the edge that connects to the previous or next point..
Chamfer Secondary
Creates a chamfer at each point created by the primary chamfer. When combined with the ‘Rounding’ attribute this allows for the creation of ‘rounded chamfers’, which are commonly used in window design.
Rounding
Apply rounding to the primary or secondary chamfer. Use larger numbers to create a smoother curve; The maximum rounding value is 10.
UI: LightType Column A and B
Column A: Row 0 -to- 4
Column B: Row 0 -to- 4
Set the type of light (e.g. fixed-light or sash) for each light in the vertical sections A and B (columns) of the window, if they exist.
UI: LightType Column C and D
Column C: Row 0 -to- 4
Column D: Row 0 -to- 4
Set the type of light (e.g. fixed-light or sash) for each light in the vertical sections C & D (columns) of the window, if they exist.
UI: LightType Column E
Column E: Row 0 -to- 4
Set the type of light (e.g. fixed-light or sash) for each light in the vertical section E (column) of the window, if it exists.