Unit Macro DESCRIPTION The Unit macro places a modular construction unit within four Gridlines (in two

perpendicular pairs). The unit should be placed with the steel flush to the external face on the roof and four sides and flush with the top of the floor steel. This is done to allow a bearing beam on two of the sides only if required and to give a flush surface for the floor. The User inputs all data into the macro and then selects the four gridlines in any order. The macro then uses the crossing points of these gridlines to set out the unit. METHOD First the User must start the macro either from the drop down menu under; Member->Frame Generators

...or by typing the command UN (UNit) and pressing ENTER.

The GUI has eight Tab pages for the User to input the required data as follows; 1 - General

The first Tab page ha a general description of how the macro works and some requirements such as supported section types.

2 Dimensions & Sections

This Tab can be used to set: The height of the Unit The Centres between joists for the Roof, Floor Sides and Ends Stock sizes for the Frame (Floor Sides/Ends, Roof Sides/Ends and the corner Columns) and the Joists (Floor, Roof, Sides and Ends)

The macro decides that the Left and Right Sides are the longer sides and the Front and Back Ends are the shorter.

3-6 Left/Right/Front/Back Wall setout

These four Tabs can be used to set: Whether there will be any holes for Doors / Windows (Add Door / Add Window) Which side the Door / Window will be on (using Reverse Setup) Dimensions to the inside of any Door / Window added Stock sizes for Door Head, Window Head / Cill Minimum Centre Tolerance (to allow for the width of the stock and help avoid clashes)

Currently the macro only allows for one Door and/or Window per wall.

7 Offsets

This Tab can be used to set: Offsets from gridlines (Sides / Ends) Top / Bottom Offsets (based on Unit height) Unit height can be set on this Tab as well as Tab 2 Whether the Offsets are achieved by moving the wires or by applying Offsets to the members

8 End Types

This Tab can be used to set: End Types for the frame Ends A & B (Floor Sides/Ends, Roof Sides/Ends and Columns) Joist End Types A & B (Floor, Roof, Sides and Ends) Door Head Ends (A & B the same) Window Head/Cill Ends (A & B the same)

Once all Tabs have been filled in (or if the user has a pre-set DAT file) the user can click OK.

Now the User can select four gridlines which form a rectangle or square.

Finally the members will be positioned and the user can update the model to form the geometry.

All members are entered in their relevant layer.