01 Basics I

Basics I.
bocad-3D Version 21
Manual
Document version 21-01

Basics I.
Day of training - part1
Content
General
History of bocad Software GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Hardware equipment of a bocad-3D workplace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Creating a project
Program starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
File: New / Open . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Rules concerning directory names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Input of project data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Handling of bocad
Program surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Symbol bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Pick mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The mouse in bocad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Keyboard layout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Input of grid data
Geometrical construction, coordinate directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Replicator sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Axis-row-level names . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Structure: Modify properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Create grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Delete grid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Main views
Additional view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Creating points
Rule of signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Angel, arc, circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
21 – Basics 1 – Content – I
21 – Basics 1 – Content
Creating members
Indication of the files describing members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Creating members in longitudinal view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Creating members with the help of member anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Creating members in side view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Creating of plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Editing members
Length modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Volume operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Work on outline plates
Work on: outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Welded connections
Automatic weld seam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

Controls: Info Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Bolted connections
Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Work on bolt groups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Backup procedure
After automatic query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

Planned saving a point of procedure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Saving when ending a session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Behaviour in case of program crash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Phases
Index
II
1.General
1.1.History of bocad Software GmbH

1972 Development of a 3-D model for the steel construction
Decision in favour of a computer oriented 3D model which contained the first ideas
at the chair for steel construction at the Ruhr University Bochum
Basic functions for operations in the field of geometry, hidden lines, etc.
Development of a design language for steel construction companies
1977 Delivery of the first CAM program units
Shop drawing program
First post processors for NC machines
First 3D CAD program for the steel construction (CADBAU3)
1980 Foundation of the bocad engineer community (GbR)
First merely commercial installation of CADBAU3
1983 Foundation of bocad Software GmbH (31.08.83)
Business goal: Development, maintenance, distribution and training of software for
the building industry
15 companies use CADBAU3 as a mere batch system
1986 First installation of the graphically interactive version of bocad-3D
First application now as well in smaller companies and engineering offices
Modification of the program name form CADBAU3 in bocad-3D
First installation of the graphically interactive version (GKS) with tablet
1991 First installtation of bocad-NC
1992 Moving in the own company building
1993 First installations with MOTIF surface
First installtation of bocad-3D Roof & Wall
1994 First installtation of bocad-3D Glazing
1996 First PC version of bocad-3D
First installation of bocad-ST
First installation of bocad-3D Expert Tower
2000 First installation of bocad-PMR
First installation of the new bocad-3D Roof & Wall module
IAI interface
First CNC -interface in metal constructionMembership in the Open DWG
Alliance
First installation of bocad-3D Expert Small Fabricator
2003 Starting of bocad-NC version 7.5
2004 Starting of bocad-3D Editions and
bocad-3D Expert Small Fabricator in the versions 20
with Microsoft Windows surface
21 – Basics 1 – General – 1
21 – Basics 1 - General
1.2.Hardware equipment of a bocad-3D workplace
Printer
 Output of DIN A4 or DIN
Computer A3
 Colour or monochrome
 Processor with recommended 2 GHZ
 If possible HPGL2 or
timing
 with at least 512 MB main memory PCL5 (or higher) or for
 Sufficient hard-disc drive postscript
(0.5 GB für bocad installation and with
additional memory for project data)
 Operating system Microsoft Windows
2000/XP or Linux, eg. SuSe 9.x
 bocad hardware dongle and valid li-
cense
Plotter
 Output in DIN A0
 Colour or monochrome
 HPGL2 or PCL5 (or high-
er) or for postscript
Monitor / graphics board

 minimum requirement 20 or 21
inch CRT or 17 or 19 inch TFT mo-
nitor
Backup mediums
 graphics board with a minimum re-
solution of 1,280 * 1,024 pixel  CD/DVD burner
 Solution with two monitors is pos-  DAT drive
sible  Backup in the network
2
2.Creating a project
2.1.Program starting
The program starting of the bocad program can be carried out in two different ways.
On the desktop (surface of the operating system) you will find an icon. By double-
clicking or simple clicking in combination with the return button bocad will be started.
Another alternative is a start via the entry bocad-3D in the Start menu of Windows and
there in the menu bocad.
bocad will be now be started and two
windows will appear. First a console
window will appear. Here the bocad
program will be started.
The console window will be registe-
red automatically into the start bar. It
should not be closed while working
with bocad-3D because that will cau-
se a program crash.
After the start of bocad the program
will open with a license window which can be left by clikking the OK button in order to get to
the project processing of the program.
bocad licence window
21 – Basics 1 – Creating a project – 3

21 – Basics 1 - Creating a project
2.2.File: New / Open

Creating a new project
After starting the program a new project must be created before starting
the design process. Choose the menu item File in the menu bar.
In this context you will also find the term cascade (comprises e.g. Saving,
copying, creating of profiles, etc.) instead of menu bar.
After choosing the menu File you must use the function New. A new dia-
logue window will open. Here you can enter the name of the project.
File cascade
Display of already existing

projects. If required, you
can Delete or overwrite
with OK marked projects.
Preview window for alrea-

dy existing project-related
drawings.
Here you will receive an in-

formative survey concer-
ning the project data for a
marked project in the left
area.
Input field for the pro-

ject name.
Creating a new project
4
2.3.Rules concerning directory names
There are the following rules concerning the project names:
 Project names are composed only of small letters (capital letters will automatically transfor-
med)
 Special signs, such as ' ! " § $ % & / ( ) = ' as well as language specific special signs are not
allowed and will be rejected
 Numbers may be used
 Space characters in the project name are not allowed. Individual words, however, may be
connected by '_' (underline)
Examples for permissible names Examples for not permitted names
Extension of a STEELHALL
small_hall
(no use of underlines)
canopy_(1265)
roof_2004
(no use of special signs)
After confirming the new file name by pressing the OK button, a file for the new project will be
created below the project directory ([installation drive]:\bocad\project). All data con-
cerning the project will be stored in that file. Those data include e.g. all created members,
created drawings or parts lists, but also project-related settings you carried out in bocad.
2.4.Input of project data

After establishing a new project you can determine more details. These details are always avai-
lable in the current project and can e.g. be evaluated for the parts lists or the drawing genera-
tion. The dialogue box bocad Start new project has two different input areas: the area above
is for the input of project data; the area below is for the definition of a basic grid (we will later
give more details about that):
Entry area
for project
data
Entry area
for project
data the ba-
sic grid
Visualization of the
basic grid at activat-
ed preview
Considering now the area above, you will find four entries. But there are more entries in that
box. Click on the tab Details in order to make those entries visible:
21 – Basics 1 – Creating a project – 5

21 – Basics 1 - Creating a project
Tab for extended project data
Now you can set more entries. Theses entries can be modified later by the menu point Struc-
ture choosing the function Project data.
Later editing of the project data
Here no rules, such as during the determination of the project name, must be observed. Click
the mouse in the corresponding line in order to enter the name (be sure to delete the default
underline; otherwise it will appear again later).
6
3.Handling of bocad
3.1.Program surface
The program surface consists of the main window with the menu, icon and status bar and the
working area. In that area you can open and arrange (member) views for your project proces-
sing in subordinate windows.
Standard area for icon bars

Menu line Working area
Headline of the main window
Status line View window
Trace window (here minimized) View window with basic dimetry
Menu bar
The menu bar is below the header of the main window and contains all processing functions of
the program (arranged according to subjects). Click a menu point in order to open the required
menu cascade
Menu bar in bocad
Cascade
In the documentation of bocad the individual menus are also called cascades. There you will
find the functions of a selected menu. By clicking on the relevant entries you will start the re-
quired program function.
21 – Basics 1 – Handling of bocad – 7

21 – Basics 1 - Handling of bocad
Status Line
You will find the status line at the bottom of the program window. It is subdivided into five hori-
zontal areas. In the individual areas you will find information about:
1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Areas of the status line
Display of input readiness: That function will show you, similar to a traffic light, whether at the
moment a program input is possible or not (e.g. during longer calculations or a security query).
Program is busy.
1. Display of the message. After choosing a function via the menu you will receive information
about each function you want to carry out.
2. Display of the currently chosen working or design step.
3. Display of the currently chosen pick mode (compare chapter Handling of bocad: pick mo-
de).
4. Display of the phase plane. Here you see the phase plane you are working in. As long as
you do not create a new phase, all design steps refer to phase 1: design step (compare
chapter Phases).
8
Trace window
An additional window of the working area opens automatically when starting the program and
shows the bocad-3D trace in which you can find indications and possible error messages. In
the first line of the trace you will also find the revision number after starting the program.
The trace window has the same functions as the views windows. It can, however, not be
closed.
Trace window
3.2.Symbol bars
All important functions of the bocad system can not only be realised via the menus but as well
via categorised symbol bars. Since in real working conditions never all existing symbol bars are
required at the same time - “and the simultaneous representation of some hundred individual
symbols would be extremely confusing” - , the necessary functions can be determined indivi-
dually, depending on the working condition and habit.
The check mark in

front the entry indi-
cates that the sym-
bol box is already
activated, i.e. it has
already been
placed!
Via Line up you

can arrange the
symbol boxes au-
tomatically. By clik-
king the entry all
activated symbol
boxes will be sum-
marized forward or
upward, i.e. in a
place-saving way.

Example: Activate symbol bar

Procedure
 Drag your mouse pointer to the menu bar
 Click the right mouse button in order to open the context menu (see right side).
 Choose a menu entry, e.g. View.
Result
The context menu will be closed and, during the first choice, the chosen symbol box will be au-
tomatically registered above, in the second line. There you can also remove the box and place
it individually at any place of the working area.
If you have already activated a box before and placed it to another place, it will be placed at the
former place in case of a new activation.
If you open again the context menu - as explained before – you will see a check mark in front
of the menu entry of the selected and visible symbol box. That check mark indicates that the
relevant box is activated and visible on the screen.
3.3.Pick mode
The pickmodus is a means to facilitate the easy and direct selection of elements which are very
close together. The correct selection of the pickmodus thus makes it possible to work precisely
and to avoid unintentional entries. The activated pickmodus will always be displayed in the sta-
tus line and permits only the marking of the elements listed in the following survey:
Members
(catches member
edges and edges) Member, bolts Text
and points (catches any texts as Plots-Lines
e.g. designations of (catches graphic Any
axes) elements) (catches any ele-
ment types)
Free
Weld seams (enables free
Dimensioning (catches only marking without
(catches all dimen- weld seams) reference to ele-
Points
sioning elements) ments)
Bolts (catches grid, pick
(catches all connec- and database
tions, except for pop points)
marks, welds and
struct. connections)
10
For many functions, the selection of an adequate pickmodus is a significant working step. If the
function Delete a member, for example, requires the marking of a member and the pickmodus
is set on pick points, at that place no member can be chosen and the function can only be ter-
minated when an adequate pickmodus is selected.
The function-oriented working is an essential feature of the pickmodus. Any modification of the
pickmodus will be valid for each step of the current function. Thus the pickmodus will not be
maintained until the next manual modification but will be switched into the latest modus or into
a reasonable default modus for every function and every working step. From that point of view
we have to do with intelligent functions. They adjust themselves to the individual working pro-
cesses and thus support in particular repeated design steps.
Execution of the function Splitting members
First functional application Second functional application
Members First step: Members

(Indication in case of this function) Select member to work on (Indication in case of this function)
Points (will here be manually changed

Second step: free
Indicate section plane (stored from last
to free)
functional application)
Members Third step: Members

(Indication in case of this function) Select waste side of the member (Indication in case of this function)
Pickmodus at the beginning of each working step
Behaviour of the pickmodus concerning function and working step

3.4.The mouse in bocad

Parameter button
Functional
The mouse leads the

cursor on the screen.
Representation button
Left mouse button = functional button

 Choose functions:
Click the menu entries by a simple pressing of the mouse button;
 Choose elements:
Depending on the required function pick e.g. a grid, point or member by a simple pressing
of the mouse button;
 (Individual) choice of element:
Press the shift button on your keyboard and keep that button pushed. Now pick step by
step all required elements by a simple pressing of your mouse button;
 Confirm choice of element (individual):
Confirm your choice of element by double clicking the latest element.
 (Multiple) choice of element:
Press you left mouse button and keep it pressed. Now draw a frame around your selected
elements. Then release the button. When you draw the frame from the left side below to the
right side above, all elements within the frame will be selected. If you proceed the other way
around (i.e. from the right side above to the left side below), all elements which are positio-
ned and in touch with the frame will be marked as selected;
 Confirm choice of element (multiple):
Press the return button on your keyboard if you want to confirm elements you selected
with the help of a lasso.
Middle button = Representation button

 Refresh representation:
Press again the middle mouse button. Thus "empty surfaces" as the result of deleting ele-
ments can be filled again with still existing elements (e.g. grid lines).
 Zoom in:
Press the middle mouse button and keep it pressed. Now draw a frame around the area you
want to represent.
 Zoom out:
If you want to return the last representation after zooming something out, simply press the
12
middle mouse button;
 Shift representation:
Press your middle mouse button and keep it pressed. Now draw a narrow frame in order to
shift the view. If you draw the frame from the left side below to the right side, the represen-
tation will be shifted to the right side, from the right side to the left side you will achieve a
shift to the let side. The same function can be achieved for the other two directions. the width
of the shift will be determined by the length of the frame.
Right button = Parameter button

 Load parameter box:
After choosing a function you can load the relevant parameter box by a simple pressing of
your right mouse button. In the parameter box you can carry out special settings for the func-
tion.
3.5.Keyboard layout
Especially in the case of frequent working steps the use of keyboard commands can be very
much quicker than the input with the help of the mouse and menus. Such keyboard commands
or short cuts are also available in bocad.
Explanation of functions of keyboard combinations

The individual function of keyboard combinations is dependent on the context of the relevant
application. Such contexts are:
 Input of coordinates,
 Selection of element with a special polygonal Lasso,
 Selection of command,
 Initial contex.
Input of coordinates (K)

In this context, the coordinates for further processing within the current command will be deter-
mined.
polygonal Lasso (L)
In this context, the elements within the polygonal frame for further processing within the current
command will be determined.
Selection of elements (E)
In this context, the elements for further processing within the current command will be determi-
ned (picked, selected).
Selection of command (H)
Here you can repeat former commands which are also known as history function.
Initial context (I)
After starting the program or if no command is activated you are in the initial context.

Explanation of keyboard combinations exceeding the context

BREAK (Interrupt.), CANCEL Abort of the current command, leave the current context,
return to the initial context
Ctrl+k, Page-Up Change into the context of selection of commands, at the
same time selection of preceding commands
Ctrl+c Copy of element references in the intermediate storage,
abort of the current command
Ctrl+v Use of the reference element from the intermediate storage
at a coordinate which has to be entered
Ctrl+z Model-Undo
Shift+Ctrl+Z Model-Redo
Shift+A Refresh view (new drawing)
Shift+D Recalculate the current section, if necessary with call
Shift+U Starting graphic Undo for the current window, a red icon
will appear on the left side above in the system menu
Ctrl+U Deactivating graphic Undo for the current window, a
blue icon will appear on the left side above in the system
menu
(minus) Graphic Undo
+ (plus) Graphic Redo
Ctrl+TAB Browsing opened windows in bocad one after another, i.e.
activate and load into the foreground.
Ctrl+Shift+TAB Browsing opened windows in bocad in reverse order.
The graphic Undo will be activated for each window. The indicator is the system menu icon.
This window is protected against modifications in the model as long as the graphic Undo is ac-
tivated. After deactivating the graphic Undo or closing the window or the drawing file the Undo
information will be no longer available.
There is no additional keyboard input for the initial context. The following additional keyboard
combinations are valid in the context of the selection of commands.
Ctrl+j, Page-Down Selection of the next command in the list
Ctrl+k, Page-Up Selection of the preceding command in the list
Enter Execute the selected command and leave the context of
the selection of command
14
Explanation of the keyboard combinations for the element selection
t Place pickmodus on members
s Pickmodus on members, bolts, pickpoints
p Pickmodus on points
b Pickmodus on any element
a Place pickmodus on text
f Free pickmodus
Delete Empty picklist
Backspace Remove last element from picklist
Return, Enter Confirm picklist, start action
left Go the beginning of the picklist, cancel selection
Right, Shift+Return Take over element from preceding picklist
Up, Ctrl+Return Take over all elements from preceding picklist
Down Reset last element
Ctrl+Backspace, Reset last pick action (also Lasso)
Ctrl+Down, end
Insert Load context dialog (right mouse button)
l Change into polygonal Lasso context
Explanation of the keyboard combinations for polygonal Lasso

ESC, BREAK (Interrupt.), Abort of the polygon admission, leave the current context,
CANCEL return to the preceding context
Shift+A Refresh view (new drawing)
Enter Execute the selected Lasso polygon and leave the poly-
gon admission
Explanation of the keyboard combinations for the input of coordinates

The keyboard combinations for the context of the selection of elements are also valid for the
context of the input of coordinates:
u Set origin and width for coordinates from grid
g Change into coordinates from grid
f Change to free coordinates
x Freeze the Y-coordinate, only X is variable
y Freeze the Y-coordinate, only X is variable
o Orthogonal modus, the respective major coordinate direction is variable, the
smaller one will be frozen.
q Cancel x,y,o

21 – Basics 1 - Input of grid data
4.Input of grid data

4.1.Geometrical construction, coordinate directions
The grid forms a cube (and can only be created in that form). The cube will be defined by the
input of the grid coordinates. The user chooses those coordinates at the beginning of every
project. Here it makes sense to choose a grid with dimensions which are as similar as possible
as those of the design. You can use e.g. the axes for the building as basis for the selection of
the coordinates.
A selected grid can always be
supplemented by new ones
(e.g. for secondary members)
or be edited later. Thus, a
cube can also be taken as the
basis of the design of complex
buildings.
By defining the first basic grid
the position of the global coor-
dinate system will be determi-
ned. All grids which are
created later refer to that ori-
gin, even if the first grid will be
replaced by another one du-
ring the design process.
The zero point of the coordina-
te systems is in the lower right
corner of the basis dimetry.
The first grid receives the grid
number 0. The following grids
receive serial numbers. Basic grid in bocad
Considering the dialog box bocad Start New project, the input of the basic grid of the building
(tab Project/Grid) has three groups of input lines: One line each in X, Y and Z direction with
the corresponding designation of the grid (axis-row-level names).
Entry area for basic building grid
16
Basic information concerning input
The basic input in x and y direction is always possible for relative values, i.e. the entered values
describe the distances between the individual grid levels. The input of the value z will be made
as an absolute value.
That default value can be modified by placing the following abbreviation (incl. double point!) in
front of the catchment's values:
r: r: for a change form absolute to relative values
a: a: for a change form relative to absolute values
You can also start with zero for the catchment's values. It can also be started with a negative
value. If you use negative values the grid will not start in the original coordinates but in the cor-
responding value before. In case of the following input:
x: -5000,1500,500,3500
the grid will start 5000 mm in negative x direction, then it will continue with a positive distance
of 1500 mm, 500 mm and 3500 mm. In this case the original coordinates are within the grid (the
original coordinates can be displaced via View / Edit / Properties).
Simple input of the values over individual sections
The following catchment's values will be separated by a comma. e.g.:
x: 0,5000,2500,500,2500
A grid will be created with the distances of 5000 mm, 2500 mm, 500 mm and 2500 mm.
In the case of z values the entered values are really levels and not distances like in the case of
x and y. Thus the following input has the following meaning:
z: 0,1250,2750,5200
That levels will be created at 0, at 1250 mm, at 2750 mm and at 5200 mm.
4.2.Replicator sign
Reduced input of values in case of repeating sections
If you have sections with the same dimensions you can reduce the input of values. If you nor-
mally write e.g.:
x: 0,2500,2500,2500
You can also define the repeating distances as follows:
x: 0,3:2500
The result would be the same: In both cases, three sections with each a distance of 2500 mm
will be created.
Reduced input of values in case of repeating areas
If you have areas with the same dimensions, you must not enter the values for these areas as
follows:
x: 0,250,1000,1000,250,250,1000,1000,250,250,1000,1000,250
Alternatively you can also give a reduced input by summarizing an area in square brakkets:
x: 0,3:[250,2:1000,250]
If you apply any of both notations, three areas with a distance of 250 mm, 1000 mm, 1000 mm
and 250 mm will be established when the grid is created.
21 – Basics 1 – Input of grid data – 17

Note: You can as well combine the different notations in one input line. In this case be
sure to separate the sections and areas by a comma.
4.3.Axis-row-level names
Standard designation of axis and rows
As a standard you will find in bocad numbers for the names of the axis - starting with the num-
ber 1 – and capital letters for the names of rows – starting with the letter A. That allocation of
numbers and letters is automatic if no other values are entered in the input lines for the names
of the axis and the rows.
Modified designation of axis and rows
You can modify the standard designation of the axis by entering numbers, letters or combina-
tions of letters. All entries of a line will only be separated by a comma. Here you will find some
example for possible alternatives:
M By entering one letter or one number you will determine a new starting
letter or a new starting number for the designation. If no other entries are
carried out, the letters and/or the numbers of the designation of the axis
will continue automatically.
G,First,H If you have exactly three axes/rows, these will be designated in the above
mentioned way. If you have more than three axes/rows, only the first
three ones will be designated that way. The designation of the following
axes/rows will refer to the last letter and/or the last number and continue
on that basis. Suppose the last entry would e.g. be First. The next de-
signation of the axis would then be Firsu, then Firsv.
Note: The automatic designation of the alternative A’ which continues after B’ is for
the time being not possible because bocad refers to the last sign and not to the
first.
Level description
The default letter for the level description is K.That letter will be placed continuously in front of
all level indications. If you want to have special designations for levels you must enter the re-
quired designation for each level. If you enter for example an additional designation after the
letter K, only the second level will receive that designation. The following levels will receive
again the first input - the letter K.
Grid designations spelled/numbered backwards
Depending on the input for the names of axes and rows the order of the grid designations can
be modified by clicking the icons / . Instead of continuing the usual way of counting or
spelling the indicated letter / the indicated number will be spelled / numbered backwards by clik-
king the icons.
18
Examples of input for grid elements
Grid elements Input Result
Axes and rows B B, C, D, E, .....
9.14 9, 14, 15, 16, ...
3F 3F, 3G, 3H, ...
Level K K [Height]
Floor [Height], eaves [Height],

Floor, eaves, roofridge
Roofridge [Height]
Floor+ [Height], eaves+ [Height]

Floor+, eaves+, roofridge+
roofridge+ [Height]
4.4.Structure: Modify properties

Later you can modify properties of existing grids, both of the entire grid and individual grid
elements.
In the menu entry Structure you will find the function Attributes in Grid element. When you
load that function, a dialog box will open. In that box you can make the relevant settings for
modifying grids:
Later modifying of
grid properties
Grid name
Each created grid can have both an unambiguous (automatic) number and a grid name. Nor-
mally, that name will be immediately determined at the creation of the grid. But you can also
modify the name later by activating the option Grid name in the dialog box Modify properties
in the area above in Grid and by entering the new name in the entry field on the right side.

The same procedure is valid for the edition of the pen number. Here the old pen number for
visible / invisible must be replaced by new ones.
In order to make modifications visible after the editing process, if they not appear automatically,
you should recalculate at least in the current window.
Confirm you input with OK and the box will disappear and in the status bar of bocad will appear
a message explaining the necessary steps of that function: Pick axis-row-level 1. Double click
on any text element of that grid whose name shall be modified.
Note: The continuous recalculating of graphics would occupy too much capacity of the
computer, especially in the case of bigger designs. You can, however, carry out any
time a manual recalculating in any drawing window by clicking the icon .
Name of element
As well as you can modify the name of the entire grid, you can also adjust individual designation
elements. For doing that load again the dialog box Attributes.
Note: If you have modified the grid name during the preceding step, you can now open
again the dialog box by clicking the right button of your mouse. This is a principle
you will always find in bocad: once you choose a function, it will remain activated
until you choose another one. So long you can reach the parameters of the function
by clicking your right mouse button.
Deactivate, if necessary, the option Grid name and activate then the option axis-row-level in
the area Element. Enter the new name in the entry field on the right side and then confirm your
input with OK.
Follow the information of the messages and pick one or several grid elements by clikking (for
each element) your left mouse button. Terminate your input by double clicking. The selected
grid elements will now receive a new name.
4.5.Create grid
Additional grids will be created with the function Grid: Create in the menu Structure. In that
case it has to be assured that all values of grid data always refer to the global coordinate sy-
stem.
Entering of vaules for addi-

tional grids
20
The settings of the new grid including the grid name will be set the dialog window of the func-
tion. If you want to create the new grid with a distance in x and/or y direction referred to the
original point, you have to enter the values of these distances instead of the default zero value.
Adjust the grids to existing ones in order to avoid that they are directly overlapping. Therefore,
they should be continued in a logical way. New grids will receive in addition to their name as
well an additional, continuously upwards counting grid number for their unequivocal identifica-
tion.
4.6.Delete grid
If you want to delete a grid, be sure that always at least one grid will be left. Therefore it is not
permissible to delete the last grid. For deleting a grid load again the menu point Structure >
Grid: Delete. The dialog box Delete grid will open.
Mark the grid you want to delete by simply clicking your mouse button and leave the dialog box
with OK. The query Delete correct? will appear. The grid will only be deleted if that query will
be answered with Yes - that query will appear, however, only if you activated before the option
Delete grid with query in the dialog box..

21 – Basics 1 - Main views
5.Main views
The detailing process with bocad-3D is based in so called main views which represent two-di-
mensional planes within the global coordinate system. These working planes for the detailing
process are defined by three points and each plane has an individual, local coordinate system
Plane of main picture and coordinate system
The plane of the view always extends over the X and the Y direction with the Z axis showing
from the plane into the direction of the viewer (similar to the three-fingers-rule). All functions
concerning main view planes are below the menu point View.
Z
X
Y
22
Change
Depending on the working process it will be necessary to change current design view in the
main view window. Due to the default setting main views for all grid planes will already be
created when the project is established. Activate the function View > Main view: Change in
order to change into the currently displayed view.
Change of the view plane
All existing main views will be listed in the opening dialog box. The represented plane of the
design can be changed by choosing a view and confirming it with OK.
Create via grid elements

Creating views via grid elements is comparatively the easiest possibility to create new main
views. If you want to create views for new grid elements or to modify the properties of an exi-
sting view, based on the a.m. procedure, you only need to determine the position in order to
define the view by indicating the corresponding axis, row or level.
The settings for this function are carried out after activating the function via View > Main view/
Create in the dialog box Create main view via point-grid-view and then the selection of the
option Pick: Grid name.
21 – Basics 1 – Main views – 23

This dialog box contains various

settings. Here, only one setting
is interesting for us. The options
with axis or against axis permit
the selection of the view direc-
tion on a plane. Here the global
coordinate system is referred to:
Against the axis means against
the direction of the positive glo-
bal coordinate axis, i.e. you must
determine from which side you
want to look at the plane before
creating the plane. Lets take a
simple example: you can look at
any surface of a cube from the
inside (you are in the building) or
from the outside (viewer stands
in front of the building).
Z Z
X X
Y Y
View „with axis“ ... ... and „against axis“.
Since this function permits to create various main views in one working process, the view di-
rections for axis, rows and levels can be switched separately. If you want to replace existing
main views, you must also activate the option Overwrite existing viewport. Otherwise a mes-
sage would indicate that existing views can not be replaced.
After confirming the settings with OK, the dialog box will disappear and you can pick grid ele-
ments in any view. Confirm your input by double clicking or the return key and the new views
will be created.
24
Create via points
The creation of the view via points will be carried out by indicating three points defining the pla-
ne. The creation via points, compared with the automatic creation of a view, has the advantage
that the adjustment of the plane can be determined by the order of the points. Activate the func-
tion in View > Main view: Create and in the opening dialog box by selecting the option Pick:
2-3 points. Enter the name of the plane you want to create in the entry line. You should use
logical names for the planes so that the position can be easily recognized, e.g. axis_3,
row_5, level_ridge, etc.
After confirming the dialog box with OK the message Pick plane point 1 between min. 2 and
max. 3. During the pikking process the currently entered point will be displayed in the message.
You can use the basic dimetry for picking the points or any other view or spatial representation.
In the later view, the first picked point forms the origin of the coordinate system and is positio-
ned below in the left corner of the view. The second point defines the direction of the X axis.
Later, it will extend from the first to the second point and is positioned at the inferior edge of the
view. The last point defines the direction of the Y axis. Here, it is not important whether the third
point is orthogonally on the first one, but that point is only there for indicating the direction of
the positive axis. Finally, you must confirm that point by double clicking or by pressing the re-
turn key. Thus the view is defined.
Delete
All created main views can as well be deleted. So you may delete, for reasons of clarity, unne-
cessary views from the view list. The only main view you can never delete is the global plane.
For deleting views choose the function Main view: Delete in the menu View. In the dialog win-
dow of that function all existing views are listed. You select individual views by mouse clicking
and confirming with OK.

Examples for creating views

The following examples shall give a practical understanding of the function of the described
creation of views via points. The main focus will be on the connection between the picking or-
der of the three plane points and the resulting view.
Example 1
First point: B1/bottom level 3.
(origin)
Second point: A1/Bottom le-
vel
(defined X axis)
Third point: B1/level 3000
(defined Y axis)
1.
Picked plane and

view direction 2.
Example 1:
Created main view
Y
X
The result is a place corre-
sponding to the grid element
(axis 1). The viewer is outside
the building looking at the inte-
rior of the building.
26
Example 2
First point: B2/Bottom level
(Origin) 3.
Second point: B1/Bottom le-
vel 
(defined X axis)
Third point: B2/level 4500
(defined Y axis)
1.
2.
Picked plane and

view direction
Example 2:
Created main view
Y
X
The result of this point order is

a plane (grid element row B)
which are viewed from the inte-
rior of the building.

Example 3:
First point: A1/level 3000
(origin)
Second point: A2/level 3000
(defined X axis)
Third point: B2/level 4500 3.
(defined Y axis)
2.
1.
Picked plane and

view direction
Example 3: Created
main view
Y
X
The result is a roof plane.

The viewer looks from out-
side at this inclined plane.
28
Note: Although looking on a plane, it is nevertheless a three-dimensional view. This was
shown in the previous example: the grid lines are not continuous in vertical direc-
tion, but are non-continuous This is because of the visibility in the depth (z-direc-
tion). According to bocad-defaults views are shown with a depth of 500 mm to the
front and to the back. This means the grid lines – perpendicular to the plane – are
visible 500 mm to the front and 500 mm to the back. Because the grid lines are run-
ning over the complete height of the grid with 4500 mm in total, the lines are cut at
a depth of 500 mm. Also members located more than 500 mm perpendicular to the
plane are not completely visible and thus intersected.
5.1.Additional view
Perspective – Checking the construction with additional views
After creating members and connections it is often useful to check the position of members and
connection materials. The easiest way for this control is the 3D-representation of the complete
construction, where you can zoom comfortably to points of interest. Perspectives are also use-
ful for general drawings.
Select in the menu View below Additional view the entry Perspective. In the next dialogue
window you can adjust some settings for the representation. These are explained in detail
within the following chapters. One of the most important settings you can enter beforehand for
the perspective is the scale. By this the output format is defined for the drawings to create.
The position of the members in the perspective is only displayed roughly. For a precise identi-
fication of the position within a range of millimetres the perspective is not very useful, for this
there are other functions available.

Perspective representation of the complete model.
Section
For a precise identification of the position of members you can use the function Section.
Select in the menu View below Additional view the entry Section. According to the perspec-
tive you can adjust settings for the representation. As most important setting for the section the
view direction to the members has to be defined.
Selection of a view direction for creation of a section.

The direction of the arrow shows the view direction of the section. The intersection plane is at
the beginning of the auxiliary arrow, which will show the position of the later section. The value
of the section depth describes the depth of the section. This is shown by the length of the au-
xiliary arrow.
Length of the auxiliary arrow shows the depth of the section
30
After confirming the settings with OK, the dialogue window will disappear. Now the location of
the section is defined. With pressed left mouse button the first section arrow can be placed.
When the left mouse button is pressed again and held, the section can be drawn over the area
for the section.
Distance between the section arrows in accordance to the length of the section area.
.
After placing the second auxiliary arrow and releasing the mouse button the section is created.
Main views
Often it is helpful to see the construction from several points of view at the same time. For this
you have the possibility to view several main views. These can be shown in several windows
or together in one window. This explains also the term Additional view because you can create
new views beside the main view.
Select in the menu View below Additional view the entry Main view. A table with the existing
main views is shown. Choose the view you need and confirm with OK.
As before you can adjust settings for the representation in the next dialogue. By this you can
open any number of views.

Different main views on the bocad interface.

Another possibility is to collect all views into one window. The procedure is the same as before
with the difference of the activated option With new window.
Select in the menu View below Additional view the entry Main view. Choose the view you
need and confirm with OK. Activate the option With new window in the next dialogue.
32
The location of the new view will be requested. Place the view into the window with pressed left
mouse button. Repeat this procedure for more views. All functions in the menu View below Ad-
ditional view have this option With new window.
All additional views which have the option With new window.
All additional views in one window.

Note: For controlling bigger constructions this technique is not very useful, because
with several views the size of the shown area requires a lot of zooming to get
a special section.
This procedure is advisable for e.g. the preparation of shop drawings.
Delete views in a window
When views inside a window are not required any more, they can also be deleted. Select in the
menu View the entry Delete view. Click on the view to delete. The view is shown with a sur-
rounding rectangle. It is also possible to select additional views. (Please consider that you have
to click on a line of the view and not into an empty region to select it.) Now confirm the selection
with Enter and after a safety request the view will be deleted.
selected view for deleting.
In a window with several views the basic view cannot be deleted (this is the view shown first in
the window)! If you try to delete this initial view this will be rejected with an error message.
Moving views
If the placement of a view was wrong or there is not enough space a view can also be moved
afterwards.
Select in the menu View below Edit the entry Move. The views to move can be selected wit-
hout any additional settings. Same as for deleting, confirm the selection with enter. First a re-
ference point must be defined, this is the point the view shall be moved to. In next step the view
is moved with pressed left mouse button to the new location.
In a window with several views the basic view cannot be moved (this is the view shown first in
the window)!
34
6.Creating points
When designing with bocad-3D, the designer/engineer orientates himself with the help of diffe-
rent spatial points. That may be points created by grids (grid points) or by a member (e.g. out-
line points of a HEA profile) or via the menu point Points. In bocad-3D there is a classification
of different types of points.
Grid points
Grid points are created via the grid input (compare Input of grid data). They are represented
as  and are visible in all views and can only be deleted together with the grid elements.
Pick points
Pick points are created via the menu Points or the symbol bar Points Normal. They are only
visible in the view in which they were created and are represented as , like grid points. They
can either be deleted via the menu point Points (function Delete point) or via the symbol De-
lete point.
Symbol bar Point Normal
DB-points
DB-points are created by transforming existing grid or pick points. DB-points are visible in any
view and are represented with a drawback line and a serial number.
You can delete them via the function Points > Delete point with the setting DB-points (or any)
within the corresponding dialog box which will appear after clicking you right mouse button:
21 – Basics 1 – Creating points – 35

21 – Basics 1 - Creating points
Points 2D/3D
Various functions in the menu Point either consider the creation of points in the plane (2D) or
in the space (3D), for example, the functions Add or Projection. You will find in several func-
tions the option With Z coordinate for distinguishing whether the creation of points will be car-
ried out two or three dimensionally, i.e. whether the third axis shall be considered in case of
picked points. Depending on you requirements that option can be switch in or off.
6.1.Rule of signs
All actions serving to create points refer to a previously created point (or to a grid point). Nor-
mally a measure (in mm) or an angle (in grade) will be rotated from an existing point. These
entries can be both positive and negative. It is also possible to enter repeating values as
discussed in the chapter Entry of grid data.
An angle in bocad is defined in the mathematically positive sense, i.e. it is positive if it turns anti-
clockwise. You need a local coordinate system in order to enter a positive or negative dimen-
sion. This coordinate system is defined by the order of the points.
Y
Direction
X
Sign
Point
Point 11 Point 2
As well as in the case of creating a plane the first clicked point is defined as the origin of the
coordinate. The second point defines the direction of the x axis. The y direction is positioned
vertically on the x axis. Therefore dimensions will be registered on their respective axis in de-
pendence of their signs. Positive signs may not be written in front of a dimension. In case of
negative values it is obligatory to set a minus sign.
36
Perpendicular
With the function Perpendicular you can create one or several points from two existing ones.
From the name of that function you can already recognize that the new point will then be per-
pendicularly to the original points. Among other things, the dialog box Perpendicular shows
the input line for entering the dimensions of the distances with their sign (if negative).
The input is a relative value. Therefore you can create several points with always the same
distances. If you want e.g. to determine the geometric positions (points) of the rafters on a pur-
lin, so you can enter 4 : 500 in the input line. As a result four new points will be drawn with a
relative distance of 500 mm between each point. You may add additional points with different
distances by separating them by commas.
After entering the dimensions you leave the box with OK In the message you will see Pick
Point 1. After clicking the first point the message Pick Point 2 will follow. After picking point
2 the program will calculate the points and display them on the screen:
created Point
Distance
Point 1 Point 2
Parallel
The function Parallel is similar to the function Perpendicular. Here two new points will be
created in the defined distance, parallel to the two picked points.
As in the case of the creation of points via the perpendicular, the distance of the parallel points
can be positive or negative. A quicker alternative for indicating a negative distance instead of
a positive one is to reverse the pick order of point 1 and point 2.
created Points
Distance
Point 1 Point 2

Lengthen
With the help of two points on the line a third one can be created in one distance. That distance
refers to the second picked point and can be both positive and negative. In case of positive va-
lues the point will be created in direction of the axis (first point is origin, second one indicates
the direction). In case of negative values the point will be created against the positive axis di-
rection.
Point 1 Point 2
created Point
Distance
That function can as well be used in the 3D area. For doing that you will find the option with Z
coordinates in the parameter box. If that option is activated you can create a point with 3D
coordinates in a perspective view. For doing that you must pick the points in a perspective view.
If you work with the same setting (option with Z coordinate active) in one plane, the point will
be projected into the plane.
created Point
ce
Point 2 tan
s
Di
Point 1
6.2.Tools
Add
With the function Add you can create new points by adding distance values for the X, Y and Z
axis with reference to existing points.
38
The input of 1:100 or only 100 in the line dx of an existing point in local x direction, for instance,
will create a new point with a distance of 100 mm. Correspondingly, the input of 3:100 in the
line dy will create three points with a distance of each 100 mm from the original point in the
local y direction.
The input for the value dz will only be considered if the option With Z coordinate is activated
and the original point is picked in a perspective view.
Mirror
One important function in the point package is the function Mirror. Two picked points form the
mirror axis (pick point 1 and/or pick point 2 of the mirror axis). After defining that
axis you can mirror as many points as you like. For doing that you only have to pick these points
(pick point 1, 2, 3, …). The last point will be confirmed with a double click or with the return
button.
created Point 3
Point 2
Point 2 of axis
created Point 1
is Point 3
r ax
rro
Mi
Point 1 of axis
created Point 2
Point 1
Divide line
In the menu Point you will find the function Divide line. In the selection list of the dialog box
you will find various possible settings for creating several new points via an existing line.

The division of the line can be realised by Number of points, Maximum field length, Rest
P2, Rest P1, Rest P1&P2 or Free input.
Division of line with Number of points

The division of line with Number of points divides a straight line represented by two points
by a defined number of points. For doing that you can enter the number of intermediate
points in the dialog box of the function. After confirming the box with OK you must then pick
the two end points of the straight line in accordance with the indications of the messages.
Division of line with maximum field length
The setting with maximum length has a similar function as the setting with Number of
points. However, instead of a number of points a maximum distance value will be indicated,
i.e. the systems will calculate a regular division of the length which is smaller or equal in
comparison with that dimension.
Division of the line with Rest P2 / Rest P1 / Rest P1&P2
These settings are similar concerning their functions. As in the case with setting with ma-
ximum length an existing line will be divided. The division is, however, precise. Due to the
precise division rests, i.e. lines will remain which are smaller than the indicated dimension.
These can be distributed with different setting at different places. The rest lengths can either
be distributed to point 1 (with rest P1) or point 2 (with rest P2). It is as well possible to dis-
tribute regularly to both points (rest P1&P2).
Division of line with free input
With the help of this function you can realise a division of line between minimum and maxi-
mum values. For doing that you must indicate the minimum and maximum values for the
areas edge 1, field and edge 2. Then a regular division within these values will be created.
The value delta defines the approximation of the values in millimetres. bocad always orien-
tates itself to the maximum values. After confirming the dialog box the usual messages will
appear.
40
Intersection
The procedure of the intersection will calculate a new point on the basis of four given points,
i.e. the intersection. After loading that function the message will ask for the first two points, i.e.
the points of the first imaginary line. Then the points of the second line will follow. The two lines
which may not be parallel will finally be intersected.
Point 3
Point 1 Point 4
created Point
Point 2
The function Graphic intersection offers a similar function. The only difference is that here no
points but lines can be directly picked. These lines will then indicate as well the individual inter-
section.
6.3.Angel, arc, circle

Rotate angle
In addition to the described function which are carried out with the help of X and Y coordinates,
there are function working with angle functions. These functions include the function Rotate
angle. That function creates a point on the circle arc via two pick points or via an indication of
an axis which refers to the local coordinate system.
In the dialog box Rotate angle you must enter a degree number in the input field Angle. Here,
the rule of signs is applied as well. If the default setting Basic line: Pick is switched on and the
box left by confirming with OK, the message will ask to pick two points. After defining the ima-
ginary line, a new point will be created. That point will be rotated around the first pick point in
the indicated angle and the distance first to the second pick point.
created Point
Angle
Point 1 Point 2

If you activate +/- X or +/- Y you will need only one point. Based on this point, an angle referring
to a new point will rotate in the chosen Distance in direction of the local coordinate axis. Both
signs and input rules are fully valid.
created Point
Pickpoint Angle
Distance
(here in positive X-direction)
Divide an angle in half

This function will create a new point via three pick points. First of all, the message will require
a centre of a circle and then an additional point on an imaginary circle. The third point defines
an angle which refers to the centre of the circle. The new point will rotate in the middle of the
angle, on the circle.
Point 3
created Point
Point 1 Point 2
42
Day of training - part 2
Divide arc
The function Divide arc creates any number of points, on an arc with regular division, via three
pick points or two pick points and the angle data. For doing that, the following indication are
required in the function's dialog box: angle if the option Angle is activated, and the number of
points to be created.
After confirming the box with OK the pick points will be selected. bocad will then create in re-
gular distances a new number of points limited by the second and third pick point or by the
arc around the first pick point and limited by the angle.
Point 3
created
Points
Angle
Point 1 Point 2
Intersection Circle - Line, Circle - Circle

In the menu Points > Circle intersection you will find the functions Circle-Line and Circle-
Circle. With the help of these functions you can create new points as intersections to an ima-
ginary circle. The first step for both functions is identical: first of all, a circle will be defined by
two pikked points – centre of the circle and radial circle point. During the following working
steps this circle will be emphasised with the help of an helpline.
Intersection Circle - Line
Concerning this function, in the second step you must pick a line via two points. When calcu-
lating the intersections the extension of the line will be considered as well. The new points will
be created at both intersections with the circle.
Intersection Circle - Circle
In this function an additional circle will be picked in the second step. The two new points will
then be created at the intersections of the second circle with the first circle.

21 – Basics 1 - Creating members
7.Creating members
In the basic setting of bocad you can create all standard profiles (such as UB, UC, RSC, RHS,
etc), members with geometries to be determined (e.g. plates or bars), cold rolled sections
(ZKRUPP, STABA, etc.) and catalogue profiles, e.g. for glazing and metal construction.
Activate the function for creating of profiles in the menu point Members > Create profile. Then,
typical for the working style in bocad, you can open the dialog box Create profiles < Members
by clicking your right mouse button:
Selection of the profile type to be created:

 Standard profiles as well as profiles with geometries to be
determined
 Cold rolled sections
 Profiles from given or customers' individual catalogues
(Optional) preview of the set po-

sition parameter and the selec-
ted profile type - the eye symbol
indicates here the view direction
on the creating plane.
Settings of the preview
44
7.1.Indication of the files describing members
Initial mark number
The initial mark number serves for preliminary numbering
of created members. It is characterised by 'S' (for start
mark number) and a number, e.g. 'S300'. The definite num-
bering will be carried out later by the marking.
The initial mark number has two properties. With the first property you can structure the num-
bering process. So the entry (default is 1) indicates the start value for the numbering of the mark
number.
For example, you can link number starting with 300 to such members as e.g. roof purlins. For
doing that you must enter 300 in the entry line. Unless you modify the number all created mem-
bers will receive from now on an initial mark number starting with the set value 300 (numbers
will be counted upwards).
The other main function of the initial mark number is to set members in accordance with bill of
materials or to create them as dummy member. Dummy members are members at the site as
e.g. bases or as well steel components not belonging to the delivery scope; therefore, they re-
ceive the initial mark number '0'.
Designation
The designation is a precise description concerning a member. For example, you can define a
member, in addition to the name (profile), in its function, e.g. as support, beam, etc. You must
not comply any convention when entering your description in the relevant entry line beside the
designation. You can open a list containing various designations by clicking the button besi-
des the entry line:
Note: The selected designation will be later a relevant distinguishing characteristic during
the marking. Concerning other properties such as profile and lengths, identical
members will be marked with different numbers if they have different designations.
21 – Basics 1 – Creating members – 45

Profile types
As mentioned before you will find various profile types as default entries in bocad. You must
observe the designation of profiles in order to find them when they will be created. If you make
no entry in the dialog box Create profiles < Members besides the button Profile and then click
it you will open a profile list.
The profile list contains all standard profiles of the bocad profile database including all usual
profiles in steel construction. In addition to the profiles of the list you can create profiles with
individual geometries, at example plates PL (see the following tables concerning profile types).
Now you can select the required profile form the profile list. The existing list is very extensive
and the user will be faced with the problem to browse to entire list. One useful function in the
window Profile list (as in other profile windows in bocad) is the possibility of jumping in the al-
phabetically sorted list by entering letters. For doing that you must mark any entry in the list with
the help of your mouse. If you now enter a letter the mark will jump the first entry of this list
beginning with that letter. By quickly entering a combination of letters (e.g. 'IP') you can also
search profiles beginning with those letters.
The second search help for he profile list is a filtered list, i.e. the indicated list can be reduced
to one certain profile type. For doing that you must first of all enter the name of that row in the
entry line beside the button Profile, e.g. IPE. If you click then the button Profile you will only
receive the profiles of the IPE row:
Of course, you have also the possibility in bocad to enter the profile type of a profile row direct-
ly, e.g. IPE300. Especially in this case you must observe a particular notation (compare with
the following tables).
Standard profiles
Profile type Notation Example
HEA HEAh or HEhA HEA100 or HE100A
IPE IPEh or IPhA IPE300 or IP300E
46
Profiles with individual geometric dimensions
Profile type Notation Example
Plates BLd*h BL10*240
Edged U-profiles BLUh*b*d BLU200*80*8
Edged L-profiles BLLh*b*d BLL200*80*8
Flat bar FLh*d FL100*8
Squared timber KHh*b KH100*30 [cm]
Rectangular hollowed MSHh*b*d MSH100*200*8
Rectangular section (RHS) MSHh*d MSH200*8
Square tube round-edged QRRh*d QRR200*8
Square tube sharp-edged QRSh*d QRS200*8
Rectangular tube round-

RRRh*b*d RRR200*100*8
edged
Rectangular sharp-edged RRSh*b*d RRS200*100*8
Square VKh VK60
Tubes TUBEh*d TUBE100*8
Round iron bar ROUNDd ROUND10
Plate girder BTfh*fd*sh*sd BT300*30*1200*15

Acronyms: h = height w = width
th = thickness hf = height of flange
tf = thickness of flange hw = height of web
tw = thickness of web
Note: In the case of standard profiles you can use as well ½-I-profiles. For doing that you
must enter e.g. 1/2IPE300 in the dialog box. In the case of plates there is for ex-
ample an unlimited variety of geometries. Therefore, they are for the time being not
included in the profile list. After shifting a plate this will automatically be adopted in
this list.
Materials
Via the button Material you can open a selection list which contains all usual material names.
Here you can select any entry and link it to the profile.
7.2.Creating members in longitudinal view

In case of this type of creat a member with its longitudinal axis will be placed parallel to the re-
ference plane. Normally the reference plane is here identical with the plane of picking of that
view in which the first member-defining point will be picked.

Number of generation points

You can carry out the creating of members in longitudinal view via one or various points. The
first pickpoint always determines the origin or the start of the longitudinal axis. The following
determination of length and alignment of the member is dependent on the setting of the option
Points.
Creating via a point:
If you create a member only by picking the original point you will determine the length of the
member with the help of a fixed value to enter in the dialogue window. The member direction
will be calculated via the value Angle determining the rotation of the longitudinal axis of the
member around the picked original point:
Line of sight on
the reference
plane (Z axis)
Rotation of the member

around the original
point
48
Creating via two points:
If you create the member with the help of the setting 2 points, the first pickpoint will determine
the origin and the second pickpoint the end point of the longitudinal axis of the member and
thus length and alignment of the member:
Line of sight on the reference

plane (Z axis)
Original and end point

of the member
The creating forms of profiles via n points and the creating of bended members will be treated
separately in the Basics Volume II. in the chapter Curved members.
Setting of the viewed face

There are different views depending on the position from which you look on the member. bocad
offers four different viewed faces in order to facilitate the placing of members in different views:
front view, top view, rear view and bottom view. These views can be set before shifting in long
view. Front view is basically defined as the view on the web (in case of standard profiles). In
case of plates front view is defined as the view on the surface.
While an UB profile has only two different views, since the top and bottom view and the front
and rear view are identical, an unequal L profile, for example, will be represented differently in
all switchable views:

The four available viewed faces in

the example of an uneven L profile
Top view
Rear view Front view
Bottom view
In addition to the set viewed

faces you can indicate a free
angle for carrying out more pre-
cise rotations around the mem-
ber axis.
We recommend activating the option Preview in the dialog window of the function in order to
check before the creating how the realised settings would influence the later position of the
member in the reference plane.
50
7.3.Creating members with the help of member anchors
Member anchors
Up to now we took as a starting point that the position of a member will be determined alongside
its middle axis between a picked original point and an end point – either picked or by entering
a value. The position of the member and its anchorage in the reference plane is determined by
the middle point of the profile and each 50% of the member is above and below the reference
plane and the member is in the middle of the selected create axis:
If you want, however, that a member levels with its superior left profile edge at the create axis,
you can modify the default anchorage of the member with the help of the setting matrix Posi-
tion:

In the same way you can orientate the location of the member to the create axis via the setting
matrix at each of the nine possible anchor points. Here you have to observe that the anchor
points always refer to external outline of a member. Depending on the profile type, those an-
chor points do not touch directly the member:
So you can create a member above, in the middle of or below the reference plane by using the
vertical setting matrix of the Position. By using the horizontal setting matrix you can align the
member anchor with regard to the create axis to the left hand, in the middle or to the right hand.
In any case one point of the external outline touches the create axis.
Auxiliary shift
By entering a value for depth and transverse shift (DZ or DY) you can additionally shift the
member anchor set in the position matrix in order to create a tolerance or an overlapping bet-
ween the member and the create axis. The definite location of the member will thus be deter-
mined by a picked axis and the corresponding anchor point on it and, additionally, by the set
depth or shift in y direction.
The depth shift DZ will result in a shifting of the anchor alongside the Z axis of the reference
plane. A positive shifting value will create a tolerance and a negative value an overlapping of
member and create axis if the anchor is located at a vertical external point of the profile outline.
If the anchor is located vertically in the middle, you will always shift upward. In case of a nega-
tive value you will shift downward.
52
Depth shift of the anchor point via
a positive value:
Z axis of the reference plane
Depth shift via a

Reference plane
negative value
Depth shift of the anchor

point via a negative value:
Reference
plane
Z axis of the reference plane

In the same way a transverse shift DY will cause a shift of the anchor alongside the X axis. In
case of the positive value you will create a tolerance and in case of a negative value an over-
lapping of member and create axis if the anchor is located at a vertical external outline point. If
the anchor is located vertically in the middle, you will always shift to the left side. In case of a
negative value you will shift to the right side:
Transverse shift of the anchor create axis

point via a positive value:
Reference plane (X-axis)
Transverse shift of the an-

chor point via a negative va- create axis
lue:
Reference plane (X-axis)
7.4.Creating members in side view

In addition to the previous explanation how to place members longitudinally in the reference
plane, you can also place members in the depth of the reference plane. When choosing this
creating type you will thus create members in their side view, i.e. their longitudinal axis will be
created vertically to the reference plane and you only have to pick the original point for the
54
member in the reference plane. You can determine the length of the member to be created –
in Z direction of the reference plane – by entering a value in the entry line Length. In addition,
you can indicate a rotation around the longitudinal axis of the member by entering a value in
Angle. That angle is mathematically defined as positive.
Creating a member in side view
Here you can as well – as already described in Creating members via

member anchors – anchor the longitudinal axis of a member via the matrix
setting concerning the position at nine significant locations.
An additional shifting of the set member anchor in direction to the create axis
is as well possible. This will, however, not be carried out as depth or trans-
verse shift but via the values X and Y which shift the picked original point for
the member in X and/or Y direction in the reference plane. You can enter both positive and ne-
gative values.
When choosing this creating type you can exactly control the positioning of the
member in the depth, i.e. with its length alongside the Z axis of the reference pla-
ne, with the help of the three settings front, middle or back and, if required, by
using the additional positive or negative shifting value z. This value corresponds
to the depth shift explained in the section Creating members.
When creating a member in the depth to the front, it will be completely above the reference
plane. When shifting it in the middle it will be located with one half above and one half below
the reference plane and when shifting to the back it will be completely below the reference pla-
ne.

7.5.Creating of plates
Creating via profiles
Plates can be created longitudinally via the function Create profiles. The way of creating is
same procedure as already described in Create members in longitudinal view. You can en-
ter individually the profile dimensions of the plate in the dialog window of the function in the ent-
ry field Profile by entering the abbreviation PL and then the profile thickness and profile height,
for example PL25*200.
After generating the plate it will be registered in the profile list. From now on you can load it from
the profile list by using all possible filters (compare possible filters in the section Profile types).
Via outline plate

With the help of the function Members > outline plate you can create plates with a defined
thickness and free outline. The outline plate will be shifted by regulation, i.e. pikking its outline
points. Therefore, you should have created suitable pickpoints before using the function. In the
following figure you can see that, in addition to the designation BL, you only have to indicate
the plate thickness and, if required, the depth shift for the profile name.
The latter value indicates here the location of the plate concerning its thickness to the reference
plane, i.e. whether the plate shall be created above, below or in the middle of the then picked
outline.
Plate creating via profile
You can also influence the geometry of the plate with a value in Expansion. In case of a posi-
tive value the plate has an overlap, in case of a negative value it will use this dimension.
56
When you leave the window with OK, you will see the messages for picking the outline points
of the plate. The picking order can be carried out either clockwise or anti-clockwise. The last
point must be confirmed with a double click or with the return button.
Generated outline plate

21 – Basics 1 - Editing members
8.Editing members
After creating members it is often necessary to edit them, i.e. to modify members concerning
their form and geometry. You will find all required steps for working on members in the menu
point Edit Members.
8.1.Length modification
Editing of members means different requirements concerning their length. For instance, one
situation requires a merely dimensional shortening, another one an adjustment in dependence
of the position of another member. The different functions are grouped in the function Length
modification in the menu point Edit Members. After loading this function you can open the
dialog box Length modification < Edit: Members for further settings by clicking the right but-
ton of your mouse
Functions of length modification
In the left window area you can choose the Type of member editing via the tree representation.
In the right window area you will then find different possible settings.
Lengthen and shorten

After selection the function Lengthen/Shorten you can enter a value in mm in the input field
Distance on the right side. This value defines the lengthening of the member. In case of a ne-
gative distance value the member will be shortened correspondingly. Additionally, you can also
indicate via Test whether an individual member (this is normally the case and thus the preset-
ting) or a complete construction group shall be edited.
After confirming the dialog box with OK you can pick members to be edited in accordance with
the messages until terminating your input with a double click or by pressing the return button.
Then you have to pick that member edge where you want to modify the length. For doing that
you only need to click in the area of the member edge, i.e. you need not click it exactly. The
length modification in this function refers only to the length of the member and not to the width
or height.
58
Lengthening of an I-
profile by 500 mm
Adapt
With the function Adapt you can adapt members with their front surface to a plane. The adap-
tation can be carried out two ways: either Projection to axis or via 2 or 3 points (the third point
will be used for creating a compound angled section). You will find this function as well in the
dialog box Length modification < Edit: Members. It will also be activated by selecting the ty-
pe, i.e. in this case Adapt
Settings for member adjustment
.For the adaptation via Proj. on axis you only need one point to determine the adaptation
place. Therefore, the cross section will be adapted directly to the point. If you choose an adap-
tation plane via 2 or 3 points, you will require the corresponding number of points. With the
help of this setting you can adapt members to an inclined plane.
Adapt member with proj on axis
Adapt member via two points
21 – Basics 1 – Editing members – 59

Both settings permit to enter a positive or negative Clearance in order to modify the distance
of the new member edge to the picked axis.
Adapt to a member
By using the function Adapt to a member in the dialog box Length modification < Edit: Mem-
bers you can carry out a similar member editing as in the setting Adapt. The only difference is
that the adaptation plane will be offered by another – tool-part – member.
In case of this function, you can carry out the setting Adapt to 3D surfaces, Adapt to external
volume and Adapt to member extreme in the dialog box by using the selection list Adapta-
tion plane. These refer to the tool-part member to which the to-be-adapted member shall be
adapted and have the following meanings:
Adapt to a 3D surfaces:
Alongside the axis of the tool-part
member it will be checked which
edge of the to-be-adapted member
will be touched. This edge will be the
adaptation plane.
Member axis
Adapt to external volume:

The tool-part member will be sur-
rounded by a cladding. This edge of
the cladding will be the adaptation
plane.
60
Adapt to the member extremes:
If a member rotates around its own
axis, this member can be surroun-
ded by a cladding running through
the extremes of the member.
In addition to these setting, you can

control in the dialog box Length modification < Edit: Members whether – only if members
intersect – tool-part members shall be considered.
Cut
As in the case of Adapt the member will be shortened via Proj on axis or via 2 or 3 points. It
is also possible to add a Tolerance. When executing this cut alongside a plane, the front sur-
face, however, will not be adapted automatically. Rather you must indicate the so-called waste
side of the member.
After confirming the dialog box the plane will be determined as in the case of the function Ad-
apt. Then, in accordance with the message Pick side to remove (member-point), you
must pick the side on the left of right part of the section plane. After confirming with double click
or with the return button this waste side will be cut off the member.
Split
During the splitting process a member will be divided in two separate members. Here you can
split a beam with a Tolerance so that, e.g. the plates for a beam joint can be inserted into the
section.
Cut member with tolerance

Regroup
With the help of this function you can combine various members. Here a prerequisite is that the
members have the same cross section and an identical member axis. A direct contact area bet-
ween the members, however, is not required. If you edit for example two beams by using this
function, the new merged beam will extend over the complete length of the original beam and
the previous spacing.
Merging two
members
8.2.Volume operations
As in the case of length modification, the function Volume operation summarizes several func-
tions which can be selected in the menu point Edit members by loading with the right button
of your mouse in the dialog box the function Volume modification < Edit: Members..
Functions concerning
volume operations
62
Punch
With the help of the function Punch you can punch tool-part members with to-be-adapted
members, i.e. by using a tool-part member you can remove a volume from a to-be-adapted
member. In contrast to other edit bars for members we presented before, during the punching
process a volume will be created as default which will then be deleted after having been pun-
ched.
In the following example, a HEA200 shall be punched with a plate so that this one will be coped.
Step 1: Creating of a HEA200
Step 2: Creating of a punching volume
Plate as punching tool. Edges may not

be congruent with the edges of the to-
be-adapted member!
Step 3: Executing the function Punch
according to message first pick tool-part …
… then to-be-adapted member
Step 4: Deleting of a punching volume
Eliminating of a punching volume via Members > Delete an item.

Note for punching of members

a) The surfaces (edges) of the tool-part member and the to-be-adapted member must not
be congruent for carrying out the intersection:
Punching not possible!
b) The function Punch deletes areas of the to-be-adapted member. It creates, however, no
new members even if they would be created physically by the tool-part volume. Thus, in
case of a punching volume no waste member, which could be deleted in the second step,
will be created but only the hollowed section will be eliminated:
Result after punching

Waste
Remaining web area after deleting

the punching tool
64
To avoid that you can alternatively set in the function of the dialog box that a Tool modification
will be applied for the punching. In case of a tube, for example, you would punch with a circular
profile:
Result after punching with a tool modification
Waste
Web area after deleting the punching volume
Combine
The function Combine makes it possible to combine and/or blend outline plates. Thus it is pos-
sible to create irregular elements, e.g. in the area of concrete bodies. That means that you can
combine bodies at their contact areas.

21 – Basics 1 - Work on outline plates
9.Work on outline plates

9.1.Work on: outline
The function Outline Plate in the menu point (Member) Tools serves for modifying existing
outline plate in the outline plane of that member. After loading that function you will be asked
how to represent the corresponding outline plate because a new window will be opened for the
editing process. After confirming the query with OK the message Pick member will appear. You
must pick the outline plate in any view and a new window will open with the member in front
view.
In that window, in the menu point Outline you will find the necessary functions for working on
an outline plate.
Outline plate in plane representation ...
... and functions

for working on outline plates
highlight
First of all, you should check whether you have chosen the correct member for working on it.
For doing that, load the function highlight. The current member to work on will lighten in an
outline of a different colour.
New plate thickness

A new plate thickness will be assigned to the outline plate. Activate the function and a dialog
box for entering the values will appear.
66
Enter the new overall thickness in the entry field Thick-
ness. In addition, you also determine the change with
regard to the depth by choosing Front, Symetric and
back. This setting refers to the middle axis of the outli-
ne plate. Choosing this setting, the new thickness will
be divided symmetrically at front and behind, otherwi-
se, depending on the selected direction, to front or be-
hind.
Move outline points

Choosing this function, outline points will receive new coordinates in the outline plane. After ac-
tivating the function, the point will be selected. A crosshairs will appear and by pressing your
left mouse button you can now determine the new place of the outline point. With the help of
the pickmodus you can e.g. pull to a pick point or to an existing member edge.
Move outline points via dimensions

Unlike the function Move outline point the new place
of the outline point can be determined by using relative
values. The procedure is similar to the function Move
outline point. After moving the outline point, a box will
appear in which you can enter the relative values (bet-
ween the old and the new place) in the X and Y direc-
tion.
Add outline points

You can add new outline points to the outline of the member so that the outline of the member
will adopt a new shape. For doing that, pick the place on that member edge where you want to
the new point to be. Then determine the new place of the point by pressing your left mouse
button. If the pickmodus is on Free, any place may be defined. You may have created as well
before a point, for example, by using the functions in the menu Points. The new outline point
will then be pulled on that point with the pickmodus Pick points.
Move outline edges parallel
With the help of these functions you

can move parallel existing outline
edges. While doing that the length of
the moved edge will be maintained.
During the moving the adjacent edges
adapt themselves concerning length
and alignment.
parallel moved outline edge
21 – Basics 1 – Work on outline plates – 67

21 – Basics 1 - Work on outline plates
Move outline edges parallel with value

Similar to Move outline edges parallel the edge to be
moved will be pikked and pulled in the required direc-
tion. Then an input box will appear in which you can en-
ter the parallel distance:
Move outline edges at random

Unlike the parallel moving of an outline edge, you can move an edge as you like when applying
this function, i.e. the edge to be moved will maintain its length and the adjacent edges will adapt
to the moving with regard to their length and alignment. If you activate the function you must
pick the edge. The anchor point is on the centre of the edge. With this point you can move the
edge.
Delete outline point

Existing outline points will be deleted. You must, however, maintain at least the three required
outline points for describing the outline plate.
Delete outline edges

With the help of this function you can delete outline edges. You must, however, maintain at
least the three required outline points for describing the outline plate.
Add snipe
You can add a snipe from an outline point. The corresponding outline point will be picked and
then the entry box for the relative values will appear: With the help of this value an angle cut
from the picked point will be carried out:
Final snipe
Executed edge section
68
Add concave corner
With the help of the function Add concave corner a concave rounding at the picked outline
point will be carried out. After picking the outline point, a dialog box for entering the value will
be displayed.The Distance between the rounding and the pick point can be regularly shifted in
the X and/or Y direction. When selecting one of the two last options an additional entry field for
entering the values will be displayed in Distance.
Radius of the resolution in mm
Number of basepoints for the

representation of the resolution
Setting of handling of distances

(here with regular distance)
Picked outline point
Add convex corner rounding

The procedure of this function is similar to the function Add concave corner, with the only ex-
ception that a convex rounding will be carried out. After picking the outline point a dialog box
for entering the values will appear again:
Radius of the resolution in mm
Number of basepoints for the re-

presentation of the resolution
Picked outline point
21 – Basics 1 – Work on outline plates – 69

21 – Basics 1 - Welded connections
10.Welded connections
Below the menu point Connections you will find various functions for creating connections. No
matter whether you want to create a seam or – as to be presented in the next chapter – a bolted
connection, you must meet various requirements in order to work with connection means in bo-
cad:
 You must choose a reasonable view. For example with the functions Section or Points/line
in the menu point View.
 Seam or bolts must already be created. For doing that you can use the function in the menu
point Points.
 The members to be connected, in example, beams and front plates must be suited to be
picked.
10.1.Automatic weld seam

With the help of the function Automatic Weld in the menu Connections two or more members
will be connected automatically with each other. Contact areas between the partners will be
found automatically.
If you want to have another thickness at the seam and web of the seam connection, select the
option Web unlike flange. In this case additional entry elements for the Weld thickness flan-
ge will be displayed in the dialog window. If the option Web as flange is activated, regular weld
thicknesses with the value Weld thickness web will be created.
70
One condition for the use of this function is that the connecting partners are suitable to be
picked, another condition is that the parameters have been adjusted in the dialog window. Ad-
ditional settings concerning the generation of seams can be carried out on the tab Additional
data.
After activating the function, first of all the member with the seam and then the member to be
welded will be picked. The second connecting partner determines the course of the seam:
Member with the

seam
Member to be welded
Seam will be created in the con-

tact area of respective members
21 – Basics 1 – Welded connections – 71

21 – Basics 1 - Welded connections
10.2.Controls: Info Connection

For controlling created connection you will find various informative functions in the menu point
Info. With the help of the function Connection: Properties you can e.g. load a text survey con-
cerning a connection. For doing that, open the function via the menu Point and pick an existing
connection. The information will then be displayed in a dialogue window.
72
11.Bolted connections
11.1.Terms
Bolt group: In the bocad system a bolts group is defined as bolts which are gener-
ated with functions. A bolts group can have one or several bolts. The
group consists of bolts connecting the same members with each other.
Thus, these bolts are the same type of bolts, i.e. the have the same gar-
niture, material, length, etc.
Loose bolts: Loose bolts distinguish themselves from bolts/studs in the sense that
they are directly assigned a length. The length is not calculated by the
bocad system.
Loose bolts are applied e.g. for connections at null positions, e.g. at
concrete. They are established in the same way as bolts/studs.
Material length: Generally, the material length corresponds to the total of all thickness-
es of material to be connected.
Garniture: A garniture includes all additional elements such as nuts, bolts, etc.
Bolt length: Material length + garniture + jutting out.
For example, if you select a bolt with a length of 63.5 mm, that bolt
which can be delivered quickly will be chosen with 65 mm.
Settings of the function Connection >Bolts/studs/Loose/ ….
0
1
2
4 3
5
6
0 Loads the settings in the database behind - 1
1 List view concerning the current bolt structure
21 – Basics 1 – Bolted connections – 73

21 – Basics 1 - Bolted connections
2 Automatic bevel washers
3 Takes over the database entries
4 Should be set on Site to avoid that the entire structure is pending at one member.
5 Determines what the bolt will also create
6 Text flag, e.g. for a initial tension
Introductory example:Impact end plates with bolted connections
Step 1: Creating of two IPE300 supports and shortening in the front view by each 20 mm:
Step 2: Insert end plates with a thickness of 20 mm each:
74
Step 3: Open adequate additional view - e.g. via View > Additional view: Point/Line:
Step 4: Create points for bolt positions - e.g. via Points > Divide line:

Step 5:Set bolts via the function Connection > Bolt/Stud/Loose-/...
Entering of an M12 bolt and confirming

the dialogue with OK.
Picking of bolt point and confirming

with the return button.
Picking of the end plates in the main view

and confirming with the return button.
Result: Created bolt picture in front and side view:
76
11.2.Controls
Info > Connection
The function Connection: Properties which we already introduced in the preceding chapter
concerning welded connections and which can be found in the menu point Info can also be
used for receiving an informative survey of a bolted connection. For doing that, load the func-
tion via the menu Info and pick then an existing bolted connection. The information will then be
displayed in a dialogue window:

Search > Bolt connectivity

The function Search > Check connections: Bolt connectivity offers the possibility of an au-
tomatic control of bolt mounting. In the dialogue window of the function you can link a nut size
to a bolt type by choosing the button 3D control on the tab Parameters. With the help of this
value each bolt of this type will be controlled concerning its connectivity.
After starting the function, all bolts without connectivity will be emphasized with a tool symbol.
In addition you will see a survey of all bolts without connectivity in a new window:
If all relevant bolts have connectivity you will be indicated an empty result list. In this case all
bolts with the bolt size selected in the list have connectivity.
After applying the function, all represented tool symbols with the function Search >Delete con-
nectivity tool can be deactivated again in all windows.
11.3.Work on bolt groups

Delete completely / individually
With the help of the function Delete connection in the menu Connection you can either delete
individual connecting elements from a connection picture or eliminate a connecting picture
completely. After loading the function, the delete mode can be switched via the options Con-
nection unit or Single element.
78
By choosing the option Connection unit you can delete a connected connecting picture. Here,
you only need to pick an element of the picture and confirm your selection.
If you choose the option Single element, you can delete individual connecting elements from
a bolt picture in any view. Only the picked elements will be deleted and the new connecting
picture will be represented.
Note: If you delete e.g. a single member from a bolted connection (e.g. filler plates in a
bolt picture), the bolt picture including holes in that member, but as well in all other
existing members will be deleted.
Move
The function Bolt: Move in the menu Edit connection refers to the moving of individual bolts
in a bolt picture. First of all, change in a view where you can see the bolt picture with the viewing
direction in or against the bolt direction of the bolts. By activating the function, first of all, the
dialog box for entering relative dimension for moving will appear automatically. After entering
the dimensions you can pick one or several bolts. The moving will then be carried out with the
specified dimensions relatively to the original position:

New length calculation

With the function Bolt: New length calculation in the menu (Connection) Edit you can cal-
culate again a selected bolt. Here, you have no possibility to apply a bolt of another type. One
possible application of this function is e.g. to integrate new connecting members into a bolt pic-
ture.
In the following example we create a
point of roofridge whose ridge plates
will be connected with bolts (in a bolt
picture).
Afterwards we will apply filler plates

which require a new calculation of
the bolt picture.
80
After activating the function, we will carry out the following entries in the dialog box:
Length shall be
maintained
Direction shall be
maintained
Admit that various bolt pic-

tures will be created
Connection partners shall be

searched automatically
The result of the new calculation is as

follows:
Exchange
With the function Bolt: Exchange you can later modify bolt connections. If the function is acti-
vated, you can load the corresponding dialog box by clicking your right mouse button. Here you
can make your indication with regard to the bolt type to replace the previous bolt picture. After
completing your indications you leave the box with OK and pick the corresponding bolt picture.
The previous picture will be replaced by the new bolt picture.

Example: Bolted connection MSH at IPE profile

Using the following example (fixing of a MSH profile alongside a longitudinal wall at an existing
frame support) we will present various possibilities of the function. Both members, a support
IPE360 and a bolt MSH100*100*4 will be connected with each other one after the other in dif-
ferent ways. The initial situation is as follows:
MSH 100*100*4
IPE 360
Alternative 1: MSH+tubes long/rest short material length

In bocad you can connect profiles by a bolt with a long material length. Normally, you need long
material lengths if a bolt shall penetrate completely a profile, in this example, a MSH profile.
82
First of all select the function Connection > Bolts/studs/Loose/ … in the menu Connection.
Open the dialog box of the function by clicking your right mouse button and carry out the follo-
wing settings:
Select bolt type SKG ...
... and close bolt list
Click the button Designation in order to get a survey concerning the corresponding diameters:
In the opening window you can select a bolt with the corresponding diameter. This bolt has a
length. This length, however, will also be maintained if it is not sufficient or too long.
Alternatively, you can also do without indi-
cation of a length. For doing that, activate
the option Bolts only created if existing
in database. In this case the required bolt
length will be calculated automatically and
the next bolt with sufficient length will be
selected from the database.
Then you must still modify the bolt length in
the dialog box Bolts/studs/Loose/… For
doing that, select the entry RHS&CHS
long/rest short from the selection list Bolt
length.
Here, it is also important to activate the op-
tion Bolts only created if existing in da-
tabase. If you did not indicate the length

when entering the bolt and if you want to create the bolt even if it does not exist in the database,
the material length will be calculated automatically with this setting and the bolt will be genera-
ted with the correct length.
The dialogue window should now be represented as follows:
After confirming the dialog box with OK pick now the bolt point in front view on the longitudinal
wall:
MSH 100*100*4
IPE 360
84
Then you must only pick the two members to be bolted. Here you must not observe any order.
The bolt direction of the bolt is from the exterior, i.e. into the MSH profile, when you look from
the exterior on the longitudinal wall.
The result of this example is as follows:
SKG 12*140
Alternative 2: Separated profiles will be connected via short material lengths

This alternative connection is based again on the initial situation of the example. The two pro-
files, the support IPE360 and the bolt MSH100*100*4 shall be connected by the bolt SKG12
with short material length. In this case, however, no length will be indicated for the bolt but be
calculated automatically by the program.
Concerning the bolt connectivity, an additional opening will be shouldered in the MSH profile.
In order to generate this opening, a generation of bolts with a second hole tolerance will be car-
ried out. Here you have to indicate a diameter for this hole tolerance. As you can recognise
from the name hole tolerance the overall diameter of the opening is composed of the bolt dia-
meter and the hole tolerance. In this example the opening shall have a diameter of 40 mm. If
you use the bolt SKG12 you will require a second hole tolerance of 28 mm.
In addition you must indicate where you want to place the opening. Before creating the bolt an
internal examination checks the correspondence of the bolt and the profile. These penetration
points can be indicated as position for the second hole tolerance:
Insertion direction
First hit: In this position,

the bolt hits a profile for
the first time. Second hit

In this example, the opening shall be at the first hit. Thus, the following settings are required in
the dialog box Bolts/studs/Loose/…, considering the previous demands with regard to the
connection:
bolt without
length indica-
tion
Settings for the

second hole
tolerance
Selection for
short material
length
Similar to the first example, you must now pick the bolt point and then the members to be bolted
after confirming the dialog box with OK in front view of the longitudinal wall. As a result the fol-
lowing connection will be created:
86
Example: Stud shear connector on inclined profile
In the following example we will show how stud shear connectors can be set in a grid on an
inclined support. As support we will use an IPEA400 and as stud shear connector a
KOD22*125. The set bolts shall be distributed regularly on the superior flange of the bolt. The
studs shall have a distance of 220 mm in direction of the support axis and a transverse distance
between each other of 100 mm (studs in two rows). In order generate the grid on the flange you
must first change into the top view of the inclined support. For doing that you can open Addi-
tional view: Member plane in the menu View. Here, activate the top view, select as Refe-
rence the setting Flange/Web surface and pick then the support.
First of all select the function Bolts/nuts … in the menu Connection. Open the dialog box of
the function by clicking your right mouse button and carry out the following settings:
used stud shear

connector
button sets values of

dialoge box on de-
fault (i.e. ’– 1’)
generate Button Cre-

ate grid division
Activate the option Points on the tab Position in the dialog box and set Rest P1 & P2 for the
grid division in the selection list. Then confirm the button Grid division. Now you can enter the
division values for the bolt in the opening box (right mouse button).
Division measure for the thigh to be de-

fined by picked points P1 and P2 in the
connection.
Division measure for the thigh to be defined by

picked points P3 and P4 in the connection.

After leaving this box with OK you can immediately enter the origin of the grid:
P4 for y-direction
Origin of grid: P1 for x-direction P2 for x-direction

and P3 for y-direction
After defining the origin of the grid and the points P1 to P4 you can leave the dialog window
Bolts/nuts/… with OK. Now pick one of the generated grid points as bolt point and confirm the
entry by pressing your return button. Then pick the support.
As a result the set bolts will now be created on the grid points:
88
12.Backup procedure
During the design phase it may occur that you carry out unintentional modifications such as de-
leting members, drawings, etc. or that data will be deleted due to a power failure or incompati-
bility in the system. It is not always possible to enter value again and it normally takes a lot of
time. We therefore recommend making backups of the project in regular intervals. In addition
the bocad system offers various possibility of saving data which we will now explain in detail.
12.1.After automatic query

After an interval to be set individually by the user, the query save boc3db? will appear. (the
abreviation boc3db stands for "bocad 3D database"). This query must be answered either
with Yes or No in order to be able to continue your work in bocad-3D.
If you answer with Yes the current version of the structure design will be saved in boc3db and
also in the backup directory boc3db.sav below the current project directory. Thus the file
boc3db corresponds to the current representation of the structure. Otherwise the previous sa-
fety version will be maintained, i.e. no further design steps will be added the file boc3db.
In the menu point Saving interval in the menu Extras you can set the interval between two
safety queries as well as name and position of the backup directory:
Enter here the saving inter- The name of the safety copy must
val. The saving interval will, be different from the file boc3db
however, only be modified (without extension), see for more
after the next safety queries. explanation planned saving a
point of procedure.
12.2.Planned saving a point of procedure

If you require a planned saving at a fixed time, you must load the menu point File > Save as.
Here you can add a name extension the to file boc3db. The default name is boc3db. and after
the dot you may enter your name extension. Here you can enter any extension without using
special characters.
If you do not indicate an extension for the backup the former boc3db.sav will be overwritten.
If you enter, however, a new extension, the former backup will be maintained and an additional
one with a new extension will be established. In example, you may enter an extension com-
posed of the current date (e.g. boc3db.180409) at the end of a working day. Be sure to create
always a new backup when selecting this procedure. The result may be that you will have va-
21 – Basics 1 – Backup procedure – 89

21 – Basics 1 - Backup procedure
rious bakkups in your project directory although you do no longer require them. This procedure
results in an unnecessary occupation of your hard disc. In the worst of all cases it may occur
that your hard disc is completely occupied and that you can no longer save your project.
12.3.Saving when ending a session

When you leave a project and/or the bocad system a safety query will appear. This includes
two options:
With the help of the option Clear up deleted elements you can remove deleted elements (such
as members, bolts, etc.) which are still in the bocad database as entry (in form of an identifica-
tion number). As default setting this option is deactivated. It should be activated as long as the
project is in the design phase. Thus you avoid the unnecessary growth of the file boc3db.
When starting with marking, however, this option should be deactivated because the clearing
of deleted elements refers consequently to the entire model including the mark numbers and
drawings. If you delete e.g. members after the generation of drawings and the project has been
closed with clearance, you will not find the drawings concerning the deleted member because
the bocad system can not find any members belonging to the drawing.
90
The activated option Restart with current phase/main view will automatically open the last
active phase and main view when starting again the relevant project. If you do not activate this
option when saving the project, you will receive the query to select the phase from a list of exi-
sting phases when starting again the program. Then you must select a main view from the list
of all existing planes:
12.4.Behaviour in case of program crash
Diagnosis and terminating the program
A program crash may occur in different ways. The program may terminate with an error mes-
sage so that it is no longer controllable, but it may also happen that the program is deadlocked,
i.e. it does no longer respond to entries. It may also occur the uncompleted and ragged win-
dows will be represented. Another typical symptom is when you can no longer move windows.
You can terminate a blocked program via the task manager of windows. The Task manager
will be opened by pressing simultaneously the buttons Ctrl+Alt+Del. During a program crash
you will normally see the entry no response in the column Status of the tab Applications. You
can terminate the program by clicking and confirming the button Close task.
New start of the program with latest backup
If bocad crashes during the project processing the project data may be damaged. In this case
you will receive the indication "Project is damaged. Continue anyway" when opening again
the project. If this message does not appear you can continue designing in the project without
any problems. Otherwise you should use a correct backup of the project.
21 – Basics 1 – Backup procedure – 91

21 – Basics 1 - Backup procedure
Loading the last backup

First of all terminate bocad in order to load the last backup of the project. Then open the direc-
tory of the damaged project and carry out the following steps:
Project directory
1. Directory with damaged

database:
Rename with right mouse
click (e.g. boc3db.alt)
2. Backup directory
Copy with right mouse
click, insert below the
project directory and re-
name the copied directo-
New database directo-

ry based on the back-
Start bocad again after carrying out those steps. If you there open the project you will have ac-
cess to the project data in the recently established directory boc3db and thus to a correct data
version.
If you use external backups, like e.g. backups on CD-ROM, DAT tape or on a network server,
you should use those media as the must current and correct data basis after a program crash.
92
13.Phases
In bocad you have the possibility to divide a construction. This can meet several demands. For
example, the construction shall be divided into constructional sections which shall be produced
and delivered at different times. In this case you have to establish so many phases as the num-
ber of constructional sections and link all members, bolts, seams and other elements to them.
Later you can establish and sort parts lists and production drawings classified by phases.
Another case of application is the division of the construction into different sections, as for ex-
ample framework and facade. Here you have as well the advantage that you can adapt and
output the manufacturing documentation individually to each section.
21 – Basics 1 – Phases – 93
21 – Basics 1 - Index
Index Grid points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35

Grip length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
A H
Addtional view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 Handling of bocad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Axis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 highlight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
History of bocad . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
B
I
Backup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
blend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65 Initial mark number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
boc3db . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Bolt connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78 L
Bolt group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Loose bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Bolt length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Bolt pictures M
work on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Main view
C Change . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Main views . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Cascade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Materials . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
click . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 member with the seam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
cold rolls sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Members
Connection control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72, 77 Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Create points Menu bar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Angle, arc, circle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41 Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
lengthen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Parallel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37 N
Perpendicular . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
New plate thickness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Creating members O
member anchors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Creating of members Outline edges . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
In longitudinal view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Outline plates
In side view . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 work on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
plates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
P
via a point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Via two points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49 Parameter button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
pick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
D Pick mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Database points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 Pickpoints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
depth shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 profile list . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Directory name Profile types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
invalid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Program surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
valid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Project
double click . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 create . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Project data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
F
R
Free profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Functional button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 refresh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Replicator sign . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
G Representation button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Rul of signs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Garniture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Grid S
create additional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
delete . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Saving interval . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Geometric structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 second hole tolerance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Modify properties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Shifting of plates
A
via outline plate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
via profile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Standard profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
standard profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Status line . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Symbol bars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
T
three-fingers-rule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Tool modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
transverse shift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
V
viewed face . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Volume operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Combine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Punch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
W
weld seam
automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Weld seams . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Work on members
Adapt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Cut . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
length modification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Regroup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Split . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Z
zoom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
21 – Basics 1 – Index – B
The information contained in this manual has been compiled with great care.
Subject to printing errors and modification of individual program functions.

01 Basics I

Caricato da

Informazioni sul documento

Titolo originale

Copyright

Formati disponibili

Condividi questo documento

Condividi o incorpora il documento

Opzioni di condivisione

Hai trovato utile questo documento?

Questo contenuto è inappropriato?

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

01 Basics I

Caricato da

Copyright:

Formati disponibili

Basics I.

Document version 21-01

History of bocad Software GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Input of grid data

Geometrical construction, coordinate directions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Indication of the files describing members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Work on outline plates

Work on: outline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

Automatic weld seam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

After automatic query . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89

1.1.History of bocad Software GmbH

1.2.Hardware equipment of a bocad-3D workplace

Monitor / graphics board

bocad licence window

21 – Basics 1 – Creating a project – 3

2.2.File: New / Open

Display of already existing

Preview window for alrea-

Here you will receive an in-

Input field for the pro-

Creating a new project

2.4.Input of project data

21 – Basics 1 – Creating a project – 5

Tab for extended project data

Later editing of the project data

Standard area for icon bars

Status line View window

Trace window (here minimized) View window with basic dimetry

Menu bar in bocad

21 – Basics 1 – Handling of bocad – 7

2. Display of the currently chosen working or design step.

The check mark in

Via Line up you

21 – Basics 1 – Handling of bocad – 9

Example: Activate symbol bar

Execution of the function Splitting members

First functional application Second functional application

Members First step: Members

Points (will here be manually changed

Members Third step: Members

Pickmodus at the beginning of each working step

Behaviour of the pickmodus concerning function and working step

21 – Basics 1 – Handling of bocad – 11

3.4.The mouse in bocad

The mouse leads the

Left mouse button = functional button

Middle button = Representation button

Right button = Parameter button

Explanation of functions of keyboard combinations

Input of coordinates (K)

21 – Basics 1 – Handling of bocad – 13

Explanation of keyboard combinations exceeding the context

Explanation of the keyboard combinations for polygonal Lasso

Explanation of the keyboard combinations for the input of coordinates

21 – Basics 1 – Handling of bocad – 15

4.Input of grid data

Entry area for basic building grid

21 – Basics 1 – Input of grid data – 17

Axes and rows B B, C, D, E, .....

9.14 9, 14, 15, 16, ...

3F 3F, 3G, 3H, ...

Floor [Height], eaves [Height],

Floor+ [Height], eaves+ [Height]

Edged L-profiles BLLhbd BLL200808

Flat bar FLhd FL1008

Squared timber KHhb KH10030 [cm]

Rectangular hollowed MSHhbd MSH1002008

Rectangular section (RHS) MSHhd MSH2008

Square tube round-edged QRRhd QRR2008

Square tube sharp-edged QRShd QRS2008

Rectangular sharp-edged RRShbd RRS2001008

Tubes TUBEhd TUBE1008

Plate girder BTfhfdshsd BT30030120015