Practice Workbook

This workbook is designed for use in Live instructor-led training and for OnDemand selfstudy.
The explanations and demonstrations are provided by the instructor in the classroom, or in the OnDemand
eLectures of this course available on the Bentley LEARN Server (learn.bentley.com).

This practice workbook is formatted for on-screen viewing using a PDF reader.
It is also available as a PDF document in the dataset for this course.

BIM QuickStart A103:

Creating Architectural Drawings and

Schedules
AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT Edition
This hands-on workbook contains exercises for getting started with Bentley’s BIM solution, AECOsim Building
Designer. The student will create a drawing composition model and then create a floor plan and a building
section of a small commercial building. In addition, the student will create a Finish Schedule for the same
building.

TRNC02891-1/0003

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 Description and Objectives

Course Description
This course is the third in a series of classes that are part of the QuickStart for Architects Using AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT
Edition Learning Path. It is recommended that you complete the Modeling Walls, Doors and Windows, AECOsim Building Designer
CONNECT Edition and the Modeling Interior Floors and Roofs, AECOsim Building Designer CONNECT Edition prior to taking this course.

This hands-on workbook contains exercises for getting started with Bentley’s BIM solution, AECOsim Building Designer. The student will
create a drawing composition model and then create a floor plan and a building section of a small commercial building. In addition, the student
will create a Finish Schedule for the same building.

Learning Objective
Upon successful completion of this course the student will be able to...

 Create a Drawing Composition model

 Create a Floor Plan

 Create a Building Section

 Create a Room Finish Schedule

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 Exercise 01: Creating a Drawing Composition Model
In this section, you will create a drawing composition model for the purpose of creating architectural drawing views.

1. Select File > New

a. Click Browse to select the Seed File.
b. Select designseed.dgn.
c. Name the new file A_Drawing Composition.dgn.
2. Open A_Drawing Composition.dgn.
3. Set the Active Floor to Bldg 1 > LOBBY FLOOR.

The Building Grid should now be displayed in the model at the LOBBY FLOOR floor plane.

4. Now you will attach as a reference the A_Discipline Master.dgn that you created in the Modeling Floors, Stairs and Roofs.
a. Expand Project Directories > QuickStart_US > Designs.
b. Drag and drop A_Discipline Master.dgn / Design Model into View 1.
Attachment Method: Recommended.

c. Expand Project Directories > QuickStart_US > Supplement.

d. Drag and drop SS_Discipline Master.dgn into View 1.
Attachment Method: Recommended

e. Drag and drop MM_Discipline Master.dgn into View 1.

Attachment Method: Recommended

Note: You have now created the architectural drawing composition model. The architectural drawings created from this model will
include architectural, mechanical, and structural information on the drawings.

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 Exercise 02: Creating a Sheet Index
Upon completion of this exercise you will be able to create the folders necessary to organize new sheet files in the Sheet Index.

1. Open the Explorer.

2. Select the Sheet Index tab.
a. Select the Sheet Index for your WorkSet
b. Select the Open Sheet Index for Edit icon.
Note: If you do not see any tools under the Sheet Index tab, and the name of the Sheet Index
does not match the name of the WorkSet, there may be an issue with the dgnws file. Select
the File Menu to return to the Work Page. Right-click on any of the files in your list of Recent
files and select Open Folder in Windows Explorer. Navigate up two folders to the WorkSet
folder. Delete the *.dgnws file belonging to your current WorkSet. Close AECOSim Building
Designer, then restart and return to A_Drawing Composition.dgn. The *.dgnws file will be
regenerated and the Sheet Index tools will be available.

c. Use the Create New Folder icon to create two new folders named A1_Plans and
A3_Sections.

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 3. Right-Press on the A1_Plans folder and select Properties.
a. Modify the following properties:
Automatic Naming of Sheet: On

Increment: 1

Inherit Naming rule From Parent: Off

Number of Digits: 2

Sheet Number Prefix: A1

Sheet Number Suffix:

Show Leading Zero: On

Start Number: 1

4. Right-Press on the A3_Sections folder and select Properties.

a. Modify the following properties:
Automatic Naming of Sheet: On

Increment: 1

Inherit Naming rule From Parent: Off

Number of Digits: 2

Sheet Number Prefix: A3

Sheet Number Suffix:

Show Leading Zero: On

Start Number: 1

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 Exercise 03: Creating a Floor Plan
Upon completion of this exercise you will be able to create a Floor Plan view, drawing and sheet from the Building model.

1. Continue in A_Drawing Composition.dgn

a. Activate View 2, Top Rotation, by clicking a data-point in the view.
2. Select the Floor Plan(s) tool from the Drawing Production tab.

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 a. Select Floor Plan by Floor Set
Drawing Seed: Arch - Floor Plan

Reference Planes: Bldg 1/ LOBBY FLOOR

Hint: It is possible to create additional floor plan drawings by selecting multiple floor
reference planes.

Align View: Global Coordinates

Hint: If you have rotated geometry it is possible to align the drawing view to the Active
ACS or the selected Floor ACS.
b. Select Next.
3. On the Create Plan dialog Create Drawing should be checked On.
a. Select Create.

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 a. The Create Drawing dialog opens.N
Name: LOBBY FLOOR PLAN (This will be the Drawing Title on the sheet.)

b. Check On Create Drawing Model

c. Check On Filename
d. Select the Create New Drawing File icon and name the new drawing
file A1_Lobby Floor Plan.dgn.

Annotation Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]

Visible Edges: Cached

e. Check On Create Sheet Model

f. Check On Filename
g. Select the Create New Sheet File icon and name the new sheet file
A1_Lobby Floor Plan - sheet.dgn.
Annotation Scale: Full Size 1 = 1

Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]

h. Select Add To Sheet Index and select the icon to open the Sheet Index.

i. Select the A1_Plans folder created earlier.

j. Select OK
4. In Iso view (View 1) pass cursor over the marker and see the mini-toolbar pop-up.
Hint: If the Marker is not visible open View Attributes and turn on Markers.
a. Change the pull down target to the drawing, LOBBY FLOOR PLAN/A1_Lobby Floor Plan.dgn and then Open
Target.
b. The drawing A1_Lobby Floor Plan.dgn will open.
Note: For additional information on drawings, sheets and the sheet indexing see course, CONNECT Edition
Enhancements: Drawings, Sheets and Reports.

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 Note: The drawing is already annotated with the grid, Space labels, Window tags and Door tags. The rules for the annotations are part of the
Arch - Floor Plan drawing seed. They can be customized per your own drawing standards.

5. Select the Dimension Linear tool from the Drawing Production tab and add a few dimensions to the drawing.
6. .Again pass the cursor over the marker and see the mini-toolbar pop-up.
a. Change the pull down target to the sheet, LOBBY FLOOR PLAN, A1_Lobby floor Plan - sheet.dgn and then Open Target.

The sheet A1_Lobby floor Plan - sheet.dgn will open. the

drawing is automatically set up on a sheet with a Drawing Title
created. the drawing can be moved anywhere on the sheet,
by simply using the Move Reference command.

7. Right-press on the drawing.

a. Select Move Reference.
b. Move the drawing to the lower half of the sheet leaving
room for a schedule at the top of the sheet

The Drawing Title will move with the Drawing reference. The
Drawing Title can also be moved independently.

c. Select the Drawing Title

d. Right-press and select Move.
e. Move to desired location.
While the Drawing Title is selected you will notice that there is
a rectangular box selected also. This is the Drawing Range.
The Drawing Range defines the area of the sheet that
belongs to this drawing.

f. Select the corner handles and adjust the Drawing Range.

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 8. Pass the cursor over the Drawing Title and see the mini-toolbar pop-up.
a. Select the Open Design Model icon.
This will open the A_Drawing Composition.dgn model with the model clipped to the LOBBY
FLOOR PLAN view and the annotations from the drawing displayed on the model.
9. Rotate the model view to an Isometric View.
.

10. Use the Go To Previous View Group icon to return back to the
sheet.

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 Exercise 04: Creating a Building Section
Upon completion of this exercise you will be able to create a Section view, drawing and sheet from the Building model by placing a callout.

1. Open Sheets/A1_Lobby Floor Plan - sheet.dgn.

2. From the Drawing Production tab select the Section tool.
3. In the Place Section dialog set the following:
Drawing Seed: Arch - Building Section

Height: From Model

Check On Create Drawing

4. Place the Section callout by drawing the callout across the plan just above
column line 2.

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 a. The Create Drawing dialog opens.
b. Name: LONGITUDINAL SECTION
c. Check On Create Drawing Model
d. Check On Filename
e. Select the Create New Drawing File icon and name the new drawing
file A3_Longitudinal Section.dgn.

Annotation Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]

Visible Edges: Cached

f. Check On Create Sheet Model

g. Check On Filename
h. Select the Create New Sheet File icon and name the new drawing file
A3_Longitudinal Section - sheet.dgn.
Annotation Scale: Full Size 1 = 1

Detail Scale: 1/8" = 1'-0" [1:100]

i. Select Add To Sheet Index and select the icon to open the Sheet
Index.

Select OK

5. Adjust the section callout using the clip handles.

6. Pass the cursor over the section callout and see the mini-toolbar pop-up.
a. Change the pull down target to the drawing, LONGITUDINAL SECTION, A3_Longitudinal Section.dgn, and then Open Target.

b. The drawing, A3_Longitudinal Section.dgn will open.

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 7. Select the Dimension Linear tool from the Drawing Production tab and add a few dimensions to the drawing.
8. Again pass the cursor over the marker and see the mini-toolbar pop-up.
a. Change the pull down target to the sheet, LONGITUDINAL SECTION, A3_Longitudinal Section - sheet.dgn and then Open Target.

b. The sheet A3_Longitudinal Section - sheet.dgn will open.

9. Again pass the cursor over the Drawing Title and see the mini-toolbar pop-up.
a. Select the Open Design Model icon.

This will open the AA_Drawing Composition.dgn model with the model clipped to the LONGITUDINAL SECTION view and the annotations
from the drawing displayed on the model.

10. Rotate the model view to an Isometric View.

11. Use the Go To Previous View Group icon to return back to the
sheet.

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 Exercise 05: Creating a Room Finish Schedule
Upon successful completion of this exercise you will be able to create a Room Finish schedule for the project and place it on the Floor Plan
sheet.

1. Open Sheets/A1_Lobby Floor Plan - sheet.dgn.

2. Select the Schedules tool from the Data/Reporting tab.

3. The Schedules dialog will open.

a. Set the Catalog Filter to Show Used.
b. Expand the Architectural > Space Catalog Type and select the Schedule Layout Finish Schedule.

c. The right field will expand to show all the Spaces in the model.

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 d. Sort the data by the Number heading.
4. Select Place Table > From Schedule.
5. In the Place Table dialog set the following:
Seed: Grey Theme Table

Active Angle: 0

a. Check On Retain Association.

6. Place the table on the sheet.

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 Exercise 07: Updating the Schedule
Upon successful completion of this exercise you will be able to add data to objects through the schedules dialog and then update the schedule
on the sheet.

1. Select the Schedules tool from the Data/Reporting tab.

2. The Schedules dialog will open.

a. Set the Catalog Filter to Show Used.
b. Expand the Architectural > Space Catalog Type and select the Schedule Layout Finish Schedule.

c. Sort the data by the Label heading.

3. Using the Ctrl key Select all the MENS spaces and all the WOMENS spaces.

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 a. Right-click on one of the Floor Material fields and select Edit Values.
b. Select a Floor Material from the pull-down list.
c. Repeat for the Wall Finishes.
4. When finished adding data, resort the table by the Number.
5. Close the schedules dialog.
6. On the Data/Reporting tab select Refresh.

The Schedule will refresh with the new data.

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 Exercise 08: Printing Sheets to a PDF

1. Continue working in Sheets/A1_Lobby Floor Plan - sheet.dgn.

2. Select File > Print > Print Organizer.
The Print Organizer dialog will open.

a. Use the Add Files to Set icon to select the sheet files created earlier.
b. Set the Print style name to PDF and select OK.

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 3. Save the Print Set, so that it can be easily reprinted again.
a. Navigate to ...worksets\QuickStart Architecture\Sheets
b. Save the file as PrintSet-YourName.pset
Note: This same set of sheets can be reprinted again at a later date by opening the *.pset file
from the Print Organizer dialog.

4. Select the Print icon to print the sheets.

a. Set the Submit As: option to Single print job to create a single pdf with all
the sheets. The links between callouts and sheets will be maintained in
the pdf.

b. Toggle On Open print file after creation.

By default the pdf will be created in the ...worksets\QuickStart
Architecture\Output\Plot\ folder.

Review the pdf when it opens.

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 Exercise 09: Publishing to an i-model
All design files that can be opened in AECOsim Building Designer can be converted into an i-model (an .i.dgn file). A packaged 3d model that
combines all references, intelligence and linked drawings and sheets into a single, protected file. In addition, an iModel version (an *.imodel
file) can be created for use in the iModel Hub.

1. Open A_Drawing Composition.dgn.

2. Fit View 1 to show the entire building model with an isometric orientation and
Illustration Display Style.

3. Select File > Publish i-model.

a. Check On Create a single package
b. Add Your Name to the end of the Package.
c. Select Embed Documents and include the PrintSet-YourName.pdf
created in the previous exercise.
d. Make the package available to Everyone.
e. Check On Remove intermediate files.
f. Check On Create and iModel version. (1.6)
Optional: Check On Publish iModel to ProjectWise Share if your WorkSet is part
of a Connected Project.

g. Check On Cache visible edges for 3D attachments.

h. Check On Include linked design files.
i. Publish All Content.

4. Publish the i-model and the iModel.

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 The file A_Drawing Composition-YourName.i.dgn and the file A_Drawing Composition-YourName.iModel will be published in the current
Design folder.

If you selected the option to Publish iModel to ProjectWise Share the A_Drawing Composition-YourName.iModel will be published to the
Share folder of the Connected Project.

The published i-model is a package of the entire geometric model and the related information. It can be easily shared and imported by other
applications.

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