Elevation: Openings

Purpose: The Openings section is used to identify and define windows, doors, and any facade openings directly on the elevation. These openings become cut‑outs within the panel layout and are essential for generating accurate panel geometry, pricing, and installation details. By marking each opening precisely either manually or through automatic detection the system can correctly shape the facade and ensure that the final panelization matches the actual architectural design.

Manual (1): It allows to draw individual openings directly on the elevation. These manually created openings will be used for panelization.

Detection (2): It allows to define an area that represents an opening, then automatically detects it. After selecting the area, press Enter to start the automatic opening detection process.

Detected Openings (3): Automatically detects openings from the uploaded elevation drawing. This accelerates the workflow by identifying windows and doors without manual drawing.

Select (4): The Select tool lets pan the elevation view or edit an existing opening. It is use to move, adjust, or refine openings that have already been created without drawing a new one.

Sub-menu (5): The Sub-menu gives additional actions for the selected elevation. From this menu, it is possible to:

• Rename - Change the elevation’s label.

• Duplicate - Create a copy of the elevation, including its settings.

• Delete - Remove the elevation from the project.

These options helps to manage and organize the elevation list quickly and efficiently.

Opening Groups (6): Opening Groups organize openings based on their size and shape characteristics. Openings that share the same dimensions are automatically grouped together, and each group is assigned a unique color to make identification easier while reviewing the elevation.

Match Rate Dropdown (7): The Match Rate dropdown reveals the match‑rate slider for the selected opening group. It expands when needed so the settings can be adjusted for that specific group.

Match Rate (8): The Match Rate slider lets fine‑tune how strictly the system groups openings based on size.
This setting is specific to each opening group, allowing to adjust sensitivity individually depending on the variation of openings within that group.

Opening Menu (9): The Opening Group Menu allows manage an individual opening group. From this menu, the group can renamed or deleted . Each group represents openings that share the same size characteristics and is marked with an automatically assigned color for easy identification.

Update Penalization (10): Applies all opening changes to the model so they are included in the next panelization step.

Manual Openings - Step-by-Step

• Click the Manual Openings tool (11) to activate it.

• Move the cursor onto the elevation and draw a rectangle to match the size and position of the opening (12).

  • Place the mouse on any corner of the opening, then left‑click and hold.
  • Drag the mouse diagonally until the entire opening is covered.
  • While dragging, the dimensions are displayed to help ensure accuracy.
• Press Enter to confirm the opening and create the panel cut‑out.
• After confirming, left‑click to place additional openings of the same size across the facade.
• Ensure at least two identical openings are created manually so the system recognizes the repetition.
• Continue placing additional openings using the carried size for consistent duplication.
• Press Enter again to finish and exit the tool.
• Click Update panelization (13) to apply the openings to the facade and update panel geometry.

Auto Detection Openings

• Click the Auto Detection Openings tool (14) to activate it.
• Draw a rectangle around a representative opening on the elevation (15).
  • Place the mouse on any corner of the opening, left‑click and drag until the entire opening is covered.
  • While dragging, the dimensions are displayed for accuracy.
• Press Enter to confirm the chosen opening.

• Match Rate Dropdown (16)
  • Expands to display the match‑rate slider for the selected opening group.
  • Allows access to detection settings specific to that group.
• Match Rate (17)
  • Adjusts how strictly openings are grouped based on size similarity.
  • Works per opening group, allowing individual control.
  • Helps fine‑tune detection depending on how consistent or varied the openings are within that group.

• Click Detected openings (18) to apply the automatic detection, which identifies and creates openings. similar to the reference opening defined in (15).
  • This action directly uses the opening drew as a model to find matching openings across the facade.
• Review the detected openings to ensure they match the design.
• Click Update panelization (19) to apply the results to the elevation.

Shortcuts (20)

The shortcut (20) explains how to work with Openings efficiently using keyboard shortcuts while placing, editing, or adjusting openings on the elevation.

• [Backspace / Delete]: Removes the selected opening or detected opening from the elevation.

• [Hold Shift + Left Mouse Button]: Enables snapping, helps to align openings more precisely while moving or placing them. Hold Shift, then click and hold the left mouse button while placing or moving an opening. As the mouse is moving, the opening will snap into alignment with nearby elements, helping position it precisely.

• [Hold Ctrl/Cmd + Left Mouse Button]: Allows multi‑selection, so it can select and move multiple openings at the same time. Click openings one by one to select multiple, or Left Click and drag from a starting opening across to an ending area to select multiple openings at once (box selection). This allows to move or adjust several openings together.

• [Alt + Left Mouse Button]: Duplicates selected openings, useful for repeating identical windows or doors. Hold Alt, then click and drag with the left mouse button on a selected opening to duplicate it. The copy keeps the same size and properties and can be placed anywhere on the elevation.

• [Enter]: Confirms the current opening action, such as finishing placement or confirming detected openings.

• [Escape (Esc)]: Cancels the current operation and exits the active opening tool.

These shortcuts are designed to speed up the workflow, reduce repetitive actions, and gives more control when creating, duplicating, or adjusting openings during the panelization process.

Note: Among these shortcuts, Alt is the only shortcut that applies exclusively to Manual Openings. All other shortcuts can be used with both Manual Openings and Auto‑Detected Openings.