5. Graphic User Interface

5.1 General Tab Page

The General page contains only the most important parameters like the wall types, window size, casing, sill and ganging. Find below the detailed description of these parameters.

Wall Types

You have to set this parameter correctly prior to placing the window in a wall. The value of this parameter and the type of the wall in which you want to place the object has to match as the 3D model and the 2D symbol of the window will change according to this setting. There are four types of walls to choose from: Solid wall, Stud wall, Stud Wall with Siding, and Brick Veneer Wall.

Stud Wall with Siding
Stud Wall
Brick Veneer Wall
Solid Wall

Unit Sizes

With the very first parameter called Unit Size you set the most important properties of the window: width and height. For your convenience, many common sizes are predefined. You just choose the preferred one from the list. Of course, this doesn’t mean you are only restricted to these default sizes. After choosing Custom Size, the window can take any arbitrary size. Note that if you use a typical size you can’t edit the width and height with a hotspot.

Below the Unit Size you see the actual value of Unit Width and Unit Height parameters. If a typical size is selected these parameters will be displayed with grey indicating that you can’t modify their values. If you set the Custom Size option they become black and you can simply enter their custom value in the parameter field.

Rough Opening

Rough Opening is the size of the hole that has to be cut in the wall for the window. It is calculated from the Unit Size and the Rough Opening Extra value. The parameters Rough Opening Extra Left / Right / Top / Bottom add extra airspace to the window hole on the corresponding side. This is used to fit the window in by enlarging the frame so it fits in a larger opening.

Masonry Opening

These parameters become active only if you select the Brick Veneer wall type. Here you can define the size of the opening in the exterior brick wall layer.

Casing In/Out, Sill In/Out

With these checkboxes you can turn on and off the casing and sill on the interior and exterior sides. The size and configuration of these elements can be set on the Casing and the Sill tab panels.

 

Ganging

You can align windows horizontally and vertically with these parameters. If you turn on these checkboxes the structure of the window will change on the selected side (e.g. trim will be turned off) so that you can connect it to another window. Note that you have to turn on this parameter on the corresponding side of the connecting window as well.

Ganging has some important consequences on the window structure:

• There is no place for shutters. Therefore, the parameter Shutter will be hidden.
• Trim doesn’t have to run along the frame of each window, but around the whole group. So the trim and sill on the affected sides will be cut away.
• There is no need to specify any Cavity Closure for windows placed between two other ones and aren’t adjacent to the wall. Accordingly, if the Align to Door/Window on Side = Both Sides, Cavity Closure will be hidden.  

There is an additional option to define a Casing on the connection and also an additional Spacing between the two windows.

Casing= OFF, No Spacing
Casing= ON, No Spacing
Casing= ON, Spacing ON

Wall Geometry

With this parameter you can adjust the window to the geometry of the wall. There are three options: Straight Wall, Trapezoid Wall and Curved Wall. This parameter has to be set according to the geometry of the wall in which the window will be placed.

5.2 Frame

This group collects the parameters that control the appearance of the frame:

Frame Depth, Frame Width and Frame Material

When Frame Width grows, the size of the sash will be reduced. It doesn’t influence the outside dimensions of the whole window.

Frame Material is affected only if Use Object’s Materials from the panel Model is chosen. Otherwise, the whole object will be displayed with the color specified there.

5.3 Sash

This panel collects the parameters related to the window sash frame. On the left side you can select from the available sash styles, in the middle you can set the sash frame attributes and on the right you choose the material of the sash, glass and mullions. General geometrical parameters are Sash Frame Depth, Sash Frame Width and Glass Thickness. Furthermore, there are parameters to set the sash, glass and mullion materials.

Parameter Sash Style can take six values:

1. No Mullions means the glass plate is not divided.

2. H-V Grid shows that the glass plate will be divided into a given number of panes by vertical and horizontal bars. The bars are placed at an equivalent distance. If you select this option for W Double Hung window the following parameters will become visible under sash frame attributes:

• Equal Glass height
• Division type
• Proportion
• Panes number (upper/lower, rows, columns)

If the Equal Glass Height parameter is on the height of the lower sash will be automatically calculated from the number of panes set for the lower and upper sash. Archicad set the lower sash height so that the heights of the window panes are equal on the bottom and the top sash.

H-V Grid, Equal Sash Sizes	H-V Grid, Equal Glass Pane Heights

If the Division Type parameter is set to Proportion you can adjust the lower and upper sash height with the Proportion parameter. This value is set to 50% by default meaning that the lower and upper sashes have equal heights.

If the Division Type parameter is set to Lower Sash Height you can enter an exact value for the height of the bottom sash.

With the Panes Number parameters you can define the number of window panes (rows and columns) on the lower and upper sashes.

3. Option H-V Grid Custom gives you the most editing freedom. With editable hotspots, you not only set the distance of the mullions arbitrarily, but also their length. So every possible layout can be generated. The only limitation is that the bars can only be horizontal or vertical, not inclined. For editing, please switch Mullions Edited by Hotspots on. If you select the window in the 3D window with the Arrow tool you’ll see three editable hotspots on each mullion. With the middle one you can modify the position of the mullion while with the other two on the ends you can adjust the length.

4. Simple Prairie Style and Detailed Prairie Style offer more eye-catching mullion arrangements, however, these are without any adjustment possibilities.

Simple Prairie Style	Detailed Prairie Style

5. At Custom Panel Name a GDL macro object can be inserted as a sash panel. You can also create such objects without any GDL knowledge. For this you have to do the following:

1. Model the required sash panel on the floor plan using the AC tools (e.g. slabs walls etc.) Make sure that the size of the panel matches with the actual window in which you want to insert this panel. AC is able to stretch this panel into any sash size but then the object will be proportionally distorted.

2. Open the 3D window and set the top view and the camera azimuth to 270 at the 3D Projection Settings dialog

3. Go to File/GDL Objects/Save 3D Model as.

4. Select the Object option

5. Define a name for the object and save it in the loaded project library

6. Select the required window in the Window Setting Dialog, open the Sash tab page and select the Custom Panel option

7. Enter the name of the custom sash object (without the GSM extension) in the Custom Panel Name field

Once you have mullions, you can always define their width and thickness. According to your actual Sash Style setting, the other necessary parameters will be added to the list.

5.4 Casing

This group deals with the internal and external side of the window. Note that this panel is empty if the Casing In and Casing Out parameters are turned off on the General tab page. Casing Trim is a board running around the window frame on the interior side in order to cover the joint gap between the frame and the wall. The exterior casing is known as brick molding. Brick Molding is a bar extending and decorating the frame of the outer side of the window.

You can set different thickness and width for the internal casing and the brick molding. The most common thickness values are available from a pop up list however you can also set a custom value. The top casing dimensions can be defined on the Sill tab page. The width of head casing can be different from the side casing.

Casing Trim Offset prescribes the distance of the trim from the internal edge of the frame. Brick Molding Offset means the distance of the molding from the window opening’s edge. Left, right and top parts will be offset but not the bottom part (at the sill).

You can also define an Overhang for the head and bottom casing trim and brick molding. You can define traditional style window casing like shown on the picture. If the Brick Veneer wall type is selected on the General tab page the Brick Molding Offset parameter is not available.

Sill Out=ON Brick Molding Top Overhang=OFF Brick Molding Bottom Overhang=OFF Bottom Brick Molding=OFF	Sill Out=OFF Brick Molding Top Overhang=ON Brick Molding Bottom Overhang=ON Bottom Brick Molding=ON

Jamb Extension is an optional frame member which is added onto the jamb to extend the frame to match wall thickness. This structural element is primarily used in thick walls. You can define the thickness of this element from a value list and you can also turn it off.

Jamb Extension=OFF	Jamb Extension=ON

Under the materials section you can modify the materials of the Brick molding, Jamb Extension and Casing Trim elements

5.5 Sill

The custom settings tab Sill shows the geometrical parameters on both the outer and inner side of the window.

The bottom of the outer frame is the sill. There are parameters to set the sill thickness, nosing, and side overhang on this page.

Bottom Frame @ Sill = ON results in a sloped sill. Otherwise, the frame runs around the sill in unchanged form. The geometrical parameters of the sill don’t require any explanation.

Bottom Frame @ Sill = ON

Bottom Frame @ Sill = OFF

Similar to the Sill, you can set the thickness, overhang and side overhang of the Stool. The stool is the inside window sill.

The Apron is the board below the Stool. Its length is always determined by the trim; its thickness and width are independent parameters.

Rebate is the vertical distance between the bottom of the lower sash frame and the top of the stool. You can set a nosing between the sill and the stool with this parameter. This parameter is hidden if the Bottom Frame at Sill option is turned off.

The head and bottom brick molding width can also be set here. If the Brick Veneer Wall type is selected at the General tab page the Bottom Brick Molding Width parameter is not available  

All parts have their own material as usual. The diagram below helps to identify the different parts of the window mentioned in this section.

5.6 Brick Veneer

This tab page is active only if the Bick Veneer wall type is selected on the General tab page. Here you can set the brick sill and the brick veneer details.

There are two ways to define the Reveal Depth:

1. If the Wall Skins Number option is selected the Reveal Depth is automatically calculated from the number of wall skins set at the corresponding parameter.

2. With the Reveal Depth Option you can define the depth manually using the window reveal setting.

There are parameters to adjust the brick thickness, height angle offset and even the mortar thickness.

The 3D Detail Level option has two values:

1. If set to Detailed all the bricks and the mortar between them are shown in 3D.
2. Simple the sill is represented as one block resulting less 3d surfaces and faster 3D regeneration

Simple Brick Sill	Detailed Brick Sill

The Masonry Opening is the hole in the exterior brick layer. There are two options to set its size:

1. Masonry Opening Width=Unit Size+Brick Molding Width+Brick Molding Offset. In this case there are no Masonry Opening Extra parameters on the General tab page, but the Brick Molding Offset appears on the Casing page. The value of the Rough Opening Extra parameter is automatically calculated from the above three parameters. Brick Molding Width and Brick Molding Offset remain constant when you stretch the window on the floor plan or in 3D.
2. Masonry Opening Width=Unit Size+Masonry Opening Extra. Masonry Opening Extra parameters are available on the General tab page, while the Brick Molding Offset is hidden on the casing page. The Brick Molding Offset value is automatically calculated from the above two parameters. Masonry Extra remains constant when you stretch the window on the floor plan or in 3D.

5.7 Arch Type

Turn Masonry Arch Type on and choose one of the three options, such as Masonry Arch, Masonry Jack Arch, and Masonry Jack Arch with Keystone. If turned on, the structural parameters of the arch will be visible: Height, Depth, Lower Width, Projection and Brick Thickness.  

You can select from two types of arches at the Detail Level Parameter: Stucco and Brick Arch. The Brick option will show up with mortars between the bricks thus it result more surfaces in the 3D model. If you want to reduce it you can select the stucco option and assign a material that has a brick texture on it on rendering views.

Masonry Arch, Stucco	Masonry Arch, Brick
Masonry Jack Arch	Masonry Jack Arch with Keystone

5.8 Shutter

Upon activating any Shutter Styles on the graphical value list on the left side, the group with the corresponding parameters will unfold. Only parameters that have a meaning in the actual context appear. Most of the styles provide the parameter Shutter Style which offers two options: Decorative and Functional.

The first one is just a fixed decoration element on the façade thus it can’t be closed or folded. The overall width of decorative shutters doesn’t necessary match with the window width.

The overall width of Functional shutters is equal with the width of the window and it is automatically calculated by Archicad. With the Shutter Panes Number parameter you can define foldable shutter panes if the number is bigger then 1.

Decorative Shutters on Two Sides	Functional Shutter on One Side	Functional Shutter Closed

Functional shutters can be opened and closed with the parameter Close Shutter. Intermediate angle values cannot be specified. Its effect is visible only in the 3D window.

Just like for any other window component you can define the structural sizes and the materials of shutters separately.

5.9 2D

This page collects parameters that change the appearance of the window on the floor plan. Under the Attributes section you can modify the details of the plan symbol.

Archicad’s GDL objects can recognize the plan’s scale. Many of them, like this window, change its shape depending on the scale. The higher the scale is, the simpler is the presentation. This has a trivial technical reason; too many lines close to each other cannot be printed or displayed clearly. If you need this distinction, set 2D Detail Level to Scale Sensitive (this is the default). You can define the scales where AC should switch between the different 2D detail levels with the Detailed Scale Values and Middle Scale Values.

You can also designate a high, medium or low detail level manually by choosing the option Detailed, Middle or Simple. When detail is turned Off, nothing will be displayed in 2D. This option can be useful when you place two windows on top of each other.

Detailed	Middle
Simple	OFF
Detailed, Show Grills=ON	Detailed, Show Sash Frame=OFF

There are two checkboxes to control the visibility of Sash Frames and Grills on floor plan.

There are always hotspots on the corner points of the window unit. You can turn on additional hotspots with the Show All Hotspots option.

Show All Hotspots = OFF	Show All Hotspots = ON

You can assign different pen types to the frame, glass and other parts. Symbol Pen controls the color of the sill and trim sash and frame while Symbol GlassPen is for the glass.

Wall contour lines can be displayed optionally on both sides of the wall. On large scale plans, these lines are usually not shown. At a small scale, they are sometimes drawn for accuracy. Since the sill and stool cover the lower edges of the wall opening, the line type is typically dashed.

Please note that all these settings take effect only when Use Symbol Linetypes and Use Symbol Colors are turned on in the panel Floor Plan. Otherwise, the values specified below will be applied for the whole object.

The Fill parameters allow you to set a background fill behind a window. This can be useful when you want to hide any elements under the sill (e.g. floor fills).

Use Fills = OFF	Use Fills = ON

5.10 3D

The parameters on this page control the appearance of the window in the 3D, section and elevation views.

The 3D Detail Level parameter has 3 values: Detailed, Simple and OFF. The Simple 3D representation requires less time to regenerate however it contains less detail. It also looks simpler in section views.

Detailed	Simple	OFF

Opening Lines show the opening direction of the window. That has an importance on elevations. The lines look like they are drawn on the sash. If you open the sash the lines move with it. Turn it on by Opening Line in 3D. Further, you can change its line type.

Casement Window	Double Hung Window

You have options to open the window sashes in 3D. You can also open them using the editable hotspots in the 3D window. Opening Angle shows its effect in 3D only. On the floor plan the window is always closed

Both the pen and section fill can be set separately for the frame, sash, glass and brick sill.

Curve Resolution determines the drawing accuracy of circles and cylindrical surfaces. The higher this value is, the more accurate the curve will be. However, it will be slower to be drawn on the screen.