Medeek Wall Plugin

medeek · 29 Dec 2022, 11:57

Just cleaning up some loose ends before the start of the New Year.

One issue that is sometimes encountered is when a custom material is defined in the Material Library and then after using it in a Wall Preset it is subsequently deleted.

When this happens and that particular Wall Preset is loaded the plugin tries to assign that custom material in the Draw or Edit wall menu. If you try this you will quickly notice the drop down box for the material is blank and no valid material is selected. This inevitably leads to an error either being thrown within the plugin code itself or within the javascript of the HTML menu pages (not sure which at this point).

I need to devise some error checking in the HTML/Javascript to detect this problem if it pops up and gracefully resolve it rather than locking up the plugin. If I can fix this it will not only save the end user from annoying headaches but also eliminate unnecessary support calls and emails for myself.

gullfo · 29 Dec 2022, 18:29

some thoughts -- unless the custom material is saved as an SKM, it has the potential to be purged from the memory space and thus not readily available again (unless some other means of caching it - e.g. a persisted JSON of custom materials containing the RGB values - presumably if images are involved, then saving it as an SKM would seem the better option + may be more compatible in terms of management compared to the built-in materials).

(as a note -- i stopped using materials in my own DC because of the purging etc -- so i just got better at organizing the SKM content. some DC have basic color "materials" applied and then i replace them later, most are default material so i can paint them all quickly)

medeek · 30 Dec 2022, 08:40

Version 3.0.7 - 12.30.2022

Added error checking code into various HTML menus to detect non-existent custom materials used within wall, door and window presets.
Updated the Wall Stretch tool with an improved wireframe preview.
Changed the default value for the header extension parameter to zero for doors, windows and garage doors.

The third item in this list was per customer request.

medeek · 31 Dec 2022, 06:42

I've had quite a few requests for ICF walls in the past few months. Apparently this method of construction has some popularity even though it may not be as common as traditional framing. I may consider adding this as an additional option for the Wall plugin.

From a programming standpoint it really isn't too different from the CMU option, the only real complication may arise when dealing with t-intersections with other ICF walls, but I'm sure I can program my way around that one.

The corner configurations are a bit more complicated than CMU or NO FRAMING however it is essentially the same from a coding and geometric standpoint.

Doors and windows involve cutting through three solids (insul - conc - insul) instead of one.

My only concern is whether or not to make the concrete and insulation thickness configurable at a global level or at a wall level. I supposed there could be situations where different ICF sizes could be used on a single project? Thoughts?

gullfo · 31 Dec 2022, 18:43

make it configurable at a wall level but based off a global set as a default. some CMU also have metalized surfaces as part of insulation or protection.so might be worthwhile to consider several levels in a given unit - again wall configurable but defaults to a global setting. then if there are specific products to be applied / supplied, modeling those should/would become simpler later on.

medeek · 1 Jan 2023, 01:42

I think you are right, I will set it up in the global settings so the global defaults can be set but also allow the user to change these values on a per wall basis.

Here is a preview of the global settings (Insulation tab) with the new parameters:

gullfo · 1 Jan 2023, 20:07

bearing in mind that most ICF use rigid insulation

medeek · 3 Jan 2023, 12:34

Version 3.0.8 - 01.03.2023

Added ICF options in to the Insulation tab of the Global Settings.
Added an ICF wall framing option for all wall types.
Added four additional ICF parameters into the wall Draw and Edit menus.
Fixed a bug with the plan view auto-dimensioning module.
Enabled trim, ext. wainscoting and quoins for CMU Core and ICF wall types.

ALERT! - CRITICAL BUG FIX
The bug associated with the upgrade that brought you plan view dimensions will cause the plugin to abort during regeneration when installing garage doors into a wall. It is highly recommended that you install this latest update which addresses this bug and a couple more minor bugs with the plan view dimension feature.

medeek · 3 Jan 2023, 20:26

Version 3.0.8b - 01.03.2023

Added a "Concrete" layer to the Layers tab of the Global Settings.

medeek · 5 Jan 2023, 12:09

Well this is interesting:

These versions they have hacked are quite old so I'm not too worried but it is interesting that my plugins are useful enough to warrant hacking by someone.

medeek · 5 Jan 2023, 18:55

Version 3.0.9 - 01.05.2023

Enabled beam pockets (in-wall columns) for CMU, CMU Core and ICF walls.
Fixed a bug within the plan view auto-dimensioning module having to do with in-wall columns.
Fixed a minor typo in the Draw menu for in-wall columns.

gullfo · 6 Jan 2023, 14:26

any thoughts on exterior parging / waterproofing like a partial thin surface (stucco, poly, etc) added on the exterior side above grade and below grade contact? fancy would be terrain following (approximated) versus a set level per wall.

e.g.
https://www.amvicsystem.com/products/icf/waterproofing-and-parging/
https://www.parge.ca/services/
https://solidacon.com/parging-over-icf/

medeek · 12 Jan 2023, 23:28

Version 3.1.0 - 01.11.2023

Enabled layer control integration with the Medeek Project extension.
Moved the Medeek Estimating module to the Medeek Project extension.
Moved the Medeek Documents module to the Medeek Project extension.

medeek · 19 Jan 2023, 23:54

Version 3.1.1 - 01.19.2023

Fixed a bug with ICF Walls.
Fixed a type in the HTML of the General tab of the Global Settings.

Tutorial 32 - Auto-Dimensioning (9:31 min.)

Tutorial 33 - ICF Walls (5:51 min.)

medeek · 21 Jan 2023, 21:19

Tutorial 34 - Modifying Openings (7:19 min.)

medeek · 6 Feb 2023, 04:20

Version 3.1.2 - 02.05.2023

Fixed a bug with metric templates that propagated from Version 3.0.8.
Fixed a specific bug with auto-loading wall presets.

! ATTENTION !
Critical bug fix, especially for metric templates. I highly recommend upgrading to Version 3.1.2 if you have installed Version 3.0.8 or later.

The auto-load bug has to do with enabling the auto-load preset option in the Global Settings and then subsequently deleting the preset that was selected as the default auto-load preset.

medeek · 8 Feb 2023, 02:49

Version 3.1.2b - 02.07.2023

Fixed a minor bug with the Wall Selector Matrix (Gable, Shed and Hip walls).

This bug was due to some consolidation and general house cleaning I did with the code a few cycles back. Even when a gable wall was selected it would automatically revert to a rectangular wall. I just noticed this yesterday but the bug probably has been around for at least a month.

medeek · 16 Feb 2023, 22:32

Version 3.1.3 - 02.16.2023

Fixed a bug with door presets within the Edit Door menu.

medeek · 12 Mar 2023, 18:36

Version 3.1.4 - 03.12.2023

Added the following door types: flat one panel (single and double).

This update per customer request.

medeek · 17 Mar 2023, 23:09

Version 3.1.5 - 03.17.2023

Added a fluting number parameter for classical columns.

Really wasn't wanting to dig into this right now but after a quick inspection of my code I realized it would only take me a few minutes to add in this additional parameter so that one could fine tune the look of the fluting of classical columns.

This update per customer request.