1. Purpose of the tool
The ScaffBlock tool is designed to enhance the efficiency of scaffold modeling by allowing users to create and reuse custom scaffold configurations as intelligent blocks. Key features include:
- Purpose: The ScaffBlock tool enables users to save any common scaffold scenarios or patterns, which can then be quickly distributed and reused across different projects, significantly reducing modeling time.
- User Interface: Located under the Scaffold Modeling tab, the tool provides an intuitive interface for adding new ScaffBlocks from selected objects in the model, importing miscellaneous blocks, and managing existing blocks.
- Creation and Insertion: Users can create a ScaffBlock by defining its type, subtype, and name, and selecting the elements to include. The tool supports both static and dynamic insertion of blocks into the model, allowing for flexibility in how blocks are utilized.
- Nested Blocks: The ScaffBlock tool also supports the creation of nested blocks, enabling more complex configurations to be saved and reused
2. User Interface overview
The tool is located on the ScaffPlan Tools Toolbar.
To open the tool menu please double click on the tool.
The tool contains following features:
No. |
BUTTON |
FUNCTIONALITY |
|
Add a new ScaffBlock |
Adds a new ScaffBlock from an object(s) selected in the model. Once the Add a new ScaffBlock button clicked ScaffBlock Creation menu appears: 
TIP: Pay attention to the naming consistency here as it should allow you to recognize the block when you’ll be inserting it.
|
|
Import Miscellaneous blocks |
Imports miscellaneous ScaffBlock(s) from the list provided by ScaffPlan Team. |
|
Import a ScaffBlock |
Imports ScaffBlock(s) provided as .psb file (ScaffBlock file format) |
|
Export a ScaffBlock |
Exports a currently shown ScaffBlock to a .psb file then used for import. TIP: If |
|
Delete a ScaffBlock(s) |
Deletes selected ScaffBlock(s) from the catalogue removing it from the Firm folder and/or removes inserted ScaffBlock(s) from the Model deleting them and from the Model folder. |
Full 
Decide if replacement of selected object by created block will be required. If the Replace is ticked ON the inserted block WILL FULLY REPLACE scaffold objects in the model.
Prompts to Insert a ScaffBlock into ScaffPlan's catalogue of blocks on the parameters set in the Creation menu of the block. Pick 2 points defining to be a Start and End points for the block to be used as insertion points later in the model (it is handy add construction points sometimes for tracing them as insertion points for insertion of a block).
General Parameters Tab contains drop downs for Type/Subtype/Name of a Scaffblock. All fields are searchable.
TIP: When the Include all ScaffBlocks in search is ticked – the search will be looking for any blocks under any type/subtype/name fields.
Rotation tab allows to set a rotation angle before insertion.
The rotation is performed around a block local X axis (ZY plane of the block) - around the axis formed by start and end points.
The Preview allows to visually see a block and rotate the view if the left mouse button is being pressed. If the Update button becomes active press to refresh the Preview
Preview is loaded automatically if ScaffBlock file is less than 50 MB. Otherwise, load the preview manually by clicking “Load preview” button.
2. Tool dialogue buttons
No. |
BUTTON |
FUNCTIONALITY |
|
 |
To save a current tool setting it is required to type name of the setting into the box and click Save button. To load previously saved settings please click on the box to drop down a list of setting s available then choose a desired setting. Once the setting clicked from the drop-down it will be automatically loaded, and dialogue boxes updated to values saved under the setting. |
|
 |
Opens ScaffPlan knowledge base articles on the tool usage. |
|
 |
Prompts to Create a ScaffBlock in the model by clicking 2 insertion points. |
|
 |
Saves values set in the dialogue boxes without closing the dialog box. ScaffPlan uses these properties the next time you create an object of this type. |
|
 |
Modifies the selected ScaffBlock using the current properties of the dialog box such Type, Subtype, Name etc. as set in the tool. |
|
 |
Gets properties from the selected a block selected in the model and fills the menu with the values of the selected block. If several blocks are being selected, ScaffPlan takes the values from the first one selected and updates the dialogue boxes. |
|
 |
Switches all check boxes in the dialog box on and off. Used when all boxes need to be unticked then some only need to be ticked (taken into effect) once the Modify button is pressed after. |
|
 |
Closes the tool menu without saving the properties or modifying objects. |
