Voids, Openings, and Phases... Oh My

[davidcobi]

This has been bugging me since version 8.1 so I think it's time I post this.

Create a void or opening in a family file.
Load the family file into a project file.
Set a wall to the existing phase.
Place your family with void or opening in the wall and set them to New Construction phase.

You'll notice that the geometry where void meets host is not visible when phases are applied. I'd use these families as a demo tool if they would just work right.

[mtogni]

I noticed that too...

[ejburrell67787]

This has been bugging me since version 8.1 so I think it's time I post this.

Create a void or opening in a family file.
Load the family file into a project file.
Set a wall to the existing phase.
Place your family with void or opening in the wall and set them to New Construction phase.

You'll notice that the geometry where void meets host is not visible when phases are applied. I'd use these families as a demo tool if they would just work right.did you make the family as a wall hosted one and join the void geometry with the host wall? and is your view phase filter set to "complete"?

Voids in families have worked fine for me, but I haven't ever done it with phases.

[Mike Sealander]

I an working on a residential project where I demolished parts of a roof by extrusion in just this way. I have three phases: Existing, Demo and New. I had a very hard time figuring out how to work the void extrusions so they demolish, but they work. I can view the existing roof prior to demo, see the parts demolished (as red pieces of roof) during the Demo phase (set to Show All), and see the holes in the roof during the New phase (set to Show Complete). The demo'd parts also show up as dashed lines in section if New is set to Show All; they disappear in section if New is set to Show Complete.
My suggestion is to create the Demo phase, and do the Demo during that phase, including creating and then cutting with the void extrusion.

[patricks]

I an working on a residential project where I demolished parts of a roof by extrusion in just this way. I have three phases: Existing, Demo and New. I had a very hard time figuring out how to work the void extrusions so they demolish, but they work. I can view the existing roof prior to demo, see the parts demolished (as red pieces of roof) during the Demo phase (set to Show All), and see the holes in the roof during the New phase (set to Show Complete). The demo'd parts also show up as dashed lines in section if New is set to Show All; they disappear in section if New is set to Show Complete.
My suggestion is to create the Demo phase, and do the Demo during that phase, including creating and then cutting with the void extrusion.

In your case I would have only 2 phases, Existing and New (my normal method anyway). Then I would create the whole existing roof by extrusion, on the existing phase, and then use the Opening tool for the parts of the roof to be demolished. Then I would go back and add the pieces of roof to be demolished as separate extruded roof elements, but then set those pieces to be created on the Existing phase, and demolished on the New phase. Then join geometry on all the pieces.

That way, you can see the whole roof as a single piece in the Existing phase, or if you change your view to New Construction and the filter to Show Previous + Demo it will show the demo areas (as red in 3D or dashed lines in plan). Or if you change it Show Previous + New it will show the existing to remain portions only with the openings you described.

[lev.lipkin]

In a view which shows wall before opening is applied (or in the phase after opening was demolished) infilling wall fills the opening. By default, infilling wall has Join Geometry set with main wall.

This is why edges are not visible. If you do not care about such phase, Unjoin Geometry of the wall and the infilling wall (you would need view which shows both, at least temporary).

After Unjoin Geometry, you will see all edges, but if you open view in phase when opening does not exist you will see edges between wall and infilling wall. If they are unwanted, use Linework tool.

[davidcobi]

Thanks Lev. I did an unjoin geometery and I see what you are talking about. Thanks for the workaround. We will unjoin geometry and use the linework tool for now.