MAGNET Modeler rules ultimately transform MAGNET Office entities into a virtual model. There can be multiple rules in an active MAGNET Modeler session. Once generated, Modeler will execute every rule and write them into a *.VM (virtual model) file altogether. In other words, one *.VM file can contain multiple model components.
MAGNET Explorer is the software used to display virtual models. However, MAGNET Explorer is not just a nice viewer software for a single *.VM file, as it was developed to create multidisciplinary BIM (building information modeling) models. This means it can import, display, analyze, and simulate multiple models at the same time. These models may originate from one or more *.VM files but could also come from formats like *.LandXML, *.IFC, *.DWG, *.TP3, *.MJF, *.OBJ, etc.
To control and highlight different objects, differentiate between model elements, turn them on or off, or further use them downstream for simulation and analysis purposes, a specific and clearly arranged structure is required.
Speaking in MAGNET Explorer and MAGNET Modeler terms, you must create groups. It is recommended to differentiate models between existing and proposed/design in the first place and then create appropriate subgroups in the next step.
Creating groups
There are two ways to create a group structure in MAGNET Modeler:
- Predefine groups
- Create groups on the fly
Group definitions from MAGNET Modeler will be imported automatically into MAGNET Explorer after opening a *.VM file.
Predefining groups
Click the Define Groups icon to bring up the Groups window.
Groups window
You can predefine your group structure (main groups, subgroups) before you even start creating rules.
Once defined, a certain group simply can be chosen and assigned to a rule during the rule creation process.
- Click Add group, or right-click onto a blank spot in the Groups window, and select Add Group to create a new main group.
- Once you have one or more main groups created, you can right-click on the main group and access more options.
- Select Add Sub-Group to Group "xxx" to add a new subgroup. A window will pop up and ask you for the subgroup name.
- Click Delete group, or select Remove Group from the context menu to remove an existing group. Removing a main group with subgroups attached to it will remove the subgroups as well.
- Click Rename group, or select Rename Group from the context menu to rename an existing group or subgroup.
Note: Group definitions are also part of a configuration file. When you save a configuration file (*.INI), these settings will be saved as well.
Creating groups on the fly
Instead of predefining a group structure and assigning groups to the rule as you create it, you can simply manually type a group structure into the group text box.
Groups created on the fly will be populated into the group definitions/Groups window automatically.
You can use the forward slash character (/) to create additional subgroups.
Here is an example: Existing/Office/Road
In this example, someone created two rules in MAGNET Modeler. However, the spelling (existing vs. Existing) of his group allocations differed. As you can see, MAGNET Modeler created different groups as a result.
This is how it should look like. Both models were imported into the same group since case sensitivity was respected.
