When I import an XML file from Hover, why don’t the panels lay correctly?

Based on our own testing, the 3D model files provided by Hover Inc. are some of the most accurate available from any of these services.

However, Hover has an issue with holes or openings in the roof plane when imported into our 3D CAD environment. They fudge the generation of the plane with the hole by adding a couple of coincident lines to close out a polygon that result in a plane of the correct area but incorrect geometry.

When you import the XML file into Roof Wizard [File > Import > XML], it picks up these 'fudges' and as the plane is now broken up, the panel layout sees the fudge as a break in the roof plane - BECAUSE IT IS - and breaks the panels as well. This is very obvious when you turn on the line end points:

So given this, you might immediately discard the model as a problem, but the fact is that the creation of the geometry is the hard part and Hover has done most of it for you already. All we have to do is fix these errors in the model and we can do it easily in just a few minutes, and get the perfect panel layout which we want. Not ideal, but better than climbing all over a roof to measure up and quicker than modelling from suspect measurements.

So it is worth the effort, as the final result is just about perfect!!!

OK then, how do we fix it?

We use the simple tools that most of you have learned how to use when you did your training.

The following is a quick run through of what to do, in pictures.

These are the lines we need to get rid of:

And viewed from the ISO view.

We suggest that you do one area at a time, finish it, then move on to the next area to fix. You can maintain some control of the process then and don't lose track of what you're trying to do.

First delete the plane you wish to fix.

Then use the [Construct-Roof > Smartlines > Ins-Plane] function to replace the 'broken' plane with a proper 3D CAD plane, follow the prompts and be sure to identify the correct plane boundary lines.

Once a closed loop is found, you will be prompted for the roof plane material type and storey:

Select [OK] and the plane is inserted.

Next step is to create a 'proper' hole in the roof.

Select the first boundary line:

After you have created the hole, next you need to remove the fudge lines. Some my be a bit stubborn, so ignore these for now, we can sort them out later.

Also, in the process of creating the cut-out Roof Wizard throws in a few extra bits of geometry. (This only happens on Hover models). Delete these while you're at it.

Switch to ISO view and select [Group Delete] - draw a box around the stuff to delete.

Remember that to delete something, it must be entirely inside the selection box. In this way, you can select just the things you want and leave the rest. So lines that are selected but are the defining geometry for the plane that is not entirely in the selection box are not deleted.

Anything that is connected to other planes cannot be deleted and will not be, even if they get selected.

Nice! That plane is fixed.

Now move on to the other planes and repeat the process.

And in a few minutes you will have a solid roof to generate your panels on.

If you find that some of the fudge lines refuse to be deleted and this is because the model has inherited a few odd things from the XML file that have no bearing at all on the generation of the panel cutting list.

If they bother you, they can be deleted using the function [Tools > Check-Model > Delete Element].

Take care using this function, it can break stuff.

Finally select the required panel and generate the panel layout.

You may notice that the panels don't line up neatly, so don't forget to employ the [Modify-Panels] function to realign the panels.

And you're done!

On most take-offs, you will also be quoting for the supply of trim and fascia and gutter, so don't forget to go through the Checking functions, especially [Show Line Types] to ensure that each line is correctly labelled and you subsequently get the correct flashing and trim cutting list.