Menu path
Tools > Change Entity > Line Type
What it does
Line types define how roof elements are categorised and estimated in Roof Wizard. This command allows you to change the line type or category of individual lines or groups of lines to ensure accurate material calculations and reporting.
Roof Wizard automatically assigns line types to each roof element for accurate modelling and estimation based on the logical geometry of the roof. For example, the software may automatically assign the lowest point of the roof as an eave, but you might want to install a box gutter instead. This tool lets you change that line type to Box-Gutter.
How to use it
Access the command via Tools > Change Entity > Line Type, or simply double-click on any roof line
A dialog box appears listing the different line type categories available
Select one of the line types from the list
Crosshairs will appear. Click on the lines you want to change to that line type
The tag will change and the line colour and style may update according to your Tools > Set Line Style settings
Continue selecting other lines to change them to the same type
The command remains active until you finish, making it faster to change multiple lines.
Line type categories and reporting
The list below describes each menu item, the tag the system assigns, and how the flashing is reported:
None (tag: NONE): ignored
Ridge (tag: RIDGE): reports ridge flashing
Valley (tag: VALLEY): reports valley flashing
Hip (tag: HIP): reports hip flashing
Fascia&Gutter (tag: FASCIA): reports both fascia and gutter
Gable (tag: GABLE): reports both barge and fascia flashings
Fascia-Barge (tag: FASCIA-BARGE): only reports fascia as barge flashing
Fascia-Only (tag: FASCIA-ONLY): only reports fascia flashing
Gutter-Only (tag: GUTTER-ONLY): only reports gutter flashing
Barge-Only (tag: BARGE-ONLY): only reports barge flashing
Apron (tag: APRON): only reports fascia flashing
Tuck-Under (tag: TUCK-UNDER): ignored
Box-Gutter (tag: BOX-GUTTER): only reports as a box gutter
Step (tag: STEP): reports the step flashing
Monoridge (tag: MONORIDGE): reports monoridge tiles
Purlin (tag: BATTEN): reports batten or purlin
Purlin2 (tag: BATTEN2): reports alternate batten or purlin
Headwall (tag: HEADWALL): reports headwall flashing
User 1 (tag: User Defined): reports as defined by the operator
User 2 (tag: User Defined): reports as defined by the operator
User 3 (tag: User Defined): reports as defined by the operator
User 4 (tag: User Defined): reports as defined by the operator
Drawing Entity (tag: DRAWINGLINE): will appear on your drawings but will not affect the material or labour estimate. This may also be applied to other graphical elements that you add to a model, not part of the model, such as descriptive text, when you need them to appear on the report (refer to the example below)
Wall-Base (tag: WALL-BASE): reports wall base flashing
Wall-Top (tag: WALL-TOP): reports wall top flashing
Wall-Corner (tag: WALL-CORNER): reports wall corner flashing
Window-Head (tag: WINDOW-HEAD): reports window head flashing
Window-Sill (tag: WINDOW-SILL): reports window sill flashing
Window-Edge (tag: WINDOW-EDGE): reports window edge flashing
Door-Head (tag: DOOR-HEAD): reports door head flashing
Door-Edge (tag: DOOR-EDGE): reports door edge flashing
Tips
The tool remains active so you can change multiple lines without reselecting the command each time. This makes it much faster when you need to modify several roof elements.
You can use Verify on each line to see what the tag actually is, or use the Show button in the Flashings dialog to check line assignments.
Alternative access method
You can also activate this function by double-clicking the left mouse button directly on any roof line. This provides quick access without navigating through the menu system.
User-defined line types
User-defined line types can be configured under Set-Up > Preference Settings > System Preferences. This allows you to create custom line type categories specific to your roofing requirements.
Example use case
An example of using this tool is changing drawing entities, such as converting annotation text to become part of standard roof model annotation. You may also copy extra lines to provide for optional flashing items extras on a job.
A good example of this may be when an eave line requires box-gutter, side wall and parapet on the same edge for quoting and ordering purposes. This ensures all elements are properly categorised for accurate estimation and reporting.
Changing the plane type (Cha-PlaneType)
Tools > Change Entity > Plane Type
This command allows you to change the type of plane to a Roof Plane, Wall Plane or to None.
Changing to None has the effect of the system not recognising that plane as a roof plane in its calculations.
Changing the plane material (Cha-PlaneMat)
Tools > Change Entity > Plane Material
This command allows you to change the material assigned to a roof plane.
By selecting this command you are prompted with another menu with the options Tiles, Shingles, Shakes, Metal or Low-Slope. Select the material that you want to change your plane to and then select the planes required to be changed.
This function may also be activated by a double click of the left mouse button on the plane.
You can determine the roof plane material by selecting the Verify command from the main menu, then selecting a plane. You can then read the tags on the plane. The plane material is stored as a ROOFMAT tag.
Changing the storey (Cha-Storey)
Tools > Change Entity > Storey
This command allows you to change the storey of one or more roof planes.
After selecting the command, you select the planes you want to change. You are then prompted to enter the new storey. Any line work attached to the planes is changed to that new storey also.
The storey number allows different pay scales to be applied to different levels of the roof. Typically, installers get paid more as they get further from the ground (but not always).