Microsoft KB Archive/319438

= Visio2002: HVAC Duct Shapes Lose Width and Depth If You Export to IFC Model Exchange Format =

PSS ID Number: 319438

Article Last Modified on 3/19/2002

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Visio 2002 Professional SR-1

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This article was previously published under Q319438



SYMPTOMS
When you export a diagram by using the Microsfot Visio 2002 SR-1 Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) Model Exchange add-in, HVAC ductwork may collapse or disappear losing its width and depth.

NOTE: Undo is not available to restore the original width and depth of the ductwork.



CAUSE
This behavior can occur when all of the following conditions are true:
 * The ductwork contains Flexible Connection 1 or Flexible Connection 2 shapes from the HVAC Ductwork stencil. -and-


 * You selected the IFC Export to IFC-XML Model File (*.ifx) or IFC Model (*.ifc) Model Exchange format on the Plan menu.



WORKAROUND
To correct ductwork that has lost its width and depth custom properties, follow these steps:
 * 1) Right-click the ductwork shape or flexible connection and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.
 * 2) In the Custom Properties dialog box, set the Duct width and Duct depth options that you want, and then click OK.
 * 3) Repeat this process to correct the width and depth properties of any other ductwork shapes.

NOTE: Microsoft recommends that you save a Visio drawing before you try to export your file to the IFC Model Exchange format. If you do this, and the Undo command is not available, then you can close the file without saving your changes and reopen it to its original state.

To work around this problem, select the flexible connector shape and the ductwork shapes on both sides of the connector and group the shapes together. As a group, the ductwork shapes connected to the flexible connector will not collapse losing their width and depth. Only the width and depth on the flexible connectors will reset to zero.

To group ductwork shapes together, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click a shape, hold down the SHIFT key, and then click to select other shapes one at a time.

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Click the Pointer tool and then drag a rectangle around all the shapes that you want to select.

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On the Edit menu, click Select by Layer, and then select HVAC to select everything in the HVAC layer at one time.

NOTE: The primary shape has green selection handles; all other shapes have blue selection handles.
 * 1) On the Shape menu, point to Grouping, and then click Group.

You can save and export the diagram to IFC Model Exchange format without experiencing the symptoms described in the &quot;Symptoms&quot; section earlier in this article.



STATUS
Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.



MORE INFORMATION
For more information about grouping and ungrouping shapes, type group shapes in the Ask a question box or the Answer Wizard, and then press ENTER to view the topics.

For additional information about the Visio 2002 SR-1 IFC Model Exchange add-in, visit the following web site:

Visio 2002 Add-in: IFC Model Exchange Technology Preview

Additional query words: visio2002 vso2002 IFC prb lost flat stick line

Keywords: kbbug KB319438

Technology: kbVisio2002 kbVisio2002Search kbVisioSearch kbZNotKeyword3

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