Norms

• Multiple norms directories per project
• Decentralized (local) norms directories
• Default models directory
  • Standard models directory
  • Exporting the models directory
  • Models directory in a new project
  • Models Directory Clean-Up

Multiple norms directories per project

The available norms for a project are stored in the project directory, norms subdirectory. The location of the norms directory (or directories) is fixed, and cannot be freely chosen (from version 5.2 onwards).

• Information on pre-5.2 projects.

  When a pre-5.2 project is opened for the first time, the system will ask to specify which directory was used as the norms directory before. This directory will then be copied into the new norms directory, and the norms will be assigned to all block groups.

The system creates the norms directory, and sets the %ncgnorms% environment variable to point to it.

The block groups in the project will use the system-created norms directory for norms by default.

Multiple norms directories can be used in one project, in a hybrid (steel/aluminium) project for example. In this case, the other norms directories must be manually copied into the system-created norms directory. Make sure that you use the same construction-dependent type files in all norm directories.

• The system manager can set which norms should be used for the blocks of a particular block group with the Projects > Block Groups function in the System Management application.

Decentralized (local) norms directories

Since the norms directory (or directories) of a project is (are) stored within the project directory itself, most probably on a network disk, unwanted decrease of the network performance may occur.

For such cases it is possible for each user to specify a directory on local disk (for example c:\nchull) to be used for norms instead of a directory on a server. This is done during the CADMATIC Hull workstation installation in the CADMATIC Hull installation setup program by specifying the NORMSDIR setting (this field is empty by default). This could improve the network performance.

If a local norms directory is specified during the workstation installation, the norms belonging to a certain project and block group are automatically copied to the specified location the first time the user opens a block that belongs to that particular block group.

In the System Management application, changes are always made on the central stored version of the norms directories. To synchronize users' locally stored copies of the central norms, you need to set a "signal" with the Set update function in the Extra > Norms Directory dialog. Users with the NORMSDIR set to a valid path will then receive a copy of the modified settings as soon as they open a block that uses the norms which were modified.

To temporarily use the central norms directory instead of the decentralized (local) norms, users can use the Extra > Norms Directory setting to switch from decentral to central norms and vice versa. This function can be useful to the system manager especially, because in this way he or she can check and test the modified settings before setting the "signal"for the users.

Default models directory

When a new project is created with the File > New Project/Block function of the System Management application, a models directory (%ncgmodellen%) will be created automatically.

The models directory setting can be one of the following (in the %ncgstart%\nupashull.bat file):

• Absolute directory, for example

set ncgmodellen=%hullcentre%\mod2d

• Directory within the norms directory, for example

set ncgmodellen=%ncgnorms%\mod2d

• Directory under the project, for example

set ncgmodellen=..\mod2d

Note: It is recommended to store the models in a mod2d subdirectory within the norms directory. The models directory setting will then be as follows:

set ncgmodellen=%ncgnorms%\mod2d

Standard models directory

If it is not possible to use an existing models directory, the content of a standard models directory (set by the system manager) can be used.

The standard models directory can be set with the Projects > Properties > Models Directory setting in the System Management application. The default for this setting is -ncgnorms\mod2d.ncg. It is recommended that the default models directory is always stored in the %ncgnorms% directory.

Exporting the models directory

If the models directory is located in the norms directory (the ncgmodellen environment variable is set to %ncgnorms%\mod2d), it is not necessary to include the hole models with the Hull > Export Block function. The models directory will be exported with the norms directory, along with the block.

Models directory in a new project

The table below lists the actions that may be performed when a new project is created. The action taken depends on the setting of the models directory.

%ncgmodellen% setting	Action(s)
Absolute	If the models directory does not exist, a mod2d subdirectory in the norms directory (if it exists) will be copied to this location. If the mod2d directory does not exist, the standard models directory will be copied.
Directory in the norms directory	If a mod2d directory exists in the selected norms directory, this directory will become the models directory. If this is not the case, the standard models directory will be copied.
Directory under the project	If a mod2d directory exists in the selected norms directory, this directory will become the models directory. If this is not the case, the standard models directory will be copied.

Models Directory Clean-Up

The new models directory for a project will be created as "clean" as possible. As hole models have not been used for a long time, the models directory will not contain hole models.

If a models directory in an old project, where hole models were still used, was set as an absolute directory, and the directory existed before the project was created, it will not be cleaned up automatically. It is recommended to manually delete the hole models in this case.