Offset rules because…offsets rule!

By using offset rules, you can dictate how offsets are handled and what fittings are used based off of the actual offset distance. Follow the below steps to set up 2 custom offset rules within design line.

Note: Click images to enlarge.

1. Enter the Service Database

2. Move to the Offset Rules tab

3.Right Click within the condition window and select “New” 

4.The Breakpoints window will open

5.The first drop down option, “Condition”, contains 3 choices

5a. Less than Equal<= Value- If the offset distance is less than or equal to the value input by the user, this condition will be met.

5b. Less than Equal<=(Depth X Value)- If the the offset distance is less than or equal to the Depth X the value input by the user, this condition will be met.

5c. Less than Equal<=(Width X Value)-If the the offset distance is less than or equal to the Width X the value input by the user, this condition will be met.

6.The next option within the breakpoint window is “Value”. This is the “Value” called out within the condition. (Example: If the value entered is 20, condition( 5a. now reads Less than Equal<=20″)

7. The last option, “Button code”, is what you will call out as the button code within your Button Mappings.

8. Select the condition Less than Equal<=Value

9. Input 20 for Value

10. Input “MitredOffset” for the button code and copy the text.

11. Move to the button mappings tab and create a new entry

12. Paste “MitredOffset” from the clipboard into the Button Code field.

13. Can be made by using alternates: will be the button code assigned to the item(s) you wish to fill for that particular button code.(Remember, we called out the button code of MitredOffset within our condition.) My mitred offset has a button code of “SQ-OFFSET.” I will place the items button code here.

14. Return to the Offset Rules tab and create a new entry.

15. Use the same condition, Less than Equal<=

16. Input 40 for the value

17. Input “OS45″ for the button code and copy the text.

18. Move back to button mappings tab and create a new entry.

19. Paste the copied text into the Button Code field.

20.Can be made by using alternates: will be the button code assigned to the item(s) you wish to fill for that particular button code.(Remember, we called out the button code of OS45 within our condition.). I am wanting back to back 45 elbows to fill in this particular condition, so my alternate code is 45,45. 

21. Draw 2 design lines. One with an offset of 18″ and one with an offset of 32″. Your offset rules should come in to play and populate the line with the appropriate items.