Oplatex
Language:Visual Basic (VBA)
Purpose:Automatization of formwork drawing process
Oplatex is AutoCAD plug-in made in VBA. It provides variety of tools I found necessary in formwork drafting process. While working on wall formwork drawings I realized that many operations can be automated.
By using Oplatex, engineer can easily create various detail sections based od 2D drawings. In the world of BIM modeling this approach still has its purpose. It bypasses 3D model creation, which can be cost ineffective in case the model won’t be used further.
Oplatex offers additional possibilities such as creating annotations, layer manipulation or automated stairs section drawings. The most advanced feature is the one that provides geometry control. It is expected from large drawings to have certain amount of geometry imperfections and Oplatex contains an algorithm for finding slight geometry discordances between line and shape coordinates. Geometry control module can either mark those discordances or even try to fix them.
The amount of drafting time Oplatex can save is considerable. Drawing shown behind its interface was almost completely made using Oplatex functionality.