Information Pane

This lists out various mathematical and other values that change as the architect moves about the site

Each line is given a number. There is a reason for it – you can refer to the value on that line in calculations; using a variable called x. For example; if you wanted to refer to the 3rd value; use x3 and so on

This particular pane is actually set due to a default ARDELA add-on that is loaded at the beginning. This add-on is called TAD.EXA and it is in the bin folder of your TAD installation.

Display in feet and inches, if you want
We've also give an alternative file named TAD_FT.EXA which is present in the bin folder of your TAD installation. That will read out information in feet and inches. Just overwrite TAD.EXA with TAD_FT.EXA To get back the earlier file (so that info is back in metric sytem), overwrite TAD.EXA once again with TAD_M.EXA (That file's also in the same folder)

The standard set of results are explained at the end of this article, below.

There is a way to compile this add-on with customized set of results. We will explain that in due course of the time

Transfer values to the internal Excel workbook

TAD has an excellent Excel compatible, yet simple, workbook editor. If it is open, then you can double-click on any of the results you see in the information pane to send it to the current cell in the current sheet of the open workbook

Other capabilities

There are some other capabilities that this particular pane has: You would see a checkbox named Dims. If you click that, then it will attempt to note down the lines that are intersecting the edge where the helpers are currently on. So you can intelligently create a ruler or a measurement guide by conveniently letting an edge with the current helpers cut across a set of lines in the model. The list will magically turn into a set of numbers explaining the values from the first intersection to the last… the term first intersection means the one that is closest to the first helpers.

If you press “ALT” when placing a checkmark on that Dims checkbox, the dimensions will be shown in Feet and inches instead of meters.

This pane also contains a convenient way to move the helpers around the same object: Those two tiny left-arrow and right-arrow buttons are for that. So you need not use the F3/F4 key (Some people like the mouse!)

Standard Set of Results in the Information Pane

NOTE: The values shown below are all dynamic. They will change as per the location of the current helpers and that of the architect. If your version of TAD does not have the following then it is likely you have another version of TAD installed; OR you or someone has modified the TAD.EXA compiled ardela file that produces this

• 00: Name = Name of the current object
• 01: Clas = Name of the current class of the current object
• 02: Currlen = The length between the 1st and 2nd helper i.e. the current edge
• 03: Angle = The angle in degrees between the current edge and an imaginary line from the first helper going towards the right of the screen. Positive values are anti-clockwise
• 04: Area: The area of the current object
• 05: Perimeter: The perimeter of the current object
• 06: Perim Ratio: The ratio between the perimeter of the current object measured with the perimeter of an imaginary circle which has the asame area of the current object. This is useful to know how “efficient” is the object in marking out an area; as a circle is the most efficient area coverer
• 07: Perp: The perpendicular distance from the architect to the current edge i.e. the edge indicated by the 1st helper (red square dot) and the 2nd helper (blue circular dot)
• 08: Arch Dist: The distance from the architect's location (i.e. top left corner of the architect) to that of the 1st helper (the red square dot) as the crow flies
• 09: Arch Pos: The Xand Y coordinates of the architect's location
• 10: Volume: The volume of the object – if its height can be determined. Zero otherwise
• 11: ArchAngle: The internal angle (in degrees) subtended at the 1st helper, between two lines. The first line is being the current edge (i.e. edge formed by the 1st and 2nd helpers) and the second line being the imaginary line from the 1st helper to the location of the architect (the top left corner of the square shape of the architect). This value will between 0 and around 180 degrees

NOTE: The values displayed are either in the metric sytem or in Ft and Inches; depending on the type of TAD.EXA file that was used – see description above.