To continue the thoughts in Donnia's previous entry on Prehistoric Phases, phases can be set for more than Existing and New (or Past). They can also have a Future. One of the things I find many people do not understand in Phasing is the use of the Temporary Phase Override.
An Alternative Approach to Future Phasing
A temporary object is an object that is Created and Demolished in the same phase. Most commonly I see this when representing a guardrail or wall. These objects are being “temporarily” placed during construction as a safety precaution at a wall or shaft opening. I use them a little differently.
In our industry, were always designing on a budget. Designing something for a current need but with the option for expansion as demand increases. For example, on our Process projects, the facility is designed for six pumps, but only two are initially installed. This leaves four pumps for a future expansion phase. We are not completely designing them yet, but we need to show the space was designed for 6. I do not want to make a whole other “phase” for them since it may be years before they are needed. Also, when making an additional phase, the display of the previous phase will have overrides applied. This will often make them display incorrectly.
This is where the Temporary phase comes in. Place the future content and mark them as being Created and Demolished in the same phase.
In the Phasing options window (Manage ribbon > Phasing panel) select the Phase Filter tab and make a new Phase Filter. Name it Show Previous + Future.
- Set New to By Category
- Set Existing Overridden
- Set Demolished to Not Displayed
- Set Temporary to Overridden
In the Graphics Overrides, set the Projection/Surface and Cut overrides for the Temporary phase status. This will set how the elements will display when the Phase Filter is set to Show Previous + Future.
Open your view showing the future expansion and change the Phase Filter in your view to Show Previous + Future. The objects being Created and Demolished in the same phase now show as future expansion.
If in the future, if these extra pumps become a design reality. Select them and change their Phase Demolished to None in the current view phase.
