Options & Elevations
Options, Elevations and associated tools can be found in the Project Browser under the Options tab.
What is an Option?
Options allow a home to be customized to a certain degree starting from the same basic building plan. Here’s a brief list of what options can do:
Change the structural layout. For example add an additional bedroom or a 3-car garage as opposed to a 2-car garage or even an extended porch (all of these, without the need to have a complete separated building plan file).
Add a particular type of casework. For example a choice of built-in fireplace or a shelf.
Add a prop. For example an outdoor grill, a sink or even a bath/shower combo.
Add an optional electrical fixture. For example a car charging outlet in the garage.
Add an opening pattern. For example a door for an additional bedroom.
A single option can be used to toggle on several entities in a building plan at once. For example an option called ‘Bonus Room’ will enable:
The Bonus Room Block.
Bonus Room nested inside the Block.
An opening pattern (doorway inside the room).
An electrical layout (light switch in the room plus the light itself).
An annotation note embedded in the room.
Option Sets
Options Sets is the group definition, which will have a series of selectable options inside of it OR a Toggle (which will only have yes or no as selections).
The first one can have as many options as needed, and only one of them will be selected at a time.
A toggle option is an on or off button. (Yes or No)
These are created inside Studio, but can be viewed by a customer in Showroom.
TIP: Showroom uses the term Option Upgrade in lieu of Toggle, which is used in Studio.
Types of Option Sets:
OPERATIONAL
Operational Options are non client-facing options, that won't be exposed for client selections, for some of the reasons below. All options assigned to this Sales Category will not be visible in Showroom.
They are regional related, which means the option is there but will be defined by the code of the community where it's going to be built
They are related to the lot, so it's not up to client to decide, but vary per soils condition
They are built as individual options in the system, but are part of an Option Rule system. (Read Below about Option Rules).
Other particular reason where you don't want them to be visible by the buyer.
NON-OPERATIONAL
These are options that can be visible by the client, and selectable. They won't be hidden in Showroom at user experience.
When an option is non-operational, you need to assign another Sales Category for this. Be intentional about this selection, because this will define how your options are organized and grouped in Showroom.
Create the Option Sets:
IMPORTANT: ALL OPTION SETS MUST BE CREATED INSIDE THE CDM, NO OPTION SHOULD LIVE IN LOCAL FILES.
To create an Option in Higharc Studio, select the Options tab in the Project Browser:
Select the Options tab in the Project Browser.
Create either a Toggle or an Option Set using the “+”.
Once Created, the Option Set appears in the Inspector to be edited.
The Option can be named at the top in the Inspector.
Then below under Options, other option values can be added.
The option value can be named by clicking each new selection.
After the values are added, you should go ahead and define the default value.
This is the option that should be standard selection/starting point, when no custom changes are made yet.
If this is not something one-size-fits-all, don't worry. I'll get a chance to change this in your local file - just make sure to be intentional about this.
Add a Category - this is a manual input (you can type what you want here) but will be the base to how your options will be organized in the Active Options inspector.
Add a Sales Category - this is not a manual input, you need to select one of the available ones. This will define how your options are displayed in Showroom.
Add a description (if needed).
Add a builder ID for the option set (if needed).
The option can be disabled by checking the box if needed. Check section for more details.
How to use an Option to condition your model
It can be used in a condition statement in most entities and assemblies across the platform. For any entity or assembly with the ‘Conditions +’ listed in the Inspector, an Option can be added.
Editing an Option Set in the CDM
Adding a new Option Inside an Option Set (must be done inside your CDM)
It can be done, but needs some intentional thought.
If you are in the middle of your implementation process, adding a new option to an option set that was used in other models can create an empty condition inside those models. To prevent any issues with this, we will leverage the point 12 above: create an option as default DISABLED, and use Option Templates (see below) to ENABLE in your local file.
Renaming Option Sets or Options
You can rename everything as you want, just be aware that this change will be deployed across your entire portfolio.
Avoid deleting options if your intention is just change the option names, the preference is to rename it and reuse. When you delete an option, if that was used in plans already, this might create issues locally.
Editing an Option Set, in the local file, with Option Templates
Option Templates are a way to edit default values and other settings of your Option Sets, to change what comes from the CDM. You can, for example:
Change the Default Value
Add Locking Conditions
Disable/Enable Options
System Option Sets
System Option Sets come with all Higharc Files. They are not editable, but are options that live inside every file. I'll learn how to use them in the future.
Some examples
Elevations
Exterior Palette
Interior Palette
Mirror
Option Rules
Option Rules are a way that one action (option selection), can create numerous other actions (other option selections).
Common use-cases are:
Regional Packages
I have an Option Set called Region. When I select REGION A, I have my Foundation Type, Foundation Depth and Exterior Wall Size changed, for example.
Elevation Packages
I have an Elevation Called Craftsman. When I select this elevation, I have my Wall Material, Roof Slope and Window Casings to change, for example.
You could manually condition those things to the Option Set or Elevations, but option rules is a feature that allows us to control these changes independently and easily manage those changes.
Creating Option Rules
Option Rules are authored within Studio files and have the following structure:
Trigger(s): one or more options that, when selected, enable one or more other options.
Effects: the options that are enabled when the trigger condition is satisfied.
The option sets that will be used as triggers and effects must be created prior to authoring an option rule.
To create a new option rule:
Open the Option tab in the Project Browser
Select Option Rules.
Select the ‘+’ button.
Name the option rule, then click the + button next to “Trigger,” then “+Add condition” to select a trigger option.
To add several triggers, click the + button again and add all required conditions. All selected conditions must be satisfied for an Option Rule to trigger successfully.
Click the + button next to “Effects” and search for the option set(s) that should be triggered by the rule.
Click to select the option value that should be enabled when the trigger conditions are satisfied.
Once all triggers and effects are selected, publish the Studio file.
To check that this is working as expected, make sure to activate the trigger.
Note: When an Option Rule takes effect, the other options that are enabled in your model are not deselected. To “reset” the options when the trigger option is changed, it is recommended to manually select the default value or have effects that set an option value to N/A. Do not use the "None", this is defining no action needed. You want to have an explicit option in your option set, called N/A or something like this to select, in case you don't want anything selected (this will be very useful if you are going with the Elevation Option Rules strategy).
To Override Option Rules in Config see Override Options Rules.
Refer to Option Rules in Showroom to see how Customers interact with Option Rules.
Option Presets
Can be saved to quickly toggle between saved states of selected options. If a list of option states are selected in the Active panel in the Explorer, all of those selections can be saved as a Preset. Presets can be found in the Options tab of the Project Browser.
Modifiers
Modifiers are a tool where an Edge is moved in X or Y axis, but this change only occurs in a specific option state. For example, moving the edge of a 2 car garage to create a 3 car garage.
To create a Modifier:
Go to Explorer > Modifiers.
Click the + and name your modifier.
Add the conditions where this change will occur.
Define how is the edge going to move, related to X or Y (or both). You can type the value or click to move the Edge, and use a drawing reference to define the measures.
Select the Edge to Modify. To select more than one edge, make sure to hold SHIFT.
TIP: Modifiers can be added to more than just walls, roofs and railing also accept modifiers!
Checking a Model
Below you'll have great ways to identify any possible errors between overlapping or missing rooms.
Design Explorer
To rapidly view all possible options programmed into a model, use the Design Explorer in the Home tab in the Inspector.
First select Design Explorer.
Select an exploration interval. This is the time in seconds between generating the next possible option.
Select Start Exploring.
Once the Design Explorer starts, all possible option configurations will be generated and saved as a temporary name.
Check Option States
This will run a series of option combinations and point if we have any errors with overlapping rooms, holes in the middle of the plan or anything that prevents the model to exist in some of the option states.
Elevations
Elevations are a type of Option that can be associated with Palettes or material packages, Renderings, customized camera views and exterior design changes that affect the appearance of the home. See Palettes and Facades to learn more about Exterior Styling.
To create an Elevation in Higharc Studio, select the Options tab in the Project Browser.
Once an Elevation is added, it can be used like any other Option in conditional statements from the Inspector.
Elevations in Showroom
These Styles from Elevation Options will also appear in Higharc Showroom, giving customers the option to choose between style designs.
