Space Requirements and Space Color by Category Guidelines

To ensure that your space requirements are effective, you need to follow specific guidelines while creating your space requirements spreadsheet and space color by category spreadsheet.

  • For space requirements or space color by category, create an Excel spreadsheet or comma-separated value (csv) file. Buildings Space Planning allows you to import both spreadsheets using Import Space Requirements.

Table 1. Space Requirements Spreadsheet Guidelines
Column Heading Required Comments
Space Type Yes Describes the function of the space.
Area Yes- If both X and Y columns are blank, the system uses Area to make a square space. The area for each space of the corresponding space type.

If one of either X or Y is blank, the system calculates the missing dimension using Area and the available dimension.

Assign a unit of measure (square meters or square feet) to either the column header or the values in the rows, but not both.

X Yes-If both X and Y columns are blank, the system uses Area to make a square space. Dimension of the space along its X-axis.

If one of either X or Y is blank, the system calculates the missing dimension using Area and the available dimension.

Assign a unit of measure (meters or feet) to either the column header or the values in the rows, but not both. If no unit of measure is specified, the system uses the session units.

Y Yes-If both X and Y columns are blank, the system uses Area to make a square space. Dimension of the space along its Y-axis.

If one of either X or Y is blank, the system calculates the missing dimension using Area and the available dimension.

Assign a unit of measure (meters or feet) to either the column header or the values in the rows, but not both. If no unit of measure is specified, the system uses the session units.

Department No Names the department owning the space.

The system uses Space Type, Sub-Department, and Department to associate spaces in the building with spaces in the space requirements spreadsheet.

Space Browser and Space Program work best if the spreadsheet includes Department and Sub-Department columns. With Space Browser, you can filter Department and Sub-Department to drill down through the organization levels form the building to the individual spaces.

Sub-Department No Names the sub-department owning the space.

The system uses Space Type, Sub-Department, and Department to associate spaces in the building with spaces in the space requirements spreadsheet.

Space Browser and Space Program work best if the spreadsheet includes Department and Sub-Department columns. With Space Browser, you can filter Department and Sub-Department to drill down through the organization levels form the building to the individual spaces.

Count No The number of spaces with the corresponding space type, sub-department, and department specified in the space requirements.
Height No Sets the height for each space.

If the height is blank, the spaces extend from slab to slab.

Assign a unit of measure (meters or feet) to either the column header or the values in the rows, but not both. If no unit of measure is specified, the system uses the session units.

Walls No Indicates if the space is surrounded by walls.

If Walls is blank, the system creates walls around the spaces.

Floor Number No Displays story numbers or names that host the spaces.

If Floor Number is blank, the space is created on the active story.

Color No Sets the color and transparency of the space volume, specified as R, G, B, T. The transparency is optional.

For color, you can alternatively use a CATIA color name.

AEC Object Type No Sets the object type of the spaces.

Table 2. Space Color By Category Spreadsheet Guidelines
Column Heading Comments
Category Specifies the category of spaces. For example, space type, sub-department, or department.
Category Name Specifies the space type, sub-department, or department.
Color Sets the color and transparency of the space volumes, specified as R, G, B, T. The transparency is optional. If transparency is missing, the system sets it to zero.