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Project Menu

Gemini Terrain is a project-based tool where projects are organized in folders. The project menu gives you the ability to manage and organize projects in an efficient way.

For local projects, the default folder is:

C:\Users\My Documents\Gemini\Ter\Data

For cloud projects, the default CloudCache is:

C:\Users\Appdata\Local\Gemini\Gemini\CloudCache

New Project

When you create a new project, the system automatically copies a set of suggested drawings into the project menu. These drawings are retrieved from a predefined template.

Dialog box for new project

Figure: Dialog box for new project, where the Gemini.prj template is selected.

You can choose between two different template types:

  • Simple template (prj-file) - A simple project file with basic drawing structure
  • Project template - A complete project structure with multiple files, folder structure and more

Simple Template

The standard installation includes Gemini.prj in the system's Sys folder. This template contains four basic drawings.

When you choose to use Gemini.prj from the Sys folder, you automatically get four empty drawings copied into the drawing list as shown in the figure below.

Project menu with standard drawings

Project menu with standard drawings created from Gemini.prj

Create Your Own Templates

You can easily create your own templates in the User folder. Use the Import... function and navigate to the project file for the project you want to use as a template.

Project Template

Project templates are imported in the same way as simple templates. Select Import... and navigate to the project folder you want to use as a template.

With a project template, you use a complete project folder as a template for the new project. In addition to the prj-file, you can include:

  • BIM files
  • Application layers
  • Models
  • Coordinate system information
  • Legends
  • Subfolder structure

Note

Be aware that if the project templates contain geometry, this will also be transferred to the new project.

Project templates support complete folder structure when creating new projects. This is especially useful for organizations that have standardized folder structures that may contain:

  • Import and export folders
  • Folders for each project participant
  • Other predefined structures

Advantage for Cloud Projects

This function is particularly valuable for cloud projects, as the folder structure automatically becomes part of the cloud project and will be visible to all users when the project is created.

Location

Projects can be stored in various locations:

  • Project in Gemini Connected
  • Predefined project folder
  • User-defined project folder

Tip

Avoid using periods and spaces in folder and project names.

Sometimes we want to use a different current project folder, for example on a server. We are completely free to do this, but must first specify the new current project folder. You can find this functionality by opening Project Menu - select the icon for Manage Project Menu... - Predefined Project Folders...

Create New Drawing

Create new drawing

When we specify a drawing name, we can do this in two ways:

  1. Standard naming convention
    In this case, we enter a number from 1-999.

  2. Free text
    In this case, we enter free text in the field.

Standard naming convention is the default suggestion, and the program will suggest the next available when you create a new drawing.

This naming convention is what has traditionally been used in Gemini Terrain. Previously, there was much functionality tied to these numbers. The naming convention consists of a three-digit number that follows four letters and the number 4. The four letters are the first four in the project filename. For example, a project named Demo-Nor will have drawings like:

  • Demo4001
  • Demo4002
  • Demo4999

Category

A drawing can be none or one of several possible categories.

The category is stored in the .prj file, not the bim file, and it is displayed in the drawing list. Drawing categories are a configurable list of categories that can be customized by the user.

Each drawing category will have a related template drawing (bim file), which will be used when we create a new drawing in the drawing list. The template bim file will contain model type, which should not be confused with category, and can also be pre-filled with commands, as well as have default work mode (toolset) set.

Category Not Specified

If we choose this category, the program will not use a template file when opening the drawing. The first time you open such a drawing, you must decide which model type it should have. You can choose between:

  • Terrain model
  • Presentation drawing

The content in dropdown menus, toolbars, and toolboxes depends on the drawing's model type. Model type is a property stored in the model database (drawing), but you can change this later if desired.

The program suggests the following model types depending on drawing number:

  • 000-199: Terrain model
  • 200-399: Presentation drawing
  • 400-899: Terrain model
  • 900-999: Presentation drawing

How to Change Model Type Afterwards

If you have selected the wrong model type, you can change this in the drawing afterwards:

  1. Select Properties with right mouse button on the drawing in the vertical list field for Explorer

  2. Select the correct Model Type in the dropdown list and click OK

Example Collection

See also the example collection for step-by-step descriptions of how to create projects: