Create Package

Stratus recognizes parts, assemblies, and packages. After publishing the Revit model or AutoCAD drawing to Stratus, parts and assemblies (if created in Revit or AutoCAD) are available in Stratus. Assemblies can also be created in Stratus. A package can include parts and assemblies. Stratus supports the workflow whereby different packages can be created for different purposes like ordering, shop work, field delivery, and installation work. Package Categories accommodate workflows where the same part or assembly needs to be included in multiple package categories. A package must be in the "Can Package" tracking status in order to add/remove elements.

1 Create New Package
2 Add Parts and Assemblies to a Package - Model Viewer
3 Locked Package
4 Videos

Create New Package

A built-in package Lead Days feature was added to Stratus on 8/7/2021 that offers calculated default Start Dates for package phases. With this change, those who create Packages must set the Required Date in relation to a Package Phase. Phases are also used in Division (Admin) and Tracking Statuses (Admin). See the Added Lead Days and Start Date Properties to Packages section for more information.

Below are the package Phases in relation to Lead Days:

Office - Detailing Start Date
Purchasing - Purchasing Start Date
Shop - Fabrication Start Date
Field (Default) - Required On-site Date

To create a package in the Models Viewer or Packages Viewer:

Before creating a package:
1. The Package Name and Package Number should be configured under Naming Conventions.
2. One or more Package Categories should be configured under Package Categories.
Go to Models > Viewer > Actions > Packages > New. You can also create a new package under Packages > Dashboard > New Package. The new package dialog and package name fields, similar to the following, will display.
1. Category (Required) - Select the package Category. See the Package Categories (Admin) article for more information.
2. Number and Name - The package Number and Name will be filled-in automatically if you have configured Naming Conventions. You can overwrite any field value, however, each package name must be unique.
3. Description (Optional) - Enter a Description as needed.
4. Hours Estimated (Optional) - Enter Hours Estimated as needed.
5. Phase (Required) - Select a package Phase.
  1. Field (Default) - Field is selected by default which is equivalent to how packages have has always been created. The Field Phase Required Date is the Start Date that the package materials are required to be on-site and ready for fieldwork to begin.
  2. Office, Purchasing, Shop - Select the Phase for packages that need a Start Date for Office, Purchasing, or Shop work to begin. If Lead Days have been configured for the Phase and Category, then Phase Start Dates, including the Field Required Date will be calculated. If Lead Days have not been configured, then all Phases will have the same Start Date.
6. Required Date - Enter a Required Date for the selected Phase. The Required Date may or may not be calculated depending on which Phase is selected and which Lead Day settings have been configured.
  1. Field (Default) - If Phase = Field, then the Required Date on the Packages Dashboard (Default Report) will be set to the Required Date. See the screenshot below.
  2. Office, Purchasing, Shop - If Phase = Office, Purchasing, or Shop, then the Required Date on the Packages Dashboard (Default Report) will be calculated based on Lead Day settings.
    1. Lead Days configured - If Lead Days have been configured for the Phase and selected Category, then the Required Date displayed on the Packages Dashboard will be calculated.
    2. Lead Days not configured - If no Lead Days have been configured for the Phase and selected Category, then the Required Date displayed on the Packages Dashboard will be the Required Date and all Phases will have the same Start Date.
    3. See the Added Lead Days and Start Date Properties to Packages section for more information.
7. BIM Area - Stratus will attempt to assign a BIM Area to the Package.
  1. The BIM Area option list displays in the New Package dialog.
  2. Notes:
    1. The BIM Area assignment will not update the Stratus.Part.BIMArea property which is the BIM Area associated with the part.
    2. The BIM Area assignment will only update the Stratus.Package.BIMAreaPath property which can be included on a Packages Dashboard report (BIM Area below). Note: The Stratus.Package.BIMAreaPath is editable on the Packages Dashboard.
  3. BIM Area Selection
    1. All parts are in a single BIM Area
      1. When all parts are located within a single BIM Area, the BIM Area is selected by default. The BIM Area can be changed to None or the BIM Area’s parent area.
      2. Once the package is created the selected BIM Area will display under Packages > Properties > General section.
      3. The BIM Area can be edited here. Click the drop-down. If a new BIM Area is selected, click the Save button.
      4. The package’s BIM Area assignment will display on any Packages Dashboard report that includes the Stratus.Package.BIMAreaPath property.
    2. Parts are in Multiple BIM Areas
      1. When parts are located in multiple BIM Areas, the BIM Area that contains the most selected parts (19) is selected by default. The BIM Area can be changed to a different BIM Area, None, or the BIM Area’s parent area.
      2. Once the package is created the selected BIM Area will display under Packages > Properties > General section. The BIM Area can be edited here.
      3. The BIM Area can be edited here. Click the drop-down. If a new BIM Area is selected, click the Save button.
      4. The package’s BIM Area assignment will display on any Packages Dashboard report that includes the Stratus.Package.BIMAreaPath property.
Click Save Package when done. A package similar to the following will be saved. Parts and assemblies can now be added to or removed from the package.
Information about packages displays on the Packages > Dashboard.
New packages are automatically added to the Packages > Schedule.

Add Parts and Assemblies to a Package - Model Viewer

If parts were not selected while create a New Package, parts or assemblies can be added to the package. There are several ways to add parts or assemblies to a package. Note: Before adding parts or assemblies to a package, the package must be in a "Can Package" tracking status. See the Tracking Statuses page for more information. For example, if a package is the "Shipped" tracking status, it's not a good practice to edit the package by adding a part or assembly to it.

To add parts and assemblies to a package:

In the Models > Viewer, click Actions > Packages and select your target package.
In the Models > Viewer, Filter the model as needed.
1. If everything isolated in view will be added to the package, click the + Isolated Assemblies/Parts button. The isolated elements will be added to the package.
2. If, you selected parts and assemblies, click the + Selected Assemblies/Parts button. The selected elements will be added to the package.
Once added to a package, parts, and assemblies will display on the Package's Items tab.
There is an art to isolating and selecting items in the Models Viewer. For information on different ways to add/remove elements to/from a package, see the Create Package video on this page. Some techniques like the Select Connected tool and Auto-Assembly tool rely on a good model where all parts are connected.

Locked Package

A Package becomes "Locked" when the Package is in a Tracking Status that does not have "Can Package" checked under Admin > Company > Tracking Statuses.

Videos

Create Package (4:34) - This video, created on 4/3/2018, does not include some new features (naming conventions and package category) but does demonstrate how to add elements to and remove elements from a package:

How to select or create a new package.
How to see all packages on the Packages Dashboard.
How to add elements (parts and spools) to a package by filtering the model or manually selecting elements.
How to delete a package.
How to remove elements from a package.