Creating an Adjacency Matrix

Adjacency matrices specify, in tabular format, the spaces and area requirements that must be incorporated into a design. In addition, the relationships among the various spaces are identified. Spaces which should be located next to each other are strongly related, while spaces which can or should be separated have a weak relationship.

An adjacency matrix is typically developed in a spreadsheet program and imported into VectorWorks. An adjacency matrix can also be created in a VectorWorks worksheet, exported as a tab-delimited file, and then imported back into VectorWorks to create an adjacency matrix.

Creating an Adjacency Matrix Worksheet

To create an adjacency matrix worksheet in VectorWorks:

1.	From the Resource Browser Resources menu, select New Resource and then select Worksheet. See Creating Worksheets

2.	Create the adjacency matrix, using every other row for space names and areas, and alternate rows for specifying the relationships among the spaces.

Any third-party spreadsheet program that can save a tab- or comma-delimited text file can be used to create the adjacency matrix. Ensure that there is at least one cell containing data on each spreadsheet row. Certain spreadsheet programs do not export rows without data, which could disrupt the expected sequence of data in the file as it is imported into VectorWorks.

3.	Click File > Export > Export Worksheet to export the worksheet as a tab- or comma-delimited file.

4.	Click OK and specify the name and location of the file.

Importing an Adjacency Matrix Spreadsheet

To import an adjacency matrix:

1.	Ensure that the file to be imported is a tab- or comma-delimited file.

2.	Select AEC > Space Planning > Import Adjacency Matrix. The Import Adjacency Matrix dialog box opens. Specify the adjacency matrix file import options.

 

Parameter	Description
External Filename	Enter the name of the adjacency matrix file or click Browse to specify its location; a sample file is specified by default
Header Rows	Specifies the number of rows in the spreadsheet that do not include space or space relationship information
Row Spacing	Set this to 0 (zero) if there is a space name on every row or set this to 1 if there is a space name on every other row in the drawing file
Field Delimiter	Specifies the delimiter that was used to separate fields for the spreadsheet
Column Numbers and Preview	Specifies the columns to include in the adjacency matrix as well as their position
Department	Select to include department number information and specify its column number
Space	Select to include area name information and specify its column number
Area	Select to include the space area information and specify its column number
Relationships	Select to include the space relationship information and specify its column number
Preview	Displays the data in the selected columns

3.	Click OK to import the adjacency matrix. If this is the first time an adjacency matrix, stacking diagram, spaces, or space links are placed in the file, the object properties dialog box opens for each type of object. Accept the default values and click OK.

Inserting an Adjacency Matrix

An adjacency matrix diagram can also be created manually with the Adjacency Matrix tool, based on spaces and space relationships currently in the file.

 

To insert an adjacency matrix diagram:

1.	Click the Adjacency Matrix tool from the Space Planning tool set.

2.	Click at the desired location for the adjacency matrix.

3.

Click again to set the matrix rotation. If this is the first time an adjacency matrix diagram is placed on the drawing, the object properties dialog box opens. Specify the default preferences, which apply to all adjacency matrix diagrams placed subsequently in this drawing. Properties can be edited later in the Object Info palette. Click OK.

The adjacency matrix is created.

If no space objects currently exist in the drawing, an adjacency matrix place holder is created.

Adjacency Matrix Properties

The adjacency matrix is more than just a presentation graphic, because it dynamically shows what is in the drawing. The adjacency matrix updates automatically when spaces or space links change.

The Rotation, Height Scale and Width Scale parameters of an adjacency matrix can be edited in the Object Info palette.

To adjust the order of adjacency matrix spaces, change the Matrix Order number in the Object Info palette for the relevant space object (see Space Properties).