Check Rebar

Compares rebar groups against a reference group to find missing, extra, or mismatched bars — a read-only QA check, it makes no changes to the model.

General Description

Add rebar groups to the comparison, either from a host element or picked directly. The first group added is the reference; every other group is compared against it by Rebar Number, checking bar count, spacing, and layout rule, and each is flagged with a result.

Key Features

• Two ways to add a group: From host (pick a host element containing rebar) or From rebar (pick one or more rebars directly).
• Automatic reference: the first group added is the reference; any entry can be promoted with Set as reference.
• Per-entry comparison table: Number, Bar type, Count, Length, Spacing, Result.
• Show in model highlights an entry's bars; Remove drops it from the comparison.
• Read-only — the model is never modified.

Requirements

• At least one host element or rebar with reinforcement to use as the reference group.

Usage Procedure

1. Open Check Rebar from the Structure panel on the Frata ribbon tab.
2. Choose From host and pick a host element containing rebar, or From rebar and pick one or more rebars directly, then press Add to compare.
3. The first group you add becomes the reference automatically. To use a different group as the reference, press Set as reference on that entry.
4. Review the Result column for every other entry: Matches, Different count, Different layout, Different spacing, Missing, or Extra, broken down by Rebar Number, count, length, and spacing.
5. Use Show in model to highlight an entry's bars, or Remove to drop it from the comparison.
6. Press Close when done — Check Rebar only reads the model.

Recommendations

• Compare groups that are meant to be identical (e.g. the same column type repeated on different levels) — the comparison is by Rebar Number, so unrelated groups will show as mostly "Missing"/"Extra" rather than a useful diff.
• Use "Show in model" on a flagged entry before editing it in the model, so you're certain which physical bars the report refers to.

Frequently Asked Questions

I got the message "The selection has no rebar." Why? The host element or selection you picked doesn't contain any reinforcement. Pick a host that actually has rebar hosted on it, or pick rebar elements directly.

How does Check Rebar decide if a group "matches"? It compares each entry against the reference group by Rebar Number, checking bar count, spacing, and layout rule for that number. A number with the same count, spacing, and layout as the reference is reported as Matches.

Can I change which group is the reference after adding several? Yes — press Set as reference on any entry in the list; all entries are re-validated against the new reference immediately.

Does this tool change anything in my model? No — Check Rebar only reads and compares rebar data. It doesn't create, delete, or modify any element.