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40d:Bars
For metal bars see Metal.
Bars are essentially poles that block the movement of all but liquids and light. No creature or object can pass through bars, although in a future versionv0.27.176.38c this behaviour may be altered slightly (see below). Bars can be both vertical and horizontal; vertical bars block movement like walls, while horizontal bars block movement like floors.
Bars can be used to block off channels intended for the passage of water, or magma if they are built from magma-safe materials, whether to keep dwarves from falling in or to keep bad creatures from invading along them. They share much in common with fortifications, which can also be used for the same purpose. Bars can also be fired through like fortifications by marksdwarves and marksmen. They can also be linked to a lever, allowing them to retract.
Usage
Bars can be built from the Site a Building menu ( b ). The hotkey for vertical bars is B, and for floor bars the hotkey is Alt + b. Floor bars can only built where there is no floor, which is removed by digging a channel. Bars can only be built from metal (strangely ashes and coal count as metal as well) and take only one bar object in order to be built.
Future
Bars are currentlyv0.27.176.38c identical in function to grates but distinctions will be made in the future. More specifically, bars may allow for the free passage of verminous creatures while blocking the passage of larger creatures. Bars may even allow small or narrow creatures (such as cats) to pass through. Grates will likely prevent the passage of any but the smallest vermin. Bars may also allow items to fall through, whereas grates would not.
See http://www.bay12games.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=7&t=001394.