ArchSpot00001.pngCreating Structural Members

The Structural Member tool has the capability to insert straight and polylinear structural members composed of a variety of common materials and shapes, and to build networks of associated members. Structural members can be aligned with the layer plane or a working plane, as needed.

The following modes are available.

StructMemb_modes.png 

Mode

Description

Column Insertion

Inserts a vertical member

Linear Insertion

Inserts a linear member

Poly Insertion

Draws a structural member using the selected polyline creation options

Polyline creation options

For Poly Insertion mode, selects the method for drawing the polyline upon which the object is based; see Creating Polylines

Column Height

For columns with both the Start Bound and End Bound set to Layer Elevation in Structural Member Settings, enter the column height

Auto Join Members

When selected, automatically joins connected members and maintains the association between the member being moved and adjoining members; members can be joined to another member’s start or end point, centerline or edge. Associations are maintained for copied and duplicated objects, including objects moved to a different document.

Preferences

Opens the Structural Member Settings dialog box to set the default preferences for structural members

StructMemb_eg1.png 

Structural00006.png 

Creating Vertical Structural Members

Mode

Tool

Workspace: Tool set

Column Insertion

Structural Member

StructMemb_tool.png 

●        Architect: Building Shell

●        Spotlight: Rigging

To create a vertical structural member:

  1. Click the tool and mode, and then click Preferences to set the object defaults (see Structural Member Settings). Most of the properties can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

  2. Enter the Column Height on the Tool bar.

  3. If Auto Join Members mode is enabled, as you move the cursor over an existing structural member, the object is highlighted, indicating that it can be associated. Click to place the structural member; it is inserted by its base.

Creating Linear Structural Members

Mode

Tool

Workspace: Tool set

Linear Insertion

Structural Member

StructMemb_tool00009.png 

●        Architect: Building Shell

●        Spotlight: Rigging

To create a linear structural member:

  1. Click the tool and mode, and then click Preferences to set the object defaults (see Structural Member Settings). Most of the properties can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

  2. If Auto Join Members mode is enabled, as you move the cursor over an existing structural member, the object is highlighted, indicating that it can be associated. Click to place the structural member’s start point, and click again to place the end point.

Creating Polylinear Structural Members

Mode

Tool

Workspace: Tool set

Poly Insertion

Structural Member

StructMemb_tool00010.png 

●        Architect: Building Shell

●        Spotlight: Rigging

To create a a structural member by drawing a polyline:

  1. Click the tool and mode, and then click Preferences to set the object defaults (see Structural Member Settings). Most of the properties can be edited later from the Object Info palette.

  2. If Auto Join Members mode is enabled, as you move the cursor over an existing structural member, the object is highlighted, indicating that it can be associated. Click to set the starting point of the structural member, and then click to set each polyline vertex. Double-click to finish creating the structural member.

For information on using the polyline creation options, see Creating Polylines.

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Editing Structural Members

 

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