Railing and Fence Settings

The settings are grouped into several panes of related parameters. Select each group of parameters from the list in the left pane of the dialog box; the parameters display in the center pane. The right pane of the dialog box always displays a preview of the object based on the current settings.

Railing/Fence Settings

Parameter	Description
View	Select a view from the list of standard views, and either a two or four meter representation of the object
Render Mode	Select a render mode for the preview from the list of available modes

Railing/Fence Settings: General Pane

Parameter	Description
Symbol Selection	Select a symbol to use for the railing or fence: ● Select Current Settings, and then select either Fence or Railings to display a list of symbols from the default resource libraries. The Custom Defaults option is also available if you have saved your own symbols to a library file. ● If available, select Current document to display a list of fence or railing symbols that have been saved with this document.
Save as Symbol	Opens the Save Railing/Fence dialog box to save the current configuration for future use; see Saving a Railing or Fence as a Symbol
Component	Select whether to create a 2D or 2D/3D hybrid object
Class	To control appearance and visibility of the object, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class

If you select a different symbol after making parameter changes on any tab, the New Railing dialog box opens. Each railing or fence symbol has default settings. If you switch to a new symbol, you can either use the default settings, or transfer the current settings to the new object. From the dialog box, select specific settings to transfer, or click All or None to select or deselect all the settings.

Railing/Fence Settings: Top Rail Pane

Parameter	Description
Top Rail	Select to add a top rail to the object
Profile	Select a profile shape for the top rail, and specify the dimensions, if necessary. ● Round: Enter the Diameter ● Rectangular: Enter the Width and Height ● Octagon: Enter the Diameter ● Custom Profile: Select a profile from the list of available shapes You can create a 2D symbol to use as a custom profile. Save the profile in the current document, or in a file in your user folder: [User]\Libraries\Defaults\Railing Fence\Profile Top Rail.
Height	Select Calculated Height to have the rail height automatically calculated from the post height. Select Custom Height to enter a specific height.
Top Rail ends at post	When selected, the top rail ends at the first and last post; when deselected, the rail length matches the length of the object’s path
Extensions for Inclined Top Rail	For railings or fences drawn with 3D Line mode, enter lengths for the extensions of the top rail beyond the start and end of the object path. If the object is on an incline, also specify whether the extension continues the slope of the main rail, or is horizontal to the ground.

Railing/Fence Settings: Post Pane

Parameter	Description
Post option	Select Post, No Post, or Wall Bracket; the settings available on the pane change depending on the selection
Post settings
2D View with Post	When selected, the posts are visible in Top/Plan view; when deselected, the posts are not visible
Post Height	Select Calculated Height to have the post height automatically calculated from the rail height. Select Custom Height to enter a specific height.
Profile	Select a profile shape for the post, and specify the dimensions, if necessary. ● Round: Enter the Diameter ● Rectangular: Enter the Width and Height ● Octagon: Enter the Diameter ● Custom Profile: Select a profile from the list of available shapes ● Custom Symbol: Select a symbol from the list of available symbols You can create a 2D symbol to use as a custom profile, or a 3D symbol to use for the post. Save the profile or post symbol in the current document, or in a file in the appropriate folder in your user folder: [User]\Libraries\Defaults\Railing Fence\Profile Posts or [User]\Libraries\Defaults\Railing Fence\Symbol Posts.
Fixed Post	Specify one or more fixed locations for posts along the fence or railing. ● Post at Starting Point and Post at End Point place a post at the specified distance from the start or end of the object path ● Post at Corner places a post at each corner of the object path ● 2 Posts at Corner places a post at a specified distance before and after each corner of the object path
Arrangement
Arrangement options	● Approximate Distance calculates a number of posts and distributes them evenly along the object path ● Fixed Distance calculates a number of posts and positions them at the specified distance from each other along the object path; this may result in uneven spacing for the end posts ● Number of Posts evenly distributes the specified number of posts along the object path
Position	When an existing railing or fence is selected, opens the Position Post dialog box. Select a post from the list, and then click the appropriate button: ● New adds a new post to the path, halfway between the selected post and the post beneath it in the list; enter offset information for the new post, if needed. The Offset Position Max. and Min. values that display represent the end and beginning of the path, respectively. Offset Position is the distance to offset the post from its default, calculated position; a negative number moves the post toward the beginning of the path, and a positive number moves it toward the end of the path. Offset to Bottom is the distance to offset the post bottom from its default, calculated position; a positive number makes the post longer, and a negative number makes it shorter. ● Edit opens a dialog box to edit the offset information for the selected post. ● Delete deletes the post. ● Default Settings restores the defaults, discarding all post additions, deletions, and offsets.
Fascia Mount Post	Select to add an L-shaped mounting bracket to the bottom of each post
Fascia Is	Specify the direction of the bracket
Height	Enter the height of the bracket
Distance	Enter the horizontal length of the bracket
Wall Bracket settings
2D View with Post	When selected, the bracket posts are visible in Top/Plan view; when deselected, the posts are not visible
2D View with Overhang	When selected, the bracket extensions are visible in Top/Plan view; when deselected, the extensions are not visible
Bracket Post
Wall Is	Specify the direction of the bracket extension
Profile	Select the profile shape of the bracket
Diameter	Enter the diameter of the bracket extension
Height	Enter the height of the bracket
Distance	Enter the distance between the bracket post and the wall
Fixed Brackets	Specify one or more fixed locations for brackets along the fence or railing. ● Bracket at Starting Point and Bracket at End Point place a bracket at the specified distance from the start or end of the object path ● 2 Brackets at Corner places a bracket at a specified distance before and after each corner of the object path
Arrangement
Arrangement options	● Approximate Distance calculates a number of brackets and distributes them evenly along the object path ● Fixed Distance calculates a number of brackets and positions them at the specified distance from each other along the object path; this may result in uneven spacing for the end brackets ● Number of Posts evenly distributes the specified number of brackets along the object path
Position	When an existing railing is selected, opens the Position Wall Bracket dialog box. Select a bracket from the list, and then click the appropriate button. ● New adds a new bracket to the path, halfway between the selected bracket and the bracket beneath it in the list; enter offset information for the new bracket, if needed. The Offset Position Max. and Min. values that display represent the end and beginning of the path, respectively. Offset Position is the distance to offset the bracket from its default, calculated position; a negative number moves the bracket toward the beginning of the path, and a positive number moves it toward the end of the path. ● Edit opens a dialog box to edit the offset information for the selected bracket. ● Delete deletes the bracket. ● Default Settings restores the defaults, discarding all bracket additions, deletions, and offsets.

Railing/Fence Settings: Frame/Panel Pane

Parameter	Description
Frame/Panel	Select to add a frame or panel between the posts
Frame and Panel Ends at Start and End Post	When selected, the frame or panel ends at the first and last post; when deselected, the frame or panel length matches the length of the object’s path
No Frame/Panel at Corner without Post	When selected, no frames or panels are created adjacent to corners, if Post at Corner is deselected. When deselected, frames or panels are created around corners continuously.
Frame Type	Select Frame or Panel; the settings available on the pane change depending on the selection. ● Frame adds multiple bars between the posts ● Panel adds solid panels between the posts
Top/Bottom/Side	For frames, select whether to add special frame bars at the top, bottom, and sides of each section of railing or fence
Distance to Top Rail	Enter the distance between the top rail and the top of the frame or panel
Distance to Floor	Enter the distance between the bottom of the frame or panel and the floor
Shape	For frames, select a profile shape for the frame bars, and specify the dimensions, if necessary. ● Line: no dimensions ● Flat: Enter the Width ● Round: Enter the Width ● Rectangular: Enter the Width and Height
Frame Bars
Frame bar options	Select one or more options for the orientation of the frame bars. ● Create Horizontal Frames ● Create Vertical Frames ● Rotate Frames by 45°
Shape	Select a profile shape for the frame bars, and specify the dimensions, if necessary. ● Line: no dimensions ● Flat: Enter the Thickness ● Round: Enter the Thickness ● Rectangular: Enter the Thickness and Depth
Maximum Distance	Enter a maximum distance between the frame bars

Railing/Fence Settings: Start/End Pane

For Top/Plan view, enter an angle for chamfers at each end of the railing or fence; enter 0 (zero) for a straight edge.

Railing/Fence Settings: Attributes Pane

The class and class graphic attributes of each part of the railing or fence display. Double-click an item to open an attributes dialog box. See The Attributes Palette for information about setting attributes.

Saving a Railing or Fence as a Symbol

You can save the railing or fence configuration as a symbol in the current file or in a library file. The object is saved as a red symbol and becomes a plug-in object with pre-set parameters when inserted. See Symbols.

● If you saved the symbol in the user default library, it is available from the Symbol Selection list in the General pane, under the Custom Defaults category. Library files can be shared among users.

● If you saved the symbol in the current file, it is available from the Symbol Selection list in the General pane, under the Current document category, and also from the Resource Manager. Symbols can be shared by exporting them from the Resource Manager (see Exporting Resources).

Parameter	Description
Destination	Specify whether to save the symbol in the current file, or in a custom default library file located in the user folder; the exact location is displayed upon saving
Name	Enter a name for the symbol
Symbol Folder	If you are saving the symbol in the current document, select the current file name to save the symbol at the top level, or double-click a folder from the list to save the symbol in that folder. To create a folder, click New Folder. To create a subfolder within a folder, select the folder and click Browse, or double-click the folder.