Creating columns and pilasters

In the Vectorworks Architect product, columns and pilasters can be architectural in nature, structural in nature, or both. Use the Column tool or Pilaster tool to draw an object that not only reflects the architectural appearance of a column/pilaster, but also defines it in structural terms that can be used in an engineering analysis of the building. Structural and architectural elements can be displayed or hidden. The column ID can also, optionally, be placed on the drawing. Additionally, in the Architect product, the column/pilaster can be exported to IFC format for exchange with structural analysis programs.

A pilaster can be placed in a wall (however, a column cannot be placed in a wall). A pilaster inserted in a wall can set its architectural height relative to the wall.

2. From the Tool bar, click either Active Def to select an existing resource from the Resource Selector, or click Preferences and set the default parameters to create a custom object.

3. Click on the drawing to place the object, and click again to set the rotation. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

To create a circular or square shaft, capital, or base, enter the same value for the width and depth.

Optionally, after placement you can create a plug-in object style, which combines style parameters (with a fixed value established by the style) and instance parameters (which can be set independently for each instance of the styled object in the drawing). See Creating plug-in object styles.

Basic column parameters

The basic column object is available with the Vectorworks Landmark and Spotlight products.

Parameter	Description
Rotation	Specifies the number of degrees to rotate the object (0.00 is horizontal)
Text Style	Select a text style from a library or the current file. To use the style defined for the object’s class, select <Class Text Style>. To format the text using options on the Text menu, select <Un-Styled>. See Using text styles and Formatting text.
Style	Replace, remove, or edit the current style, or create a new plug-in object style for this object. Editing a style changes all instances in the file that use the style.
Hide Style Parameters	Hides the parameters that are set by style; these cannot be edited from the dialog box or Object Info palette
Use Center Marks	Select this option to size the cross at the column insertion point and enter the Center Mark Size
Height	Directly sets the desired height of the column, including base and capital (if any). When the column height is determined manually by this method, the Top Bound property of the column is automatically set to Layer Elevation, and the Top Offset value is modified accordingly. When the top of the column is bound by the layer wall height value, the wall height updates automatically.
Top Bound	Sets the vertical reference that determines the top of the column. The Layer Wall Height value is set by the design layer (see Setting design layer properties). Additional options are available for the Vectorworks Architect product.
Top Offset	Sets the offset of the top of the column from its specified top bound height. If setting the boundary of the top of the column to the layer elevation, enter the column’s height for the Top Offset; if setting the height of the top of the column to the default wall height, specify any offset above or below the layer’s default wall height.
Bot Bound	Sets the vertical reference that determines the bottom of the column; Layer Elevation is the only option available unless the Vectorworks Architect product is installed
Bot Offset	For the bottom of the column, sets the offset from the layer elevation
Shaft Type	Select to draw the column with an oval or rectangular shaft type
Shaft Width	Enter the shaft width
Shaft Depth	Enter the shaft depth
Shaft Corner Radius	For rectangular shaft type, enter the corner radius of the shaft
Shaft Taper	Select whether to draw the column with a classic or straight taper, or no taper
Taper Width	For a straight or classic taper, enter the taper width
Taper Depth	For a straight or classic taper, enter the taper depth
Use Capital	Select whether to add a capital to the column
Capital Type	Select to draw the column with an oval, oval mushroom, rectangular, or rectangular mushroom capital
Capital Width	Enter the capital width
Capital Depth	Enter the capital depth
Capital Height	Enter the capital height
Capital Corner Radius	For rectangular capital type, enter the corner radius of the capital
Use Base	Select whether to add a base to the column
Base Type	Select an oval or rectangular base type
Base Width	Enter the base width
Base Depth	Enter the base depth
Base Height	Enter the base height
Base Corner Radius	For rectangular base type, enter the base corner radius
Base Divisions	Enter the number of divisions for the base
Divider Depth/Height	For more than one base division, enter the depth and height for each divider
Get Finishes/Classes	Click to open the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box to select the class to use for rendering the 3D shaft, capital, and base of the column
Shaft Finish	Displays the class to use for rendering the 3D shaft (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Capital Finish	If Use Capital is selected, displays the class to use for rendering the 3D capital (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Base Finish	If Use Base is selected, displays the class to use for rendering the 3D base (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)

Architect column and pilaster parameters

The architectural column and pilaster objects are available with the Vectorworks Architect product.

Parameter	Description
Rotation	Specifies the number of degrees to rotate the object (0.00 is horizontal)
Text Style	Select a text style from a library or the current file. To use the style defined for the object’s class, select <Class Text Style>. To format the text using options on the Text menu, select <Un-Styled>. See Using text styles and Formatting text.
Style	Replace, remove, or edit the current style, or create a new plug-in object style for this object. Editing a style changes all instances in the file that use the style.
Hide Style Parameters	Hides the parameters that are set by style; these cannot be edited from the dialog box or Object Info palette
Use Center Marks	Select this option to size the cross at the column/pilaster insertion point and enter the Center Mark Size
Use Component	Select whether to use only architectural components, only structural components, or a combination of architectural and structural components for the column/pilaster. Depending on the selection, different options are available. When both Architectural and Structural components are selected, the height of the architectural and structural components can be set individually.
Use Wall Height (Pilaster only, inserted in wall)	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select to draw the architectural pilaster height equal to the wall height. This option is only available when a pilaster has been inserted into a wall. If a wall is set according to a top and bottom boundary level, pilasters inserted into the wall are in effect also set by boundary level.
Height (Architectural Only or Structural Only)	Directly sets the desired height of the column/pilaster’s architectural or structural component, including base and capital (if any). When the height is determined manually by this method, the Top Bound property of the column/pilaster is automatically set to Layer Elevation, and the Top Offset value is modified accordingly. When the top of the column/pilaster is bound by the layer wall height value or by a story level, the column/pilaster height updates automatically.
Arch Height (Architectural and Structural)	When architectural components are included with structural, directly sets the desired height of the column/pilaster’s architectural component, including base and capital (if any). When the height is determined manually by this method, the Top Bound property of the column/pilaster is automatically set to Layer Elevation, and the Top Offset value is modified accordingly. When the top of the column/pilaster is bound by the layer wall height value or by a story level, the column/pilaster height updates automatically.
Struct Height (Architectural and Structural)	When structural components are included with architectural, directly sets the desired height of the column/pilaster’s structural component, including top plate and base plate (if any). When the height is determined manually by this method, the Top Bound property of the column/pilaster is automatically set to Layer Elevation, and the Top Offset value is modified accordingly. When the top of the column/pilaster is bound by the layer wall height value or by a story level, the column/pilaster height updates automatically.
Top Bound	Sets the vertical reference that determines the top of the object. The Layer Wall Height value is set by the design layer (see Setting design layer properties). Additional options are available for the Vectorworks Architect product. The top of the object can be bound by one of the story levels defined for the story or the story above it. By setting the top of the object to a level type, if the elevation of the associated story changes, the height of the object changes automatically to match.
Top Offset	Sets the offset of the top of the object from its specified top bound height
Bot Bound	Sets the vertical reference that determines the bottom of the object; Layer Elevation is the only option available unless the Vectorworks Architect product is installed. Additional options are available for the Vectorworks Architect product. The bottom of the object can be bound by one of the story levels defined for the story or the story below it. By setting the bottom of the object to a level type, if the elevation of the associated story changes, the height of the object changes automatically to match.
Bot Offset	For the bottom of the object, sets the offset from its specified bottom bound height
Arch. Comp. Class	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, displays the class for the architectural components of the column/pilaster (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Arch Offset X/Arch Offset Y (Column only)	For Architectural and Structural components, specify the distance to offset the architectural component of the column from the insertion point, in the X and Y directions. The 2D column’s insertion point always coincides with the center marks (if any) and the center of the structural component (if any), and the architectural component is offset from the insertion point as specified by these properties.
Struct Offset X/Struct Offset Y (Pilaster only)	For Architectural and Structural components, specify the distance to offset the structural component of the pilaster from the insertion point, in the X and Y directions. The 2D pilaster’s insertion point always coincides with the face of the wall, centered on the architectural component; the structural component and center marks (if any) are offset from the insertion point, as specified by these properties.
Struct Offset Z (Pilaster only)	For Architectural and Structural components, specify the distance to offset the structural component of the column/pilaster from the architectural component, in the Z direction
Shaft Type	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select to draw the column/pilaster with an oval or rectangular shaft type
Shaft Width	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the shaft width
Shaft Depth	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the shaft depth
Shaft Corner Radius	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the corner radius for a rectangular shaft type
Shaft Taper	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select whether to draw the column/pilaster with a classic or straight taper, or no taper
Taper Width	For a straight or classic taper, enter the taper width
Taper Depth	For a straight or classic taper, enter the taper depth
Shaft Finish	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, displays the class to use for rendering the 3D shaft (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Use Capital	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select whether to add a capital to the architectural component
Capital Type	Select to draw the column/pilaster with an oval, oval mushroom, rectangular, or rectangular mushroom capital
Capital Width	Enter the capital width
Capital Depth	Enter the capital depth
Capital Height	Enter the capital height
Capital Corner Radius	For rectangular capital type, enter the corner radius of the capital
Capital Finish	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, displays the class to use for rendering the 3D capital (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Use Base	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select whether to add a base to the architectural component
Base Type	Select an oval or rectangular base type
Base Width	Enter the base width
Base Depth	Enter the base depth
Base Height	Enter the base height
Base Corner Radius	For rectangular base type, enter the base corner radius
Base Divisions	Enter the number of divisions for the base
Divider Depth/Height	For more than one base division, enter the depth and height for each divider
Base Finish	For Architectural Only or Architectural and Structural components, displays the class to use for rendering the base (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Column ID	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the Column ID (for reporting purposes, and optionally to be displayed in the drawing)
Display Column ID	Select this option to display the column ID on the drawing; the ID text is placed at the insertion point of the column/pilaster, at the center of a control point. Click and drag the control point to move the ID to the desired location on the drawing. The ID text attributes can be modified using the Text menu commands.
Column ID Class	Displays the class to use for the column ID text (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Get Finishes/Classes	Click to open the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box to select the class to use for attributes of the 3D shaft, capital, and base of the column and to select the class for the column ID text (if applicable) and the architectural and/or structural components of the column/pilaster (as applicable, based on the component type specified). In addition to classes present in the drawing, architectural component classes include the Wall-Interior and Structural-Columns class standards and structural component classes include the Structural-Columns class standard. Alternatively, create a new class by selecting New, or select the class named <Object Class> which places the item in the same class as the column or pilaster object.
Struct Type	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select whether the structural component is made of concrete, wood, or steel
Struct Shape	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, specify whether the concrete or wood structural shape is oval or rectangular
Struct Width	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the width of the concrete or wood structural component
Struct Depth	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the depth of the concrete or wood structural component
Struct Corner Radius	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the structural corner radius for a rectangular structural shape
Select Structural Shape	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, click to open the Select Structural Shape dialog box. Select the structural shape from a library or the current file, and then select the shape’s series and size.
Struct Shape / Struct Series / Struct Size	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, displays the selected steel structural shape symbol name, series, and size
Struct Height	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, specify the overall height of the structural column/pilaster, including base plate and top plate (if any)
Struct Rotation	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, enter the number of degrees to rotate the structural component
Struct Clearance	For Architectural and Structural components, specifies the clearance around the structural component that will be subtracted from the architectural component
Struct. Comp. Class	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, displays the class for the structural component of the column/pilaster (selected in the Get Finishes/Classes dialog box)
Use Top Plate	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select whether to add a plate to the top of the structural component
TP Shape	Select to draw either an oval or rectangular top plate
TP Width	Enter the width of the top plate
TP Depth	Enter the depth of the top plate
TP Thickness	Enter the thickness of the top plate
TP Corner Radius	For a rectangular top plate, enter the corner radius
Use Base Plate	For Structural Only or Architectural and Structural components, select whether to add a plate to the bottom of the structural component
BP Shape	Select to draw either an oval or rectangular base plate
BP Width	Enter the width of the base plate
BP Depth	Enter the depth of the base plate
BP Thickness	Enter the thickness of the base plate
BP Corner Radius	For a rectangular base plate, enter the corner radius