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	Specifies the view for the object preview: select a standard view, or a 2 or 4 meter section in right isometric view
Render Mode	Specifies a render mode for the preview

Railing/fence settings: General pane

Parameter	Description
Symbol Selection	Opens the Resource Selector to select an existing railing or fence symbol. When you edit settings in the dialog box, “Current Settings” displays, to indicate that the current settings haven’t been saved as a symbol.
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	Specifies whether to create a 2D or 2D/3D hybrid object
Class	Specifies a class for the object, to control appearance and visibility

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	Adds a top rail to the object
Profile	Specifies a profile shape for the top rail; also specify 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	● Calculated Height automatically calculates the rail height from the post height. ● Custom Height sets the height as specified.
Top rail ends at post	Specifies whether 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, specifies 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	Specifies whether to use a Post, No Post, or Wall Bracket; the settings available on the pane change depending on the selection
Post settings	The following settings are available when the Post option is selected
Display posts in 2D view	Specifies whether posts are visible in Top/Plan view
Post Height	● Calculated Height automatically calculates the rail height from the post height. ● Custom Height sets the height as specified.
Profile	Specifies a profile shape for the post; also 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	Specifies one or more fixed locations for posts along the fence or railing. ● Place post at starting point and Place post at end point place a post at the specified distance from the start or end of the object path. ● Place post at corner places a post at each corner of the object path. ● Align Corner Post Angle to specifies how to align each corner post with the fence or railing. ● Place two 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. Align Corner Post Angle to specifies how to align each corner post with the fence or railing (available when editing corner posts only) ● Edit opens a dialog box to edit the offset and alignment information for the selected post. ● Delete deletes the post. ● Default Settings restores the defaults, discarding all post additions, deletions, and offsets.
Use fascia mount post	Adds an L-shaped mounting bracket to the bottom of each post
Orientation	Specifies the direction of the bracket
Height	Specifies the height of the bracket
Distance	Specifies the horizontal length of the bracket
Wall Bracket settings	The following settings are available when the Bracket option is selected
Display post in 2D view	Specifies whether bracket posts are visible in Top/Plan view
Display overhang in 2D view	Specifies whether bracket extensions are visible in Top/Plan view
Bracket Post
Wall position	Specifies the direction of the bracket extension
Profile	Specifies the profile shape of the bracket
Diameter	Specifies the diameter of the bracket extension
Height	Specifies the height of the bracket
Distance	Specifies the distance between the bracket post and the wall
Fixed Brackets	Specifies one or more fixed locations for brackets along the fence or railing. ● Place bracket at starting point and Place bracket at end point place a bracket at the specified distance from the start or end of the object path. ● Place two 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 Brackets 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

These parameters are only available when the Post option has been selected on the Post pane.

Parameter	Description
Frame/Panel	Adds a frame or panel between the posts
Extend Frame/Panel to	For railings or fences drawn with 3D Line mode, specifies the extent of the frame or panel. ● First/Last post ends the frame or panel at the first and last post. ● If the object is on an incline, Start/End of the path extends the frame or panel to match the top rail extension; also specify whether to extend to the start of the object’s path, the end of the path, or both directions.
No frame or panel at corner without post	Specifies that no frames or panels are created adjacent to corners without a post. When deselected, frames or panels are created in corners with no posts.
Frame Type	● Frame adds multiple bars between the posts. ● Panel adds solid panels between the posts.
Top/Bottom/Left and right	For frames, specify whether to add special frame bars at the top, bottom, and sides of each section of railing or fence
Distance to Top Rail	Specify the distance between the top rail and the top of the frame or panel
Distance to Floor	Specify the distance between the bottom of the frame or panel and the floor
Shape	For frames, specifies a profile shape for the frame bars; also 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	Specifies one or more options for the orientation of the frame bars. ● Create horizontal frames ● Create vertical frames ● Rotate frames by 45°
Shape	Specifies a profile shape for the frame bars; also specify the dimensions, if necessary. ● Line: No dimensions ● Flat: Enter the Thickness ● Round: Enter the Thickness ● Rectangular: Enter the Thickness and Depth
Maximum Distance	Specifies the maximum distance between the frame bars

Railing/fence settings: Miters pane

Enter an angle for miters 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.

3D parts have material and texture options. If a material resource is used to define a part, the material typically provides the fill, texture, physical attributes, and construction information needed for drawings, renderings, and reports. To specify a material, select Use Material and select a material from the Resource Selector. The Fill and Texture settings are set to the material’s settings, and the Fill parameters are disabled. For Texture, select whether to use the class texture, to use the material’s texture, to select a different texture, or to use no texture.

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.

1. From the Railing/Fence Settings dialog box, open the General pane, and click Save as Symbol.

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’re 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.

● To save the symbol in a library file, select Save as template in library file and enter a name for the symbol. It will be available from the Resource Selector and Resource Manager, in the Railing Fence folder in your User Libraries. Library files can be shared among users.

● To save the symbol in the current file, select Save as symbol in current document, enter a name for the symbol, and select a folder destination for it. It will be available from the Resource Selector and Resource Manager. Symbols can be shared by exporting them from the Resource Manager (see Exporting resources).