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

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

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.

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.

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

Make All Attributes by Class

Sets all fill, pen, and texture attributes by class, except those that come from a material

Remove All By Class Settings

Removes all class settings for fill, pen, and texture attributes; does not affect material definitions with attributes set by class

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.