Create Column Component

Referring to the hierarchy for the Beam and Columns, the user must create a Component.

The physical geometry of a column is provided by a Component element which is a soft type of a Section (GENSEC). Component elements are owned by the Column element.

From the Select Structural Element pane of the Building Applications window, make sure that the Column element is the CE.

On the Building tab, in the Create group, by default Component is displayed in the Create Element drop-down list.

Click Create Element to display the Create Column window.

In certain projects, it is possible to create non-catalogued columns, for further information, refer to the System Administrator for further information.

In the Naming part of the Create Column window, the application automatically populates the Name field with a name based on the project or company autonaming rules.

By default, the Use gaps in naming sequence checkbox is selected, the user can select which name is to be used. To select the:

• first available name, click Use first available name.

• previous available name, click Use previous name.

• next available name, click Use next available name.

• last available name, click Use last available name.

The user can change the name, to do this, type in a new name in the Name field. If this name already exists, an Error window is displayed. If the name does not conform with the autonaming rules, Apply remains greyed out as long as the name is not properly entered.

The Material drop-down list by default is set to Pyrocrete, the material can be changed to another suitable material. From the Material drop-down list, the user can select from a list of suitable materials.

To make sure design consistency and conformity with company standards, the basic definitions of all profiles which the user can use are held in a Catalogue database. The catalogue database is used in other Design applications with other materials and can be used in the Building application. The profiles available from the Catalogue are determined by the Section Specification.

Click Catalogue, the Section Specification (Default) window is displayed:

By default the default profile specification is selected but the user can select an alternative specification for the column element. for further information on the Default Profile Specification, refer to Default Specification for further information.

Click Apply to confirm the specification or Cancel to discard any inputs and close the Section Specification (Default) window.

The user can also modify the width and height properties of the column element, from the Create Column window, click Properties and the Modify Properties window is displayed.

The width and height of the column element can be input directly in to the Width and Height fields or click Measure Width, the user is prompted to Measure property dimension start (Snap) Snap: and the selection of the start dimension the user is prompted to Measure property dimension end (Snap) Snap:. After the selection in the 3D graphical view the Width measurement field is automatically populated. The height can be automatically populated in the same way, with the exception of the user clicking Measure Height. Click OK to save the properties and close the Modify Properties.

To return the width and height back to the default, click Default.

To discard any inputs, click Reset.

To close the Modify Properties window, click Cancel.

By default the Height of new column element is 5000, but the user can change the Height, input the required height into the Height field.

Measure Height, the user is prompted to Measure Height: Pick Start (Snap) Snap: in the 3D graphical view, after the selection has been made the Height field is automatically populated.

Click Flip start and end position to reverse the start and end positions of the column.

Click Use end position for start to set the end position of the previously created column as the start position of the current column.

Select Move Graphically from the option list to invoke the Positioning Control window and allows the user to graphically select an existing element to move the column’s start position to.

Select Graphical Pick Start/End from the option list to invoke the Positioning Control window and allows the user to make two graphical selections to establish the start and end of the column.

The Start Position section of the window is used to establish the start position of the column. It can be populated several ways:

• Establish the correct direction from the option lists and type the coordinates.

• Click Graphical Pick Start invoke the Positioning Control window to graphically pick the position. The co-ordinates are populated automatically.

• Alternatively, the first two methods can be combined by utilizing the padlocks. Click Coordinate locked to unlock a value or click Coordinate unlocked to lock the value. A locked value is displayed in grey.

• Click Pick Elevation to invoke the Positioning Control window to graphically pick an existing element to establish the up/down co-ordinate.

The wrt textbox displays the element name that the start position co-ordinates are positioned with respect to.

The End Position section of the window is used to establish the end position of the column. It can be populated using any of the methods used to establish the start position of the column.

The Orientation section of the window is used to establish the Direction and Section Rotation angle of the column. The Direction textbox displays the direction of the column (defined from the start to the end positions) and considering columns are vertical in nature, the default direction is set to U WRT /Level_name. By default, the direction is locked and is indicated by the lock.

The direction may be changed using a number of methods. If text entry is to be used, the Direction field must first be unlocked, click to unlock. The direction can be re-established by typing a new direction (for example: U, N, N45E, S30W15D) then clicking Enter.

Two other methods can be used to set the direction of the column. Click Pick surface or edge to define direction to graphically pick the face or edge of an existing element. It is not necessary to unlock the Direction field using this method.

Alternatively, select Reverse Direction which changes the column direction by 180 degrees. The method can also be used whether the direction is locked or unlocked.

The Section Rotation textbox displays the rotation angle of the section and may be populated by typing the appropriate angle and clicking Enter. Rotation angles can be entered in any of the following formats:

The miter Direction pane of the Create Column window can be used to establish the miter direction of the Start and Stop positions by default, the miters are perpendicular to the column and are always shown with respect to the level. The miter is calculated automatically when the direction of the column is modified. The user can modify each miter:

Input a direction in the Start field, the direction is always shown with respect to the level or click Pick edge or surface to define direction, the user is prompted to Pick Face or Edge in the 3D graphical view.

Input a direction in the End field, the direction is always shown with respect to the level or click Pick edge or surface to define direction, the user is prompted to Pick Face or Edge in the 3D graphical view.