What is the deal with "vertical projection" on beams?

[patricks]

I placed a beam that is 10 feet above my 2nd floor, while in the 2nd floor view. I set the offset to 10 feet before placing the beam. Now the beam is showing in the 2nd floor plan. I checked the Vertical Projection parameter and it was set to Auto Detect. I changed it to top of beam, still shows. I changed it to center of beam, nope, still shows in the 2nd floor plan. Keep in mind that the 2nd floor's view range is nowhere near the height of the beam, and yet it still shows in plan. Even if I change the beam to be 50 feet above the 2nd floor, it still shows in the floor plan.

I have several beams just below my 2nd floor that do not show on my 1st floor plan, and those are all set to Auto-detect for vertical projection. I have no levels that are higher than the 2nd floor level, so what am I supposed to do? How do I get this beam to not show in my 2nd floor plan??

[sfaust]

use start and end offset rather than geometry offset. I'm not sure I like the way that works either, but it seems geometry offset is supposed to be for offsetting a girder to receive the depth of a joist bearing or the like. Using this keeps the analytical at the level it was drawn at and hence shows up in that level. If you use the start and end offset it move the analytical as well. Set start and end offset to 10' and you should be good...

[patricks]

Thank you much, that worked. I knew that the start and end offsets could be used to make sloping beams, but I never knew why it had both that and the geometry offset parameters.