"Orientation" beam instance parameter mystery

[hubcapboy]

I've tried to attach a screenshot of my beam element properties, because I've heard from one other user that this instance parameter doesn't display when she views element properties on a beam.

My question is this: What does the Orientation instance parameter define, what options are there other than "Normal," and what releases this field to be editable? there are other greyed out fields in instance parameters, such as the z-Direction Offset Value, but this value becomes live when "other" is selected for Justification. Is there something else that has to be changed to allow you to change orientation?

But most importantly... what happens to the beam if you manage to change Orientation?

http://picasaweb.google.com/hubcapbo...29507937661634

/g

[hubcapboy]

After fooling around with rotations, it seems like this appears only when the beam is at 0 or 90 degrees using the Cross-section Rotation parameter.

... or at least it's disappeared a few times when I've set anything else.

/g

[hubcapboy]

Forget that... now I have two beams at 90 degrees, one has the parameter visible, the other doesn't.

/g

[kcooper.190440]

I find this tool useful when I'm framing a roof... After setting my plane to the roof to create a beam system, I insert the ridge in the 3-D view. It'd orientation is initially "normal" to the plan I'm currently in. To adjust the ridge I change it's orientation to "horizontal".

[hubcapboy]

Aha! genius!

So it has to be a beam that references a non-horizontal plane for the Work Plane!!!

Thank you. I've got it mastered now.

/g

[howard.pitts.dallas]

Can you make Horizontal the default for your project or family?

The Normal setting is perpendicular to the work plane and that is really "abnormal" when the roof is sloping 1/4" per 1'-0".

Any advice?