Columns Modelling vs. Structural

[boofredlay]

Ok here is what I did...

I spent most of the day laying out a column grid and the columns that correspond. All the while I used the columns in the Modelling tab. I loaded the rectangular and the chamfered columns. I have many different column sizes.
So, I start to place the walls in and the columns start merging with the walls. DOOKIE!

I now know I should have loaded the structural concrete columns from the Structural tab... 'cause I did a test with them and got the result I wanted, Walls and columns showing as separate entities.

Please tell me there is a simple way to replace the "generic" columns I started with, with the concrete structural columns. Again I have many different sizes of columns.

Side question, is there a way to create or edit and save as... an L shaped structural column?

Thanks a million.

[Paul Andersen]

Attached is an L-Shaped Structural Column for your review.

[jtobin.68416]

I don't think you can simply pick and replace the architectural columns with eh structural ones as they're two different families. Frustrating, I know.

You can however, separate them from the wall by using the 'unjoin geometry' option on them, but that may also be tedious.

Also, I remember Steve Stafford pointed out in a previous forum thread that model families have an option within the family to "not automatically join with walls" (sorry, I don't have a screen shot but it was there when I looked (under settings, I think). This option only works after columns are placed after the family is loaded with the new option.

John Tobin

[boofredlay]

Thanks for the Family Paul.

jtobin... Using the unjoin does not help. I can give the column a material such as concrete, then draw a wall up next to it, unjoin and the column still assumes the same material as the wall.

It looks like I will be spending the morning replacing columns.

Thanks guys.

Eric

[boofredlay]

Also... I just posted this in the Families forum but thought it might benefit others here...

Is there a Rectangular Structural Chamfered Column? I can only find the Precast.

[greg.mcdowell]

the default CIP Concrete Column has chamfers at the medium and fine levels of detail...

[boofredlay]

Greg, I don't understand what you mean.

I have been drawing at the fine level of detail the whole time and no chamfers show up on the structural concrete columns.

Now on the Precast and on the Generic there are parameters for setting the chamfer distance as well as the length and width of the columns. This is what I want on the structural.

Sorry if I don't understand your solution.

[Steve Mintz]

There was a thread about this (I think; but I can't find it, so here's what I remember) before, suggesting how you might easily change all architectural columns to structural columns.

1. Click on one of your architectural columns
2. Press 'Edit Family' and open the family
3. Goto Settings -> Family Categories and Parameters
4. Select 'Structural Columns'
5. Load the family back into the project using 'Load into Project'
6. In your project, use the 'select all' command on the column you just modified
7. Select an appropriate structural column from the drop down list

A few caveats:
- You will need to edit each family that you want to change into structural columns
- You will be changing all columns of this family to structural
- Other suggestions for unjoining the geometry might be closer to what you want
- If you want the architectural columns in addition to structural columns, you can use the Copy/Monitor command to duplicate the columns as structural.

[boofredlay]

Thanks Steven!