Paul Andersen
2007-01-31, 06:33 PM
I was testing a couple of theories in the family editor and thought I'd share. When working with certain families (both delivered and custom) their can be several parameters that require adjustment once the family is placed in the project but it may not always be clear to the user which one and thus some form of trial and error is generally required. The example I've attached deals with a typical structural framing family.
There are a few parameters in this family that are end specific (Start and End Extension, Start and End Level Offset, Moment Connection Start and End). I know most of these can be edited directly in the model by dragging a control grip or editing the offset text that appears once the member is selected and do not require the user to tweak them in the Element Properties dialog but in the case of the Moment Connection Start and End it's always been a guessing game that I typically get wrong more than 50% of the time. Aside from placing all of your members from left to right and bottom to top so that you can be confident which end is which I thought I'd try to add a visual aid.
The two attached families utilize the same "widgets" (one at the ends of the beam and one centered) which can be turned off either with an instance parameter in the element properties dialog of a selected member or globally for the view in the VV dialog by shutting off the _End and _Start Subcategories of the Generic Model Category. I also added a _Start End Display on Top parameter which behaves similar to the Stick View on Top parameter to keep the Widget coordinated with the Stick Symbol. I haven't added this to our general content yet but thought I'd share the idea and see what others might come up with. As always comments or questions are welcome.
There are a few parameters in this family that are end specific (Start and End Extension, Start and End Level Offset, Moment Connection Start and End). I know most of these can be edited directly in the model by dragging a control grip or editing the offset text that appears once the member is selected and do not require the user to tweak them in the Element Properties dialog but in the case of the Moment Connection Start and End it's always been a guessing game that I typically get wrong more than 50% of the time. Aside from placing all of your members from left to right and bottom to top so that you can be confident which end is which I thought I'd try to add a visual aid.
The two attached families utilize the same "widgets" (one at the ends of the beam and one centered) which can be turned off either with an instance parameter in the element properties dialog of a selected member or globally for the view in the VV dialog by shutting off the _End and _Start Subcategories of the Generic Model Category. I also added a _Start End Display on Top parameter which behaves similar to the Stick View on Top parameter to keep the Widget coordinated with the Stick Symbol. I haven't added this to our general content yet but thought I'd share the idea and see what others might come up with. As always comments or questions are welcome.