Vertical bracing worklines at beam centerline when beam alignment is "top"

[Anonymous]

I am using top of steel alignment for my beams.  However, I would like to use the centerline of my beams as the intersecting work point for my vertical bracing.  Is there any way to do this without having to use center alignment for my beams (which would be a pain in terms of lining up all steel floor beams at a floor level elevation-wise)?

I think you can use the "offset" feature in the bracing dialog box, but I think with this option you are stuck with the same offset distance at each end of a braced bay, which brings up another question.  What if you require different offset distances at each end of a braced bay?

[Anonymous]

Please disregard this post, I found out how to do this.  Please excuse me, as I'm new to Advance Steel and am just learning as I go.

For those interested, basically all my beams are aligned at their "top of steel" (top centered).  I draw a line to locate the center of my beam(s) from snap points at center of beam's 2 web faces.  So that gives me a snap point at the intersection of the center of my beam(s) and columns.  I then use the bracing feature to draw vertical braces from these "snap points".

I'm sure there are multiple ways to do do this, but that's the basic way how I figured it out.

[Jonathan.Jasinski]

That is probably the easiest way.  That is how I do it.

[AleckGiles]

Hi,

Drawing a construction line is fine but if you only need that point once or tice you can probably avoid it. Try usign the Temporary Osnep "Mid between 2 points" instead as follows:-

When asked to select a point Shift+RMB to get the temporary osnap menu.

Select Mid Between 2 points option.

Shift+RMB > MidFlange

Select top flange of the beam near the end.

Shift + RMB > MidFlange

Select the bottom flange of the beam.

The point half way between the two selected points is found and used as the point originally prompted for e.g. the corner of your bracing area.

Here is a screencast. http://autode.sk/2n1r2Io