Structural Member Style

[Anonymous]

I need to attach decorative objects to a column. I have turned these solid objects into blocks. Where do I need to save these files to show up in the custom block list of the style manager in order to add these blocks to the Structural Member Style Definition for this column?

[David_W_Koch · Accepted solution]

Those blocks need to be defined in the file where you are creating the Structural Member Style.  If you have them as external files, use the INSERT command to insert them into that file.

[Anonymous]

Thank you David.

Your solution, inserting the blocks in the file works. Am I correct, however, to assume that where to insert the block in the file and the scale factor would not matter, or do they?
Thank you again.

[Anonymous]

Thank you David.

Your solution, inserting the blocks in the file works. Am I correct, however, to assume that where to insert the block in the file and the scale factor would not matter, or do they?
Thank you again.

[David_W_Koch]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Thank you David.

Your solution, inserting the blocks in the file works. Am I correct, however, to assume that where to insert the block in the file and the scale factor would not matter, or do they?
Thank you again.

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It should not matter.  You do not even have to keep an instance of the block in the file, if you do not want to.  Once it is referenced as a custom block in a Structural Member Style, that block definition should not be purgable (unless you purge the Structural Member Style(s) referencing it, first).

[Anonymous]

I have created a new column style that includes a couple of decorative blocks. However when I insert the column style into a design, the plan view only shows the main column shape. It does not show the outlines of the blocks, below the cut line. The model representation shows the blocks correctly.  How to correct this?

[David_W_Koch]

Check the active Display Representation(s) for Structural Members in the Display Representation Set that is assigned to the Top view direction for the Display Configuration that is set current in your plan view.  Is the Below Cut Plane Visible display component turned on?

[Anonymous]

The Below Cut Plane Visible display component is on but the inserted blocks do not show on the plan view.

[David_W_Koch]

Can you reply and attach a sample drawing file, that has one instance of a Structural Member using your Structural Member Style?

[Anonymous]

Hi David;

Please see the attached sample file with the Structural Member (Column) in question.

[David_W_Koch · Accepted solution]

I looked at your file.  The Plan Display Representation, which is active for the Top view direction in the Medium Detail Display Configuration, did not have the custom blocks attached; only the Model Display Representation did.

I edited the Hollow Square Column Style Structural Member Style.  On the Display Properties tab, I then edited the Model Display Representation Style Override, and, on the Other tab, verified that the Automatically Apply to Other Display Representations and Automatically Apply to Object Overrides were toggles checked.  I then selected OK, and the custom blocks that were attached to the Model Display Representation were copied to the Plan Representation.  I edited the Plan Display Representation Style Override to verify this.  I then selected OK twice to get back to the drawing.

Your Column Bottom Block-Used custom block is now visible in a plan view.  You may want to consider creating a simpler, 2D block with just the linework you want to see in a typical plan view and using that block in lieu of the the 3D block in the Plan Display Representation.  Or, maybe the 3D block provides exactly what you want, and you can leave it at that.

[Anonymous]

Thank you very much David. Excellent advice and very helpful.