Tapered Column cut plane

[Anonymous]

We do a lot of pre-engineeered metal buildings.  I've been able to improve our drawings by creating tapered columns and setting the cut plane higher (i.e. 8' AFF) than standard cut plane of the walls so that when a column needs to be "boxed in" the drawing shows the true depth. 

When I have a mezzanine level I need the cut plane at a different level for the mezzanine plan.  But when I change the cut plane it changes all the columns.  I have both base floor plans in the same file.

Can I set the cut plane to be different for the same column block in the same drawing file?  

[David_W_Koch]

Maybe.  It depends upon how your drawings are set up, and whether or not making a change in one place to satisfy one condition will mess things up in another place.

You can override the cut plane height on each structural member.  But that is likely tedious to do, and may have side effects.

For an external reference, you can override the Display Configuration set in Host file, choosing one from the the externally referenced file.  In the externally referenced file, make a copy of the Display Configuration you plan to use in the sheet (Host) file.  Set the cut plane height in the copy to whatever height you want.  Give the copy a meaningful name that indicates the non-standard cut plane height.  Save the file and reload the external reference in the Host file.  Select the external reference file, right click and choose Edit Object Display.  On the Xref Display tab, check the Override the display configuration... toggle, and then select your new Display Configuration, with the modified cut plane there.

If the above does not work for you, posting sample files so I can see how your files are set up would be helpful.

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @Anonymous,

I'm just checking in to see if you need more help with this. If so, could you post sample files as @David_W_Koch requested? Or did his suggestion work for you?

If so, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[Anonymous]

I was hoping I could set the cut plane differently within the same drawing.  When I try to override on a single column it changes all of them.  It appears the only way to do it is to have the different floor plans in different files and then x-ref.  

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @Anonymous,

If the override didn't work for you, could you please post a sample file as @David_W_Koch suggested? It'll be easier to help you if we're all looking at the same file.

If one or more of these posts helped answer your question, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.

[Victoria.Studley]

Hi @Anonymous,

Will you be able to provide a sample file so that we can continue assisting you?

If one or more of these posts helped answer your question, please click Accept as Solution on the posts that helped you so others in the community can find them easily.