Align surface pattern to generic model?

[VicBerg]

Hi, 

I have made a generic model with a material-surface pattern to show ceiling squares as lines in plan view. The problem is that i cant align this pattern. I can use the same surface pattern on a floor and in that case its possible to align the pattern. Is this a problem related to generic models or does anyone know how to solve this? 

Kind regards, Victor 

[constantin.stroescu]

Pattern type has to be Model not Drafting, in order to can be aligned

[VicBerg]

Hi, thansk for your advice but I have tried that and sadly it didnt help. 

[constantin.stroescu]

maybe the Ceiling is Pinned...unpin it in order to be able to use Align tool

[VicBerg]

It was not pinned and its a generic models family. I think that could be the problem.  

[hmunsell]

can you explain more what your trying to do. currently all we know is you have a generic family with a pattern your trying to align to a ceiling. 

• what is the generic family?
• what is the ceiling pattern your trying to align to?
  • you mentioned your using it on the floor too?
• recategorizing the family should matter, but if you think that is the cause, have you tried recategorizing it to something else?

[constantin.stroescu]

no, it doesn't matter..

nave a look to see the option Moves With Nearby Elements... it must not be checked..

[VicBerg]

I think this works for you becaus your using a ceiling "object" and not a generic model family category. 

[VicBerg]

The generic model contains a simple extrusion to be used as an inner ceiling vissible in 3d. 

The family has a material parameter.. in this case a surface pattern(Model), a graphic represenation of 600mmx600mm ceiling panels. 

This surface pattern is visible in plan views despite the extrution is set to a hight above the cutplane. If I make a "ceiling" of 1200mmx1200mm i cant align the pattern to start i the corner of ceiling. 

I have tried a few other family categories without any succes. 

[BDMackey]

Hatch patterns can only be aligned on system families. Imported families can't be aligned, in the family itself you can rotate, align etc. a hatch pattern but not with in the project environment.  When I create families that will have a direction to the applied material (i.e. wood) I rotate the pattern within the family so it will render/look correct with in the project.

[ToanDN]

You can only align the pattern of the family when editing the family, not in the project.

[barthbradley]

If alignment is so critical, why don't you model the tiles with a Curtain System (or Roof Sloped-Glazing Type) and constrain the grids together in the Project? 

 

[VicBerg]

I thought that was the problem but just dont see why...

I dit some experiment by aligning the pattern in the family. Adding a instance parameter to set the distance of the grid lines in relation to the reference lines but I didnt succeed. Changing the distance of the parameter didnt change the pattern grid in anyway. 

I also tried to add parameters do change the pattern alingment from aligning to the base reference and one for the center reference. But that didnt work either.  

[VicBerg]

I will see what I can do with this. Thank you for sharing. 

[BDMackey]

Parameters will not adjust the surface pattern, there just isn't a way to parametrically change the pattern from a family. This is why in your other post I had suggested the composite sheet, with views on views. Going through crazy workarounds sometimes isn't worth the headache when there is a solution, albeit not so great, but a solution.

[ToanDN]

- Create the family as a two-level generic model family

- Change the category to Column

- Draw the ceiling on the Upper Level in the family

- Draw a vertical model line from Lower Level to Upper Level and set it to Invisible subcategory (do not uncheck Visible box for the line)

- Load in project, place the family in a floor plan, set the height for the Upper level = the desired ceiling height

- Paint the ceiling in project and you can align the pattern