Lock Element in Family 3D view

[hliS658H]

I need to lock the edges of the panels to the lower support edges like the most front panel, so they can move along with them . Due to the visibility issue, I do the alignment  in 3D view, however, the lock doesn't show up. Is there a way to do this?   

[Mohamed-Nassar]

Try to create a New 3D view then select this elements and do Section box for then then from VG unhide section box from annotation categories then go down the screen and click save and close orient on tab that has i Con of Lock.

[barthbradley]

Are you saying the Padlock is missing after doing an Align?  Weird.  Can you post the problematic file with the 3D View as the Active Starting View? 

[martijn_pater]

Maybe use model lines to align to...

[hliS658H]

Here is the file. 

[barthbradley]

I have no idea what you are trying to do.

This?

[barthbradley]

...or this?

[ToanDN]

Align the bottom surface of the panels with the top surface of the pony wall. Do it for one panel then copy / array the rest.

[hliS658H]

Yes, no problem to align BUT they need to be locked, so when I change the height, they would follow up and not like what you see now in the screenshot.

[hliS658H]

I can only lock the highlighted panel in front view, the other panels will be hid and now way to do the align and lock to the edge ( not a face), when you copy/array, the lock relationship will be lost. I am trying to edit an existing family with issues, I might be able to copy/array the panel and support without losing the locks if I remodel the support. You see 20 supports, but they are only 4 objects

[barthbradley]

Problem #1 is that your Work Plane Based Panels are not associated to any Work Planes.  That's the first thing you need to correct.  

[barthbradley]

See if attached RFA gets you pointed in the right direction.

Note the 90 degrees Locked Ref. Line in Right Elevation.

[hliS658H]

Thanks but I was not able to open it even if I upgraded it. Very strange.

For the first row, I was able to lock the panels (I did it in front view), but for the second and more rows behind the first row, I had problem, because the edges of the supports are invisible. I am thinking, perhaps the section box suggested by the first response would be helpful. I am just not sure how to use section box in family editing environment.

[barthbradley · Accepted solution]

SH*T!

Try this one (2021).  

Also, one more screenshot for you:

[hliS658H]

Thanks for the inspiration. Actually, I just use section views to solve the issues.

[hliS658H]

Thank you, would you please save the file as 2020? I doubt I can open 2021 with 2020. I  believe your solution is more comprehensive!

[barthbradley]

2020 attached

[ToanDN]

See attached.  Each panel is hosted on the face of a sloped curb.  Open the Left Elevation for more constraint information.  Your panel family needs not to be changed.

[barthbradley]

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@hliS658H wrote:

Thank you, would you please save the file as 2020? I doubt I can open 2021 with 2020. I  believe your solution is more comprehensive!

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Any response forthcoming?  

[hliS658H]

Yes, I studied your model and tried to understand it. It performs better than mine with some different settings. Here are my questions:

1. Why is  Solar Array Frame T.O.S needed to be locked ?  Why can we still change the number when it is locked?

2.  Why is reference line used here rather than reference plane? 

3.  When I tried to test the family I did, it worked when I use flex the family type, but if I changed the dimension directly in Left view, it messed up sometimes. Can't we flex the family type using the dimensions in the views?