stop columns from automatically joining walls

[Anonymous]

I need columns to show as solid hatch at all times, How do I stop columns from automatically joining walls. I've tried unchecking it in the family with no luck.

Thanks

[ToanDN]

Use Structural Columns.

[SteveKStafford]

The Column family is designed for quick column like representation without requiring us to draw multiple little walls to do it. As such, by design, the column also inherits the finish material/layer(s). Column is architectural while the Structural Column families that @ToanDN recommends have no such assumptions, rather it assumes the architectural wall should be less important and does not allow the wall to take precedence graphically.

You can also alter the Column family, it has a parameter called Automatically joins geometry to walls. When that is disabled it behaves more like Structural Columns. Create your own copy of the stock column family if you decide you'd prefer to do that.

[ennujozlagam]

@Anonymous  hello, Pick your column  > edit family > in the properties > untick join geometry > save as to another filename or save as same name > load into your project > and change the old column with revised one. Thanks 

[Corsten.Au]

Column Joining Behavior - Structural and Architectural

Hope this reference will help you decide what you want..

Cheers!

[Anonymous]

To: ToanDN / Steve_Stafford / ennujozlagam / ganesh

All suggestions work if I start a new test drawing but not consistently in the file shared from an outside firm that I was tasked to revise. To match our office standards some had to be deleted and replaced.

All good stuff to know when working on my own files.

Thanks

[sdove]

phew. Look at me (hopefully) reviving this thread  hahaha

It's rather annoying to me that the "automatically joins to walls" category parameter isn't available for structural columns. There are many times that this parameter would be useful for structural concrete columns (columns in walls, shear wall zones, geometry definition in plan). The only work around I've had is to place a concrete column and have it slightly engage with a concrete wall, unjoin the concrete column geometry instance, then move the column where it needs to be. However, if I have a wall thickness transition on an upper level, the column continues to automatically join, and I go through the process again, and have to repeat for the other levels. A workaround that I've had to do is create a structural column that is a steel material (for shear wall zones and columns in concrete walls) so it doesn't automatically join. I create concrete column schedules based on elements in the model, so if I use the "steel material" concrete column and I need to update the size, I unfortunately have to update the actual concrete column that can host rebar then update the "steel material" column.

I can't see an integrated workaround so that structural columns don't automatically join, even in R2022.