Array with Optional Start and End Elements

[anielson]

Often when working with arrays, I want to spread elements evenly between two reference planes, but not have an element at one or both reference planes. Currently to make this happen, I have to add another reference plane a calculated distance from the "end" reference plane and attach my arrays to that, and do lots of math and formulas. Also, if I want "1 element in the middle" to be an option, the array breaks so I have to control it with visibility settings and it gets complicated. This could all be solved if there was an option in arrays to turn off the end or beginning elements. Nothing else would have to change. So for my "1 element in the middle" problem, the array number would be three. One at the ends that aren't visible, and one in the middle. 

[awasyliw]

Alternatively you could have offset parameters for the beginning and end items of the array, which would give more functionality/control than just turning the ned items on or off.

[colinqBYUV9]

I'd like to be able to array from a centre element too. 

1 directional array or 2 directional array.

[JordiCC245]

actually you can do a patch, excluding the first array element from its group.  I know it's not a solid solution and may have several limitations, but maybe it can help in some cases meanwhile

[mhiserZFHXS]

Everything posted here, by OP and others, is already possible. The one improvement that would be a big time saver and lighten up families is the ability to have a 0 or 1 elements in an array, and that's on the roadmap now. Everything else can be done with a couple of parameters and formulas.

[colinqBYUV9]

@mhiserZFHXS,

Agreed that 0 & 1 would help enormously. Can you point me in the direction of the ways to array from the centre, exclude the first & last in an array etc. as above? 

[mhiserZFHXS]

@colinqBYUV9You can't just think of it as "exclude first and/or last" or "array from center". Those are your goals. You need to use visibility parameters, offset dimensions, formulas and logic to figure out how to reach those goals. I don't have time to walk you through how to do those things step by step right now. But if you're really struggling, I suggest posting about it on the user forum. Someone will help you there, or maybe I can get to it later.

While I wouldn't necessarily complain about Autodesk taking the time to put things in that do these actions at the click of a button, I would much rather them spend time on things that are completely impossible, like tagging legends, or things that have the potential to break families like arrays of 0 or 1.

[colinqBYUV9]

@mhiserZFHXS Thanks for the reply. I'm aware of using visibilities, If's & And formulas etc. in families. I thought you might know of something simpler that I don't know about. And what about a typical design situation like arraying carparks or furniture out from a centre point in a project? 

When autodesk is rolling out analysis tools, generative design, cloud products etc. simple everyday usability tools seem to be ignored. 

[colinqBYUV9]

Nice, thanks @JordiCC245.