Autodesk 00128-051462-9310 User Guide - Page 1313

■ handrails ■ bottom rails ■ first fixed post ■ last fixed post ■ interior fixed posts ■ dynamic posts ■ balusters You can specify the height of rails and posts, the spacing between posts, the spacing between rails, and the width and depth of components. You can specify the display of different first and last posts, as well as different interior fixed posts. You can also create custom railing components by assigning custom profiles to replace standard railing components. Custom Railing Components and Special Conditions To create custom extruded components (railings, posts, or balusters) in a railing style, you define a profile and select it to replace a component on the Components tab. The resulting component is displayed appropriately in all views and does not have to be added to the display properties. You can create a custom block to represent a complex design for a component that cannot be created from a profile, such as an elaborate wrought iron design in place of balusters, or an unusually shaped component. That block is used to represent the component in model views. You can create a profile to represent the custom component in plan views. You can also use the custom blocks and profiles features of the display properties to represent additional railing components other than posts, rails, and balusters. In such cases, the component is added to the component rather than replacing it. For example, you can create a custom block for Model views and a profile for Plan views of a curved-railing return piece that ends by attaching to a wall. You can then add the block or profile to the rail components. Using Materials in Railing Styles You can use materials to control how railings of each style are displayed in a drawing. You assign materials to the railing components in the style. The components are then displayed using the display properties of the assigned materials. AutoCAD Architecture provides a number of predefined materials for common design purposes. You can use these materials "as is," or modify them for your project requirements. You can also define new materials. For more information about materials and how to define them, see "Materials" on page 502. Creating Tools from Railing Styles You can create a railing tool from any railing style. You can drag the style from the Style Manager onto a tool palette. You can then specify default settings for any railing created from the tool. For more information, see "Creating a Railing Tool" on page 1258. Managing Railing Styles To create, copy, or purge styles, you access the Style Manager. The Style Manager provides a central location in AutoCAD Architecture, for working with styles from multiple drawings and templates. For more information about using the Style Manager, see "Getting Started with the Style Manager" on page 491. Creating a Railing Style Use this procedure to create a railing style. You can create a style using default style properties or by copying an existing style. After you create the style, you edit the style properties to customize the characteristics of the style. 1 On the Format menu, click Style Manager. 2 Expand Architectural Objects, and expand Railing Styles. 3 Create a railing style: If you want to... create a style with default properties Then... right-click Railing Styles, and click New. Creating a Railing Style | 1273