COLUMN PROBLEMS

PROBLEM

After placing columns you can't see them.

CAUSE

They are below the level you have drawn them and are hidden by the floor.

SOLUTION

When starting the column tool check that they are being placed set to Height rather than Depth.

When set to Depth the columns go downwards below the level you are on.

Note the list next to this setting indicates the top of the column. It can be set to a Level, or Unconnected.

PROBLEM

When you copy columns Aligned to Selected Levels it copies them, or some of them, in the same place. You get an error warning:

Note this problem does NOT occur if you are copying Architectural columns, or are copying a mixture of Architectural and Structural columns.

CAUSE

The columns affected are Structural columns, and have their Top Level set to the level above.

Structural columns are copied from their top, not their base.

Structural columns that have their Top Level set to be the same as their Base Level (with a Top Offset) will appear to be copied by their base level, but are actually being copied by their top level (which is the same as the base level).

SOLUTION

Select the levels corresponding to the Top Level of where you want the Structural columns copied.

Result:

PROBLEM

When you copy columns Aligned to Selected Levels the copied columns are not the correct height.

CAUSE

The columns affected are Structural columns, have their Top Level set to be the same as their Base Level, and then Attached to the floor of the level above.

(in this case attached to floor at Level 2 - you can tell it is attached because Top Offset is grayed out)

SOLUTION

Undo or delete the badly copied columns.

Change the Top Level of the columns being copied to be the level above.

Copy them again.