Creating a Column

The Column tool allows you to place architectural columns on the active floor level. Columns can be created as standalone elements or placed within walls.

Placing a Column

To start the command, select Building > Column.

1. Activate the floor level and view where you want to place the column.
2. Click to specify the position of the column.
3. If necessary, specify the rotation angle of the column.
4. Click to complete the placement.

After placing the first column, you can continue placing additional columns using the current settings. Press Esc or the right mouse button to finish the command.

Setting Column Properties

Column properties can be defined before placement or modified later.

Before placement

Open the Column Properties dialog, where you can define, among others:

• the column profile,
• dimensions,
• height and relative elevation,
• inclination and inclination direction,
• rotation angle,
• material,
• Floor Plan representation,
• layer and line properties.

To use a predefined column style, start the Column command, then double-click the required style in the Styles panel to activate it.

After placement

Select the column and modify its properties on the Dashboard.

For detailed settings, click the Pencil icon to open the Column Properties dialog.

Setting the Column Profile

The cross-section of the column is determined by the selected profile.

To select a profile, use the Profile from Library command.

To create a custom cross-section, select Edit Profile. This allows you to use a custom profile drawn in the Floor Plan as the cross-section of the column.

Setting the Reference Point

The reference point determines which point of the column profile is used when positioning the column.

In the Column Properties dialog, select the required reference point.

The active reference point is displayed in red, while inactive reference points are displayed in green.

The placement point of the column is always aligned with the selected reference point.

Note: Selecting the appropriate reference point is particularly important when the column needs to be precisely aligned with a wall, structural grid, or another building element.

Column Height and Inclination

The vertical position and geometry of the column can be defined in the Column Properties dialog.

The main parameters are:

• Relative Elevation – defines the elevation of the bottom of the column relative to the zero elevation of the current floor level.
• Height – defines the total height of the column.
• Inclination – defines the deviation of the column from the vertical direction.
• Inclination Direction – defines the direction in which the column is inclined.
• Rotation Angle – defines the rotation of the column around the Z-axis.

Note: The actual spatial geometry of an inclined column is displayed in the 3D View. The Floor Plan shows the symbolic representation of the column.

Placing a Column in a Wall

A column can also be placed directly within a wall.

To do this, enable Place in Wall in the Column Properties dialog.

In this case, ARCHLine.XP automatically modifies the wall geometry at the position of the column. In the Floor Plan, the wall contour is not displayed behind the column.

A column placed within a wall becomes associated with the host wall. If the wall is deleted, the associated column is also deleted.

Creating Only the Opening in the Wall

When Create Only the Opening in Wall is enabled, ARCHLine.XP creates the required space for the column in the wall, but subtracts the column body from the 3D geometry of the wall.

This option can also be used to model wall openings or reserved spaces where the main purpose is to create a void in the wall.

This option is available only when Place in Wall is enabled.

Cutting Slabs and Roofs

If required, the column can also cut the geometry of intersecting slabs and roofs.

Enable the appropriate Slab–Roof Cut option in the column properties.

If wall–slab–roof cutting is enabled in the project's 3D building settings, the column automatically creates the required openings in the connected slabs and roofs.

Adding Insulation

A separate insulation layer can be assigned to the column.

In the column properties, specify:

• the insulation thickness,
• and the insulation material.

This feature is particularly useful for structural columns integrated into external walls, where thermal insulation is required on the outer surface of the column to reduce thermal bridging.

Cutouts, Recesses, and Additions

The basic geometry of the column can be modified using additional geometric operations.

In the Column Properties dialog, use the Cutout – Recess – Addition settings to create the following modifications:

• Cutout – removes a defined volume from the column.
• Recess – creates a partial recess in the column.
• Addition – adds additional geometry to the column.

The created modifications are displayed in a list, allowing them to be selected and edited individually.

Bottom and Top Endings

The bottom and top endings of the column can be defined separately.

Use the Bottom Ending and Top Ending settings to define the shape of the column end faces. This is particularly useful for inclined columns when, for example, a horizontal bottom or top termination is required.

If the bottom and top endings are different, use Swap Endings to exchange the two settings.

3D Representation

The 3D representation of the column can be enabled or disabled independently.

If 3D Representation is disabled, the column is not displayed in the 3D View, while its Floor Plan representation can remain visible.

Ez a változat terminológiájában és felépítésében is követi a korábban elkészített Creating a Beam cikk stílusát, így a két cikk egységesen használható a tudásbázisban.