How To Create a Column Tool in AutoCAD

Use this procedure to create a structural column tool and add it to a tool palette.

1. Open the tool palette on which you want to add a tool.
2. Create the tool:

   If you want to…	Then…
   create a tool from a structural member style in the Style Manager	click Manage tabStyle & Display panelStyle Manager. Locate the style you want to copy, and drag it to the tool palette. Click OK to close the Style Manager.
   create a tool from a column in the drawing	select the column, and drag it to the tool palette.
   copy a tool in the current palette	right-click the tool, and click Copy. Right-click, and click Paste.
   copy a tool from another palette	open the other tool palette, right-click the tool, and click Copy. Reopen the palette where you want to add the tool, right-click, and click Paste.
   copy a tool from the Content Browser	open the Content Browser, and locate the tool you want to copy. Position the cursor over the i-drop handle, and drag the tool to the tool palette.

3. Right-click the new tool, and click Properties.
4. Enter a name for the tool.
5. Click the setting for Description, enter a description of the tool, and click OK.
   The description displays in the tooltip when you select the tool from the tool palette, and describes the tool if you store it in a tool catalog in the Content Browser.
6. Expand Basic  General.
7. Enter a description of the columns that you can create using this column tool.
8. If you do not want to use the layer assignments specified in the layer key style used in the drawing, specify a layer key and any layer key overrides.
9. Select a structural member style, and select a style location, if not the current drawing.
   The style provides the shape of the column.
10. Specify a value for Bound spaces:

    If you want to…	Then…
    allow the column to be used as a bounding object for associative spaces	select Yes.
    prevent the column from being used as a bounding object for associative spaces	select No.
    use the bounding setting from the column style	select By Style.

11. Specify a value for Trim automatically:

    If you want…	Then…
    the geometry of the column to be automatically trimmed to any other structural members, other architectural objects, or linework to which it is logically connected	select Yes.
    prevent the geometry of the column from being trimmed automatically	select No.
    use the trim setting from the column style	select By Style.

    Note: This setting affects only the structural member being added. Adding a new structural member will not change the geometry of an existing structural member, regardless of the setting for Trim automatically.
12. Expand Dimensions.
13. Specify offsets:

    If you want to…	Then…
    offset the column on its extruded axis at the start point of the column	enter a value for Start offset. A positive value shortens the column on its axis, while a negative value lengthens the column on its axis.
    offset the column on its extruded axis at the endpoint of the column	enter a value for End offset. A positive value lengthens the column on its axis, while a negative value shortens the column on its axis.

14. Specify the roll of the column (how it is oriented relative to its extruded axis):

    If you want to…	Then…
    specify the roll of the column before you insert it	select No for Specify on Screen, and enter a value for Roll.
    specify the roll of the column when you insert it	select Yes for Specify on Screen.

    This value specifies the orientation of the column relative to its extruded axis in terms of degrees of roll. A positive value rolls the column counterclockwise when viewed from the end (top) to the start (bottom) of the column.
15. Specify the column justification, which positions the column shape in relation to its extruded axis when you draw the column:

    If you want to…	Then…
    position the axis of the column along the centroid of the column shape	select Baseline for Justify. Note: This applies to members created with styles from the Structural Member Catalog only.
    position the axis of the column along one of 9 positions on the column shape	select one of the 9 positions for Justify. Note: These positions are defined at a roll of zero, viewing the column from the top to the bottom.

16. To specify the justification of members with multiple shapes and segments created with this tool, select a setting for Justify using overall extents:

    If you want to…	Then…
    justify the member based on the largest cross-sectional extent of the member’s lowest priority shapes	select Yes. The justification is applied ONLY to the lowest priority shape definitions, and is calculated based on the node (vertex) of the member with the greatest cross section.
    justify the member at each node, based on all shapes.	select No. The justification is calculated based on the cross-sectional extents at each node, and is applied to all the shapes without regard to priority.

17. Click OK.