topic Re: Complex Profile materials in Modeling

Complex Profile materials

Gerald D Lock — Fri, 26 May 2023 10:41:46 GMT

I need to be able to control the surface material of individual beams and columns, which all use complex profiles (I used: Options>Import Standard Steel Profile... to get the profiles).

Ever since beginning to use Complex profiles (v.10?) I've wanted to have this level of control, but found it's impossible - short of duplicating a separate complex profile for each material. Tedious and cumbersome to say the least!

Is it possible, now that we've reached v.15 (well, almost!) or will it go on "Santa's Wish List"?

Re: Complex Profile materials

Rod Jurich — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 05:54:38 GMT

Gerald, not quite sure what you are after. But see attached.
Is this what you mean?

Re: Complex Profile materials

Barry Kelly — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:23:31 GMT

Unfortunately it will still be on Santa's wish list even in 15.
If you need different materials for individaul elements using the same complex profile you will need to duplicate it.

Just trying to think outside the square I guess you could use the shell tool (extruded and detailed profile) for RHS and SHS beams and columns, but then you wouldn't really have a beam or a column.
You can set the materials for these individually but you will need to define the profile for each beam every time you want it or copy and paste the original.
Also no good for "I" and "T" beams ("L"'s will work).

Gives you other advantages though as you can rotate the shell in any direction and you can also set the end angles of the shell for vertical mitres.
But they won't automatically mitre in plan like beams.

I would say though to forget shells as a complex beam substitute.

Barry.

Re: Complex Profile materials

Gerald D Lock — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 09:54:40 GMT

Rod wrote:
Gerald, not quite sure what you are after. But see attached.
Is this what you mean?

Thanks for taking the time to answer Rod, but no this isn't what I mean.

Barry Kelly seems to have answered the question, at least for now:

Barry wrote:
If you need different materials for individaul elements using the same complex profile you will need to duplicate it.

Would you both mind casting a poll vote for this feature if you think it should be included please.
Same goes for anyone else who may post a reply here.

I'll add this to the 'ArchiCAD Wishes' section too

Re: Complex Profile materials

Rod Jurich — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 13:11:36 GMT

Done, essential.
Barry is correct, duplicate is the only way.
The end of the beam material is all that you can change,
all sides are greyed out

Re: Complex Profile materials

JaredBanks — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:36:32 GMT

There is a dirty work around. Which I don't like, but works. If it's just one or two complex profiles that need to be different from the rest, you could make them custom. It's more to juggle, but it'd keep your complex profile list smaller.

here's the basics:
make a complex profile
assign it to a beam/wall/column (let's say a beam)
select the beam, right click, select capture profile
make the material change
click apply to selection.
don't store the complex profile

I don't advocate doing this. I never like seeing anything custom (whether complex profile, layer combination, model view options, etc.), but it's a solution.

Re: Complex Profile materials

Barry Kelly — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 02:11:39 GMT

I vote essential too.

What Jared suggested works.
He has simply made a duplicate but not given it a name.

I am not sure if you ever did save one of those "custom" profiles would all the other custom profiles change?
Would have to test this.

Like Jared said, anything "custom" is risky.

Barry.

Re: Complex Profile materials

David Shorter — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 08:07:04 GMT

Hi Guys
Be very careful using custom profiles for 2 reasons
1 its become unmanageable
2 you can't globally change the profile of the profile and maintain the materials

Re: Complex Profile materials

JaredBanks — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 14:54:32 GMT

Storing a custom profile won't change other identical custom profiles to the new stored profile. You'd have to do it manually.

And like all of us are saying, having a one off custom profile is okay, sort of. But it's very bad practice to use custom profiles all over the place. I only originally mentioned if for purely academic purposes.

Re: Complex Profile materials

Anonymous — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 00:10:27 GMT

The original question appears to ask about controlling the individual surface materials of any [fill edge within a] complex profile. If so, then it is certainly possible. see attached. Basically when you click an edge and get the pet palette there is an odd "C" shaped box, that is what controls individual edges. By the way not only edges but any segment that has nodes. Refer to the "water" material halfway down the W section.

Is this what you were looking for?
Snap

Re: Complex Profile materials

Erich — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 01:58:54 GMT

Snap,

I think you missed the words "individual". While we can certainly control each face. If we need another element using the same profile but with different materials, the profile must be copied.

Re: Complex Profile materials

Rod Jurich — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 02:20:09 GMT

Snap, Barry has the correct reply to Gerald's query.
If you have a number of identical beam profiles you CANNOT set
different materials without duplicating and renaming the beam to enable the choice of material.

GS allow only the end of the profile to have differing materials

What you show is correct, but for just that profile and everywhere that profile is used.

Re: Complex Profile materials

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:21:11 GMT

You can change the individual color of surfaces on beams in Archicad 15.
Sadly the individual surfaces of columns cannot be changed.