Complex Profile materials

[Gerald D Lock]

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"?

[Rod Jurich]

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

[Barry Kelly]

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.

[Gerald D Lock]

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

[Rod Jurich]

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

[JaredBanks]

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.

[Barry Kelly]

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.

[David Shorter]

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

[JaredBanks]

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.

[Anonymous]

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