How to present beams with angled ends in floor plan views

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Presenting beams with angled ends in floor plan views requires a clear approach to ensure the geometry is shown accurately for documentation and communication. This article explains a practical modeling strategy to display beams with angled start or end faces on either a vertical or horizontal plane.

Issue description

Beams often need angled cuts at their ends to meet design requirements. Displaying these cuts correctly in floor plan views can be difficult, especially when the cut must appear on a specific plane. Without the appropriate settings, the angled ends may not display as intended, which can result in additional detailing work.

 The solution

1. Start by modeling a Beam in a Floor Plan view, then offset the reference line to the edge of the beam.
   

    

2. Set the overhead Projection Mode, under Floor Plan and Section, to “projected”. This setting allows the angled cut at the start or end of the beam to be reviewed in the floor plan view.
   
   

    

3. Depending on the plane on which the slanted cut should be visible, keep the beam at a 0‑degree rotation angle or rotate it 90 degrees. The angle of the cut can then be set either in the Beam Selection Settings dialog (Option A) or directly in the Floor Plan or 3D view by using the hotspot at the beam end (Option B).
   OptionA

             OptionB

That is all that is required. A beam can be cut on a horizontal plane in the same way as on a vertical plane by rotating the element and applying the desired end cut. 

The outcome

By applying this method, beams can be fitted to any angle on either a vertical or horizontal plane while ensuring that their angled ends display correctly in floor plan views. This approach reduces the need for additional detailing and supports clean, professional documentation that accurately reflects the design intent.

 

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These techniques were originally shared by Community member @Patrick M. This article is part of the ‘Tip of the Month’ series on Graphisoft Insights, highlighting valuable community-driven solutions for modeling challenges. Try these methods in your next project and experience the difference in model quality and efficiency.