Modify concrete column

I'm not exactly sure how you're accessing the Length property - those under StructuralQuantities are intended as resulting component values - but it would be better to use the Modify Member End tool, or simply grab the Edit Handle and stretch as needed.

 

OK so you are saying the "Structural Quantities" in the "Modify Structural Attributes" dialog are not meant to be edited... OK.

Yes I do realize you can modify the column in a number of ways, the reason I was asking is what happens when I have to modify a large number of columns in one hit? Why can't we use the Modify Instance Data tool just as we do for walls - select a whole bunch and change the height, the end... Am I missing something?

Yes I know, don't forget I have been using Bentley products since the Intergraph/Mac days when I was still an architecture student...
I was wondering if there is a better/cleaner way - the columns are parametric objects after all, it would seem logical that one could select a bunch and change any of their properties... But I take it your answer on this is "no, can't".

Thanks Pedro, that does work . And I think you are right, there is no other way from a parametric object viewpoint - i think I was wrongly thinking there would be something like the wall editing interface where you tick the height and change it. Never mind, your method is good. Cheers.

Let's hope things get really parametric with the AECOsim Connect re-work in 6-9 (?) months time.

Oh, I haven't followed, what's that about?

Following the radical re-vamp of MS into MS Connect (aka current beta EAP4), the 'verticals' incl AECOsim/BD will follow suit 'within the year', taking advantage of new capabilities.

In case of BD, the clunky inconsistent 19 yr old interface will be decoupled from tight linkage to 'old' Triforma coding, will be able to 'do' a wide range of new tricks (so I hope and understand from hints), which are just specialised ways of processing and presenting the underlying new universal MS parametric solid.

Following the radical re-vamp of MS into MS Connect (aka current beta EAP4), the 'verticals' incl AECOsim/BD will follow suit 'within the year', taking advantage of new capabilities.

In case of BD, the clunky inconsistent 19 yr old interface will be decoupled from tight linkage to 'old' Triforma coding, will be able to 'do' a wide range of new tricks (so I hope and understand from hints), which are just specialised ways of processing and presenting the underlying new universal MS parametric solid.

Just to stop any rumors before they get too far, "within the year", "interface will be decoupled from tight linkage to 'old' Triforma coding," and "specialised ways of processing and presenting the underlying new universal MS parametric solid" are not the same things.

Those will take a little longer.

Great to get such news - snippets but with meaning and to-the-point.

yeh right, to the point - what Tom is sayin is basically don't hold your breath for somethin that actually works, that would be light years away...

I don't think that this is a solid modeling kernel problem. It's more like a local issue for the Modify Properties of the Selected Element tool.

As mentioned above, when the MPSE tool is used on Walls, the user can modify the length / height of the Wall elements. There is a 'Apply/Edit' column that appears in the front of the dialog box that allows the user to select the properties that would be modified.

This kind of improvement shouldn't be 'light years' away....? Now that all the disciplines are under one roof... it would be good to look at maximising consistent input, modification workflows.

yes maybe Bentley should have some input from professionals who actually try to use their product on a day to day basis. Then they would realize how much work is left to do to make somethin like ABD usable, which realistically it ain't at this point in time. Way way too slow even with 32MB ram i7 on 64 bit Win7 - i mean just try to extract a DV from a largish file to produce a drawing, let alone print it -, too cumbersome, too much legacy crap, poor interface etc etc etc.