Creating Tapered Columns in Architectural Desktop

To create a column that tapers from top to bottom, you’ll need to create a custom shaped structural member. Follow these steps to create the member:

Create the starting and ending profiles. This can be accomplished by drawing a closed polyline shape and creating a profile definition, or by using the Structural Member Catalog to bring in an existing shape. To import a shape from the catalog, go to the Format menu, choose Structural Members, and then choose the Catalog.

Right click on the shape you want and choose generate member style – when the dialogue appears, choose OK to add the shape to the current drawing. Add a larger and smaller size to your current file.

Go to the Format menu and choose Style Manager. In your current drawing, go to Architectural Objects and choose Structural Members, Right click on the Standard style, and choose Copy. Right click and select Paste to create a duplicate style, and then right click on the style and rename the duplicate to Tapered Column.

Select the Tapered Column style – the right pane of the style manager will show the options. Choose the Design rules tab.

At the bottom right, choose Show Details. From here you can change the shape of the column at both the start and end of the column.

Once the style is created, you can use the Add Structural Column tool to add a column, and then use the properties dialogue to select the tapered column style. You can also drag the Tapered Column style from the Style Manager to a tool palette for regular use (note: make sure you place the style either in a template or master drawing if it’s going to be regularly placed by a palette tool).

While the Style Manager behaves a little differently in ADT 2005 (you have to double click the style to edit it), the feature works the same way for 2005, 2006 and 2007 versions.

Make those columns 3D! - David B.