Use joints and connection objects

Display the connection object

Connection objects are switched off at creation. This tool displays the gray box as a graphic representation of the connection object. You can access the joint properties from the connection object.

To access the command

Ribbon: Extended Modeling > Joint utilities:

Command line: _AstM4SwitchReprMode CONOBJ

To display the connection object

1. On the Joint utilities panel: Click .
2. Select an element of the joint with the connection object to display.
3. Press <Enter>.

• The connection object is displayed.

Select elements of a connection object

The tool searches the associated objects of a selected connection object or of a structural frame and selects them.

To copy structural elements or joints, all elements must be selected.

If the connections are copied using the AutoCAD® command, the associated beams are copied automatically.

To access the command

Ribbon: Extended Modeling > Joint utilities:

Command line: _AstM4SwitchReprMode FROMCONOBJ

To select all elements of a connection

1. On the Joint utilities panel: Click .
2. Select a structural member or the connection object.

• All objects associated with the selected element are selected.

Update connection

It is possible for joints not to be automatically updated when the involved parts are being changed. This option is set for joints on the Update tab. If parts of a joint whose automatic update has been switched off are modified, the connection object is marked in red. With this tool it is possible to update the connection object manually.

Note: Several connection objects can be selected and updated in one single step.

To access the command

Ribbon: Extended Modeling > Joint utilities:

Command line : _AstM4UpdateConOb UPDATE

To manually update a connection

1. On the Joint utilities panel: Click .
2. Select the connection objects of the connections to update.
3. Press <Enter>.

• The connection is updated.

Delete all elements of a joint

With this function joints are completely deleted. The connection object is selected.

Note: You can also delete a joint using the AutoCAD delete function: select any element of the joint and press Delete.

To access the command

Ribbon: Extended Modeling > Joint utilities:

Command line: _AstM4UpdateConOb DELETE

To delete a connection

1. On the Joint utilities panel: Click .
2. Select the connection objects of the connections to delete.
3. Press <Enter>.

• All selected connections are updated.