An architectural or structural column can display in a plan view using a specified cut plane in the plan view of the family.
- Open a column family or start a new column family.
- Click Create tab
Properties panel 
(Family Category and Parameters). - In the Family Category and Parameters dialog, under Family Parameters, select or clear the Show family pre-cut in plan views parameter.
If you want the column to display in plan view... then... based on the cut plane of the model’s plan view clear the parameter. consistently, regardless of the cut plane of the model’s plan view select the parameter. The column displays using the cut plane specified within the Family Editor plan view. - Click OK.
- Save the column family.
After you load the column family into a model, the column displays based on the parameter settings you specified within the Family Editor.
Architectural Column Example
The following images are different views of a column family loaded in a model. The horizontal lines were added for illustration purposes.
Cut plane set in the family
Cut plane set in the model
Plan view of column in model with "Show family pre-cut in plan views" selected in the family
Plan view of column in the model with "Show family pre-cut in plan views" not selected (cleared) in the family
Structural Column Example
The following image shows a column with corbels family depicting “Show family pre-cut in plan views” enabled (left) and disabled (right). Notice the cut plane of the model’s plan view has no effect on the display of the column. The horizontal arrow marks the cut plane for the section views to the right.
