Use connections 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 connection 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 connection with the connection object to display.
  3. Press <Enter>.

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 connections, 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.

Update connection

It is possible for connections not to be automatically updated when the involved parts are changed. This option is set for connections on the Update tab. If parts of a connection that has the automatic update 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>.

Delete all elements of a connection

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

Note: You can also delete a connection 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>.