To Understand the Design Rules of a Structural Member

Use this procedure to access and understand the options in the design rules of a structural member.

1. Select a structural member.
2. Click Structural Member tabGeneral panelEdit Style drop-downEdit Style.
3. Click Design Rules.
4. On the Design Rules tab, click Show Details.

   You can use the following options in the design rules to create custom members:

   This option…	Allows you to…
   Component	add multiple components to a structural member. Each component includes a name and can include a start and end shape and a priority. You can remove and copy the components of a structural member.
   Start Shape and End Shape	select a shape and a set of parameters to the start and end of a structural member component. The component shapes can be the same shape or a different shape. If End Shape is using the Start Shape, an asterisk (*) displays next to the end shape. To transform the shape of the member along the member path, the end shape must be explicitly set.
   Priority	assign a priority to a component. Components that start and end at a common node are mitered based on their priorities. Components with the same priority are factored into the miter angle between the components. Components with different priorities are not factored into the miter angle. Components with the lowest priority will affect the justification of the member when Justify Overall Extents is cleared on the Dimensions tab in the properties of the member.
   Name	select shapes that you assign to the start and end of the member or member segment. You can select shapes contained in structural member styles, or custom shapes that you create.
   Relative to	define the position of the shape relative to the start or end of the member.
   Node	place shapes on the member path relative to the start or end of the member. To place shapes on the member path, assign them to nodes on the member path. A single segment member has two nodes; the start point and the endpoint of the member. Multi-segmented members have additional nodes located at each vertex of the member path, allowing you to assign different shapes to the start and end of each segment of the member. If you place shapes on the member path relative to the start of the member, then the start point of the member path is Node 0. The first vertex on the member path is Node 1, and so on until the endpoint of the member path is defined as the final node. If you place shapes on the member path relative to the end of the member, then the endpoint of the member is Node 0.
   Scale	scale the shape.
   Mirror	mirror the shape.
   Rotation	rotate the shape.
   X Offset	offset the shape in the X direction along the member path.
   Y Offset	offset the shape in the Y direction perpendicular to the member path.
   Z Offset	offset the shape in the Z direction perpendicular to the member path.

5. Click Add to add a component to a structural member.

   A component with the same values as the preceding component is added to the design rules.

6. Click Copy to copy a component.
7. Click Remove to remove a component.
8. Click OK.