Specify Start, Corner, and End Posts

When customizing balusters for a railing, you can specify the design of start posts, corner posts, and end posts.

  1. In a plan view, select a railing.
  2. On the Properties palette, click Edit Type.
    Note: Changes made to the type properties affect all railings of this type in the project. You can click Duplicate to create a new railing type.
  3. In the Type Properties dialog, for Baluster Placement, click Edit.
  4. In the Edit Baluster Placement dialog, under Posts, specify a family for the start, corner, and end posts.

    Select None if you do not want a post to appear at the start, corner, or end of the railing.

    Baluster families are trimmed by default so they do not intersect a rail, as illustrated in the following image. This may not be your intent for posts. To set posts to intersect rails, right-click the family type in the Project Browser, and click Properties. Select the Post property.

  5. Specify a base and top for each post.
  6. Optionally, enter values for Base Offset, Top Offset, Space, and Offset for each.
    Edit Baluster Placement Setting Example

    Top defines the top of the baluster. This is used as a reference point for an offset.

    Base defines the bottom of the baluster. This is used as a reference point for an offset.

    The Top Offset determines the distance at which the baluster is offset from the Base.

    The Base Offset determines the distance at which the baluster is offset from the Base.

    The Space value determines the distance between the start post and the end post.

    The Offset value determines the distance at which a baluster is removed from the geometry of the rail. Positive and negative values may be used.

  7. Select the location of corner posts, as follows:
    If you… Then…
    want to place a corner post at the end of each segment of the railing select Each Segment End.
    want to place a corner post when a railing segment makes a turn greater than a given value select Angles Greater Than, and enter a value for Angle. If the railing turns at an angle that is greater than this value, a post is placed at the turn. Typically, this value remains at 0. Turn angles are measured in the plan view. Segment breaks in the railing that do not occur at a turn are ignored.
    do not want to place a post regardless of any separations or turns in the railing select Never.
  8. Click Apply to preview your changes in the model.
  9. Click OK.