VisualARQ helpVisualARQFlexible BIM for Rhino

Railing Styles

Where can I find this command?
Keyboard:
vaRailingStyles
Icon:
Railing right click [left click]
Toolbar: Objects
VisualARQ Objects Toolbar
Menu:
VisualARQ > Railing > Railing Styles...
Context Menu:
Railing > Styles Properties
Shortcut key:
Select a railing object > (Alt, Shift or Ctrl) + double left click

The railing style defines the railing features. You can define the following parameters in each railing style: Name and Attributes.

Each railing style is defined by the combination of 3 components that can be added or deleted anytime: Rail, Post and Baluster.

Railing object and its Components
Different parts and components of a railing:
  1. 1. Railing Rail Rail
  2. 2. Railing Post Post
  3. 3. Railing baluster Baluster

You can define the following parameters for each railing style and each component: Name, Attributes, Location, Geometry and Profile.

After running the vaRailingStyles command, the railing Style Manager dialog box will appear. All railing styles are created and edited from this dialog.

Style Manager dialog box for the Railing object.
Style Manager dialog box for the railing object

New railing style

You can create new styles and duplicate existing ones from the different options in the railing Style Manager.

Railing styles can be created as regular railing styles, or as Grasshopper styles (styles driven by a Grasshopper definition).

When clicking on the New Style... button, select one of the two options available, which will create a new railing style or open the Grasshopper style wizard:

  • Railing style: a new railing style is created with the default parameters.
  • Grasshopper style: follow the steps of the wizard to create a new style from a Grasshopper definition:
    • Grasshopper definition
    • Global values configuration
    • Geometry
    • Parameters

Delete a railing style:

You can delete railing styles from the Railing Style Manager dialog box. You can only delete those styles that are not being used by any existing railing in the model.

Edit a railing style:

Select the railing style or a railing component item from the top left panel and edit their different parameters from the tabs that appear in the right panel.

Add a new railing component:

  • Context menu: right-click on the railing style name to open the context menu and select New > "Component item".
  • New icon New icon: select the railing style and click on the New icon from the dialog toolbar. Select "Component item".

Delete components: use the context menu (right-click on the component you wish to delete and select Delete) or the Delete button Delete.

General style editing
You can use the vaRailingStyles command or, alternatively,
  • Use the vaStyleProperties command, then select a railing and press Enter, or
  • Right click on vaStyleProperties (right click), then select a railing and press Enter, or
  • Select a railing and open the context menu by pressing the right mouse button for a while then select Railing > Style Properties, or
  • Press Alt, Shift or Ctrl then double click on a railing object.
The changes applied to a style are applied to all elements with that style.

Attributes

Attributes define the features of each railing style and its components for display and print purposes. Check the list of attributes available.

Parameters

In this tab you can create custom parameters by style and assign values by style.

These values can be overwritten by object, from the Parameters section Parameters icon , in the Rhino Properties panel Rhino properties icon.

Railing components

Rail Railing Rail

It is the horizontal component that goes along the base path curve. It can define the handrail or the secondary rails of the railing object. The rail component is defined by the following parameters:

Location

The location of the rail component defines its position in relation with the base path curve and the railing height.

  • Rail horizontal alignment Horizontal alignment: the rail alignment depends on the direction of the base curve. It has three different options: Exterior, Center and Interior.
  • Rail horizontal offset Horizontal offset: the horizontal alignment offset inserts the rail at a specific distance from the base curve.
  • Rail vertical alignment Vertical alignment: the vertical alignment defines the vertical position of the rail component in relation with the total height of the railing object. It has three different options: Top, Center and Bottom.
  • Rail vertical offset Vertical offset: the vertical alignment offset inserts the rail at a specific distance from the vertical alignment position.
  • Rail orientation Orientation:
    • Aligned: the geometry is generated extruding the rail profile perpendicular to the railing axis direction.
    • Vertical: the geometry is generated extruding the rail profile vertically along the railing axis direction.

The sizes can be specified at any time when inserting the railing from the insert dialog box by choosing the Sizes > Other option in the Profile section of this panel.

Geometry:

The geometry parameters of the rail components define them at their ends and at their joints:

Ends:
  • Rail styleStyle: options to define the rail edge cut at ends:
    1. Square
    2. Plumb
    		 Rail ends styles
  • Rail ends marginMargin: distance between the ends of the railing path curve and the rail ends.
Joints
  • Rail planar jointsPlanar:
    1. None
    2. Break
    3. Miter
    		 Rail planar Joints
  • Rail non planar jointsNon planar:
    1. None
    2. Break
    3. Miter
    4. Flat
    		 Rail Non planar joints

Profile

  • baluster shape profile Profile: the rail shape is defined by a profile and by its size. This list shows the profiles available for the rail component, including the custom profiles created with the vaProfileFromCurve Profile from curve command command, or from the Profile Manager.
  • Rotation Rotation: angle by which the rail rotate around its axis, taking as the center of rotation the central point of its profile area.
  • Sizes: The parameters corresponding to the rail sizes will vary in accordance with the type of profile selected.

Post Railing Post

The posts are the main vertical component of a railing object. A post is placed at the end and start points of a railing path curve and at each one of the discontinuity points in between. The Post component is defined by the following parameters:

Location

The location of the post component defines its position in relation with the base path curve and the railing height.

  • Posts horizontal alignment Horizontal alignment: the post alignment depends on the direction of the base curve. It has three different options: Exterior, Center and Interior.
  • Posts horizontal offset Horizontal alignment offset: the offset alignment inserts the post at a specific distance from the base curve.
  • Posts end margin Ends margin: distance between the posts and the ends of the railing base curve.

Profile

  • baluster shape profile Profile: the post shape is defined by a profile and by its size. This list shows the profiles available for the post component, including the custom profiles created with the vaProfileFromCurve Profile from curve command command, or from the Profile Manager.
  • Rotation Rotation: angle by which posts rotate around their axis, taking as the center of rotation the central point of their profile area.
  • Sizes: The parameters corresponding to the post sizes will vary in accordance with the type of profile selected.

Baluster Railing baluster

The baluster is the secondary vertical component of a railing object.

Location

The location of the baluster component defines its position in relation with the railing base path curve.

  • balusters horizontal alignment Horizontal alignment: the baluster alignment depends on the direction of the base curve. It has three different options: Interior, Center and Exterior.
  • balusters horizontal offset Horizontal alignment offset: the offset alignment inserts the balusters at a specific distance from the base curve.
  • balusters path distance Path distance: maximum distance between the central vertical axis of each baluster along the railing path. This distance might not be exact when the alignment is set to Justify.
  • balusters path alignment Path alignment: distribution of balusters along the railing path. There are four options available:
    • Start
    • Middle
    • End
    • Justify
  • balusters path margin Path margin: distance between the external faces of the posts and the nearest baluster face. Posts are located at the ends and at the discontinuity points of the railing base curve. In railings which do not have posts, the path margin distance is the one between the first and last balusters, located at the ends of the railing base curve and at the discontinuity points.

Geometry

The geometry of the baluster component defines its shape in relation with the railing height.

  • balusters top offset Top margin: distance between the top of the railing and the top surface of the baluster.
  • balusters bottom offset Bottom margin: distance between the base line of the railing and the bottom surface of the baluster.

Profile

  • baluster shape profile Profile: the baluster shape is defined by a profile and by its size. This list shows the profiles available for the baluster component, including the custom profiles created with the vaProfileFromCurve Profile from curve command command, or from the Profile Manager.
  • Rotation Rotation: angle by which balusters rotate around their axis, taking as the center of rotation the central point of their profile area.
  • Sizes: The parameters corresponding to the baluster sizes will vary in accordance with the type of profile selected.
Railing styles samples.
Railing styles samples