Change the Alignment Reference of Beam End Geometry in a Join

Assign a reference to which beam end geometry will align. The reference can fall along the geometry of linked beams, walls, and columns. Reference lines of beams and columns such as center lines or reference planes defined within a family.

Video: Beam Alignment References and Cutback

  1. Select either a beam or brace or use a pick box to select multiple elements.
    Note: Changing the alignment of multiple-selected elements is available only to students and to Autodesk Maintenance and Desktop Subscription customers for the Revit 2015 R2 release of the software.
  2. Click Modify | Structural Framing tab Modify End panel (Change Reference). If the Change Reference tool is unavailable, verify the following:
    • The Detail Level of the view cannot be set to Coarse
    • All multiple selected elements must be joined to a common element.
    • The element must be joined to another element
    • The element must be linear and straight
    • The element must not be concrete.
  3. Select a reference line or element geometry line edge to which the geometry will align. Tab select to access specific geometry lines of an element.

    For this example, a beam attached to a column will be aligned to the web face of the column and overriding setback.

    Likewise, you can choose reference lines and extents of other beams, columns, and walls.

    Center of a concrete beam Center of a support column in an elevation Exterior face of a structural wall

    You can also align to non-perpendicular lines as shown.

To remove the alignment reference

  1. Select the framing elements to be reset.
  2. Click Modify | Structural Framing tab Modify End panel (Change Reference).
  3. Select any side of the bounding box of the column.
  4. Note: This is available only to students and to Autodesk Maintenance and Desktop Subscription customers for the Revit 2015 release of the software. Otherwise, Click Modify | Structural Framing tab Modify End panel (Reset Reference) and then select the detach icon near the column to reset the beam setback.