19. Joining Objects

Scroll down for the written version of this tutorial.

New in Profile Builder 4 is the ability to join profile members and assemblies.

A typical use is to close gaps between two objects on intersecting paths. 

For a simple example, create two straight-line profile members that would intersect if extended or shortened. Select both profile members and click the Join icon on the Profile Builder toolbar. 

This closes the gap, and produces a single profile member along a new path.

For two assemblies, the process is the same.

Select them both and click Join.

For these simple examples, the selected objects were based on identical profiles or assemblies, with the same elevations.

Note that only profile members, or only assemblies, can be preselected. Joining a profile member and an assembly produces an error.

While it's possible to join objects with different attributes, the resulting object will have a single set of attributes. For predictable results, we recommend ensuring that all preselected objects have the same attributes.

For different assemblies, use the Get Assembly Attributes tool on the assembly whose attributes you want to use. 

Then use Apply Assembly Attributes on the other selected assemblies . . . 

. . . and join the assemblies.

For profile members based on different profiles, use Get Attributes for the profile to use. 

For the other selected profiles, use Edit Attributes.

Apply all attributes . . .

. . . then join the profile members.

As we've seen, objects are joined where their paths intersect. 

This may mean extending segments to meet the intersection point . . .

. . . shortening segments to meet the intersection point . . . 

. . . or both extending and shortening segments if needed.

In the case of using Join on parallel objects . . .

. . . a new segment is added to complete the join. 

If a single object is selected whose path is made of multiple segments, clicking Join will close the loop.

Closing the loop also occurs when multiple objects are selected. 

After the first Join, a single object is produced along an open path. 

The second join closes the path.

If it's not clear how object paths are supposed to intersect when joined, such as this example of fences at different elevations . . .

. . . Profile Builder will calculate an intersection point.

If the result isn't what you're looking for, undo and add one or more segments that will influence the desired intersection points. 

With the correct guidance, Profile Builder will join objects correctly, even at different elevations.

Keep in mind that path endpoint proximity determines which end gets joined. In this example, the single-segment assembly is closer to the left side of the three-segment assembly.

The join segment is added to the left because a segment on the other side would be longer.

If you move the single-segment fence closer to the right side, the join segment is added to that side.

If you want to keep the original configuration, but join the segments on the right side, you can adjust paths. Double-click the three-segment assembly to edit it, then click Edit Path.

Add a new segment that's closer to the single-segment fence than the other endpoint is. 

After the path editing, the join appears on the correct side.

Finally, let's look at a truss example, where the path is a set of single segments. 

With all path segments selected, choose a profile, set junctions to None, and click Build Along Path. This produces a set of 21 individual truss members.

To reflect how this truss would actually be built, select and join the six members of the lower chord, and repeat for the top chords.