Creating Beams Using Point to Point

	This task shows how to create a beam with two points.
	1.	With your 3-D session open, click the `Beam` button . The `Beam` dialog box displays with the `Geometry` tab selected.
	2.	Select from the `Category` drop down list. (This task uses `Beam` as an example.) You can select `More` to display the `Class Browser`, and select from what is available in the catalog. The name of the beam is assigned automatically, using the object naming rules. If you want to assign your own name to the beam, uncheck the `Automatic` box and enter a name.
	3.	Select `Point to Point` from the `Type` drop down list. If you select the `Chain` checkbox, the last end point selected becomes the start point of the next beam.
	4.	In the `Start` and `End` fields, select a position along the support curve of an existing beam. You can do any of the following: Select the extremities of existing beams. (When your selection point is near the start, mid, or end point of a beam, these points become your selection point. However, you can select specific offset values.) Select a point in your 3-D session, or a point on the plane system grid. (Make sure the `Selectable` `Points` checkbox is selected on the `Plane System Grid` dialog box.) If you select the `Chain` checkbox, you can select as many points as necessary. The last end point selected becomes the start point of the next beam. Right-click and select from the list of GSD stacking commands. You see the beams display in your 3-D session as you make your selections.
	5.	When selecting start points, you can click alongside the `Start` field, and the `Start Point` dialog box displays. When selecting end points, you can click alongside the `End` field, and the `End Point` dialog box displays. The `Start Point` and `End Point` dialog boxes list the points you selected. You can use the dialog boxes to replace a point with another point. Select the start point you want to replace from the list, and click the `Replace` button. Select a point in the 3-D session. This start point displays in the `Start Point` dialog box list in place of the original start point. (The corresponding beam moves to the location of the point.)
	6.	You can also remove points from the list in the `Start Point` and `End Point` dialog boxes. Select the points you want to remove from the list, and click the `Remove` button. The selected points are removed from the list, and the corresponding beams are deleted in the 3-D session, and in the specifications tree. Click `Close` when you have made all the necessary changes. NOTE: If the points you removed from the list were selected on the plane system grid, or were created using the list of GSD stacking commands, the points are removed from the 3-D session. If you used the `Generative Shape Design` workbench to create points, these points are not removed from the 3-D session.
	7.	In the `Length` field, enter the offset from the start of the selected beam. If you select the `Ratio` checkbox, the fixed length is converted to a ratio. NOTE: You must select the point on a beam to define a length or a ratio.
	8.	Select `Start` or `End` in the `Limits` section to limit the placed beam. You can: Select an object in your 3-D session (reference plane, plate, stiffener, beam or pillar), and the beam is limited at that location. Right click to display a drop down list and select `Select Reference Plane`to display the `Plane Systems`dialog box. (You can select `Delete Limit` to delete a limit.) NOTE: When you define a limit, the `Invert Beam` button becomes available. You can click it to invert a beam.
	9.	Enter a value under `Offset` to offset the beam from the limit. You can enter both negative (removes material) and positive (adds material) values.
	10.	Click `OK` when you are done.
	11.	You can change the values of a beam by double clicking on the beam in your 3-D session. The `Beam` dialog box displays. Change the values as required. Some fields are not available, and cannot be changed (such as `Category`).