Custom Structure
The Custom Structure tool opens the Structure Edit workspace where you can assemble a structure from individual components (posts, beams, panels) and position them freely.
Custom StructureCustom Structure opens a blank Structure Edit workspace where you assemble a parametric object entirely from scratch by adding posts, beams, panels, slats, and other components from the Component Library. Unlike wizard-driven structures, there is no predefined form — you place each part exactly where you need it and adjust its size, rotation, and material independently. The result is a fully parametric object that you can re-open and continue editing at any time. Use Custom Structure when your design — an unusual pergola configuration, a bespoke carport frame, or a non-standard screen wall — falls outside what the built-in wizards offer.
Positioning components
Select a component in the 3D viewport by clicking it. Drag to move it. Use the move/rotate handles to position precisely. The workspace includes 3D snapping to help align components.
Undo and redo
The structure edit workspace has its own undo/redo stack (up to 50 steps). Use Ctrl+Z to undo and Ctrl+Shift+Z to redo within the workspace.
Select and position components
Click a component in the 3D viewport to select it — it highlights with a selection outline. Switch to the Move tool (keyboard shortcut G) to drag the component to the correct position, or use the Rotate tool (R) and Scale tool (S) for further adjustments. The inspector panel on the right shows editable numeric fields for Position, Size, and Rotation so you can type exact values for placement.
Components carry sockets, so dragging one part near a compatible socket on another snaps them together automatically. This makes aligning posts under a beam or connecting fence rails to posts fast and reliable — see the Assembly Snapping article for details on socket roles and fill patterns.
Duplicate and hide components
Select a component and press D (or use the toolbar button) to duplicate it as a new override — useful for repeating identical posts or beams across a run. To temporarily remove a component from the rendered output without deleting it permanently, press the Hide button or the Delete key; the component is hidden but can be restored by selecting it and toggling visibility again.
Assign materials
With a component selected, open the Surface picker in the inspector to assign a wood, composite, or metal material. The material browser filters available choices to types appropriate for the component — for example, post-and-beam contexts show wood, composite, and metal options. Each component can carry its own material override independently of the others.
Undo and redo changes
The workspace maintains its own undo and redo history of up to 50 steps, separate from the main editor history. Press Ctrl+Z to undo the last change and Ctrl+Shift+Z to redo it. You can freely experiment with positions and configurations knowing any step is fully reversible within the session.
Apply or cancel
When you are satisfied with the assembly, click Apply to write all component overrides back to the parametric object and return to the main editor. If you want to discard your work and leave the structure unchanged, click Cancel instead. Applied overrides are non-destructive — you can re-open the workspace at any time to continue editing.
Applying saves your component overrides as non-destructive data on the parametric object. The original parametric defaults are preserved alongside your overrides, so you can always reset an individual component to its default position and size by selecting it and clicking Reset in the inspector.
If you cancel after making changes, all unsaved overrides from the current session are discarded permanently. The undo history is also cleared when the workspace closes — only changes that were Applied are persisted.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I use Custom Structure instead of a wizard?
Use a wizard (pergola, fence, gazebo, etc.) whenever one closely matches your design — wizards are faster and generate a fully parametric layout automatically from your drawn boundary. Choose Custom Structure only when the form you need cannot be expressed by any wizard, for example a one-off architectural screen wall, an unusual post layout, or a hybrid structure that combines element types no single wizard supports.
Can I edit a custom structure after it has been applied?
Yes. Select the structure in the 2D or 3D editor and re-open the Structure Edit workspace. All your previous component overrides are loaded back in and you can move, duplicate, hide, resize, or add further components. Clicking Apply again saves the updated state.
Can I multi-select components to move them together?
Yes. Hold Shift and click additional components in the 3D viewport to build a multi-selection. Move, rotate, and scale operations then apply to all selected components simultaneously, preserving their relative positions.
What happens if two people edit the same custom structure at the same time?
Scapiera uses a merge strategy when applying concurrent edits. Only the components you actually moved, added, or removed in your session are written back — components you never touched retain any edits made by the other session. This prevents one person's Apply from overwriting another person's unrelated changes.
Can I convert a custom structure to a mesh for further sculpting?
Yes. Select one or more added components in the Structure Edit workspace and click Convert to mesh in the inspector to bake them into standalone mesh entities on the canvas. This is a one-way conversion — converted parts leave the parametric component list and no longer respond to the structure's controls. Convert only the parts that genuinely need freeform geometry and keep everything else parametric.