Let's say I have a king post in my component library that is too long. Do I need to figure the length and shorten it before I put it into my frame? I've been trying to stick it into my model, switch to wireframe, and scale it to shorten it. It's difficult to get the right angles to do this, and it seems impossibe to get the scale tool to shorten it just the right amount. Do others use the scale tool in this manner, or should I calculate the correct length and resize it before I stick it into my model? Thanks.

If it's only the length that needs adjustment, just put in the model and use the push/pull tool to put it where it needs to be.
Brad

To clarify, I'm having problems with the ends of components that lie inside another component. For example, a queen post with a tennon, the end of which lies in a tie beam. If the post is too long and therefore "pushes" too deep into the tie beam, I can't seem to shorten it with push/pull. Probably something simple I'm doing wrong. I'll keep working on it. Thanks.
Dale

If you can post your model I'll take a look at it. Post just the queen post if the rest of the model is too large. I think I know what your issue is and it's an easy one.

I never seem to get notifications, so I'll check back in.

Push-pull only works in the simplest cases. If you have any joinery, or any other geometry at the end of the timber, like a gain, or a taper, you'll need to stretch.

I'm having some technical problems with the board. I'll follow up with the details on the "stretch" soon. CB.

Here are the steps to “stretch” a timber:

- Drop the timber component into the model, and align one end where it belongs.

- You may want to right click and "make unique" at this point, to keep from changing all such timbers in your model.

- Double click on the timber, so that you are "inside".  In other words, you are editing the timber component.  Note that the rest of the world has gone pale.

- Drag the mouse to select the entire half of the timber that needs to stretch.  Don't just pick the joint, make sure you get the ends of the timber itself, and any reductions, etc that might be there. 

- Now, using the move tool, stretch the timber.  Use the inference engine to stay on line.  Make sure you grab it by a point that you want to land on the surface of the mortised timber.  It should just snap into place!
 
CB.

It's also sometimes handy to create a construction line along the path you're stretching it, like on the edge of the timber, especially if the direction the stretch is moving isn't along one of the axis.

Joe's suggestion is straightforward, and will work every time. But it is time consuming to create and then delete the construction line. Another way to get the inference engine to stay "on line" is to hover the cursor over the edge of the timber after you hit M for move. Then press and hold the shift key. Now move your stuff, and it should be constrained to the line. CB.