Private Function CreateTruss(document As Autodesk.Revit.DB.Document, column1 As FamilyInstance, column2 As FamilyInstance) As Truss
    Dim truss__1 As Truss = Nothing
    Using transaction As New Transaction(document, "Add Truss")
        If transaction.Start() = TransactionStatus.Started Then
            'sketchPlane
            Dim origin As New XYZ(0, 0, 0)
            Dim xDirection As New XYZ(1, 0, 0)
       Dim yDirection As New XYZ(0, 1, 0)
       Dim zDirection As New XYZ(0, 0, 1)
       Dim planeFrame As New Autodesk.Revit.DB.Frame(origin, xDirection, yDirection, zDirection)
       Dim plane As Plane = Autodesk.Revit.DB.Plane.Create(planeFrame)
       Dim sketchPlane__2 As SketchPlane = SketchPlane.Create(document, plane)

            'new base Line - use line that spans two selected columns
            Dim frame1 As AnalyticalModel = TryCast(column1.GetAnalyticalModel(), AnalyticalModel)
            Dim centerPoint1 As XYZ = TryCast(frame1.GetCurve(), Line).GetEndPoint(0)

            Dim frame2 As AnalyticalModel = TryCast(column2.GetAnalyticalModel(), AnalyticalModel)
            Dim centerPoint2 As XYZ = TryCast(frame2.GetCurve(), Line).GetEndPoint(0)

            Dim startPoint As New XYZ(centerPoint1.X, centerPoint1.Y, 0)
            Dim endPoint As New XYZ(centerPoint2.X, centerPoint2.Y, 0)
            Dim baseLine As Autodesk.Revit.DB.Line = Nothing

            Try
                baseLine = Line.CreateBound(startPoint, endPoint)
            Catch generatedExceptionName As System.ArgumentException
                Throw New Exception("Selected columns are too close to create truss.")
            End Try

            ' use the active view for where the truss's tag will be placed; View used in
            ' NewTruss should be plan or elevation view parallel to the truss's base line 
            Dim view As Autodesk.Revit.DB.View = document.ActiveView

            ' Get a truss type for the truss
            Dim collector As New FilteredElementCollector(document)
            collector.OfClass(GetType(FamilySymbol))
            collector.OfCategory(BuiltInCategory.OST_Truss)

            Dim trussType As TrussType = TryCast(collector.FirstElement(), TrussType)

            If trussType IsNot Nothing Then
                truss__1 = Truss.Create(document, trussType.Id, sketchPlane__2.Id, baseLine)
                transaction.Commit()
            Else
                transaction.RollBack()
                Throw New Exception("No truss types found in document.")
            End If
        End If
    End Using

    Return truss__1
End Function