We present a finite-element/discrete-element numerical model for calculating full trajectories of cylindrical metallic colloids in liquid flows and subjected to non-uniform electric fields. The effect of the particle orientation relative to the liquid flow is investigated by considering barcode magnetic nanowires pinned in different directions by applying uniform magnetic fields. We compare the motion of free as well as vertically and horizontally pinned nanowires and demonstrate that their nanoassembly may accurately be tuned by magnetically controlling the orientation during the dielectrophoretic capture. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.