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Introduction. The wall designer section creates a 2 dimensional floor plan of the structure. The plan is dimensioned and openings inserted. As walls are drawn, the default “Set” file is allocated to each wall. This contains the layout information that the program will use to construct the walls when it is brought into “Project mode”. Any wall, or group of walls can be selected, and the set file altered to customise the layout. Correctly completing the Wall Designer section BEFORE moving to project mode will lessen the chance of errors.

Starting a Job. Before starting to draw a project, check the Wall designer and Project settings. Special attention should be given to…. . Units. Check the correct units are selected. Auto recover. Check the settings Enter the project information Wall heights. Wall and floor thickness. Cladding thickness if this function is to be used Floor Levels. Roof pitch, and overhangs. Ceiling thickness. Important. If the project does not have a ceiling, check that the selected ceiling set file has a thickness of “0”. This affects the height of the roof planes.

Drawing walls. To draw walls, click on the “Drawer Walls” tool.

Then left click on the screen where the wall is to begin, and draw the wall in the desired direction. The wall will angle snap according to the settings in “Wall Designer Settings”. When the wall has reached its approximate length, left click again and the wall will end.

Start the next wall by left clicking the cursor within the snap range of the end of the first wall.

and drag the wall in the desired direction..

Click again to finish the wall. The corner joining the 2 walls will snap to form the corner.

Start here

Angled corners will join at their internal points.

When multiple walls join at 1 point it is necessary to reduce the snap range, and Position lock walls when they are correctly positioned, to prevent them re snapping when another wall is drawn.

Drawing walls to a grid. A grid layout can be created to snap wall to. It is controlled through the “Grid” tab in Wall Designer Settings as explained in Chapter 2.

Checking “Snap to Grid” will cause the walls to snap to the grid lines as they are drawn, provided they are within the snap range. Walls will snap with the grid lines as their centre line.

Unchecking, “Snap to Grid”, will allow the walls to be drawn as normal. Walls that have been snapped to grid lines can be moved off the grid line without them snapping back.

Aligning walls to a grid The screen grid has a static origin in the centre of the screen. Each time the design software opens, the grid will open in the same place. The job however, opens with the origin in the centre of the screen, where it remains as the wall layout is drawn. Because jobs are not drawn symmetrically, the centre of the actual job will very rarely be at the origin point during the drawing of the walls. When a job is closed, and then reopened, it will open with the centre of the job, at the origin point, therefore it will no longer align with the grid.

Job closed and re opened.

To align the wall layout with the grid, draw a temporary corner on the intersection of the grid lines in a convenient position clear of any of the walls.

Origin Point

Centre of job

Use Ctrl-“A” to select all the walls including the temp corner, and then use the “Translate selected from corner to corner” tool to align the project with the grid/

Ensure that you draw the line from the project to the new position at the temp corner.

Temporary corner

When the second corner is clicked, the project will align with the grid. The temp corner can be deleted.

Sizing the structure. When the main structure has been drawn to the approximate size and shape it is corrected to its exact dimensions.

Beginning from one end, position the walls horizontally using the “Select wall” tool. Select the first wall to be positioned, and then click on the measurement governing its position.

A text box will appear where the correct measurement is entered.

Click “OK” and the selected wall will move to its correct position. Continue progressively along the structure horizontally. Note, All automatic measurements shown are internal measurements. Most dimensions required will appear automatically when a wall is selected, but if additional measurements are needed they can be added using the “Dim Line” tool. Exterior dimensions display in black when the “Settings” “Dimensioning” “Show outside dimensions” box is checked, and are not selectable for re sizing.

When the Horizontal adjustments have been completed, correct the vertical sizing by starting at the top or bottom.

Moving Walls by Dragging. Position locked walls cannot be moved. When a wall is selected, handles appear at each end and centre.

To grab one of the handles, place the curser over it. Click the left mouse button and the handle will be grabbed. To release the handle, click the left mouse button again. Grabbing the centre handle allows the wall to be moved in a direction 90 deg from the lay of the wall.

Grabbing the centre handle of angled walls enables them to be moved in any direction.

Grabbing an end handle allows the wall to be retracted or extended, or pivoted around the opposite end handle.

Setting Walls to a length Once drawn, walls can be set to a length by clicking on the “Select Wall” tool, and double clicking on the end to be adjusted.

The wall properties box will display. The wall length will display in the “Length” box. Alter this to the desired measurement, and click ‘Rebuild”

End to be adjusted

Double click here

The wall will adopt the new measurement, with the alteration taking place at the selected end. Note, any joining wall will not move with the change in length.

Note. Structures are normally set to the correct dimensions after the shape has been formed. Sizing individual walls is only done in special circumstances. ( see “Sizing The structure” previously in the chapter )

Altering wall thickness. Once drawn, wall thicknesses can be altered by selecting the wall or walls to be altered, viewing their properties, and changing or entering a setting in the “Width” box.

When single walls are selected, the existing wall width will display, but when multiple walls are selected, as per the example, the width box will be empty. Enter the new width, and click “Rebuild”. The walls will expand or contract from their centre.

Any wall joints will not automatically adjust, and will need to be selected and have their joints corrected.

Note. The structure size will change when exterior wall widths are altered. Measurements should be checked.

Inserting openings. Note. Window openings that extend to the floor must be entered as door openings otherwise an additional opening bottom will be built. Openings cannot be placed, one above the other. The larger opening should be inserted and the smaller manually constructed later, or an opening containing both constructed, and additional internal members added in Project mode later.

To insert openings, click on the “Add door” or “Add Window” tool.

A text box will appear showing the default opening size. This can be changed by clicking on the menu arrow,

and selecting another opening from the data base. Click OK when the correct opening has been selected, and then click on the wall in the approximate position the opening is to be placed. (See “Wall Designer tool bar” “Add Door” and “Add Window” tools)

Openings are exactly positioned by clicking on the “Select opening” tool,

and clicking on the opening to be positioned.

Measurements to the opening are displayed. These can be selected and altered to position the opening. To alter the size of the opening, click on the “Select Opening” tool and then double click on the opening to be corrected. A text box will appear showing the properties of the opening, and the drawing will display the dimensions showing its position in the wall.

Amend the opening properties to those required and click “OK” If the opening is to be centred in the wall, check the “Centred” box Note. The “Top” measurement for openings is measured from the bottom of the frame Not “0” level. Rooms with lowered floors where window tops are to line with other areas must have their heights adjusted.

The opening is still selected. Clicking on any of the position measurements will produce a text box where the entry can be altered to exactly position the opening. When selected, openings display dragging handles.

Grabbing and moving either of the 2 outer handles will move the opening side, (this will alter the opening width.) Grabbing and moving the centre handle will slide the opening along the wall. (The opening width remains the same.)

Split level construction. The structure is usually created with the primary level at 0. In multi storey structures or single storey with a number of levels adopting the same level structure as shown on the plan will avoid confusion. The example will have the Bedrooms and service areas at “0” with a 2400 stud height. The Lounge, Kitchen and Dining room floor 300mm below with a 2700 stud height. The Garage a further 100mm below the Lounge, Kitchen Dining room with a 2800 stud height.

Using the “Cut a wall” tool, cut the walls where they will step from one level to another.

Select the walls to be lowered in the first area. (Lounge, Kitchen, and Dining room)

and click on the properties tool.

A text box will appear.

Because multiple walls have been selected most entry spaces will be blank and the name and length of the active wall in the selection will be greyed out. Enter the necessary changes. In the example, the floor level will be lowered to minus 300, and the wall height extended to 2700.

Click “Rebuild” to register the changes. Now select the garage walls to be lowered.

In the example, they will be lowered to minus 400 and the stud height increased to 2800.

To display the result, the example has been taken to project view.

Multi level construction. Check the Wall designer Settings “Levels”. Draw and size the bottom level of the structure as explained above, Structures, where openings are duplicated on each level, should have these openings inserted. These openings will be copied to the levels above, which will ensure alignment. Openings not duplicated should not be inserted until all levels have been drawn, to prevent confusion. The example below shows the first level of 5. The windows and doors have been inserted because this level is duplicated at level 3 and level 5.

To duplicate the level, select all the walls using the “Select wall’ tool while holding down the “Ctrl” or “Shift” keys.

Click on the “Copy walls” tool. Using the “Level up / down” tool, change to level to be copied to. (In the example the first copy of the bottom floor is at level 3.)

Click on the “Paste walls” tool and the copy is made. Change to the level of the next copy. (In the example level 5) and click the “Paste walls” tool again. The original level 1 has now been copied at levels 3 and 5.

Return to level 1. In the Example Levels 2 and 4 have a different configuration, and only the perimeter, and any common walls are selected to be copied.

Click on the “Copy walls” tool again. The new copy will overwrite the first. Change to level 2. Click on the “Paste walls” tool and a copy of the selected walls will be created at level 2.

The window and door openings that have been copied are now incorrectly positioned for the new floor layout. They are selected and deleted. The new level 2 layout can now be drawn.

The layout at level 2 can now be copied to level 4. The multi level layout is now complete.

Note. In the example, the basic wall structure was copied from level 1 therefore they will all have the level 1 height setting. The additional walls drawn on level 2 will have the level 2 height setting. If different wall heights are to be used at each level, the walls at each level must be selected and have the wall height appropriate to that level applied to their set files.

Shooting walls. Walls can be shot to Floor Ceiling or Roof planes Note. Walls can only shoot to ceiling or roof planes on their same level, but will shoot to floor planes on the level above. To instruct walls to shoot, select the wall or walls, open their properties, and check the “Shoot” box in the “General” tab.

Shooting to Floor Planes. The example below shows a ramped floor section between 2 buildings with differing floor heights.

The lower walls have been constructed at 2400 because their heights will automatically be adjusted to shoot. The upper floor starts at 2700 because this is the correct level of the lower end. Joist depth is 300, and 20mm has been allowed for flooring.

The floor planes are built at the level of the bottom of the walls by default, therefore the planes in the example were built at 2700. (The centre portion was ramped, and the RH end portion was raised after the planes were first built.

The floor planes are built on Level 2. Wall planes will snap to any floor plane at any level above the wall level. The floor planes are now lowered by 320. (300 for the joist, and 20 for the floor)

Moving the floor planes will not affect the joists already built. The floor joists can be Items locked to prevent any rebuilding if desired. To move the floor planes, open Floor designer, and view level 2.

Select the first Floor plane near the LH edge, and double click to view it’s properties. The properties displayed will be the general properties of the plane, and the properties of the plane edge selected.

Enter values to lower the plane by 320.

Click OK. Move the other 2 planes the same way.

Open wall designer, select the level 1 walls, and check “Shoot”

Click “Rebuild” The lower floor walls are now shot to the Floor planes.

To complete the project, modify the base of the upper walls to the floor shape.

Shooting to Ceiling and Roof planes. To shoot walls to ceiling or roof planes, check the “Shoot” box in the wall properties.

Click “Rebuild” and the walls will shoot. The ceiling or roof plane to be shot to must be on the same level as the wall. Walls are unable to shoot correctly where multiple or vertical changes are required.

(One roof panel has been removed for clarity) Panels should be cut where some changes occur.

Moving Groups of Walls. Once walls have been drawn, they may be selected and shifted as a group, by holding down the “Shift”, or “Ctrl”, keys after the first wall has been selected and clicking on further walls. (If the “Ctrl” key is held the first wall selected will remain the active wall, and if the “Shift” key is held the last wall selected will become the active wall.) The active selected wall will display the dragging handles. (See “Drawing Walls”) Only walls on the level being viewed can be selected at one time. The example below shows 3 walls selected, with the bottom wall being the active wall.

Once a group of walls have been selected they become locked, and can be collectively moved by grabbing the centre handle of the active wall and dragging in the desired direction.

Clicking the left mouse button will complete the shift, but leave the walls selected. Collectively shifted walls will not automatically join to other walls when released. The shifted walls must be individually selected and the handle at the snap end moved toward, or away from, the wall to be intersected to activate the snap.

To de select the selected wall or walls, place the cursor in a clear space and click the left mouse button. The “Select wall’ tool will remain active until another tool is selected. All walls within an area may be collectively selected by holding down the “Shift” key, and drawing a frame around the area to be selected.

Any wall that enters the selected area will be selected.

The active wall within the selection will be the last wall to be selected, or an adjacent wall if the previously selected wall is outside the selected area. To select the wall, that will become the active wall, select the wall before the select area is drawn.

Then draw the selection area.

Selected walls can be finally positioned, by activating, “Settings”, “Dimensioning”, “Show parallel wall distances”, which will display the measurement from the active wall, or drawing a manual dimension from the active wall to an appropriate place.

Select the appropriate measurement by clicking on it, and a text box will appear where the measurement can be amended to bring the selected section into its correct position.

In the example the 2 sections will share a common wall, therefore minus 90 will be entered.

Final vertical adjustment is made by re selecting the walls, with wall 8 as the active wall, and adjusting the appropriate measurement.

To remove the wall duplication at the joint, select one of the duplicated walls, and using its handle, draw it back from over the other wall. Check that wall joints have not overlapped.

Copying and Pasting Walls.

Copying Walls. The “Copy walls” tool will only become active when walls have been selected.

Walls may be copied to the same level or to any of the other 4 levels available. To copy walls, select the ones to be copied by holding down the “Shift” or “Ctrl” keys, or by area selection, (See “select wall” tool”) and then click on the “Copy selected walls” tool. Selected walls may also be copied using Ctrl + C.

Paste copied walls.

The ‘Paste copied walls” tool will only become active when walls have been copied. Walls may be pasted to the same level or to any of the other 4 levels available.

Pasting to the same level. Once the desired walls have been copied. (See Copy walls).

Click on the “Paste walls” tool. Copied walls may also be pasted by using Ctrl + V. A copy of the selected walls will appear, offset from the original. The copy will now be the selected walls, with the same active wall selected as per the original.

The copied walls will be sequentially numbered from the previous highest number and in the same sequence as the original. Successive clicks will produce multiple copies, with the last one as the selected copy. The copy can now be moved to it’ desired position by grabbing the centre handle of the active wall. (See “Select wall” tool.)

The copy can now be finally positioned by activating the “Settings”, “Dimensioning” “Show parallel wall distances”, which will display the measurement between the 2 structures.

Select the appropriate measurement by clicking on it, and a text box will appear where the measurement can be amended to bring the copied section into its correct position.

In the example the 2 sections will share a common wall, therefore minus 90 will be entered.

Final vertical adjustment is made by re selecting the copied walls, with wall 8 as the active wall, and adjusting the appropriate measurement.

To remove the wall duplication at the joint, select one of the duplicated walls and using its handle, draw it back from over the other wall. Check that wall joints have not overlapped.

Pasting to a different level To paste to a different level, copy as before, and then change the level to level of the paste copy using the “Level up / down” tool and click on the “Paste walls” tool. External walls copied at level 1.

Pasted to level 2.

The pasted copy will position directly above the original.

Copying from one project to another. In the example, the building below,

Will have the barn added to the LH end.

Open the Barn in Wall Designer. Select the front wall as the active wall, and then select all the walls.

And copy them. Open the first project, and view it in Wall designer.

Paste the copied walls from the first project.

Grab the centre handle of the active wall, and drag the copy to it’s approximate position.

The copy can now be positioned as previously described.

The copy will need to be completed, because the special information required for roofs, ceilings, and special walls is not contained in wall designer files.

Note. The walls and openings in the structure that was copied across still have their original set files attached. The openings and walls may require modification to match the new location.

Curved Walls

Curved walls are not true curves, but are faceted. The walls are created as a separate entity from the project, but can be represented in the job as above. (The example was created using the Polygon of walls, and each segment is an individual wall.)

The total length of the curved section, can be calculated, by counting the number of segments in the polygon of walls, represented in the project, and multiplying the result by the length of each segment. In the example, 19 segments at 447mm long =8493. plus 2 straight sections at 2000. = 12493. The wall will be made in 2 sections. One of 9 facets plus the 2000 wing, and 1 of 10 facets plus the wing. To create the first section, create a wall 6023 long. (9 x 447 + 2000) Set the “Vertical” settings to space the studs at 447.

(If the wall is to contain a curve only, “Doubles” can also be checked) Double the studs in the first 9 sections, and re space the studs in the remaining 2000, to the normal stud spacing.

Cut through the outside flange, and base of the top and bottom plates, between the double studs where the facets join.

Double these studs

Re space these studs

The first half of the example wall can now be erected.

Plate

Cut here

Inside flange left intact

The second half is done in the same way.

Curved walls which are shot to a raking ceiling or roof can have the heights of the top plate in each individual segment found from the individual segments in the project,

and the top plate cut, and the segment heights adjusted in the wall to be built.