Doug_N

Here you go. This is a typical project with site statistics. The variables are used in the plan file and in the layout files Garage Oakville.zip

Just adding a bit for the area macros, if you make the label with a global variable in it you can use that variable to do statistics, like for example construction area. %$room1=room.standard_area.to_sq_ft.round(2)% sq ft Now the variable $room1, will have the value of the area of that room. if rooms 1 and 2 are the rooms where construction occurs, and the building permit is based upon room size them construction area will be %$room1+$room2% Just a trivial example I know, but it works wonders for doing lot statistics with building areas, hard and soft landscaping, lot coverage and the like.

Hi Scott, will you be doing the presentation? You do such a great job.

This particular mouse has been tight from time to time. Just sayin

I have a similar problem when dragging something to a new location in a plan file. The mouse will suddenly release the object that I am dragging and then grab something else if the pointer is near some other object. I have changed mice, so that isn't the problem.

Just a guess but if you have the deck DBX in the structure tab and a roof checked, then the deck fence will try to extend itself towards the roof wherever there is a roof overhang over the deck. Uncheck the roof over the deck structural definition, if in fact that is causing the problem.

Is this what you mean?

To all the Ruby wizards out there, if I were to buy a book on programming in Ruby, what book should I start with? I am pretty much into doing site statistics using my own code along with a generous help from Joe Carrick. I am fascinated with just how far I can go into the secrets that makes CA work, and how I can further work on a data collection system that is tailored to what my client audience needs. This includes data on exterior wall areas, ratio of glass to wall area, room sizes that require windows by code, the relationship of the window to the floor area and so on. Any suggestions?

Steve, Wow that is pretty amazing. I suppose you could do the pickets only one molding, and the railing and rim joist as a second molding. That would eliminate the lines in vector view.

Here is the challenge that I have for doing deck railings where the code has proscribed this as one of the designs that a BCIN designer can use. There may be a simple way of doing this, but I have yet to discover it. This is especially true for irregular deck designs with octagon bump outs etc.

Often jogs to this narrow type occur in as built conditions in a renovation. There is no way to design around an existing site condition, especially if the build is adding to the building near to that condition. Another situation is where, because of the requirement for increased insulation in a new addition, you can't match wall thicknesses with existing walls that were built under a now obsolete building code.

This isn't a question, or really anything to do with CA or software, but it is a great tool to explain load bearing walls, drop beams and flush beams to clients. This is a video from the guys at This Old House. I use it to explain how they work to clients.

It seems that the problem that you are seeing can be masked by using a polyline solid, but that is just a chewing gum and bailing wire solution. There would be a weak spot in the roof structure at the root of the valley and this is the result of the geometry of the intersection of the recessed gable wall and the vaulted space. Here are some pictures that demonstrate the problem with the actual design.

You can "put the bushes behind" the tree by changing the draw order.

Steve, great video. I have had than problem lots of times and solved it by deleting and stretching walls, but your solution is very elegant.

By Layout Page your are referring to the layout file? Does that mean I should define the variables in the layout first, then use them in the plan file? filename.layout > page xxx %$lotarea=999% filename.plan > First Floor (plan view) [polyline shape] (label) %$lotarea= area.round(2)% Something like that?

HI Ruby Geeks I am using two plan files for a layout, one of the house and one for a detached two story garage. In doing the site statistics I create ruby global variables for floor areas, exterior wall areas, ridge and eave heights for inclusion of a lot statistics analysis. I do the tables in a cad detail file in the house plan file, but I can't find a way to pass the values of the variables in the garage plan file to the cad detail sheet in the house plan file. Any ideas on how to do this, or a work around? Doug

Are you in Vector view?

If you are adding the leaders in the layout file you are in for a rough ride. One workflow that works well for doing situations is to create these types of drawings in a CAD detail page in the PLAN file. You can block these, and save them to your library and then you can link them to a layout file with no problems at all.

Oh yes, you have hit the nail on the head, thus avoiding thumb damage. Lol

I have struggled with this default darned deck eating into the exterior wall situation for, well forever. I had no idea that there was such an easy solution and had been manually adjusting the ledger on every project. Finally, an answer!! Awesome...

How about this Perry?

What Perry said plus... Not only that but if the existing header is not adequate and there is another window opening going into the same wall (meaning in that room) or the existing header is within the construction building permit scope (material changes to the room that the header is in) the building department may require the header to be brought up to current code.

I would also make sure that you don't have pony walls as interior gable ends, remove wall caps from attic walls and define the siding for the walls as a wall type and not paint the siding in a wall type with a different siding.

This may help. Sorry, no music this time. Existing.plan