Complex curved stair

[jeffroyer]

I need to create a curved stair that is more complex that what is offered in the plug in tool. The inside and outside radii do not match, nor does the centerpoints of these curves. (the stair widens and flairs as one descends on it)

Is is somehow possible to edit the geometry of the regular curved stair?

If not, I am getting paid hourly for this project...

[Guest]

You can use the stair object to help you get close. Once the stair is created, ungroup the stair. This will give you a series of extrudes that you can then modify and flair out.

A flair stair is something *I* personally want, too. I've added it to the wish list.

[jeffroyer]

thanks Katie. That is a much easier approach than the ones I was currently dreaming up. I realize it would be tough to create a plug-in to address every possible stair configuration.

[P Retondo]

Katie, as always, your participation here is gratefully appreciated. Thanks for putting in a word for a better stair tool, and while you're at it, would you consider lobbying for a generalized stair tool that would take a set of polygons that show the treads in plan and create a series of steps from them?

[Peter Eichel]

While we're on the wish list, can you also add a round & oval plug-in window, this is a much needed item.

[Guest]

Sure thing ...

[mike m oz]

One thing I miss from the old stair tools was the option to have 2D only. In instances where you are drawing rather than modeling this was useful. Can we have it back.

Another need is to be able to draw the stair in either hand. At the moment you are forced into creating the stair in the opposite hand and then mirroring it. There can be consequences to this.

Also for subsequent stairs why can't the browse option be made to come up when you go to place a stair like it does in the first instance in a session.

Edited February 17, 2007 by mike m oz

[jeffroyer]

and how about a center snap option when placing a circular stair?

[P Retondo]

One thing I miss from the old stair tools was the option to have 2D only. In instances where you are drawing rather than modeling this was useful. Can we have it back.

Another need is to be able to draw the stair in either hand. At the moment you are forced into creating the stair in the opposite hand and then mirroring it. There can be consequences to this.

Also for subsequent stairs why can't the browse option be made to come up when you go to place a stair like it does in the first instance in a session.

Mike, I agree that the new interface is a bit clunky. Would the 2d stairs tool be much different from creating a 3d stairs and converting it to a group in Top/Plan view?

You can change the hand of your landings by entering -90 degrees in the rotation field.

Agree that it is a real inconvenience that the basic stair types we see in the intial settings window can't be accessed when editing a stair, or creating another stair. This tool should work like the window PIO, where you can always pick from the basic types in a drop-down menu.

[mike m oz]

Pete:

- Many users still only use VW in 2D. Therefore 2D stairs would be useful to them.

- If you convert a stair to lines you lose the advantage of having a parametric object.

- It had never occured to me to enter a negative angle for the landing. Thanks for setting me straight on that one.

[P Retondo]

Pete:If you convert a stair to lines you lose the advantage of having a parametric object.

Good point! I would have thought of that, I think . . .

[mike m oz]

Pete, notwithstanding those of us who want to embrace 3D modeling there are still a lot of users out there who only want 2D. Their needs shouldn't be ignored.

[Christiaan]

I agree with Mike. I find that some people will use the 3D aspects of VectorWorks as a scapegoat for some of the problems with their drawings. It would great to be able to simply switch off 3D (such as the 3D parametric stairs).

[islandmon]

Parametric Objects provide a quick and generally reliable way to do basic 2d layouts & 3d mock-ups, etc.

Once everything is situated properly, it's back to programming the 'Real-Deal' using home-grown Hybrid Objects.

[Petri]

A flair stair is something *I* personally want, too. I've added it to the wish list.

I guess that would be a nice show pony feature for the North American market - but how about the needs of the majority of your paying customers?

[P Retondo]

I for one didn't argue with Mike's point. I also agree that it might make life easier for pure 2d users - I guess it would mean that the user would be less confused by an interface that doesn't bother them with parameters for stringers and other modeling elements meaningless for 2d. Hopefully it wouldn't take an inordinate amount of programming to accomplish this.