Any stair tool expert?

[jchan]

Hi there,

I have some difficulty to set up some private stairs. Not sure is there any expert can help? I have attached 2 screen shots and a VW file.

Also, is it possible to use the stair tool to build a 3 flights U-stair?

Many thanks

https://www.dropbox.com/s/93yqcesbik2hutq/Stair%201.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/2iy7irxvrbpuzly/Stair%202.png?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/fh9au0xadyx20zr/Stair.vwx?dl=0

[AlanW]

If you choose the custom stair from your configuration tools menus you can draw stairs with as many twist and turns as you like.

[mike m oz]

Also, is it possible to use the stair tool to build a 3 flights U-stair?

Yes - as a starting point choose from the stair options available by clicking on the Select Standard Configuration button on the General tab.

[Jonathan Pickup]

my favourite is the Custom Stair. These day you have to customize your workspace and add the Custom Stair back in.

[jchan]

Thanks all,

The old tool works better the new tool : ) They should put this back to the tool bar before they fix the stair tool issue.

[zoomer]

For me the new stair tool works quite good so far.

OK,

beside that it needs hours to open, which do all arch tools,

and that the geometry does not export proper meshes with correct face orientation,

the UI looks a bit complicated, ...

I tried the old stair tool once when I started VW and there were both in the

workspace UI but immediately saw that there were not enough options.

So I still don't know what the old tool has that can't be done with the new one.

Edited May 28, 2015 by zoomer

[Patrick Fritsch]

The stair tool still can't draw a proper continuous handrail/guardrail in simple L-Shaped or U-Shaped stair configurations. The software get's confused at the landings/bends when it's required to drop and ends up in geometric spaghetti. This is still a long known bug.

[zoomer]

OK,

but your example I saw was not a "valid solution" in terms of stair geometry

for me. If there is a special case and not enough space for the perfect stair,

I think it is ok to model a custom solution by hand, as you will have to find

a custom solution when building in reality too.

I don't see the bug in VW, more in the stair.

This is not meant as a critic of your stair.

I just wish the handrail tool would work as good as the handrails in the stair tool

The stair tool is of course far from being perfect.

And I expect stairs to automatically cut correct holes in slabs etc soon ...

[PVA - Admin]

I hadn't chimed in yet, but I am watching this and am adding it to a request for a massive overhaul of the various Stair tools.

[Patrick Fritsch]

Zoomer, thats your opinion of "normal". Not certain how much you've actually experimented with different configurations? I'm certain could find a bunch of users who have the opinion as me. The reality in residential bldg codes here, our handrails do not need to be continuous through landings and stair turns and there is no control in the PIO for that, much different than commercial/public bldg requirements.

In the end, dialogue is good to get thi PIO to be more flexible and functional.

[AlanW]

Agreed that the stair tool need work as its a bit restrictive. A post for suggestions and problems that we have all incurred may help to distill out what needs to change as each person will have different issues.

Thanks

[zoomer]

Hi Patrick,

I understand.

I agree that the handrail could be more flexible in those cases.

[AlanW]

The ability to stop and start the handrail would be good if you didn't need it to continue.

There are 3 seperate stair tools as I recall, could it be condensed into one.

The normal handrail tool which has glass with pin fixing could these be used on the handrails for the stair tool and have the ability to set the fixing points.

[zoomer]

Zoomer, thats your opinion of "normal". Not certain how much you've actually experimented with different configurations? I'm certain could find a bunch of users who have the opinion as me. The reality in residential bldg codes here, our handrails do not need to be continuous through landings and stair turns and there is no control in the PIO for that, much different than commercial/public bldg requirements.

In the end, dialogue is good to get thi PIO to be more flexible and functional.

Now I know.

The railing gets havoc even if the geometry ist ok

[Tom Klaber]

+1 For massive stair tool overhaul

[petervg123]

Hey Jonathan,

I have a "ghost" Staircase in my drawing that I did not put there and can not select to get rid of it. It can't be seen in plan but when I go into a 3D view it is seen (I do not want it). Have you ever run into that? is it a Bug? I have Vectorworks 2015 Educational edition.

thanks

Peter

[zoomer]

The railing gets havoc even if the geometry ist ok

That was a bug,

when using a same or larger Value for "Offset 1" as "Offset 2"

(Or vice versa)

Should be fixed one time.