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Trouble with Levels


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#1 Wayne Stokes

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Posted 01 March 2015 - 12:45 PM

 I am trying to draw a  basic split level home. Some refer to these as a side split. This is the first side split home that I have been asked to do in over 30 years. When I would do one of these by hand back in the day, I would typically draw the main living, kitchen and either the upper level or the lower level on the same plan. I tried to do the same thing with SoftPlan and use the level command under Floor system to set the different levels. In this case I was attempting to have the main and upper level as one drawing. When I set the various levels ( level 2 and level 3) the level 3 walls do not automatically adjust.  Would it be better to draw each level as its own and try to combine them later?  What is typically done?



#2 Yvon Gonthier

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 07:44 AM

Did you do a clean-up for your walls to adjust?

#3 Keith Owens

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 09:30 AM

I have never done a split-level home, but have done sunken floor areas, and step-downs for additions - I would think it would take a similar approach. I would do the same as you and draw the main level and upper level on the same plan. It seems like you would only need to use 2 levels within floor system mode (the lower level would be on a separate drawing). You would need to manually change the position of the floor, then then you could do a cleanup on the walls to sit on that floor level (you can manually adjust the wall offsets too). The floor doesn't seem like it will cleanup to a shorter wall below. Someone else may have more experience with levels. Attached is a very simple example.

 



#4 Keith Owens

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 09:34 AM

We'll try the attachment again...

 

Split Level.jpg



#5 Yvon Gonthier

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 09:35 AM

Also make sure that you have the reference point (has to be the 1rst one; Reference Circle)in the same location on each plans. This is the only reference point that will adjust your different levels together correctly.

#6 Philip Frank

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 09:55 AM

Do yourself a favor and create a new drawing to indicate all the floors, sills, walls and stairs. I use a dashed line to show the SoftPlan zero reference plane and then dimension everything off of that to help in setting the offsets. In the attached example I placed the "Bedrooms & Kit/Liv on one drawing and the Garage/Unfinished on a separate drawing. As mentioned above, you'll need to use the Floor System "Levels" to get your offset set correctly.

 

Phil

Attached Files



#7 Jim Johnson

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 12:23 PM

Wayne,

See the tutorial on SoftPlan Tuts on reference points:  https://softplantuts...Reference-Point



#8 Keith Owens

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Posted 02 March 2015 - 02:01 PM

The reference circle definitely needs to be used when assembling floors/stacking drawings, and Bill provides a very comprehensive tutorial in doing so at Soltplantuts. Just keep in mind that you still need to offset a different level in floor system mode (the software won't automatically adjust the levels, at least not in v2012). The reference circle can be used at the 1st level or the 2nd level - it's just that if you put it on the 1st level, you would offset your 2nd level up, and if you used it on the 2nd level, you would offset your 1st level down. There are a couple different methods to achieve the same result.






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