13 replies to this topic

[Steve Pirtle]

I have been laying out my ceiling joist on a project and have an issue with sizes. As I lay out the different rooms and start to size each area when I change one room to 2x6 and another to say 2x12 the previous room changes to the sizes of the current change. I know it’s probably a simple answer but have rattled my brain to work it out. Any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks Steve 

[Henry Buckner]

If you want to have different sized ceiling joists, you have to identify them as being on different levels. All the joists on any given level will be the sane size and have the

same offset.

[Steve Pirtle]

Thanks will try that.

[Richard Rubinski]

If you change the joist size you have to put each size on a different level. I believe you have to do the same for different offsets if you have 9’ and 10’ ceilings.

[Richard Rubinski]

Henry I was replying at same time

[Steve Pirtle]

Thanks guys works great !

[Jon Davis]

Going forward, when you draw another CJ block, then go into edit, all you have to do is select the proper layer, you don't have to physicaly type in the size. It will update based on what layer it's on.

 

So I typically put:

 

Layer 1: 2x6

Layer 2: 2x8

Layer 3: 2x10

 

And so on... so then you just slap them on whichever layer they need to be on, and set your spacing. 

[Dan Malaske]

Going forward, when you draw another CJ block, then go into edit, all you have to do is select the proper layer, you don't have to physicaly type in the size. It will update based on what layer it's on.

 

So I typically put:

 

Layer 1: 2x6

Layer 2: 2x8

Layer 3: 2x10

 

And so on... so then you just slap them on whichever layer they need to be on, and set your spacing. 

 

so are you saying that you can just have layer 1 for your 2x6's and layer 2 for 2x8 and so forth? 

 

we do have different heights throughout our houses sometimes, 8' to 10' sometimes. Would be great if i can just draw the ceiling joists and then change the level depending on the spans 

this sound correct?

 

I am also not able to locate where to edit the levels. I would like to create layer 1,2,3 for 2x6 2x8 2x10 and so forth, but not able to locate where to edit them. 

 

also is layer here the same as level when doing ceiling joist?

[Keith Almond]

Yes, Everything assigned to a level will be common ... size and offset so if you have 2" x 6" joists at 9'-1" on level 1, everything else added to level 1 will also be 2" x 6" at 9'-1". if you edit a section to be level 2 and 2" x 8", then everything added to level 2 will be 2" x 8" at 9'-1" and if you edit a portion of that to be level 3 and 10' high, then everything on level 3 will be 2" x 8" at 10' high etc.

[Dan Malaske]

Yes, Everything assigned to a layer will be common ... size and offset so if you have 2" x 6" joists at 9'-1" on layer 1, everything else added to layer 1 will also be 2" x 6" at 9'-1". if you edit a section to be level 2 and 2" x 8", then everything added to level 2 will be 2" x 8" at 9'-1" and if you edit a portion of that to be level 3 and 10' high, then everything on level 3 will be 2" x 8" at 10' high etc.

 

 

where do you edit these at? are you editing layers or levels?  when i draw on a joist set and edit i have the option to change the level but do not see in any drawing or system options where I can customize the levels? 

 

if you are customizing a layer, how do you select that layer when drawing in ceiling joists?

[Mark Petri]

I think you all mean Level 1, Level 2, etc. Not Layer. 

[Keith Almond]

Thanks Mark. Apologies, I think I put layer based on the previous posts, I of course meant LEVEL as you say - Although I appear to have corrected myself halfway through the post. I've edited my earlier post accordingly.

[Dan Malaske]

Thanks Mark. Apologies, I think I put layer based on the previous posts, I of course meant LEVEL as you say - Although I appear to have correct4ed myself halfway through the post. I've edited my earlier post accordingly.

 

 

so where do you edit your levels? Besides doing it in each drawing. Can you create level 1 to be 2x6 and level 2 to be 2x8 and so forth that way each time you go into a new drawing you just have to draw the joist and select level 1 or 2 and so on... once you change the level to 5.5", 7.5" etcc do they stay that way for each drawing? mine are not and having to change each drawing. 

[Mark Petri]

I think everybody basically understands it is Levels, but wanted to clarify for those who might be confused. My understanding is you can only change levels in the floor system mode. You could set up a base drawing you copy into your new projects with such things already set up if you like. Tom Roman and Randy Cohn were big proponents of such base drawings back when they held SoftPlan training seminars. Many have adopted those ideas.