Layout Composition

Bearing Envelopes

Bearing envelopes represent walls, beams, and other objects and can be used to support components.

Ceiling Planes

Ceiling planes represent the ceiling underneath a roof, and they can be used as boundaries for defining truss profiles.

Ceiling Trays

Ceiling trays represent the ceiling underneath a roof, and they can be used as a boundaries for defining truss profiles.

Feature Pattern Containers

Feature pattern containers are 3-D "boxes" that contain feature pattern (typically "parallel chord") trusses. The height of the box is the depth of the floor, and its boundaries are formed either by bearing envelopes or work lines.

Chase Area

Chase areas can be added to a feature pattern container so that any feature pattern truss envelopes that overlap the area will not generate webs in that space. This can be used to prevent collisions with an air duct, for example.

Step Area

Step areas can be added to feature pattern containers as a boundary for feature pattern truss envelopes that overlap the area.

Roof Planes

Roof planes define the outer shape of a roof, including its pitch(es), overhang, heel height, etc. They are "cut" against each other to form a 3-D shape that can be used to define truss profiles.

Truss Envelopes

Truss Envelopes define the profile of a truss. They follow the 3-D boundaries formed by the parts of a roof or floor and are used to generate and place component designs.

Work Lines

Work lines are simple lines you can add to a layout as reference for creating layout objects.