Truss Envelopes

Insert a Truss Envelope

Step 1 - Create Truss Envelope

Begin insertion by clicking the + Create button, right-clicking in empty space, or using the Ctrl + Qkeyboard shortcut and selecting Truss Envelope.

Tip

You can use the Ctrl + Q + E keyboard shortcut to begin inserting a truss envelope.

Step 2 - Place Truss Envelope

Hover over the layout for a live preview of the Truss Envelope. Pick your desired envelope location in the scene.

Use the snapping settings to customize envelope behavior.

Tip

Use INSERT AND REPEAT to quickly enter similar envelopes.

Step 3 - Modify Poperties

Step 4 - Click Insert to finish.

Insert Multiple Envelopes with a Truss Run

Follow the steps above for inserting a single Truss Envelope, but instead of clicking INSERTor INSERT AND REPEAT, click INSERT AND START RUN. Use the live preview to determine the placement of your run.

Delete Truss Envelopes

You can delete truss envelopes one at a time by right-clicking them and selecting Delete Truss Envelope (or use the Delete key shortcut) or you can use Multi-select to delete multiple at once.

Modify Truss Envelope Properties

Step 1 - Select a Truss Envelope

Step 2 - Open the Truss Envelope Properties Subpanel

Open the Right Sidebar or right-click the envelope and select Edit Properties.

The properties below, except for Component Type & Definition Type, can be modified during insertion as well as after in the Truss Envelope Properties subpanel. The component and definition types must be selected during insertion.

Component and Definition Type

This property must be determined at the time of insertion. Use the dropdowns to select Roof Truss or Floor Truss as well as selecting between Feature Pattern or Profile. For more information on these two Definition Types, see the Create a Layout page.

Overhang

Use the selects to add or remove overhangs from the envelope.

Note

When changes like removing or adding an overhang to an envelope are made, the envelope must be recalculated for the changes to be applied.

Recalculate

Use the button in the properties panel or right-click menu to recalculate the envelope after changes have been made. Alternatively, you can partially recalculate an envelope by selecting Recalculate Left/Right End Only.

Note

Recalculate will only update the truss envelope. It will not modify or update any component designs linked to the envelope.

Regenerate Component

Right-click the selected envelope(s) and select Regenerate Component. This combines a series of tasks into a single action:

• Unlink components

• Delete components no longer referenced by those envelopes

• Create/match designs

• Regenerate connections

Regenerate Carried Component Connections

You can use the Regenerate Connections tool in the right-click menu to update the truss's list of carried components based on the current state of the underlying truss envelopes in the layout.

Justification

Use the Justification toggle to select Front, Center, or Backto modify the justification of the envelope.

Thickness

Use this tool to modify the thickness of the truss. This is only supported for Feature Pattern Trusses currently.

Plies

Use this tool to modify the number of plies for the envelope.

Left and Right Points

Use the Left Point and Right Point tools to modify the ends of the envelope. Additionally, the Flip Envelope button can be used to swap the endpoints of the envelope.

Bevel Cuts

Use the Bevel Cut tools to modify the bevel cuts for the ends of the envelope. These are set automatically in certain configurations, like for a corner set in a hip end.

Carried Chords

Use this tool to add properties to each envelope end to specify whether & how to connect it to adjoining envelopes.

• Auto: The default behavior. Envelopes determine their connections automatically. Jacks may be open or closed depending on other factors, such as their size.

• Top Chord and Bottom Chord: Envelopes will only be carried by a single chord. Jacks will be closed.

• Top & Bottom Chords: Envelopes will be carried by both chords. Jacks will be open.

• None: Envelopes will not be carried on this side. Jack-shaped trusses will be closed.

Container Level

Use this tool to modify the container level based on the Cap Levels determined in Cap Set.

Cap Set

Use the inputs in this tool to set the elevation at which an envelope should be capped.

Additional Cuts

Use this tool to apply additional cuts to the top and bottom of the envelope.

Design Components for Envelopes

Right-click an envelope to access the tools below.

Create New Design

Select an empty envelope. Right-click the envelope(s) and select Create New Design to generate a new design that will be linked to the truss envelope.

Create or Match a Design

Select an empty envelope or use multi-select to select multiple. Right-click the envelope(s) and select Create or Match Design. If there are matching envelopes in your layout, the envelopes you selected will be associated with the same components as those matching envelopes. If no matches are found, a new design will be generated and linked to the selected envelopes.

Choose Existing Design

Select an empty envelope or use multi-select to select multiple. Right-click the envelope(s) and select Choose Existing Design to select a component design that already exists in the project and link it to the truss envelopes.

Note

You'll need to use this after Unlinking a design from one or more Truss Envelopes or if you've manually created a component.

Design All Truss Envelopes

Click the Project Menu button in the Header and select Design All Truss Envelopes to perform Create or Match Design on all empty truss envelopes.

Link/Unlink Components from Envelopes

To unlink a component design from an envelope, right-click the envelope and select Unlink Component.

To link an existing component design to an envelope, right-click an empty envelope and select Choose Existing Design.