Creating a stair

If the stair will have a lower layer and upper layer representation, or if its total rise will be defined by layer or story elements, it should be inserted on the layer representing the lower of the two floors it connects.

Mode	Description
Insert	Inserts a stair with the parameters specified in Preferences
Pick up	Picks up selected attributes from a stair to be transferred to another stair; attributes are selected in the stair preferences
Apply	Transfers selected attributes from one stair to another; attributes are selected in the stair preferences and picked up in Pick up mode.
Update	Updates all stairs in the drawing, which is necessary when layer scale has changed and a change to the stair’s schematic representation is also required
Active Def	Opens the Resource Selector to select a stair symbol for placement; double-click a resource to activate it.
Preferences	Opens the Stair Settings dialog box, to set default stair parameters

● To use an existing stair resource, click Active Def. From the Resource Selector, locate the desired resource, and double-click to activate it.

● To create a custom stair, click Preferences. The Stair Settings dialog box opens. The settings are grouped into several tabs of related parameters, which are listed on the top of the dialog box. Select each tab and specify the stair parameters. These parameters can be edited for placed stairs from the Object Info palette.

Alternatively, insert the default stair and then click Settings from the Object Info palette, or simply double-click an existing stair, to set the stair parameters.

3. When the stair configuration parameters on each tab are set, consider whether to save the stair as a symbol.

If the same customized stair is to be used numerous times in a drawing, or will be used in another drawing or by another designer, this eliminates the need to repeatedly apply parameters, maximizes memory efficiency, and allows global editing of symbols. See Concept: Vectorworks symbols.

If you don’t wish to create a symbol, the stair attributes can easily be transferred.

4. Click in the drawing to insert the stair. Click again to set the stair’s rotation.

To edit stair parameters for a placed stair, click Settings from the Object Info palette, double-click the stair to open the Stair Settings dialog box, or right-click on a stair and select Edit from the context menu. Some parameters are available directly from the Object Info palette.

Each tab of the stair parameters is described in the following sections. As the parameters are defined, the preview dynamically displays the stair appearance.