Creating framing members

The Framing Member tool draws framing elements for rafters, beams, joists, and framing members with a horizontal projection.

For a file created in a version of Vectorworks Architect prior to 2009, board, joist, rafter, and original framing member objects are considered to be “legacy” objects. To convert them to the current functionality of the framing member tool, select Tools > Utilities > Update Plug-in Objects; see Migrating from previous versions.

2. Click to place the object in the drawing, and click again to set the length and rotation. The first time you use the tool in a file, a properties dialog box opens. Set the default properties. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

The starting point and direction in which the framing member is drawn determine which end is which. When a single framing member object is selected in Top/Plan view, a blue arrow is placed at the starting point and indicates the object’s direction.

Parameter	Description
Rotation	Specifies the angle of the framing member object
Span	Specifies the horizontal projection of the framing member in the floor plan; for rafters, specifies the horizontal distance from the inside surface of the supporting wall to the inside surface of the ridge board. The Span, Length, and Pitch parameters are interdependent and are automatically calculated. When the span value is changed, the length is recalculated; the pitch remains fixed.
Length	Specifies the length of the framing member When the length value is changed, the pitch is recalculated; the span remains fixed.
Width	Indicates the framing member profile width
Height	Sets the framing member profile height
Type	Select the form of framing element: rafter, solid beam, wood floor truss, open-web steel joint, cold-formed steel channel, steel section, or custom profile
Structural Use	Provides a label describing how the framing member is used. To specify your own structural use name, click Other. The Enter Special Structural Use dialog box opens; enter text for the structural use of this framing member.
Material	Select the framing member’s material. Select Default to use the material implied by the framing member Type, when the selected type indicates a material (for example Steel Section). To add a material to the list, click Other. The Add New Material dialog box opens; enter the new material. The material is saved with the document.
Volume	Displays the calculated volume of the framing member
Volume Units	Select the units for calculating the framing member volume: board feet, cubic feet, cubic meters, or the default volume units set for the file (see Units)
Quantity Label	Describes the standard material size required for the specified framing member, for use in quantity worksheets. When there is no standard material size that accommodates a specified measurement, the label displays a ?. You can edit the Lumber Sizes.txt file (located in the Vectorworks application folder [Vectorworks]\Plug-ins\VW_Arch\Data) to add material sizes that are available in your locale. Restart the software after editing the text file for the changes to take effect.
Pitch	Specifies the slope of the framing member along its span When the pitch value is changed, the length is recalculated; the span remains fixed.
Lock End on Resize	For framing members with a non-zero Pitch, select to resize the member from its start point, instead of its end point
Beginning/Ending miter	Specifies the miter angle at each end of the framing member. This is the angle that the framing member is cut, in plan.
Beginning/Ending bevel	Specifies the bevel angle at each end of the framing member. This is the angle that the framing member is cut, in elevation.
2D Display	Select the 2D display method for the framing member: solid, centerline, width, or width with centerline
Show Label	Displays the text entered in Label Text as a label next to the 2D representation of the framing member. After placement, adjust the text position with the control point.
Label Text	Enter the text to display in 2D as a label
Vertical Reference	If you change the vertical reference from top, center, or bottom, the Change Vertical Reference dialog box opens; if the object position is maintained, the framing member remains stationary and the placement line is adjusted. If the defining line is maintained, the framing member object moves accordingly.
Rafter
Bearing inset	Specifies the offset distance of the framing member’s bearing point (insertion point) from its end
Overhang	Specifies the additional length that the framing member extends past its end
Eave Style	Select vertical, horizontal, double, or square eave profile
Fascia Height	For double eave styles, specifies the height of the end of the framing member profile
Upper Notch Offset/Depth	Indicates the size of an optional notch located at the top of the framing member
Solid Beam
Draw 2D Hangers	Displays 2D graphics indicating framing hangers at start, end, both, or none
Roll Angle	Specifies the angle the framing member rotates about its cross-section axes
Wood Floor Truss
Draw 2D Hangers	Displays 2D graphics indicating framing hangers at start, end, both, or none
Flange Height	Sets the height of the truss top and bottom chords; the chord width is set by the object width
Web Width/Height	Specifies the size of the truss web components; if Use Solid Web is selected, the Web Width parameter specifies the thickness of the solid web
Panel Spacing	Indicates the spacing of the truss “panels” (subdivisions)
Draw Verticals	Displays vertical web components between each sloping web component
Has Opening	For “open-web” trusses, inserts an opening between the web components at the mid-point of the truss
Use Solid Web	Toggles the web component configuration between “open-web” and solid, “I-beam” style
Open-Web Steel Joist
Flange Height	Sets the height of the truss top and bottom chords; the chord width is set by the object width
Web Width/Height	Specifies the size of the truss web components
Gauge	Sets the thickness of the top and bottom chords
Panel Spacing	Indicates the spacing of the truss “panels” (subdivisions)
Draw Verticals	Displays vertical web components between each sloping web component
Bottom Bearing	Toggles the configuration of the truss between top chord and bottom chord bearing
Cold-formed Steel Channel
Draw 2D Hangers	Displays 2D graphics indicating framing hangers at start, end, both, or none
Flange Height	Specifies the length of the top and bottom flange extensions
Gauge	Sets the thickness of the framing member
Roll Angle	Specifies the angle the framing member rotates about its cross-section axes
Steel Section
Roll Angle	Specifies the angle the framing member rotates about its cross-section axes
Select Structural Shape	The Select Structural Shape dialog box opens. Select the structural shape and the shape’s series and size.
Structural Shape data	Displays the selected structural shape symbol name, series, and size
Custom Profile
Profile Symbol Def	Displays the selected profile symbol name
Choose Profile Symbol	The Choose a Symbol dialog box opens. Click the symbol selector. From the Resource Selector, double-click a profile symbol to apply it. The profile symbol definition displays in the Object Info palette.
Roll Angle	Specifies the angle the framing member rotates about its cross-section axes