Help Database

The easiest method of creating a half wall depends on which version of Chief Architect you are using.

In Chief Architect X3 and later

In Chief Architect X3 and later, you can use the Straight Half Wall and Curved Half Wall tools to click and drag out a half, or partial height wall in your plan.

1. Open  the Chief Architect plan in which you would like create a half wall or change its height.
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Wall> Straight Half Wall  or Curved Half Wall  from the menu, then click and drag to draw a half-height wall just as you would draw any other type of wall.
    
   
   
3. Using the Select Objects  tool, select the half wall, then click on the Open Object  edit button to display the Railing Specification dialog.
   
   
   
4. On the Newels/Balusters tab, specify its Height, and click OK to apply the change and close the dialog.
   
   
   Note: You can specify the default height for all Half Walls in the Half Wall Defaults dialog.

In Chief Architect X2 and prior

The easiest way to create a half wall in Chief Architect X2 and prior is to draw railing and specify it as Solid.  

1. Open  the Chief Architect plan in which you would like create a half wall.
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Wall> Straight Railing  or Curved Railing  from the menu, then click and drag to draw a railing.
   
   
   
3. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on the wall to select it, then select the Open Object  edit button to display the Railing Specification dialog.  
   
   
   • On the Railing tab, select Solid under Railing options.  If the selected object is a wall rather than a railing, first check the box beside Railing.
     
     
     
     
     
     
   • On the Newels/Balusters tab, specify the desired height of the half wall in the Railing Height field.   
     
      
     
     
     
   • On the Materials tab, set the materials for the railing.  
     
     
   • Once you have finished making these changes, click OK to apply them.
     
     
     
     Note: You can set up your Railing Defaults so that solid railings are drawn every time you use the Straight or Curved Railing tool.

To change the height of an individual wall

By default, a wall's height is defined by the floor and ceiling heights of the the rooms that the wall defines.  To change the height of a single wall in your plan, select and edit it in any 3D view, changing its height can be done most accurately in a cross section/elevation view. 

Note: In Chief Architect version 10 and prior, wall heights could only be edited in cross section/elevation views.

1. Open a plan in which you would like to change the height of an individual wall.



2. Select 3D Create Orthographic View> Cross Section/Elevation   from the menu, then click and drag an elevation camera arrow directly at the wall in question.
   
   In Chief Architect X1 and prior, use 3D> Create Vector View> Cross Section/Elevation. 



3. In the elevation view, click on the wall near its top edge.
   
   
   • Notice the edit handles that display on the wall - one at each corner and one at the midpoint of the top edge.
     
     
   • If you had clicked near the wall's bottom edge to select it, an edit handle would have displayed near the midpoint of the bottom edge instead. 
     
     
     
4. Click on the edit handle at the midpoint of the top edge, then drag the top edge upward or downward to change its height.
   
   
   
   
   • You can also click on the temporary dimension that shows the top edge height to open the Move Object Using Dimension in line text box and specify the exact needed height.
     
     
     
5. Click on an edit handle that displays over a corner to move it up or down and produce a raked, or sloped wall.
   
   
   
6. You can also place breaks in the top or bottom edge to create steps in the wall using the Break Line  edit tool.
   
   
   
7. To restore the default top and/or bottom heights, click on the wall to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button.  In the Wall Height Specification dialog, check the boxes beside Default Top Height and/or Default Bottom Height, then click OK.