Help Database

Unlike other framing materials, wall framing is specified for each wall type in the Wall Type Definitions dialog. To create steel wall framing, you need to either use one of the "Steel" wall types installed with the program or create a custom wall type that uses a steel wall framing material.

To specify steel wall framing

1. Open the plan in which you would like to use steel wall framing.
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Wall> Define Wall Types  from the menu.
   
   
   
3. In the Wall Type Definitions dialog:
   
   
   
   
   • Select the wall type definition that you would like to use steel framing from the drop-down list or create a custom wall type.
     
     
   • Select the wall type's framing layer by either clicking on it in the preview diagram or in the list of layers on the left side of the dialog.
     
     
   • On the left side of the dialog box, make sure that the framing layer is specified as the Main Layer.
     
     
   • With the wall's framing layer selected, click the Library Material button on the right side of the dialog box.
     
     
     
4. In the Select Library Objects dialog, browse to Materials> Framing and choose a steel stud material.
   
   
   
   
   • Choose Steel Stud 16" OC to produce studs spaced at 16" on center.
     
     
   • Choose Steel Stud 24" OC to produce studs spaced at 24" on center.
     
     
   • If you need a custom spacing interval, you can create a custom framing material.  It is important that the custom material's name begin with the word "Steel".
     
     
   • Click OK to return to the Wall Type Definitions dialog, then click OK to close this dialog as well.
     
     
     
     

To use steel framed walls in your plan

Once a wall type has been defined to use steel studs, you can specify this wall type for use as the default type for your Interior or Exterior Walls. 

1. Select Edit> Default Settings  from the menu, click the [+] beside Walls, and double-click on Exterior/Interior Wall. 
   
   
   
2. In the Exterior/Interior Wall Defaults dialog, specify your steel framed wall type as either the Exterior or Interior Wall Default, then click OK.
   
   

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  • If you specify your steel framed wall type as the Exterior Wall default, then next time you use the Exterior Wall  tool to draw walls in this plan, they will be drawn using that wall type.
    
    
  • Similarly, if you specify your steel framed wall type as the Interior Wall default, then next time you use the Interior Wall  tool to draw walls in this plan, they will be drawn using that wall type.

You can also specify existing walls to use this custom wall type.  Select one or more walls in your plan and click the Open Object  edit button.  On the Wall Types tab of the Wall Specification dialog, select your custom steel-framed wall type from the drop-down list, then click OK.

To build wall framing

1. Select Build> Framing> Build Framing  from the menu. 
   
   
   
2. On the Wall Tab of the Build Framing dialog:
   
   
   
   
   
   • Check the box beside Build Wall Framing.
     
     
   • Make sure that Use Wall Framing Material is also checked.
     
     
   • Make any other needed changes to the wall framing settings, then click OK. 

Any walls in your plan that have been assigned a steel framing material will have channeled steel framing that can be seen in a Framing Overview  as well as in the Materials List.