Create Special Roof Objects with RoofMaker
RoofMaker allows you to add GDL Object-based elements to specific parts of your design in order to enhance them in 3D views and Section/Elevation/IE windows. RoofMaker can be accessed from the Design > Roof Extras menu. Technically, RoofMaker is an ARCHICAD Add-On and is loaded with ARCHICAD on startup.
To place rafters, ridges or purlins (beams), a single roof surface has to be selected. If multiple roof surfaces are grouped, you must first ungroup them using the Edit > Grouping > Ungroup. You will then be able to select roof surfaces individually.
To place a trimmer (blocking), a collar beam or a tie beam, two corresponding rafters must be selected (opposite rafters for a collar beam or a tie beam, and rafters in the same roof surface for a trimmer).
To display the RoofMaker commands in a separate floating toolbox, choose Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker > Show RoofMaker Toolbox.
The RoofMaker Toolbox opens, which contains shortcuts to all of the RoofMaker menu commands.
Select a reference roof surface on the floor plan. Choose Create a rafter from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or select the first icon from the RoofMaker toolbox).
Select a reference roof surface on the floor plan. Choose Create multiple rafters from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or select the second icon from the RoofMaker toolbox.
Clicking OK returns you to the floor plan with the reference roof surface still selected. Click twice inside the selected roof surface to define a placement line. (If you click outside, an error message appears.)
Choose Create a hip rafter or valley rafter from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or click the third icon of the RoofMaker toolbox).
Choose Create a Trimmer from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu. The Trimmer Settings dialog box appears.
Clicking OK, you return to the floor plan with the two rafters still selected. Click between the rafters. (If you click outside them, an error message will appear.)
Select a reference roof surface on the floor plan and choose Create a Purlin from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or click the fifth icon from the RoofMaker toolbox). The Purlin Settings dialog box appears in which purlin parameters can be set.
Select a reference roof surface on the floor plan and choose Create an eaves purlin from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or click the sixth icon in the RoofMaker toolbox). The Eaves Purlin Settings dialog box appears in which eaves purlin parameters can be set.
By default, a background fill is assigned to the 2D symbol of purlins because purlins usually have to cover posts placed underneath. These posts are generally displayed as a larger circle to indicate that there is some kind of supporting structure. You can use the Bring to Front and Send to Back commands to ensure the accurate positioning of elements.
Choose Create a collar beam from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or the seventh icon in the RoofMaker toolbox). The Collar Beam Settings dialog box appears in which different parameters of the collar beam can be set.
Clicking OK returns you to the floor plan with the two rafters still selected. If a double-sided collar beam has been selected, it is placed automatically in the appropriate position. If a single-sided collar beam is selected, click once more to determine on which side of the rafters the collar beam will be placed.
Choose Create a tie beam from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or eighth icon in RoofMaker Toolbox). The Tie Beam Settings dialog box appears in which different parameters of the tie beam can be set.
To begin, select all the roof surfaces in the project that you wish to add structural elements to. Choose the Roof Wizard command from the Design > Roof Extras > RoofMaker menu (or the last icon in the RoofMaker Toolbox).