StairMaker Settings

The parameters are separated in three or four sections, depending on the stair type chosen: Geometry Settings, Flight Settings, Winder Settings and Tread Settings. Depending on the parameters you set in these fields, the stair’s preview symbol (seen at top right in the dialog box) will change accordingly.
Set Riser Geometry: It is easier and more comfortable to climb the stairs if the sum of twice the riser and the run (2*Riser + Run parameter) is within the range of 60 to 63 cm, or 24 to 25 inches. To ensure this condition, you can define a range of values for the (2*Riser) + Run parameter in the Tread Settings section.
(2*Riser)+Run> Enter the minimum step value here.
(2*Riser)+Run< Enter the maximum step value here.
(2*Riser)+Run= The last parameter is not editable. It only shows the current value of the (2*Riser) +Run parameter.
Optional top tread at floor level: Use the buttons at the bottom of the Flight Settings section to add an optional top tread to the stair. It may either have the same depth as the stair’s other treads, or you can customize an extra tread depth.
Check Stair: Click this button to detect any conflicts that would prevent StairMaker from generating the stair.
Clean Intersections: Click this button to open the Clean Up Bottom Surface dialog box. Use these options to create clean intersections at the bottom of the stair between the runs and landings.
Note: The “U Return with Two Landings” stair type has two landings; your settings will affect the lower landing and StairMaker will apply them automatically on the upper one.
Check Stair: Click this button to detect any conflicts that would prevent StairMaker from generating the stair
Note: If you have chosen a Solid Stair or Solid Slope in the Stair Structure & Landing tab page, the Tread Parameters tab page is not available.
Enter values in the input fields of the Tread section of the tab page to define the exact parameters of the stair’s tread:
Attributes: Define a Pen Color for the tread’s 3D contours.
Check Stair: Click this button to detect any conflicts that would prevent StairMaker from generating the stair.
Click one of the three Railing segmenting buttons at the top of the dialog box to set whether the railing settings should apply to. The mode chosen here is also in effect when setting the post.
All Stair-Rail Side mode: both sides of the entire stair. If you select this option, all segments in the stair preview will be selected, and your parameter settings will affect railings for the whole of the stair. A single railing type will be used for the whole stair with the same offset and parameter value for each segment.
When switching to this mode from either of the other two (One Side mode or One Segment mode) each flight inherits the stair-rail and post settings of the lower starting flight’s first left-hand segment.
One Side mode: one side of the entire stair. If you select this option, the left and right stair-rails can be set independently. The left stair-rail is selected by default as displayed in the preview of the stairs. To switch to the right stair-rail, move the cursor to the other side of the stairs until it takes the form of a stair-rail, then click it.
When switching to this mode from All Stair-Rail mode, both sides inherit the settings chosen in the previous mode. When switching to this mode from One Segment mode, the whole flight inherits the settings of the lower starting segment.
One Segment mode: a selected segment. Clicking the third icon allows you to define a railing for each flight (segment) independently. By default, the first segment of the left railing is selected. To select another segment, simply click it.
Different offset values can be used for each segment. In this case, the elements of the stair-rail belonging to different segments will not fit each other automatically. Positive or negative upper and lower overhang can be defined manually for each railing segment.
When switching to this mode from either of the other two (All Stair-Rail mode or One Side mode), all stair-rails inherit the previous settings. The overhang values of the stair-rails will be identical to those calculated automatically in the previous mode.
Railing Setting: Choose types and parameters for the selected railing from this pop-up menu. The content of the list window depends on the available definitions. The railing preview area (above the stair-rail type list) shows a small image of the selected railing type.
Note: In One Segment mode, the lower and upper overhang relates to the current segment, while in the other two modes they apply to the lower overhang of the bottom segment and the upper overhang of the top segment.
No Posts: Click this button to eliminate all posts from the railing.
Closest to: Click this button to enter a value for the approximate distance between each neighboring post.
On every Tread: Click this button to place posts on every tread (on landings, approximate distance will be used).
Number: Click this button to set the number of posts.
Snap to Corner: Check this box to place a post at each of the segment ends, in addition to posts placed according to the rule defined by the chosen radio buttons.
Modify Post Location: After placing posts automatically according to your settings, you can modify the location of any single post by double clicking on the post on the selected stair-rail segment in the preview. A dialog box appears, where the position of the post can be set up numerically.
Check Stair: Click this button to detect any conflicts that would prevent StairMaker from generating the stair.
Scale Sensitive: Choose Scale Sensitive for the amount of detail shown in the 2D symbol to be scale-dependent.
Custom: Choose this if you want the Stair symbol to remain the same regardless of window scale.
Check Stair: Click this button to detect any conflicts that would prevent StairMaker from generating the stair.
2D Symbol: Choose a Line Pen and Line Type with which to display the 2D symbol of the Stair, for both the Visible and the Invisible Structure.
Break Mark Type: Choose either Straight or Zig-Zag to display the Break Mark.
Background Fill Type: Choose a Background Fill for the body of the stair’s 2D symbol. Choose a Fill Pen and a Fill Background Pen for this Fill. Choose either On or Off to control the display of the Fill above the Break Mark.
Show Walking Line: Choose either On or Off to control the display of the Walking Line on the Stair’s 2D symbol. If you turn it on, choose a pen color and line type for the Walking Line.
Walking Line Start Symbol: Choose a Fill type for the Walking Line Start Symbol. (The Symbol itself is chosen on the left side of this tab page.)
Walking Line End Symbol: Choose a Fill type for the Walking Line End Symbol. (The Symbol itself is chosen on the left side of this tab page.) If the Walking Line is repeated within the Stair (if you have multiple End symbols), the “Fill Pen Above” control lets you set a separate Fill for the Walking Line End Symbols that fall above the Break Mark.
Turn Readable Text option on if you want texts to be readable from the bottom and from the right, independent of the Stair’s position.
Turn Show Numbering on or off to control the display of numbering on all the treads in the stair.
Start From: Enter a number with which to start the numbering, as well as the Text Size and Text Pen.
Up and Down Text gives you the option of displaying the words “Up” or “Down” at the beginning of the walking line, or else no such text.
Turn Rise and Run Text on or off to control the display of Rise and Run information on the Stair Symbol. If you turn it on, the Stair will display the number of Rises and the number of Treads together with their dimensions.
Use the Format parameter to choose between different standards to display Rise and Run Text. Choose Custom Text to enter any text. Enter Text Size and Text Pen for the Rise and Run Text.
Description: Click this parameter to enable an empty text input field next to the parameter. Type any text you wish to appear on the Stair’s 2D Symbol. Set Text Size and Text Pen in the following two attributes.
Show Rail on Floor Plan: Choose either On or Off to control the display of the Stair’s Rail on the Floor Plan. (The Rail Symbol itself is chosen on the left side of this tab page.) If you choose On, set the following attributes:
Line Type and Pen of the Rail
Line Type and Pen of the Post (if the Railing has Posts)
Show Rail Axis: Choose either On or Off to control the display of the Railing Axis on the Floor Plan. If you choose On, set the Line Type and Pen for the Rail Axis.
Show Carriage on Floor Plan: Choose either On or Off to control the display of the Stair’s Carriage on the Floor Plan. If you choose On, set a Line Type and Pen for the Carriage.
Story Sensitive: Choose either On or Off to determine whether the Stair Symbol should vary according to which story is visible.
Note: Stairs are shown on remote stories according to the options set in the Show on Stories control, in the Floor Plan and Section panel of this dialog box. If this control is set to “Home Story Only,” then the options affecting the stair’s Story Sensitive display are irrelevant.
Line Type Below Home Story: Choose a Line Type for displaying the stairs on stories below the Home Story.
2D Above Home Story: Check the boxes to determine how to display the Stair on stories above its Home Story:
Each element and property of the stair can be listed with the Document > Schedules and Lists menu commands. Stairs will be listed as library parts. The list can be set up individually in ARCHICAD; however, if you wish to list a part of the stair, be sure that the box beside it (in this tab page) is checked.