topic Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair in Modeling

StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Chazz — Thu, 25 May 2023 15:36:23 GMT

Has anyone tried both StairBuilder by Theometric and ArchiStair by Cigraph? I'm wondering if anyone has strong preferences or loyalties. Which is the best Stair tool?

Any info appreciated.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Anonymous — Tue, 12 Oct 2004 23:26:46 GMT

Archistair is much easier to use in my opinion

donald mac donald

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Dave Jochum — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 06:18:19 GMT

Donald wrote:
Archistair is much easier to use in my opinion

I agree wholeheartily.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Rakela Raul — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 13:33:54 GMT

easier to use doesnt mean that is better

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Anonymous — Wed, 13 Oct 2004 21:22:14 GMT

IMO ArchiCAD has matured to the point that it is so quick and easy to build stairs with the basic elements. The majority of stairs that I do are fabricated from my drawings and I have yet to find an add-on that can produce accurate shop drawings.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Chazz — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 16:35:57 GMT

Thank you all for your insights. I'm interested in the power Vs. ease-of-use question you brought up. Theometric certainly has a reputation for power and that has been a good fit for me (I have used Door & Window Builder/ StairBuilder and to a lesser extent CabinetBuilder). Door/Window Builder are exceptionally excellent tools once mastered. However, there are some fundamental things that I have been unable to do with StairBuilder (modeling a stair with different railing types on each side, etc.) In writing to Theometric both before and after their acquisition by Cadimage Solutions Ltd, I never received a reply about this and other issues. This is why I'm looking for alternatives. ArchiStair is free and I just ordered the box (why not just a download?!?!) and I'll certainly evaluate it but I think all of this points to a real need for a comprehensive stair solution that goes well beyond what is currently available. Theometric's StairBuilder is expensive at US $250 but I would pay more for something that really really worked and would continue to be developed.

While I commend Jeffrey R. Yeaw for using only the basic modeling tools to generate his stairs this is simply not an option for me. The ability to change an entire forest of stairs in a large project with a few clicks of the mouse is just too crucial in my work.

Any further thoughts appreciated, particularly from anyone who's used both ArchiStair and StairBuilder. Thanks again.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Anonymous — Thu, 14 Oct 2004 16:48:29 GMT

If the forest is full of the "same" stair e.g. condos etc.. if you build the stair in a module any changes you make there will transfer to all placements in the project. Or you can build the stair and save it as an object and if changes are reuired overwrite the object with the newly saved changes.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Djordje — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 07:58:02 GMT

Technically, the StairBuilder and ArchiStair are different.

StairBuilder is a library part with a myriad of options - have not seen recent versions, so can't say whether you have only the PREDEFINED choices, or you can create your own mullion for example.

ArchiStair is an API - that is to say, a piece of software working INSIDE ArchiCAD that reacts to your input and creates again a library part, BUT the one made on the basis of your input. Again, the pre-defined elements do play a role.

IMHO the responsiveness of Cigraph - namely Fabrizio - surpasses by far even the responsiveness of Theometric with Theo, and I would not mention the responsiveness after the CADImage takeover.

And, still to come is the ability to do shop drawings - IMHO logical, as all the nuts and bolts should not be modeled anyway. Maybe one day

My two dirhams,

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Chazz — Fri, 15 Oct 2004 22:38:01 GMT

Djordje,

you are quite right that the approaches --API Vs Library part-- are very different and there are definite advantages to each. After dabbling only a little with AtchiStair (just got it yesterday) I feel partial to the Library part approach. I was unable to make a stair (at least as a single part) that had a straight flight then a circular flight followed by another straight flight. It may be doable though. Still, I hope that Cigraph will continue their development effort.

Also, I should point out that Andrew Watson (of Cad Image) wrote with a fix (and an obvious, well documented one at that, so shame on me) for getting the different railings on each side of a flight of stairs.

It is less clear if Cad Image intends to continue development of StairBuilder. No mention of it is made on their website (WindowBuilder is mentioned, DoorBuilder to a lesser extent). Is anyone is a position to comment on their future plans?

Thanks again for all the input.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

LiHigh — Sat, 16 Oct 2004 02:18:19 GMT

Djordje wrote:
Technically, the StairBuilder and ArchiStair are different.

StairBuilder is a library part with a myriad of options - have not seen recent versions, so can't say whether you have only the PREDEFINED choices, or you can create your own mullion for example.

ArchiStair is an API - that is to say, a piece of software working INSIDE ArchiCAD that reacts to your input and creates again a library part, BUT the one made on the basis of your input. Again, the pre-defined elements do play a role.

IMHO the responsiveness of Cigraph - namely Fabrizio - surpasses by far even the responsiveness of Theometric with Theo, and I would not mention the responsiveness after the CADImage takeover.

And, still to come is the ability to do shop drawings - IMHO logical, as all the nuts and bolts should not be modeled anyway. Maybe one day

My two dirhams,

Conceptually, they are the same!
Basically they just assemble Library parts(flights and landings) together to form a stair. The different is Data Input.

Surely, Archistair is much easier to use but one must upgrade to be compatible with newer version of Archicad. On the other hand, though, hard to master, Stairbuilder would have no problem in v7, v8, v9,......

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 05:17:15 GMT

Chazz wrote:
ArchiStair is free and I just ordered the box (why not just a download?!?!)

Through who? Is this through a US distibutor? Anyone know about Australia?

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Djordje — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 17:01:12 GMT

Ray wrote:
Chazz wrote:
ArchiStair is free and I just ordered the box (why not just a download?!?!)
Through who? Is this through a US distibutor? Anyone know about Australia?

Maybe you should contact Cigraph directly? Look into the Other products, contact Fabrizio by PM ...

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Anonymous — Wed, 27 Oct 2004 19:29:12 GMT

I began using archistair because it allowed me to use the stair to trim a wall with the SEO, but then abandoned it due to the fact that I could not change the fill color of the stair above and below the section cut, and the fill was always square below the cut (not matching the angle of the cut line), so now I keep the stair in the file as a hidden operator.

This was all in AC 8.1, so I don't know how it works out in 9 yet.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Chazz — Thu, 28 Oct 2004 13:52:49 GMT

Through who? Is this through a US distibutor? Anyone know about Australia?

I got it through Objects Online (http://objectsonline.com/arc/) in the USA but when I visited the site yesterday I noticed they had changed the price (no change in version) to -gulp- US $175.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Laura Yanoviak — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 00:45:25 GMT

Something unfortunate with both tools is that they assume that the handrail height is equal to the stair rail (guardrail) height. I don't know about elsewhere, but the prevelant codes here in the US require handrails of commercial stairs to be between 34" and 38" above stair nosings, while the guardrail (stair rail) is required to be a minimum of 42" in height.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Ernest Atanasiu — Fri, 22 Sep 2006 10:35:03 GMT

Just asking
Is there a product (or workaround) to make a stair with landing and flights with non parallel sides. I need to make this kind of stair and can't use the "create stair using selection" method.

thank you

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Djordje — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 15:32:19 GMT

uisanata wrote:
Just asking
Is there a product (or workaround) to make a stair with landing and flights with non parallel sides. I need to make this kind of stair and can't use the "create stair using selection" method.

thank you

Your travel line should not be curved in the first flight. Try straight to the landing, straight, then curve.

It should work.

Re: StairBuilder Vs. ArchiStair

Ernest Atanasiu — Sat, 23 Sep 2006 21:02:52 GMT

I realized after posting the image that I should have drawn all the tread lines to explain what I want to make.
It'a a U-return winder stair. Maybe this will clarify.
I tried like you said and it's not working.
May i post the file somewhere, to play with it?

thank you