MikeS,
Your suggestions, like the others from other users, are for sure welcome.
BTW, let me thank you because, making the example that should highlight that one of your request is already available inside ArchiStair I found a bug (coming from a GDL code optimization I made during AC 9 beta testing) just related to the customizable post/newel issue.
During the afternoon I will upload this maintenance update (both for AC 8.1 and Ac 9).
Let me answer/ask you something about your kind requests.
“Firstly: I don't seem to be able to get the Up/Down text to appear in the 2D view even after accessing the relevant parts of the dialogues from the Plan - i.e when accessing the stair via Archicad NOT via Archistair.”
Do you see the Up/Down tab page in the stair settings dialog box? If yes you should select from the UP/DOWN pop-up menu the string UP/DOWN (BTW the string can be different because you can set different strings for this purpose)
”Second: I find that if you select no newels, with posts, weird things happen in the 3d modelling of the stairs.”
Could you be so kind to send me some examples about this issue? If I could get them I will be able to fix these troubles…
”Third: It seems to be a process of trial-and-and error to familiarise oneself with the effects of multiple choices available so as to achieve the desired results, so I started to save each 'test' stair, but one is not allowed to overwrite a previously-saved stair!!”
I know, we always have to face this issue.
Unfortunately I prefer to provide the “expert” users with this fastidious limitation in order to keep “save” the “less expert” from unwanted deletion of already created object.
”Fourth: Newels. It is very important that newels be allowed to extend a user-selected dimension above the handrail - as things stand if the handrail is larger in plan than the width of the handrail, the result is quite nasty. Similarly, newels ought to user-configurable so that the newel can extend down past the stringer (down to the floor, if necessary), as happens in conventional construction of timber stairs.”
Extend the post/newel down past the stringer is already possible (look at the attached image). I never thought about the issue to extend them above… could you send me some drawing showing what you mean? Maybe the implementation of this issue could be easier than you think.
”Fifth: Posts. Similar to four (above). This would allow the user to simulate side-fixed handrails - my preferred technique. “
I suppose that as soon as you send me the drawing I will be able to better answer you.
”Sixth: A means of specifying that newels are to be placed at user-defined locations (e.g. only at the bottom and top of each flight, or two treads from the bottom etc.), and handrails to extend from newel face to newel face.”
User-defined locations: you know it could be easy but… what’s happen if the tread have complex shape?
I mean, the main issue of ArchiStair is that it allows you to build any shape you want, that means the tread depth can be very different. For this reason we didn’t implement this issue.
I’m thinking of a new feature (for the next update): you should be able to move (dragging hotspot) the newel/post position.
I could add what you are looking for but, of course, this will work only on “normal-shaped” stairs, for the other ones the result could be… strange.
Do you think the users will accept this limitation? If yes, this issue can be added in a quite short time.
”Seventh: Newels to show on 2D plan!!“
Yes, following your request this is necessary.
”Eighth: Newels to have optional 'tops' - e.g. sphere, and greater control over the mouldings. The base and top (square sections) heights ought to be user-defined.”
Very easy to do implement.
”Ninth: I found that creating a railing to two sides of a balcony worked differently to the method shown in the manual. I found that it was necessary to add the nodes to the sides on which the balustrades were to be created - the two sides with additional nodes in the fill don't have balustrades!.”
Also in this case I need your example because (maybe I misunderstood) it seems to work just like the manual describes…
BTW, ArchiStair is just came out and I already receive an e-mail like this.
I hope it comes from the fact you feel ArchiStair a good product so you want to get more and more.
Of course we need some more time to collect all the users ideas and produce a new update that include all these new features…
Friendly
Fabrizio
Fabrizio Diodati
Graphisoft Italy Srl | Via Rossignago 2/A Spinea Venezia 30038 Italy
