Steel I Beam / Lally Columns

[smlinkel]

I am just learning / practicing with “Architectural Home Designer 9.0” by drawing my house (before designing some modifications). I have a long span in the basement with a steel I beam and 2 lally columns.
(1) How do I draw the I beams?
(2) How do I get the software to recognize the beams and lallys as structural supports?

[David J. Potter]

(1) How do I draw the I beams?

You can draw them using 2D CAD or if you want the beam to show in 3D you can represent the beam with a reshaped soffit (cabinet tools), I suppose you could also find and download a Sketch Up symbol of an "I Beam" at 3D warehouse and import into Architectural if you also wish for greater visual reality.

(2) How do I get the software to recognize the beams and lallys as structural supports?

Get this through your head, that the software does not have the ability to "recognize" a flipping thing (that is your job to do), you model and you annotate and you use the software to communicate your ideas. The software does not think, have judgement, have an education or responsibility. It is a graphic communication tool and NOTHING MORE. You are the entity that takes responsibility and has judgement, learns and creates, the software is merely a mechanical device to aid you which it does well.

DJP

[Kbird]

You can do that in Pro but not Arch. but you can fake it in as David said with Soffits or when I used AHD I used the Shapes in the Library , eg the Vert. cylinder (small) for the posts , resized for height and Diameter. The Beam will need to be a Box as there is no way in AHD9 to to do Steel I beams ,but the I beam is usually going to be covered in Drywall anyway so will be a box. Shapes are in the Library Under General.

M.