Posts, porches and outbuildings

[Toe]

OK, I know this is a home design program, but can I use it to design outbuildings? Specifically, I want to draft up a pole building with posts in the four corners, purlins, trusses and metal roofing and siding. I don't see how to generate a post. I can do an invisible wall and actually used this to generate a porch on my house design, but, again, couldn't figure out how to place a post in the corner of the porch, nor could I figure out how to start a new project using posts for an outbuilding. Any ideas?
Thanks, Toe

[daydreamer]

Toe,

You were on the right track. Create a rectangle using the Invisible wall tool.

Click on the Library Browser and select Geometric shapes then Cylinders.

Let your imagination do the work.

Here's a quick sample of what I think you are trying to do.

[Toe]

Thats great. I have figured out how to get a gable roof, and the cylinder tool is very helpful. How would I attach purlins to the cylinders and then metal siding? The metal roofing is very realistic, but can I use it for siding as well?

[daydreamer]

Toe,

In Pro 7 there is a Framing tool that produces the frame. This is typical framing generated by the program.

[daydreamer]

Make the "purlins" using the Soffit tool. You can make them look like 1x and 2x lumber. You can place them against the posts or between them like fencing.

[Allen42ACJ]

The look outs with the roof framing can be pulled across.
There were a few threads on pole barns at Chief Talk..
This is much easier in Chief Architect to get it right..