AutoCAD Architecture 2008

Autodesk

Fundamentals

Elise Moss

PUBLICATIONS
Schroff Development Corporation

www.schroff-europe.com

www.schroff.com
Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2008 Fundamentals

Lesson 3

Floor Plans
The floor plan is central to any architectural drawing. We start by placing the exterior walls, then the interior walls, then doors, and finally windows.

Copyrighted Material

Walls WallAdd DesignWallsAdd Wall
Tool Palette Command Line Menu

Exercise 3-1:

Creating Exterior Walls
Drawing Name: Estimated Time:

New 10 minutes

This exercise reinforces the following skills:

Select the Walls tab.

Start a new drawing using QNEW. Launch the Tool Palette. Select the CMU-8 RIGID-1.5 Air-2 Brick-4: wall style.
Create Walls Project Navigator
Toggle ORTHO ON. Start the wall at 0,0. Create a rectangle 60 tall and 30 wide. Select the Work tab.
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You see that the walls you placed are really 3-dimensional. Save your drawing as Ex3-1.dwg.
TIP: If you draw a wall and the materials composing the wall are on the wrong side, you can reverse the direction of the wall. Simply select the wall, right click and select the Reverse option from the menu.
Lesson 3 - Floor Plans Exercise 3-2:

Convert to Walls

new 60 minutes Start a new drawing using QNEW. Go to InsertExternal Reference.
Convert to Walls Drawing references (previously known as external references or Xrefs) Creating Interior Walls
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Locate ex3-1.dwg. Press Open.
TIP: Many architects use external drawing references to organize their projects. That way teams of architects can concentrate just on their portions of a building. External references also use less system resources.
Uncheck Specify On-Screen under Insertion point, scale, and rotation. Press OK. This will insert the file as an external reference at 0,0,0.
TIP: You can convert lines, arcs, circles, or polylines to walls. If you have created a floor plan in AutoCAD and want to convert it to 3D, open the floor plan drawing inside of AutoCAD Architecture. Use the Convert to Walls tool to transform your floor plan into walls.

Lesson 3 - Floor Plans

Create the layout shown using lines or polylines. (It may be helpful to turn off the AWalls layer while you are working and create your lines on layer 0). Do not add the dimensions or the text to your drawing. They are there to help you place the lines only. Dont draw using rectangles if you are going to use the CONVERT method or you will get duplication of lines over lines, which will affect the wall creation. If you do not want to spend time creating the floor plan, you can download the drawing floor plan.dwg from www.schroff1.com. Locate the Stud-4 GWB-0.625 Each Side: wall style.
Highlight the Wall tool. Right click and select Apply Tool Properties toLinework.
Select all the interior polylines you just created.
You are prompted if you want to erase the layout geometry. Type Y for Yes. 9. Switch to the Work tab so you can see how your house looks in 3D.
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10. Save the file as ex3-2.dwg.
Lesson 3 - Floor Plans Exercise 3-3:

Wall Cleanup

This exercise reinforces the following skills: Modifying Walls Edit Justification Wall Tools Xref Manager Edit External References In-Place Unreconciled Layers

ex3-2.dwg 30 minutes

Open ex3-2.dwg.
Add a closet area between the master bedroom and Bedroom #1. To do this, draw a wall from the mid-point of the wall in the horizontal direction and then draw a vertical wall from the mid-point of the new horizontal wall.
Select the Center Diamond.
To center the vertical wall, select it. Right click and select Edit Justification.
Diamond grips will appear to indicate different wall justification methods (Left/Right/Center).
Draw a closet in Bedroom #2. Use the same interior wall style. Set the wall 1 from the hallway wall and 6 in length.
Draw a vertical line 2 inside the living room area.
Locate the exterior wall style we used previously. Convert the vertical line to the exterior wall styles using Apply Tool Properties to Linework.
Select the exterior walls. Right click and select Edit Xref in-place.
Next, we delete the wall indicated and modify the exterior wall so it creates a porch entry way.

Press OK.

Enable Automatically select all nested objects.
By enabling the ability to select nested objects, you would be able to select blocks or other items inserted in the drawing. It is not really applicable here as there are no nested objectsjust walls.

Youll notice that the interior walls now appear lighter to allow you to select the referenced files objects.
Use the Break tool to create the opening for the living room entrance.
Locate the CMU-8 Rigid-1.5 Air-2 Brick-4 wall style.
Draw a new wall section indenting 4 in using the end points of the remaining exterior wall.
A circle with an x will appear. This indicates a fault error. A fault error occurs when walls over-lap or you have a wall in the wrong direction. In this case, the wall was drawn in a different direction (note the hatch pattern.) from the other walls.
If you select the wall, blue grips appear. The blue arrow indicates the exterior side of the wall.
To flip the wall, simply left pick on the blue arrow. The corners may require some clean-up work.
If you select a different wall, you see that the blue arrow is located on the opposite side. All the walls should have the blue arrow located on the exterior side.
Select the Save and Close Xref tool. Press OK.
Select a wall. Right click and select Apply L Cleanup. Then select the adjacent wall.

17. 18.

You can now edit the interior walls but not the exterior walls.
The walls appear cleaner.
You may see a notification that you have unreconciled layers. Unreconciled layers are new layers that have been added to a drawing without user acknowledgement. When you inserted the external reference file, new layers were added to the drawing. 20. Select the layer alert icon in the task tray. 21.
If you have difficulty cleaning up the walls using the Edit Xref inplace option, select the external reference, right click and select Open Xref. This will open up the file you are referencing. Clean up the walls as needed, then save. The drawing hosting the external reference will update.
You will see a category for Unreconciled New Layers and the right pane will display a list of the new layers.
Highlight the layer in the right pane. Right click and select Reconcile Layer.
The drawing is now updated. Save as ex3-3.dwg.
The layer will be added to the Used Layer list. Press Apply and OK to exit the Layer Manager dialog.
Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2008 Fundamentals Exercise 3-4:

Adding Closet Doors

This exercise reinforces the following skills: Adding Doors Door Properties

Ex3-3.dwg 10 minutes

Open ex3-3.dwg.
Highlight the Bifold-Double door. Right click and select Properties.
Locate the Bifold-Double door on the Doors tab of the Tool Palette.
TIP: To create a freestanding door, press the ENTER key when prompted to pick a wall. You can then use the grips on the door entity to move and place the door wherever you like. To move a door along a wall, use DoorRepositionAlong Wall. Use the OSNAP From option to locate a door a specific distance from an adjoining wall.

Expand the Dimensions section. Set the Standard sizes to 5-0 x 6-8. Set the Opening percentage to 50. A 25% opening will show a door swing at a 45-degree angle. The value of the Opening percentage determines the angle of the arc swing. A 50% value indicates the door will appear half-open at a 90-degree angle.
TIP: If you left click in the field, a down arrow will appearselect the down arrow and you will get a list of standard sizes. Then, select the size you want.
Expand the Location section. Set Position along wall to Offset/Center.
Set the Automatic offset to 1-2 1/2.
(This will center the closet doors along the wall.) Press OK to close the Properties dialog.
TIP: Note the vertical alignment field. It defaults to a threshold height of 0 for doors and a head height of 68 for windows. You will need to adjust these defaults in multi-story buildings.
Place the Bifold Double doors at the two closets.
The orientation of the door swing is determined by the wall side selected. In both cases, you want to select the outside face of the wall.
Place a Bi-fold Double door in the wall shown.

Save as ex3-4.dwg.

Lesson 3 - Floor Plans Exercise 3-5:

Adding Interior Doors

ex3-4.dwg 10 minutes
We will add single hinge doors in the areas shown.
You may need to do some wall cleanup to get the rooms to look proper. Use AddWall, Extend, and Trim as needed.
Try to keep the walls so they line up to keep the floor plan looking clean. 1. 2. Open ex3-4.dwg.
Locate the Single Hinged door on the Doors tab of the Tool Palette. Right click and select Properties.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the Standard sizes to 2-6 x 8-0. Set the Swing angle to 25. Press OK. Place the doors as indicated on the previous page. Save the file ex3-5.dwg.
Set the Position along wall to Offset/ Center. Set the Automatic offset to 6.

ex3-5.dwg 15 minutes

Exercise 3-6:

Add Opening

This exercise reinforces the following skills: Adding Openings Opening Properties Copying Tools Set Image from Selection
Openings can be any size and elevation. They can be applied to a wall or be freestanding. Openings are placed on Layer A-Wall-Open. The Add Opening Properties allow the user to either select a Pre-defined shape for the opening or use a custom shape.

Open ex3-5.dwg. Right click and select Copy. Select the Doors tab. Right click and select Paste.
Locate the Opening on the Design tab of the Tool Palette.

Copy a Tool

Highlight the copied tool. Right click and select Properties.
Change the Name to Arched Opening. Change the Description to Creates an arched opening object.
Expand the General section. Set the Description to Creates an Arched Opening. Set the Layer key to OPENING. Set the Shape to Arch.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the Width to 3-0. Set the Height to 6-8. Set the Rise to 1-0. Press OK. 7.
Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/Center. Set the Automatic offset to 3-4.
Use View3D orbit to view the arched opening.
Place the arched opening in the dining room wall.
Create an Image for a Tool
The icon updates to show an arched opening.
Select the Arched Opening icon. Right click and select Set Image from Selection Pick the arched opening you created.
Next we place a rectangular opening in the location indicated.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the Width to 6-0. Set the Height to 6-8.
Select the Cased Opening tool from the Doors Tool Palette.
Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/Center. Set the Automatic offset to 6.
Place the opening in the wall between the kitchen and the dining room.
13. Select the Work tab to view the openings.

Select the Model tab.

Place a rectangular opening between the kitchen and the family room.
This is our floor plan so far.
The view is set to Low Detail and rotated 90 degrees. 15. Save the file as ex3-6.dwg.
Lesson 3 - Floor Plans Exercise 3-7:

Adding Doors

This exercise reinforces the following skills: Adding Doors
ex3-6.dwg 20 minutes Open ex3-6.dwg.
We will add an entry door on the wall indicated. Remember the exterior walls reside on an external reference.
Press OK. 2. Select the Hinged-Double-Exterior door.

Select the Exterior Walls. Right click and select Edit Xref in-place.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the Standard size to 4-0 x 6-8. Set the Swing angle to 0. Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/Center. Set the Automatic offset to 6. Place the door so it is centered in the wall.
Select the Overhead-Sectional door.
Set the Position along wall to Offset/Center. Set the Automatic offset to 6.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the Standard size to 8-0 x 7-0. Set the Swing angle to 0.
Switch back to the Model tab.
Place the door in the garage wall.
10. Next we add a sliding door to the family room wall indicated.
Switch to the Work tab to view the garage door and front entry door.
11. Select a Sliding Door Double Full Lite to add to the family room.
Set the Standard Size to 8-0 x 7-0. Set the Opening percent to 0.

Place the sliding door.

Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/ Center. Set the Automatic offset to 4-0.
Save the changes back to the external reference.
Go to FormatDisplay Manager.
If your doors dont look proper, use the Display Manager to modify the appearance.
Expand the Configurations folder. Press Apply and OK.
Locate the Plan configuration under Medium Detail. Note that this configuration is in bold because it is the current active configuration.
Place a check mark for Doors and Door/Window Assembly to set them visible in all views.
20. Select the Work tab to view your model. 21. Save the file as ex3-7.dwg.
Autodesk AutoCAD Architecture 2008 Fundamentals Exercise 3-8:

Add Window Assemblies

This exercise reinforces the following skills: Add Windows
Lesson 3-7.dwg 30 minutes
Open ex3-7.dwg. Select the Model tab.
Press OK. Select the Windows tab of the Tool Palette. Select the Casement-Double window.
Select an exterior wall. Right click and select Edit Xref In-place.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the size to 2-10 x 3-0.
Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/Center. Set the Offset to 4-0. Set the Head height to 4-8.
Select the Casement-Double window again.
Select the wall shown and the endpoint indicated. The endpoint is where the offset is calculated from.
Place the window on the vertical master bedroom wall.

9. 10.

Remember if you dont like the position of any of the Windows, you can reposition them. Just select the window, right click, and select Reposition Along Wall.
Select the Casement: Single Casement window.

Expand the Dimensions section. Set the size to 2-0 x 3-0.
Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/ Center. Set the Offset to 3-1. Place the window in the master bath wall.
12. Place a 2-10 x 3-0 Double Casement window in Bedroom #1 using a 4-8 offset.
Place a 2-10 x 3-0 Double Casement window in Bedroom #1 using a 4-8 offset on the left vertical wall.
Place a 2-10 x 3-0 Double Casement window in Bedroom #2 using a 6-8 offset on the left vertical wall.
A small edit field will appear when you select the wall to place a window that allows you to change the size of offset on the fly. 15.
Locate the Picture- Arched to place in the left dining room wall.
Expand the Dimensions section. Set the size to 2-10 x 4-10 Rise 5.
Expand the Location section. Set the Position along wall to Offset/Center. Set the Offset to 8-0.

Place the window.

Set the Head height to 68.
Add a 2-0 x 3-0 Casement: Single window using a 9-2 offset to the kitchen.
Select the Save Edits tool. Press OK to save the modifications to your drawing.
This will ensure that any cabinetry in the kitchen does not interfere with the window.
Place an 3-0 x Rise 5 Arched Picture window with an offset of 0 on each side of the entry door in the right living room wall.
If Wall Defect symbols appear, try reversing the direction of the wall or using the Wall Cleanup tools. That should eliminate any errors. 22. Your floor plan should look similar to the one shown here. Save as ex3-8.dwg.
Lesson 3 - Floor Plans Exercise 3-9:

Adding a Fireplace

This exercise reinforces the following skills: Using the Design Center Adding Openings

ex3-8.dwg 30 minutes

In this exercise, we add a fireplace to the family room. You can download the fireplace from the publishers website or use the fireplace available from the Design Center.
Select the Model tab. 2. 3.
Open ex3-8.dwg. Select the DC Online tab.
Select the Design Center tool or type ADC on the command line.
Note: In order to access DC Online, you must have an active internet connection. If you do not have an active connection, you can download the file from the publishers website and come back to this exercise. 4.
In the Standard Parts section, browse to Fireplaces under 3D Architectural/House Design.
There is a 3D model with a Hearth. Place the fireplace into the family room wall.
Hover the mouse over the file icon. An eyedropper will appear. This means the content is idrop-enabled. Simply hold down your left mouse button to fill the eyedropper, then keep the left mouse button down, move the mouse into the graphics window and release the left mouse button to drag and drop the symbol into the drawing file.

Go back to a plan view. Go to the Walls Tool Palette. Select the Brick-4 Brick-4 wall style.
Use the 3D Orbit tool to inspect how the fireplace appears.
Draw a wall in the vertical direction and in the horizontal direction to enclose the hearth.
We need to make the chimney taller. Right click and select Properties. Under Dimensions:
Switch to a NE Isometric view to inspect the chimney.
Select the walls for the chimney that were just placed.
Set the Base Height to 16.
Switch back to a plan view. Place a small section of wall to enclose the chimney.
The chimney now looks better.
16. Select the wall for the chimney that was just placed. Right click and select Properties.
Under Location: Set the Elevation to 8. Use 3D Orbit to inspect your work so far.
Switch back to a plan view.
If you switch to a 3D hidden visual style, you see that we need an opening in our fireplace.
Select the wall where the fireplace is placed. Right click and select Edit Xref in-place.
Select the Opening tool from the Design Palette. Change the Height to 2 10.
Place the opening in the wall.
Use 3D Orbit and Zoom to inspect the opening in the fireplace.
Use the Add tool to add the chimney and fireplace to the external reference. Select the Save icon to save the change to the external reference.
Save the file as ex3-9.dwg. Close all open drawings. You can do this by typing CLOSEALL on the command line.
Your finished fireplace and chimney should look similar to this.