How to set Fill Style Defaults for each Deck Framing type?

[BobC_4199]

How does one set unique "Fill Style" defaults for the following Framing items: Deck Joist, Deck Beam, Deck Rim Joist, Deck Blocking, Deck Post?

 

"Defaults" (Wrench Tool button) has the option to Select "Framing" defaults. Within framing, "Openings" and "Plan Display" have options to set Fill Styles. But none are specific to the framing items mentioned above.

 

Defaults (Wrench Tool button) has the option to Select "Floors and Rooms" and within this, "Room Types" which has an option for "Deck". However, I do not see any option to set fill styles.

 

It is possible to manually set fill styles on each of these member types once drawn by double clicking them or, more quickly with "Tools", "Fill Style Painter". It would be much more convenient if the default styles could be set once for each type at the start.

 

Why do I care? I'm manually drawing my deck framing and having unique colors for each framing type makes it much easier to make sense of the plan drawing and to select the intended object.

 

Home Designer Pro 2022

Windows 10

[solver]

There is no specific framing for decks -- no Deck Joist, no Deck Beam etc.

 

 

When manually framing, you are using Joist and Beams, which may have a default fill.

 

Tell us about the process you are using and we can probably be more helpful.

[BobC_4199]

Thank you Eric.

 

Perhaps my installation has been modified in some way but as it is currently configured, it is highly suggestive to me that the program makes a clear distinction between house framing and deck framing and also between various framing members (Rim Joists, Joists, Blocking, Beams, and Posts). In 'Display Options" I have the ability to turn on and off most (Joists, Rim Joists, and blocking are all under 'Framing, Deck Framing') of these various objects and in 'Defaults' I have the ability to set a variety of dimensions, spacing, and materials - all distinct from each other and distinct from general house framing.

 

Here is an example process. Nothing special about it. Using default settings.

1. Start Home Designer Pro 2022. Select New Plan. Select Default Style.

2. Select "Straight Deck Railing". Draw a Rectangle in the clockwise direction.

3. Change Level to '0'. Nothing is visible

4. Select Layer Display options. Click "Disp" for the following items:"Framing, Deck Beams", "Framing, Deck Posts", "Footings, Deck Post", "Framing, Deck Framing", "Framing, Deck Planking". Select 'OK'

5. The deck structure is now visible. Comment: At this point it is clear that these specific items appear to be exist and are treated uniquely in Home Designer Pro.

6. Double click a rim joist. The title of the Framing Specification window says (Deck Rim Joist) suggesting that the program makes a distinction between other framing members and a deck rim joist. Press 'OK'

7. Double click a joist. The title of the Framing Specification window says (Deck Joist) suggesting that the program makes a distinction between other framing members and deck joist. Press 'OK'.

8. Double click a beam. The title of the Framing Specification window says (Deck Beam) suggesting that the program makes a distinction between other framing members and deck beam. Press 'OK'.

9. Double click a post. The title of the Framing Specification window says (Deck Post) suggesting that the program makes a distinction between other framing members and deck beam. Press 'OK'.

10. Select Joist Blocking. Draw blocking perpendicular to the joists.

11. Double click the blocking. The title of the Framing Specification window says (Deck Blocking) suggesting that the program makes a distinction between other framing members and deck beam. Press 'OK'.

12.Select "Defaults", "Floors and Rooms", "Room Types", "Edit,,", Select "Deck", "Edit..".. Here it is possible to set defaults for "Deck Planking", "Deck Joists", "Deck Beams", "Deck Posts", "Deck Post Footings",

 

It is also possible to use the Select Similar Objects function and see that the program makes distinctions between Deck Rim Joists, Deck Joists, Deck Beams, Deck Posts. Again, suggesting that the program makes a distinction between these types of objects and others.

 

Throughout the program it refers to "Deck Planking", "Deck Joists", "Deck Rim Joists", "Deck Beams", "Deck Posts". So, my question is, is it possible to set the default "Fill Style" for these auto-generated and named (by the program) framing members?

 

Note: I have learned that setting "Defaults", "Framing", "Plan Display", "Fill Style", does affect the fill style of Deck Joists and Deck Rim Joists.

 

[solver]

I don't think I disagree with anything above.

 

The problem is that deck framing is not included in defaults, and there are no tools to draw a Deck Joist, for example.

 

If you are drawing a deck manually, then you are using the standard framing tools.

 

Here is my suggestion.

 

Auto build a deck. Select each member you want to use and add fill. You only need one of each. Delete the unfilled items. Now you have a virtual pile of lumber to use as you build your deck.

 

Add this tool to your toolbars. when you need a joist, click your filled joist, click this tool to copy and paste in place, then drag or point-to-point into place.

 

Learn about Transform/Replicate to distribute joist instead of placing individuals.

 

[BobC_4199]

The short answer to my question is that one cannot set the Default Fill Style for specific framing member types be they: Deck Joist, Deck Rim Joist Deck Blocking or, for that matter, Joist, Rim Joist, Blocking. These are all distinct objects defined and used by the program but some of these objects' fill styles are generically defined by setting "Defaults", "Framing", "Plan Display", "Fill Style". All these different types exist and are understood by the program.

 

The setting:

"Defaults", "Framing", "Plan Display", "Fill Style"

Affects: Deck Rim Joists, Rim Joists, Deck Joists, Joists, Deck Blocking, Blocking

 

There are other defaults that allow setting "Fill Style" for other framing members:

"Defaults", "Framing","Beams", "Edit Floor Beam Defaults", "Fill Style"

"Defaults", "Framing","Beams", "Edit Roof Beam Defaults", "Fill Style"

"Defaults", "Framing","Posts", "Edit Post Defaults", "Fill Style"

"Defaults", "Framing","Openings", "Header Fill Style"

 

I don't think the "Framing,Beams" setting affects the Fill Style for Deck Beams.

 

Quote

"The problem is that deck framing is not included in defaults, and there are no tools to draw a Deck Joist, for example. "

Deck framing default settings are available under the default settings for a "Deck Room".

The Joist, Beam, and Blocking tools can and do draw Deck Joist, Deck Beam, and Deck Blocking objects when drawn under a Deck Room. Any objects drawn in this way will report back as the "Deck" type of these objects compared to the standard framing (non-Deck) type.

 

Quote

"If you are drawing a deck manually, then you are using the standard framing tools."

True. But as stated above, when drawing under a Deck Room, the tools are smart enough to draw the "Deck" equivalents.

 

The crux of the problem, which Eric gives an excellent workaround, is that despite the objects being of the "Deck" type, the program uses (mostly) the non-Deck framing defaults for their properties.

 

For example, if one draws a joist under a deck room. The program will call it a Deck Joist. However, the properties of the drawn joist will come from the Framing Defaults for a Joist not the Deck Room Framing Defaults for a Deck Joist. If the program automatically generates the deck framing, it (correctly) uses the framing defaults defined for a Deck Room. A joist generated in this manner will also be called a Deck Joist but it will have the properties of a Joist as defined in the Default "Deck Room" settings.