Article Number 502


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How to make a vertical molding

The information in this article applies to:
Home Designer Pro


DESCRIPTION
I understand how to create a horizontal molding in Home Designer Pro.

This can be accomplished in a number of ways -- from adding a molding to a soffit, using a molding polyline, or just adding a molding using the Room Specification dialog box.

However, I don't know how to create a vertical molding without using a soffit. How is this accomplished?

CAUSE

Creating a simple vertical molding is a fast and easy procedure, but you must use a different tool -- the Slab tool. Use the procedure below to add a vertical molding to your structure using the Slab tool.

If you need advanced control over moldings that is not available in the Home Designer Pro program, we would strongly recommend upgrading to the Chief Architect version of the software, which has the 3D Molding Polyline tool, as well as the ability to create and modify molding profiles.

 



RESOLUTION
  1. To create a vertical molding, first launch Home Designer Pro.

  2. Next, open the plan in which you would like to add the vertical molding.


Creating a Slab:

  1. To create a slab, from the menu select Build> Structure> Slab .


  2. Your mouse pointer will turn into a small cross, and you will be able to click in the upper left corner of your screen and drag down to the lower right corner of the screen.


  3. Dragging from upper left to lower right will form a slab.

    This slab can be reshaped by clicking on the Select Objects  arrow tool, clicking on the slab and then clicking on the Break Line  tool on the edit toolbar.

    By clicking on the slab and adding breaks where necessary, the slab will remain intact and complete.


  4. Regardless of how you create your slab, you must make sure that it is dimensionally correct. If your molding is 1"x1/4" in real life, you must create your slab to these same dimensions.


  5. If you choose the Select Objects  arrow tool and double-click on the slab, the Slab Specification dialog box will display.


  6. Using this dialog box you can set the attributes of your slab, including the height.


  7. In the Materials tab you can assign the slab a material of wood.


  8. With a little experimentation regarding height, size and materials you will be able to place vertical moldings in any part of your plan.


Alternate Method For Creating a Slab:

  1. Select the CAD toolbar configuarion .


  2. Once you are in CAD mode, from the menu choose CAD> Lines> Draw Line . Using the line tool, create the exact shape of your molding.

    NOTE: The series of polylines you create must be completely enclosed. If they are not completely enclosed, you will be unable to complete the subsequent steps in this article.


  3. If you experience difficulty creating a completely enclosed polyline, from the menu choose CAD> Boxes & Framing> Rectangular Polyline .


  4. With the Rectangular Polyline tool, drag from the upper left corner to the lower right corner.


  5. Dragging from upper left to lower right will form a rectangular polyline.

    This rectangular polyline can be reshaped by clicking on the Select Objects  arrow tool, clicking on the rectangle and then clicking on the Break Line  tool on the edit toolbar.

    By clicking on the rectangle and adding breaks where necessary, the rectangular polyline will remain intact and complete, and you will be able to quickly convert it to a slab.


  6. Regardless of how you create your enclosed polyline, you must make sure that it is dimensionally correct. If your molding is 1"x1/4" in real life, you must create your polyline to these same dimensions.


  7. Once you have a completely enclosed polyline in the shape of the vertical molding, return to the Default Architectural toolbar configuration.


  8. Next, right-click on the polyline and from the menu choose Convert Polyline .

    NOTE: If your contextual menus are not enabled, you will not see the Convert Polyline option when you right-click.

    To enable your contextual menus, from the menu choose Edit> Preferences  to launch the Preferences dialog. In the left margin click on Appearance. Under the Contextual Menus heading, place a check box in the Enabled option. Lastly, click the OK button.


  9. Once you choose Convert Polyline the Convert Polyline dialog will display.


  10. Click the radio button beside Slab and then click the OK button.


  11. After you have clicked OK, the Slab Specification dialog box will display.


  12. Using this dialog box, you can set the attributes of your slab, including the height.


  13. In the Materials tab you can assign the slab a material of wood.


  14. With a little experimentation regarding height, size and materials you will be able to place vertical moldings in any part of your plan.

Last updated on: 09-10-2009