Inserting stage steps

Structure

Select the style of stage steps; self-adjusting steps have a fixed stringer length and number of steps, and the step rise automatically adjusts to fit the stage height. For the other types of steps, the step parameters are determined according to the selected Create Based On option.

Create Based On

When steps are not self-adjusting, specifies the method used to determine the step parameters, either by setting stage height and number of steps, or by setting the number of steps and the step rise. Depending on the selection, certain step parameters become available, while the other parameters are calculated for display.

Stage Height and Number of Steps: Calculates the height of the steps and the rise automatically based on the height of the stage and the specified number of steps

Number of Steps and Step Rise: Calculates the height of the steps and the stage height based on the specified number of steps and the step rise

Stage Height

Sets or displays the height of the stage

Step Unit Width

Specifies the width of each step

Stringer Length

(self-adjusting steps)

Specifies the length of the stringers for self-adjusting steps

Stringer Width

(self-adjusting and open free-standing steps)

Sets the width of the stringers for steps with stringers

Stringer Type

(open free-standing steps)

Select whether the stringers are located inside and under the treads, or outside the treads (the stringer width setting affects the available step area)

Add’l Stringers

(open free-standing steps)

Adds one or more additional support stringers to the steps, spaced evenly based on step width

Side Stringer Indent

(open free-standing steps, inside stringers only)

Moves the outer stringers in (underneath the steps) on each side of the stair by the specified distance

Draw Arrow

Select whether to display an arrow in Top/Plan view; the arrow can point up or down. In the Text Options, select the arrow text label to display the word “Up” or “Down” in the drawing.

Arrow Size

When drawing an arrow, sets the arrow head size in drawing units

Step Details

Number of Steps

Specifies the number of steps

Add Top Step at Stage Height

Adds an additional step at the top of the flight, set to the same height as the stage

Top Step Height

Displays the height of the top step

Single Step Rise

Sets the distance from one step to the next

Step Thickness

Specifies the thickness of each step

Single Step Depth

Specifies the depth of each step

Nosing Depth

(open free-standing steps)

Sets the nosing distance (the depth the step protrudes from the stringer)

Top Color/Texture

Displays the texture or color selected in the 3D Options

Trim Color/Texture

Displays the texture or color selected in the 3D Options

Pitch (Calculated)

Angle

Displays the pitch of the stair as an angle

Ratio (rise:run)

Displays the pitch of the stair as a rise-over-run ratio

Percent (Grade)

Displays the pitch of the stair as a grade percentage

Leg/Structure Details

Profile

(frame free-standing steps)

For the Legs-Basic structure type, select a round, square, or octagonal shape

Color/Texture

Displays the texture or color selected in the 3D Options

Railing Details

Show Left/Show Right

Select whether to show a railing on the left only, right only, or both sides. Railing parameters apply to both sides.

Height

Specifies the height of the top railing

Add’l Railings

(simple, solid free-standing, or open free-standing steps)

Adds one or more additional railing sets to the steps, spaced evenly based on step width; this parameter is only available when the both left and right railing are selected for display

Add’l Horiz Bars

Adds additional horizontal bars to the railing; not available for self-adjusting steps

Add’l Uprights

Adds additional upright bars to the railing; not available for self-adjusting steps

Profile

Select a round, square, or octagonal railing shape

Color/Texture

Displays the texture or color selected in the 3D Options

3D Options

Specifies the appearance of applicable step elements in 3D views. The 3D Options dialog box opens.

For each available portion of the steps, either select the color from the Color list, or select Custom Texture and then click the current custom texture to open the Resource Selector; double-click a resource to select it. The Object Info palette displays the color or texture selections in the relevant section.

The appearance of Simple stage steps is set from the Attributes palette.

Set Cart ID

Enter information about the steps which can be placed in the drawing with Text Options (does not affect the steps’ appearance)

Note

Adds a note, which can be placed in the drawing with the Text Options

Text Options

Opens the Text Options dialog box, to enable the display and format the text of labels

Default Text Positions

Restores text labels to their default positions

Classes

Opens the Classes dialog box, to specify class naming for the various portions of the stage steps. This allows portions of the stage steps to be set to visible, grayed, or invisible.

Use the standard class, select a class from the list of classes present in the drawing, or create a new class. Select <Stage Steps Class> to place the stage step element in the same class as the stage steps.

Class Prefix: Specifies an optional default root class naming standard for all stage step parts; click Assign Default Classes With Prefix to begin all stage step class names with the prefix, so that they are sorted together.

Assign Default Classes With Prefix: Sets the class names for all stage step elements to the standard, using the Class Prefix if there is one.

Stage step elements: For each portion of the stage steps, including the loci that represent the center of the stage step legs for certain Structure types, specifies the class name standard; the class names shown here are applied to the elements.

Update

Updates the object when changes have been made to the Object Info palette parameters