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•  Framing a wall in 2D becomes simple with the reuse of horizontal and vertical members.
  • The basic 2D wall contains:
    • Plates
    • Studs
  • Once these 2 parts are drawn, many variations can be made from them.
  • We will also use a 2D window symbol, loaded and sized.
  • Have the RULERS turned on.

• Start with sole (bottom) plate using Box command.
  • Size it 120 by 1.5
• Draw a stud starting with a Gravity Snap on the corner of the plate.
  • Size it 1.5 by 93

•  Duplicate the sole plate to the top of the stud.

• Select the stud with a Gravity Snap at the lower left corner.
  • Use ENTER to move the selection to the next object if the plate was selected first.

• Choose Linear Array.
• Enter the values shown at right.
  • Columns:8
  • Rows:1
  • Distances/Offsets:
    • Column:16
    • Row:1

• Now just set a Gravity Snap at the arrow.

• Move to an open part of the screen.
• Choose File->Load Symbol.
• Choose 2D Symbols->Arch->Window26
• Choose Explode Symbol.
• Insert the window in the open space.
• With the window selected, open Info Box.
  • Change Bounding Box size to
    • X:42
    • Y:38
• Draw a box on the bottom for the sill plate.
  • Size is 42 by 1.5
• Draw a box on top for the header.
  • Size is 42 by 5.5

• With the header selected, use the Info Box to add 3 units to the width of the header.
  • Just put +3 after the 42 and hit enter.
  • Make sure 'Use Selection Handle' is not checked so it resizes from the center.
• Now select the window, header and sill.
  • Group Define them into one object.
  • Set a handle on the lower left corner.

• Make sure the rulers are turned on.
• Click the cross at the corner of the rulers and then gravity snap to the lower left corner of the wall.
  • This resets the 0,0 point to the corner of the wall.
• Hit 'M' to move the window and then hit SHIFT+: (colon) to bring up Point Absolute.
  • Enter the values: 38,38
  • Hit ENTER.

•  Select the 2 studs shown and turn on Resizing Handles.

• Click on the center handle at the top and then come down and Line Snap (K) to the bottom of the sill plate.
  • [You could also Gravity Snap to a bottom corner of the sill.]

•  You can use Resizing Handles again, or Points Mode to resize the 'Trimmer stud'.
  • With Points Mode, select the stud and drag a window around both the points at the top.
  • Now Gravity Snap to either one and Gravity snap to either available snap point on the header.

•  Resize complete.

• Duplicate the 'Trimmer' to the other side.

•  Duplicate a stud to make 'King Studs' along each side of the 2 'Trimmers'.

•  Duplicate the 2 'Cripples' under the window to the top by selecting them both and hitting 'N'.
• Select Reference Point in the options.
  • Set the Reference Point at the arrow with Gravity Snap.
  • With ORTHO turned on drag the duplicates straight up and Gravity Snap to the corner of the header.

•  Use Resizing Handles to adjust the upper 'Cripples'.

•  Duplicate 'Cripples' and place more as necessary.
• To use this framed window again, select all the parts and Group Define.
•  Now set a drawing handle where you want it and define as a Block, or Save As->Selection->[new window file name] to use as a  symbol.

House Framing Glossary