This weekend was one of those deals where life kind of got in the way.  Busing kids to prom and taking my two youngest to breakfast at McD's, not exactly a breakfast for champions but a good time none the less.

I did manage to put out a few small fires and take care of some items that were a bit lower on the list. 

I'll hit it hard again tomorrow, really excited to get the first iteration of the gable wall out.

Version 0.9.8e - 10.21.2018
- Added a manufacturer's label and fields (mfr. and series) for windows.
- Added the following window manufacturers and labels: Alside, Andersen, Atrium, Harvey, Integrity, Jeld-Wen, Marvin, MI, Milgard, Pella, PGT, PlyGem, Simonton, YKK-AP
- Shutters Option added to the Windows tab of the global settings.
- "Window Trim Inset" parameter added to the Windows tab of the global settings.

The Window Trim Inset parameter allows the trim to be brought right up against the window.  Previously the trim around the window was flush with the framed opening however since the window is typically 1/2" less in overall size than the framed opening this left a 1/4" gap all the way around the window.

The default value for the inset parameter is 1/4" so that the trim butts right up to the window frame.  This parameter can be set to a positive or negative value. If the parameter is set to zero then the trim will be flush with the framed opening.

The shutter option parameter allows one to set the default behavior of this advanced option for the window draw tool.

The manufacturer series parameter has been added however I have not yet added all the series for each manufacturer.  I will be contacting each manufacturer and inquiring which of their window series should be added to the plugin.

Per user requests I've enabled an additional parameter for windows so that you can assign a manufacturer to the installed windows (door also coming soon).  Note that the window geometry itself is not manufacturer specific but is controlled by the users preferences.

In the near future I will also be creating a window and door preset feature so various options can be pre-configured.

If manufacturer's logos are enabled in the Material tab of the Global Settings and a manufacturer is assigned then the plugin will affix a label to the window in order to quickly and easily identify the window manufacturer:





The label is actually its own group/face on the dimension 3 layer and can be toggled by turning this layer on or off.

In the future it might be useful to enable a tool that allows one to switch all of the windows and door from one manufacturer to another with the single click of a button.  If a cost database is setup for the various manufacturers then the estimating module can create comparative cost estimates depending on the manufacture of the fenestration.

I've initially added the following manufacturers/brands:

Pella, Milgard, Marvin, Integrity, Plygem, Jeld-Wen, Alside, Andersen, Atrium, Harvey, MI, PGT, Simonton, YKK-AP



The label is constrained to a square 8"x8" and offsets the window glass by 0.125 so that it does not z-fight with the window glass.

Please send me any window and door manufacturers that you would like to see added to the plugin.

This screenshot shows an application where the gypsum offset comes into play:



Note the 18" offset from the end of the beam. Also note the use of the miter cut and the notching out of the gypsum, sheathing and cladding (advanced options for the column with beam pocket).

Surprisingly there is quite a lot going on here even though the geometry looks relatively simple.

Version 0.9.8d - 10.18.2018
- Created the gable wall matrix selector for the new gable wall module.
- Added the ability to wrap beams with gypsum and updated the beam menus with this new feature.

*** WARNING ***

This update will break backward compatibility for beams created in previous versions of the plugin.





Note that the material used to wrap the beams can be chosen from the custom materials so technically any material can utilized.

The start offset and end offset allow the designer to pull back the wrap any specified amount to allow for beam pocketing or in the case where the beam extends beyond the wall to the exterior of the building.

The wrap covers the sides and bottom of the beam.  Thickness can also be specified as shown above.

As I was going down through the list this morning and my notes I've also noticed that there has been quite a demand for multiple layer gypsum walls (firewalls).

To do this I would need to create a new attribute library folder which basically means that this would break backward compatibility of the plugin again.

Under the advanced options I would add in a new parameter called:

Advanced Gypsum Options:  Yes or No

Then under a new heading:

Advanced Gypsum Options:

Interior Layers:  0, 1, 2
Int. 1 Thickness:  in or mm
Int. 1 Material:  (utilize materials from Material Manager as well as one default built in material)
Int. 2 Thickness:  in or mm
Int. 2 Material:  (utilize materials from Material Manager as well as one default built in material)

Exterior Layers:  0, 1, 2
Ext. 1 Thickness:  in or mm
Ext. 1 Material:  (utilize materials from Material Manager as well as one default built in material)
Ext. 2 Thickness:  in or mm
Ext. 2 Material:  (utilize materials from Material Manager as well as one default built in material)

A total of eleven new parameters.  Let me know your thoughts on this, is there a better way to present these options or somehow condense this information into a simpler form?

Since the user can specify the material independently for each layer (4 different layers) its possible to use other materials other than gypsum (ie. tile, cement board, OSB, Plywood, cedar paneling etc...)

For example one could install a layer of foam under a layer of gypsum or OSB under the gypsum or any other possible combination.

Affiliate Program Announcement:

I am actively looking for affiliates to help promote the plugin(s).  I have already setup an affiliate system for the Wall Plugin within my billing system.

For those of you who have a website or some other means of marketing and would be interested in providing a link (to the plugins) on your website or by some other means, please feel free to contact me at nathan@medeek.com or 425-652-4188.

Here is a first look at the gable wall matrix:



The rabbit hole is going to get really deep.  I am initially concentrating on the standard gable wall and then onto the shed wall.

Some of these wall types will also require a mirrored version (just another parameter in the wall menus).

Note, that a triangular wall is nothing more than a degenerate gable wall where the wall height is zero at the start and end of the wall.  A shed wall with the lower wall set to zero height is a right triangle.  The same sort of logic can be applied to all the other various wall heights shown.

Things get a little interesting when you start moving these type of walls or walls that are adjacent to these walls (attached at the corners).  Each wall type may require its own special auto-corner configuration algorithms.  As long as I keep things modular all of this complexity shouldn't be too big of a problem.

Quote from: saakejam on October 17, 2018, 07:21:12 PM
Good video...  Goods tips.  I have to say the best menus you have are ones that pop up illustrations hovering over the item selection.  Especially in the Truss selections.  Very helpful because we sometimes call components by other names or don't know the item by name.  I would employ this all over.

Since the anchoring fix I have been churning out work.  Not fast because I'm a novice.  I will be excited to see the new Truss custom materials selections come to life.  This leads me to ask if in the pipeline you will have a joist system plug-in to build floor decks?  Medeek Floor.. .  An outdoor deck system plugin?

I'm glad to hear you are getting some productivity out of the plugin(s).  I've been adding tooltips into more of the menus (little blue question marks), however I do need to utilize more images/thumbnails rather than words.  Sometimes a picture is much more helpful.

The Truss plugin already has a number of I-joists, lumber and floor truss floors available, click on the floor truss icon, the drop down menu will allow you to select from various floor joist systems.  Note that this feature is still quite limited since only rectangular floors are currently available but I have plans to make any floor shape possible, similar to the slab tool in the foundation plugin.

Version 0.9.8c - 10.17.2018
- Removed the wall justification parameter from the draw and edit wall menus.
- Interior wall door casing properly configured for both sides of the wall.



Today was one of those busy days where most of the day was consumed by emails and phone calls.  Its safe to say that most of the day was spent interacting with people and less time spent on the code, not that this is a bad thing.  Since I could not dive deep into the gable or stair projects I put out a couple small fires that were a bit lower on the list.  Its always nice to knock out some low hanging but troublesome fruit.

Prior to this fix all doors created within interior walls were installed with ext. trim on the wall's exterior side.  In reality interior doors should have casing on both sides of the wall.

Wall Presets often seem to be confusing many of our designers so I've put together a short video trying to clarify some of this functionality and possible quirks that users should be aware of:

Version 2.2.2b - 10.16.2018
- Updated the "Edit Truss Assembly" menu so that it properly loads default values when advanced options are expanded.
- Added a user definable name to truss assemblies that will be utilized in the future options and upgrades.

A number of other "under the hood" updates (to numerous to list) were also incorporated to bring the code more in line with the wall plugin and its more efficient and modular organization scheme.

Quote from: saakejam on October 15, 2018, 04:49:11 PM
0.9.8 fixed both Mac and Windows platforms...  The only item noticed was sometimes the menu dialog comes up blank (All White).  Not all the time and you can refresh the size which brings it back.
Not a big problem.

Is the dialog issue (white) coming up in Windows and Mac?

Version 1.1.7 - 10.15.2018
- Name of plugin changed to "Medeek Foundation".
- Updated the licensing system to include a 30 day limit of the trial version.
- Updates to the HTML pages of the global settings.

I haven't spent much time on the foundation plugin in the last year and a half and it is beginning to show.

I have however determined that I can now devise an algorithm for step down foundation stem walls.  A big shout out to Christina Eneroth whose excellent coding and generosity will make this feature possible in the near future.

Making the step down feature fully parametric may be a bit more of a challenge.  I will need to give this some serious thought.

Version 0.9.8b - 10.15.2018
- Fixed a typo/bug in the window module (casing).

This bug was only an issue in imperial templates and when you enabled casing but not ext. trim.