Room Labels

Room labels are based on the Room Types assigned in the Room Specification dialog. You can move or delete a room label in floor plan view without affecting the room type. See "Room Types".

There are two parts to each room label: the room type, which is similar to a standard text object, and the room area, which is not a standard text entry and cannot be edited.

Room Label Defaults

The initial settings that control the size, font, color and other aspects of room label appearance are controlled in the Room Label Defaults dialog. See "Room Label Defaults".

Displaying Room Labels

The display of room labels is controlled in the Layer Display Options dialog. See "Layer Display Options Dialog". You can specify how the area of rooms is calculated by the program by turning on the display of one of these layers:

Rooms, Standard Area is measured from center of interior walls to either the outside surface of exterior walls or exterior wall framing, depending on the Living Area to setting in the Floor Defaults dialog. It is rounded to the nearest square foot or mm and does not include the area within bay, box and bow windows.

Rooms, Interior Area is measured from the inner surfaces of all the room's walls. It is rounded to the nearest square foot or mm and includes the area within bay, box and bow windows.

Rooms, Interior Dimensions is also measured from the inner surfaces of the room walls. It is rounded to the nearest inch or mm and does not include the area within bay, box and bow windows.

Rooms, Standard Area can be measured to either the exterior main wall layer surface or to the exterior wall surface. Specify which method you prefer on the General tab of the Floor Defaults dialog. See "Floor Defaults".

Editing Room Labels

Room labels are similar to standard text entries and can be changed, moved and resized like any other text object.

Although the text of a room label can be edited, the program recognizes the specified room type until you select another in the Room Specification dialog. The program determines the type of the room from this selection, not from the text that the label contains.

Before editing a room label, try to assign the room type most similar to the room's actual use. For example, it is reasonable to change the "Bedroom" label to "Guest Room," since these rooms have similar uses. Defining a closet as a "Living Room" and then editing its label to say "Closet" may cause problems. The program still considers it a living room because this is the specified room type.

If you delete the room label, the room type remains in the Room Specification dialog. To restore the label, check the Show Room Label check box in the Room Specification dialog. See "General Tab".

Room Area

Unlike the rest of a room label, the room area and dimensions are not standard text entries and cannot be edited or changed. The room area moves, resizes and rotates with the rest of the room label, but you can turn the area and dimensions on or off separately in the Layer Display Options dialog.

The Interior Area room area calculation includes the areas within bay, box or bow windows, while the Standard Area and Interior Dimensions calculations do not.

You can also insert room areas and dimensions into text objects as Text Macros. See "Text Macros".

Living Area

The Living Area label displays the area of the floor platform for living areas in a plan. It is found near the bottom center of the plan as soon as a room area is defined by walls and/or railing. The area is recalculated every time you Rebuild Walls/Floors/Ceilings .

The Living Area displays for an individual building if half or more of that building's area is living area. For example, a living area label would not display for a detached garage that contains a bathroom or small shop.

You can choose not to display this label by clearing the Show "Living Area" check box in the Plan Defaults dialog or by turning off the display of the Room Labels layer in the Layer Display Options dialog.

The Living Area label can be moved or deleted. To restore a deleted Living Area label, select Tools> Plan Check . You can click the Done button immediately, without actually completing Plan Check.

Living Area vs. Footprint

The Living Area should not be mistaken for the footprint of the house. Only true livable areas are included in the Living Area calculation. Exterior and hybrid room types such as Garage, Deck, and Porch are not included. Neither is any room labeled Open Below or Attic. See "Available Room Types".

Living Area is measured from the outside surface or main layer surface of exterior walls, and to the center of walls or railings separating the living area from exterior or hybrid room types.

To find the footprint of a floor

Click outside a plan, near an exterior wall. This selects the exterior "room" surrounding the plan.

Click the Make Room Polyline

edit button. This creates a polyline surrounding the plan from the exterior wall surface.

You can edit the polyline shape if you want to measure portions of a home.

Select the Polyline and click the Open Object

edit button. A Polyline Area displays in the Polyline Specification dialog. If no area is shown, the polyline is not closed.