automatic elevations

[JohnHanko]

I've noticed that when I use "start from with tap" or "start from with rect" and use a vertical run for a starting point, the program always seems to automatically enter the beginning elevation of that riser. Now, typically when you take off, lets say, a duct coming down from the roof, your starting elevation would be the roof level, your ending elevation would be the duct runout elevation, and you'd just continue from there. It makes sense that if you're adding a second run off that riser, it would be at the lower of the two elevations, that being the ending elevation of the riser. Unfortunately, using the "start from" function, the program insists on it being the roof level. The same thing happens in the typical scenario where you start low at a unit, rise up, and carry out an a higher elevation.

Has anyone found an easy way to work around this, or should I once again forget about using the shortcuts the program provides?

[Charlie]

If you want to start from the top or bottom of a vertical that has already been taken off you need to touch the ""Start From" Top/bottom of vertical" touch box. You then have a choice of the top or bottom. On a drop from a roof, as you described, you would choose bottom.
The other "Start From"s were not intended to be used when attaching to a vertical item.

Hope that helps

Charlie Thompson