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Reading the drawing

Most calculators draw what they just worked out: the stair in section, the rafter on its plate, the slab with its thickness. The drawing sits directly under the results and redraws every time you change an input. Use it to check that the numbers describe the thing you are about to build, before you cut anything.

Step by step

Stairs with the drawing: the stair section dimensioned 9' 0" rise, 13' 1-1/2" run, 11' 8-3/4" and ≈ 15' 7-1/4", two support posts, a boxed detail of one step in the corner and the expand button in the strip above the drawing, with the SPACE THE BALUSTERS button and the green check above it. 1 2 5
The drawing sits under the results. Steps 1, 2 and 5 happen here.
The Stairs drawing on the whole screen, turned on its side: DONE at the top right, the stair section dimensioned 9' 0", 13' 1-1/2", 11' 8-3/4" and ≈ 15' 7-1/4", two support posts under the stringer, the boxed detail of one step reading 10-1/2", 6-3/4" and 32.74°, five lines of notes with nothing in red, and a title block reading STAIR SECTION, 16R 6-3/4" 15T 10-1/2", NOT TO SCALE. 2 5
The same drawing full screen. 2 sits under the boxed detail, 5 beside DONE.
  1. Scroll down past the results to the drawing. At its normal size a drag on it scrolls the screen, the same as anywhere else.
  2. Pinch out to zoom in. The small boxed detail in the corner is the usual reason. You can go up to six times the normal size.
  3. Once you are zoomed in, drag with one finger to move around the drawing. It stops at the edges, so you cannot lose the drawing off the side.
  4. Double-tap to go back to the normal size. Tap a dimension to pick it out on the drawing: the figure is ringed in gold where it sits, and the same figure is printed larger on a card just above the ring, so your thumb is not covering the answer. Tap that figure again, or tap an empty spot on the drawing, to clear both. With VoiceOver on the figure is announced as you tap it, and the drawing then reads it back ahead of its own summary.
    The Stairs drawing full screen with the run dimension tapped: 13' 1-1/2" ringed in gold on the drawing, and the same figure printed larger on a card beside the ring 4
    The run tapped. The ring is round the figure on the drawing; the card next to it repeats 13' 1-1/2" large (turn the phone and the card sits above the ring).
  5. Tap the expand button in the strip above the drawing to open it on the whole screen. A drawing that is wider than it is tall, such as a stair or a slab section, opens on its side: turn the phone to read it larger. Pinch, drag and double-tap work the same there. Tap DONE to go back to the calculator.

What is on the drawing

Roof Rafter drawing: a common rafter from PLATE to RIDGE with a 12' 0" run dimension, a boxed birdsmouth detail at the top right, three lines of notes (6/12 · PLUMB 26.6° (63.4°) · RISE 6' 0"; 2x8 — MIN 2x8; SPF NO.2 · 30 PSF SNOW · 10 PSF DEAD — VERIFY), and a title block reading COMMON RAFTER, 2x8 @ 6/12, NOT TO SCALE 1 2 3 4
The rafter drawing, and the top of the rafter on the stock. The stock drawing's notes and the material list are below this shot.
  1. Dimensions. The gold figures are the same values the results show, written the same way. A figure with ≈ in front has been rounded for display.
  2. Detail inset. A box in one corner shows a small part of the work enlarged, such as one step of a stair or the birdsmouth of a rafter. On some calculators the inset is left off when the drawing is too cramped to carry it.
  3. Notes. Short lines under the drawing restate the settings it was drawn from. A failed check is written here in red, the same as in the results.
  4. Title block. The strip along the bottom names the drawing and carries NOT TO SCALE. The drawing is fitted to your screen, not drawn at a ratio. Work from the written dimensions. Do not measure off the glass.
Need something true to size? Stairs and Arc can print a full-size paper template, and Angle Tools prints a full-size angle. See Cut sheets and 1:1 templates and Angle Tools.

With VoiceOver

The drawing reads as one image with a spoken summary of what it shows. It has an action named "Open full screen", and the expand button is labelled "Open drawing full screen".

If it doesn't work

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