The information in this article applies to:
QUESTION
I would like to display additional stair details in plan view, such as a breakline, tread overhangs, railings, and newel posts?
ANSWER
You can specify how different stair components are displayed in plan view by accessing the Staircase Specification dialog.
To display a stair breakline
- Using the Select Objects
tool, select the staircase and then click the Open Object
edit button.
In the instance that the staircase has multiple stair segments, such as switchback or L shaped staircases, select the segment that will need to contain the breakline.
![Floor plan displaying a staircase Straight stairs in floor plan view](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-fig1-11.png?1719954345)
- On the Breakline panel of the Staircase Specification dialog that opens, check the Has Breakline box.
![On the Breakline panel of the Staircase Specification you can change how the breakline is displayed.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-StairBreakline-16.jpg?1719954345)
- Select the breakline Style using the drop-down.
- Specify the Distance From Start, which is the distance from the front of the stair segment to the breakline, measured from the staircase's center line.
- Specify the Breakline Angle. An angle of 0 produces a breakline that is perpendicular to the sides of a straight staircase.
- Specify the Gap After Break if desired. This creates a second breakline and specifies the distance between the two. A value of 0 produces no gap.
- Specify the Break Symbol Size, which is the total height of the break symbol measured from the top corner to the bottom corner.
- The Current Floor Display section controls the appearance of the portion of the staircase located after the breakline on the floor where the stairs are drawn.
- The Floor Above Display section controls the appearance of the portion of the staircase located before the breakline, as seen from the floor above where the stairs are drawn.
![Display properties can be changed for a staircase where the breakline is located Different display options for a staircase](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-fig3-11.png?1719954345)
3. If you'd like to use these stair settings in other projects, you can use the
Select Objects ![](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/ca_btn/Select-Objects.png?1719954345)
tool to select the staircase, then use the
Add to Library ![](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/ca_btn/addlib.png?1719954345)
edit tool to add the staircase to your User Catalog for future use*.
*Applies to X16 and newer versions.
To display newels, balusters, and handrails
- Using the Select Objects
tool, select the staircase and then click the Open Object
edit button.
![Floor plan displaying a staircase Straight stairs in floor plan view](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-fig1-11.png?1719954345)
- On the Newels/Balusters panel of the Staircase Specification dialog, remove the check from Use Defaults under the Plan Display section.
![On the Newels/Balusters panel you can change how the newels, balusters, and rails are drawn.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-NewelsBalusters-16.jpg?1719954345)
- Check Draw Newels to display newel posts.
- Check Draw Balusters to display balusters.
- Check Draw Rails to display the handrails.
Handrails draw over the top of newels and balusters. When displaying the handrail together with newels and/or balusters, use the Fill Style button to set the fill style to "None".
![Floor plan displaying a staircase, balusters, newels, and railings Balusters and newel posts appearing in a floor plan view](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-fig5-11.png?1719954345)
3. If you'd like to use these stair settings in other projects, you can use the
Select Objects ![](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/ca_btn/Select-Objects.png?1719954345)
tool to select the staircase, then use the
Add to Library* ![](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/ca_btn/addlib.png?1719954345)
edit tool to add the staircase to your User Catalog for future use*.
*Applies to X16 and newer versions.
To display tread overhand and stringers
- From the menu, select Tools> Layer Settings> Display Options
.
- In the Layer Display Options dialog, use the Name Filter to search for "Stairs."
![In the Layer Display Options you can turn on different layers to show different stair details.](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-LayerDisplayOptions-16.jpg?1719954345)
- Locate the "Stairs & Ramps, Details" layer as well as the "Stairs & Ramps, Stringers" layer.
- Put a check in the Disp column for for the "Stairs & Ramps, Details" layer to display the tread overhang.
![Floor plan view of a staircase displaying tread overhang Tread overhang displaying in a floor plan view](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-fig7-11.png?1719954345)
- Put a check in the Disp column for for the "Stairs & Ramps, Stringers" layer to display the stringers.
![Floor plan view showing a staircase with stringers displaying Stringers displaying on a stair](https://d2haqc5836ials.cloudfront.net/live/KB-03036/3036-fig8-11.png?1719954345)