How to Produce Truss Shop Drawings

Hi everyone and welcome to this week’s webinar. My name is Hana. I’m a software specialist here at Strucsoft Solutions Graitec Group and today’s topic is truss shop drawings.
The webinar bullet points that we’re going to talk about today: first of all, we’re going to be creating a roof truss with the truss module and then we’re going to create a floor truss with the floor module. We’re going to be setting up the truss shop drawing settings. We will set up the truss schedule settings as well, and then we will be generating shop drawings for roofs and floor trusses.
I’m using advanced metal for today, build 8844. And let’s jump into our model and officially start our webinar.
Today we’re talking about trusses. I’m going to be covering a few basics. Today’s webinar will not be fully detailed where it comes to truss generation — we’re going to focus more on shop drawings.
Let’s start with the basics. First of all, this is a Revit add‑on or a Revit plugin for those of you who don’t know. MWF (now Strucsoft) will need a model — you’re going to need an architectural model before you start framing with MWF (now Strucsoft).
A few things that we need to check before we start framing. First of all, you’ll notice on my end that I’ve made the roof transparent. This is just a visual setting that we like to change and we recommend that you work in a 3D view when you’re working with trusses. You’ll see why in a bit — we have to pick some references, and it’s much easier in 3D.
The next thing we have to talk about is how to set up our Revit model for MWF (now Strucsoft). I’m going to cover whether it’s walls, floors, roofs — it’s the same concept.
With regards to the walls, whether you’re going to be framing the walls with the wall module or you’re going to be using the wall for the truss module, you’re going to need to make sure the structure is set up in a specific way that is compatible with MWF (now Strucsoft). You need one structural layer between the two core boundaries. The thickness has to be defined in Revit — not in MWF (now Strucsoft). And the structural checkbox must be ticked so the software knows this is the structural layer.
For trusses, the truss module will recognize that this structural layer is what the truss will bear on. Other layers are allowed above or below the core boundary, but they cannot be additional structural layers.
It’s the same logic for roofs: one structural layer, thickness defined in Revit, additional layers allowed only outside the core boundary. You cannot add sheathing using the truss module.
Floors follow the same rule: one structural layer, thickness defined in Revit, additional finish layers allowed above or below but not as structure. Sheathing for floors does not require additional layers.
Before starting with MWF (now Strucsoft), your model must contain walls, doors, windows, roofs, ceilings, and floors. These are the elements from which trusses can be created. Roofs must be “roof by footprint,” not extrusion.
Now that we’ve talked about Revit setup, let’s start talking about trusses.
You’ll notice I already created the end result just to show you how it looks. First, I need to switch to the truss module. You’ll notice some lines over here — I left these on purpose to explain how the truss module works.
Unlike other modules, the truss module is a two‑step process:

Create a truss profile (envelope)
Apply member sizes to generate a real truss

The envelope is a model group created by MWF (now Strucsoft), though you can create your own. After the envelope is created, the members are placed along the lines using the sizes you select or that the software engineers for you.
Let’s start from scratch. I’ll switch to the truss module and begin by creating envelopes, then creating trusses, then generating shop drawings.
We start by selecting the roof, then choosing common trusses. We get a dialog box asking for references — this is why transparency and 3D view help. I select the main ridge line, then supports (walls or beams). The software asks for layer alignment and cantilever options.
We specify start/end offsets, spacing, and whether to offset from outer face. We can add additional trusses or only create lines. Once confirmed, the software generates envelope groups automatically numbered.
You can edit an envelope by selecting it and clicking Edit Group — adjust lines, change shapes, and finish.
Next, we select an envelope and click Create. This opens the truss creation dialog. If presets existed, we could load them, save new ones, or manage lists.
General settings include display units, truss category (roof or floor), web type, truss type (back‑to‑back or wall truss), truss name, number of plies, and whether to use engineering.
Webbing options include node type, diagonal orientation, vertical spacing, pitch break settings, heel offsets, and verticals at supports.
Member sizes must be pre‑inserted Revit families. I delete unneeded sections and add only the sizes I want. Order matters — MWF (now Strucsoft) will try the first one unless engineered otherwise.
Physical member settings include track insertion width, chord cut type, web extra length, effective length parameters, brace length, sheathing preferences, node settings, and more.
Engineering settings are skipped for today’s webinar.
Shop drawing report settings include fabrication drawing, engineering drawing, and company info.
Finally, we create the truss.

Next, we move to floor trusses. These were created in the floor module, which also supports trusses. Selecting a floor and using Create displays out‑of‑the‑box templates that come with MWF (now Strucsoft). You can create floor panels, back‑to‑back trusses, or wall trusses from the floor module.
Properties allow changes to joists, sidetracks, end joists, cutbacks, spacing, truss depth, and engineering (if applicable).
Unlike roof trusses, floor trusses can have orientation rotated directly via arrows.
To make a shop drawing for a floor truss, you use the floor manufacturing tools.

Returning to the main model, under truss manufacturing, we have:

Outputs (DXF)
Shop drawings
Bill of materials report

Shop drawings use view options. You can create folders, duplicate settings, edit them, or import/export.
View settings include direction, scale, view prefix, preferred sheets, and which views to include (elevation, BOM, etc.). Sheet layouts are located in ProgramData under Strucsoft Solutions.
Title block RVT files include predefined zones for elevation and BOM.
You define dimension rules, labels, tag types, viewport type, detail level, visual style, category visibility, and more.
BOM setup includes alignment, line styles, fields (label, material, length, weight, quantity), totals, and display settings.
Sheet placement uses zones defined in the sheet file.
After setting up everything, we select a truss, click Shop Drawings, and Generate. A sheet appears under the Sheets branch in the Project Browser, containing elevation and schedule.
The label method affects whether quantities appear per member or are combined for identical members.
We repeat the process for a floor truss, switching to “schedule label” instead of “label,” and a different sheet is generated showing grouped quantities.

The last function is the bill of material report. You specify which trusses to include, choose schedule or label method, and generate a CSV file.
And that concludes the webinar for today. I hope you found it useful, and thank you for listening. Have a great day.