Version 4.5.1 - 04.22.2026
- Enabled custom components as baluster shoes for vertical and OTP handrails.
- Added the following (L.J. Smith) baluster shoes into the baluster shoe component library: LI_ALFSH01, LI_ALR010, LI_ALRD201, LI_ALSQ301, LI_ALSQPL1, LI_PROCOL.





I took the time today to carefully model a few of these baluster shoes since they are fairly simple geometry and it is always fun to get my hands dirty with some actual modeling and take a small break from the code.

Well... I thought I was done with balusters and newel posts, but I'm not quite there yet.

The problem is that with metal or iron balusters they are often installed with a shoe as shown below:



My current algorithm installs balusters just like they are installed in real life:


First I trim the top of the original baluster component/group and then I have to trim them individually for each of their bottoms because the balusters may intersect the treads at different heights hence their heights/lengths will be different. 

Because of this a predefined shoe positioned at the base of the baluster component may work for one location (ie. no trimming required) but then it will be removed in subsequent baluster locations.

What this means in practice is that a shoe (if that option were enabled) needs to be a completely separate group/component just as it is in real life.  My algorithm needs to position it individually in the Z-dir just as I trim each baluster bottom individually.

Arguably, there is a lot going on with stairs, the guys that install these must be real craftsmen, I certainly take my hat off to them.

Version 4.5.0 - 04.20.2026
- Enabled custom components as posts for OTP handrails.
- Enabled "profile cutting" of posts for OTP handrails.
- Modified the bottom trimming algorithm for balusters to better accommodate complex baluster components.
- Added one additional ornamental iron baluster into the baluster component library.
- Added one OTP newel post into the newel post component library: LJ4270_43







I will readily admit configuring OTP handrails with their associated posts and fittings is a bit tricky, adjusting the various offsets takes a few iterations to really hone things in.

Version 4.4.9 - 04.19.2026
- Enabled a secondary custom profile/component parameter for balusters.
- Added additional ornamental iron balusters into the baluster component library.











I think I've beat this horse to death.  Hopefully with this added option we can configure most of the common baluster layouts, however there will always be a few that will be beyond the scope of the plugin (ie. three or more baluster types in various repeating patterns).

Version 4.4.8c -  04.19.2026
- Fixed a minor typo in the stair module.
- Added a ornamental iron baluster into the baluster component library.



The limitations of profile cutting balusters can be overcome by using a predefined component instead, which allows for much more intricate baluster geometries.

However as I have been researching various baluster layouts I've noticed that with iron balusters usually more than one baluster style is utilized.  The typical scenario is two or three different baluster geometries are alternated along the run of stairs.  I will need to give this some more thought.



Stairs can be a "rabbit hole".

Version 4.4.8b - 04.18.2026
- Enabled custom components as balusters for vertical and OTP handrails.



Th sub-folder structure is the same as for newel posts, so Tutorial #85 is applicable to balusters as well.

Tutorial 85 - Profile Cut Newel Posts (9:04 min.)

Version 4.4.7 - 04.16.2026
- Fixed a bug with custom door positioning for metric templates.
- Enabled "profile cutting" of posts for vertical handrails.
- Fixed a bug with the bottom trimming algorithm for balusters.

Thanks -- I need to get that sketchup and see if I can do some more work with it to add to my cabin

Meanwhile, the addition should go on this year!

Check this link out. You can upload directly now.  

https://countryplans.com/smf/index.php/topic,14894.msg201455.html#msg201455

I'm not sure on other sites, can you do it with google photos?