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Getting started with Jodu ​

This guide takes a small residential project from creation to review and export. You can configure the site first, but plot setup is not a hard prerequisite for native walls or rooms.

Before you start ​

Have the plot dimensions, a rough floor-plan idea, and any survey/reference drawing available. No AutoCAD experience is required. Useful Plan shortcuts include W (Wall), R (Room), D (Door), N (Window), P (Passage), T (Stair), and M (Dimension).

Step 1: Create a project ​

  1. Open Jodu and choose New Project.
  2. Give it a clear name, such as Sharma residence G+1.
  3. Jodu opens the Plans workspace on the Ground Floor.

See Project management for opening and managing projects.

Step 2: Understanding the Jodu Workspace ​

Once you are in a project, the screen is divided into these main areas:

  • Activity Rail (Top): A horizontal tab strip to switch between workspaces — Site, Program, Plans, 3D House, Schedules, Estimate, Review, Sheet. Also shows the Export menu, project name (click it for Checkpoints and settings), and your profile.
  • Left Toolbar: In the Plans workspace, this vertical rail holds drawing tools (Wall, Door, Room, etc.) and modify tools (Select, Trim, Offset, Mirror).
  • Plan Header: Contains the aspect switcher (Shell, Structure, Facade, Finishes), the active level dropdown, and the level-scoped Export and House tasks menus.
  • Center Canvas: The main interactive 2D drawing board or 3D view. Use the mouse wheel to zoom, and hold Space + drag to pan.
  • Right Panel (Properties): Shows detailed settings for whatever you currently have selected (e.g., changing wall thickness, customizing door dimensions, or assigning room finishes).
  • Ask Jodu (⌘K): The intelligent project assistant. Press ⌘K (Ctrl+K) or click Ask Jodu in the header. See Working with Jodu AI.

Step 3: Set site context when ready ​

The Site view holds site evidence and North angle. Plot and setback inputs are in Plans → Site setup:

  1. Open Plans → House tasks → Plot.
  2. Enter Width, Depth, Road side, and Road width; choose Create plot.
  3. Open House tasks → Setbacks, enter Front, Rear, Left, and Right, then choose Save setbacks.

These values add site context and review guidance. They do not move existing walls automatically.

Step 4: Draw the shell ​

For a standard residential house (e.g. 9.0 m × 7.5 m with 0.23 m exterior walls):

  1. Open Plans and choose a structural wall type (e.g. 230 mm Brick masonry) in Wall options.
  2. Press W, click a start point, and move in the direction of the run.
  3. Type the exact dimension (e.g. 9.0 m or 9000 mm) and press Enter.
  4. Turn 90 degrees, type 7.5 m, and press Enter.
  5. Continue around the boundary to close the outer shell.
  6. Use Offset (O) with Copy wall if you need parallel interior partitions (e.g. 115 mm Brick wall).
  7. Use Corner close (C) for near-miss corners, or TrimExtend for a larger gap.

See Wall and Precision input.

Step 5: Add rooms and openings ​

  • Rooms: Press R, select a room preset (Living Room, Kitchen, Bedroom, Toilet), and drag across the enclosed space to place the room area label.
  • Doors: Press D, hover over a wall where you want the door, and click to place (e.g. standard 1.2 m × 2.1 m main door or 0.9 m × 2.1 m bedroom door).
  • Windows: Press N, hover over an exterior wall, and click to place a window (e.g. 1.5 m × 1.2 m with sill height 0.9 m).
  • Passages: Press P to place a doorless opening or archway between rooms.

Tip: You can ask Ask Jodu at any time: "What is the carpet area of Bedroom 1?" or "Why is the door schedule incomplete?" to inspect your live model.

See the Plan tool reference for presets and troubleshooting.

Step 6: Add levels and stairs ​

For another level, use Plans → Level Actions → Add level. Select it in the Plan header and edit its name in Properties → Level properties.

To connect levels, press T, click in a suitable room, choose a guided proposal, and press Enter. If the active level has no destination above it, the Stair tool explains that an upper level is required. Choose Add upper level…, select Floor or Roof terrace, review the changes, and apply the level before placing the stair.

Step 7: Review the other Plan aspects ​

  • Structure — open the right-panel step board for grid, supports, frame, slabs, and foundations.
  • Facade — author the outside of the house in 3D.
  • Finishes — use Common finishes, Rooms, or Doors & windows; preview and then Apply the material decision.

Step 8: Review and export ​

  • Schedules — refresh the Doors, Windows, Rooms, Walls, Stairs, Finishes, Envelope, or Fixtures tab.
  • Quantities — review the measured takeoff, rate book, and costing assumptions before relying on a total.
  • 3D House — generate or update the current artifact.
  • Sheet — compose a drawing set and choose Export PDF set.
  • CAD Export — Use the Plan header Export menu for a quick active-level Plan drawing (DXF/DWG).

Common first-time mistakes ​

MistakeWhat happensFix
Wall tool has no wall typeDrawing cannot startChoose a structural wall type
Room is clicked but not draggedNo placement is proposedClick and drag
A shortcut does nothingThe aspect or focus is wrongReturn to the right aspect and focus the canvas
Offset is on the wrong sideCopy appears on the wrong sideMove the pointer before confirming the distance
Finishes look unchangedA candidate was previewed but not appliedReview the preview and choose Apply

Next steps ​

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