using the the 'beam system' tool

[JRBOURNE]

I am fairly new to revit- using Revit Architecture 2011 on win 7-64

I used the beam system tool to create a joist layout across 2 foundation walls and it all seemed to work right but i cannot see the joists. Its a fairly small area, just one room (about12'x20') on a concrete foundation wall which i have already drawm up with a .
I have my floor plan views in the following order-
-B.O. Footing
-T.O. Footing
-Foundation
-First Floor
-Second Floor

i originally used the 'beam system' tool (under the structure menu) on the foundation plan, thinking it would run them across the top of the foundation, however it placed them below.
i then erased that and re-did it on the first floor plan, now thinking it was drawing them to support whatever plan level i was viewing, in this case, the first floor plan.
Then it draw them above the first floor plan! so i went into an elevation view and manually moved them.

now they are not visible in any view but if i run my cursor around I can locate them and they will become highlighted.

any tips on what i am doing wrong?
Is there an alternate method i should be using or is the 'beam system' tool the most efficient?

[cliff collins]

You need to set the workplane before adding the beam system.

Home Tab>work plane>set current.

cheers

[stacey]

also could be your view settings... joists aren't visible if you are in 'coarse' view - they only appear when the view is set to 'medium'...