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Drawing Production
Drawing Production
VANTAGE PDMS
Version 11.6
pdms1160/Drawing Production
issue 021104
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Revision History
Index.................................................................................................................Index i
This guide introduces some of the facilities provided by Draft, which is the module
of AVEVA’s VANTAGE Plant Design Management System (PDMS) used for the
generation of fully annotated engineering drawings directly from design data. The
guide explains the main concepts underlying Draft and its supporting applications,
and shows how you can apply these to your own projects.
The chapters of this guide take the form of a hands-on tutorial exercise combined
with frequent explanation of the underlying concepts. As you work progressively
through the exercise, you will gain practical experience of the ways in which you
can use Draft, while learning about the powerful facilities it provides.
The guide does not give step-by-step instructions on how to carry out specific
drawing functions. You can access such information as you work, by using the On-
line Help. You are told how to do this at an early stage of the tutorial.
Exercise begins:
Exercise continues:
1.3 Terminology
The following terms are used throughout this guide to describe what action to carry
out:
Enter Type text into the specified dialogue box, then press the Enter (or
Return) key to confirm the entry.
Click Place the mouse pointer over a specified point, then quickly press
and release the designated mouse button. If no button is specified,
use the left-hand mouse button.
Drag Place the mouse pointer over a specified point, then press and hold
down the required (normally left) mouse button while moving the
pointer to a second specified point. Release the button over the
second point.
Double-click Place the mouse pointer over a specified point, then click the left-
hand mouse button twice in quick succession.
Chapter 5 describes how to set up Views, which define the parts of the model
that are drawn on a drawing sheet
Chapter 7 describes how to add Labels to items that appear in Views. It also
describes how to change the appearance of the labels.
Chapter 10 describes how to add text and basic graphical shapes to existing
sheets and views.
The guide concludes with an index, allowing you to refer back to any specific topics
about whose details you need to be reminded.
This guide teaches you to about the key features of using PDMS for drawing
production.
If you wish to learn more about the wide-ranging facilities of PDMS, AVEVA
provides a wide range of training courses, covering all levels of expertise and all
design disciplines. For details of courses, and to arrange course attendance, contact
your nearest AVEVA support office (see the copyright page at the front of this guide
for our web address).
PDMS is a powerful suite of facilities, for the design of Process Plant, the emphasis
being on maximising both design consistency and design productivity:
• The design modelling functions incorporate a degree of apparent intelligence
that enables them to make sensible decisions about the consequential effects of
many of your design choices. This allows you to implement a sequence of
related decisions with a minimum of effort.
• You can incorporate modifications into your design at any stage without fear of
invalidating any of your prior work, because data-consistency checking is an
integral part of the product. PDMS automatically manages drawing production,
material take-off reports, and so on, by reading all design data directly from a
common set of databases, to prevent errors from being introduced by
transcribing information between different disciplines.
• The applications let you check all aspects of your design as work progresses.
This includes on-line interdisciplinary clash detection, so the chances of errors
and inconsistencies reaching the final documented design are reduced to an
exceptionally low level.
• The applications are controlled from a graphical user interface. This means that
all design, drawing and reporting operations are initiated by selecting choices
from menus, and by entering data into on-screen forms. For ease of use, pictorial
icons also represent many common actions.
• On-screen help is available to assist you whenever you need help.
PDMS is subdivided into modules, which are used to carry out specific types of
operation. This guide covers the Draft module, which is used for generating
annotated and dimensioned drawings of 3D models, produced in the Design module.
Draft is the drawing production module of PDMS. It allows you to generate fully
annotated engineering drawings directly from data in the PDMS Design model.
Drawings can be easily updated to reflect changes in the design model.
Within Draft there are applications that are used for specific functions associated
with the production of drawings. These applications are called:
• General
• Auto Drawing Production
• AutoDRAFT.
The functions of the applications, together with some notes on administration, are
discussed in the following sub-sections.
Hierarchy
Facilities are available for specifying details of the hierarchy within the Draft
database for the location of the drawings and their sheets.
2.2.2 Labelling
Labels can be attached to any design element and used to display any attribute of the
element. You can control the format, content and appearance of the labels, with
suitable project defaults defined by the administrator. Direct reference to the design
data, combined with a simple update annotation operation, means that the annotation
always reflects the current state of the design model. The position and orientation of
the labels can be modified graphically, to ensure a clear drawing layout.
Automatic labelling (Autotagging)
Labels can be automatically generated for a set of design items that match a tagging
rule.
The rule sets determine the type of label and which design items the labels will be
applied to. For example, you could label all nozzles that have a bore of >100mm and
<300mm with a pressure rating of #150. After the labels have been created, they can
be automatically updated to reflect any changes to the design model.
When the labels have been created, you can adjust their positions graphically.
2.2.3 Dimensioning
There are three generic dimension types available in Draft, namely, Linear, Angular
and Radial. These allow intelligent dimensions to be created to dimensioning
standards.
Dimensions are calculated directly from the design model. You can control the
format, content and appearance of the dimensions. The administrator can define
suitable project defaults.
As with labelling, direct reference to the design data means that the annotation
always reflects the current state of the design model, with a simple update annotation
operation.
The position and orientation of dimensions can be adjusted graphically.
2.2.4 2D drafting
Draft's intelligent 2D drafting allows you to generate additional 2D annotation on the
drawing sheet. Operations such as grouping, multiple copying, rubber banding,
nested symbols, symbol libraries, and full element editing functions are available.
Like other Draft data, all 2D annotation can be linked to the design data and so can
easily be updated to follow the changes that occur in the design model.
2.2.7 Administration
This Guide only deals with the Draft User Applications. If you have administration
rights within Draft, you will be able to use the Administration applications. For more
information see the VANTAGE PDMS Draft Administrator Application User Guide.
A brief summary of the Administration facilities follows.
The Draft administrator uses the administration application to customise Draft, by
setting default attributes and creating libraries of drawing frames, symbols and
labels. The Administrator can set default representation rules, labelling rules,
naming conventions, line styles and hatching patterns. Template drawings, which
contain predefined drawing data, can be set up, thus reducing drawing creation time.
Symbology
The Draft administrator can generate suites of symbols to be used in both 2D
annotation and as part of a symbolic label definition. The symbols are built up from
standard 2D annotation elements and can be created by grouping the existing 2D
annotations. The library approach to symbol definition maximises drawing
consistency, whilst minimising the required storage space for the symbol itself.
This section is intended for readers who are unfamiliar with computer practices. It
provides information on the use of the mouse and describes the elements that
regularly appear in the windows of the graphical user interface.
Throughout this guide, related selections from menus are abbreviated using the >
symbol as a separator. For example:
Select Utilities>Reports>Create means:
a) Select Utilities from the bar men.
b) Select Reports from the resulting pull-down menu
c) Move the pointer to the right and select Create from the resultant submenu.
A text-box often contains a default entry (such as unset) when first displayed.
Some text boxes accept only text or only numeric data, and entries with the wrong
type of data are not accepted.
To enter data into a text box:
• Click in the box to insert the text-editing pointer (a vertical bar).
• Type in the required data, editing any existing entry as necessary. (You may
need to delete the existing entry first.)
You can edit the contents of the text box by moving the pointer using the arrow keys
or by moving the pointer with the mouse and clicking the left mouse button. You can
delete text by using the Backspace key to delete characters to the left-hand of the
pointer or the Delete key for those to the right-hand.
When you have finished, confirm the entry by pressing the Enter (or Return) key. A
yellow background highlights any text box with an unconfirmed setting.
To change the setting, click on the down arrow or button face to reveal the full list of
available options. Then pick the required option.
When the arrow has a bar under it, clicking on the button leads to another form, at
which the required option can be selected from a scrollable list.
To change the selected option button in a group, click the required button.
Unset
Cancels any changes you have made to the form, and closes the form.
Tells PDMS to accept the current form settings, and leaves the form
displayed for further use.
Cancels any changes you have made to the form, and leaves the form
displayed for further use.
Some forms contain more specific types of control button, which carry out particular
command options. The action is indicated by the name of the button (such as Add or
Remove).
3.2 Logging in
This is the first step of the tutorial exercise. If you do not know where the PDMS
program is stored on your system, you will have to contact your system
administrator at this point.
Exercise begins:
1. Start PDMS by double-clicking on the PDMS icon.
The following VANTAGE PDMS Login form appears, at which you specify a
number of details at the start of your session.
7. Using the dropdown list, select the name of the module you wish to use. This is
Draft.
8. Make sure that you leave the Read Only box unchecked, so that you can
modify the database as you work.
9. You must specify which files (Load from) to load at startup. The options are
the application default settings (Macro Files) or a customised setup saved
during an earlier session (Load from Binary Files). For this tutorial
select Macro Files.
When you have entered all the necessary details, the form looks like this:
When Draft has loaded, the Draft Main Display occupies the screen. The Main
Display contains a number of sub-windows (more properly forms). The main
display would typically appear as:
Title bar
Main menu bar
Toolbars
Drawing Window toolbar
Design Explorer
Drawing Window
Status Line
You can reposition or minimise these forms at any time by using the standard
Windows management controls.
Note that all the forms in the Draft Main Display (except the Drawing Window) can
be set to the standard Windows Dockable, Hide, Floating or Auto Hide display
modes by selecting from the shortcut menu in the title bar of the form. See the
PDMS online help for more details.
The features of the main window, as illustrated above, are summarised here. The
tutorial exercise explains when relevant elements are selected to achieve particular
objectives. For a detailed description of all elements, reference should be made to
the online help.
Title Bar
This shows that the current PDMS module is Draft, and the application name, which
in this case is General. The Main Display is maximised and therefore [Main
Display] appears in the title bar.
You can reposition and resize the toolbars as required using standard Windows
manipulation methods, and detailed toolbar manipulation information can be found
in the online help for any Microsoft Office product. In summary:
To move a toolbar, rest the pointer over the vertical dotted line at the left-hand edge
of the toolbar, press and hold down the left-hand mouse button and move the toolbar
as desired:
(If you only move the symbol horizontally, you are able to move the toolbar
within the main toolbar.)
If you resize the main Draft window to make it smaller, you will find that the
toolbars will also reduce in size and a Toolbar Options symbol will appear at the
right-hand end of the toolbar:
Most bar menus end with a Help option. Where available, on-line help gives detailed
instructions on the use of the forms and menus in each application.
You are advised to make full use of the on-line help facilities whenever you want
clarification of any operations, during the later steps of the exercise.
The Help option gives you the following choices from its submenu:
Help>Contents
This displays the Help tri-pane window with the Contents tab at the front so that
you can find the required topic from the hierarchical contents list.
Help>Index
This displays the Help tri-pane window with the Index tab at the front so that you
can find all topics relevant to a selected keyword.
Help>Search
This displays the Help tri-pane window with the Search tab at the front so that you
can enter a word or words to search for.
Help>About
This displays information about the version of PDMS that you are using.
More Info... lists the version numbers of the libraries being used by the
displayed version of PDMS.
Pressing the F1 key at any time will display the help topic for the currently active
window.
Exercise continues:
11. Experiment with each of the Help options until you understand the search and
navigation facilities for finding specific items of information. Use the F1 button
to read the help texts for any forms, which you can currently see on your screen.
12. When you are ready to continue, close any forms that you have been
experimenting with as follows:
• If a form has a Dismiss button, click this button.
• If a form has its own menu bar, select Control>Close from that menu.
• Close any Help windows, which are displayed by double clicking in the
control box in the top left-hand corner of each window.
Do not close the Main Display window, because you will use it in the next part of
the exercise.
We need to load an existing drawing sheet from the Sample project, so that the
exercise can continue with practising the use of the mouse.
Before we load the sheet, the following short explanation of how elements are stored
in the Draft database hierarchy, will be helpful.
WORLD
DEPT DEPT
REGI
REGI
DRWG DRWG
SHEE SHEE
The Draft database is a tree structure, which for reference purposes is illustrated in
Appendix A. The above hierarchy shows the part of the tree that is relevant to
displaying drawings and sheets.
The World is the top element. The next level down in the structure is a
Department. The World can own several Departments, which are known as its
Members, and the World is known as the Owner of the Departments.
Departments can own Registries, which can own Drawings, which can own Sheets.
Later we will discuss the members of Sheets, but knowledge the above hierarchy is
sufficient for the purpose of displaying a sheet.
You can view the elements of the hierarchy in the Draft Explorer, but you cannot
display them graphically. For more details of these elements, see the VANTAGE
PDMS Draft User Guide, Part 1.
Exercise continues:
Clicking the + sign shows the elements under the World which, in the Sample
project, as supplied, looks like this:
When you look at the Draft Explorer you will see that the first (top) element is
the WORL (world) element. The World is shown in the Draft Explorer as * and
cannot be either created or deleted. The World signifies owns all ‘members’
displayed below it.
Note the Filter tool. This enables the list of items to be ‘filtered’ according to
whether the user is a ‘General User’ or an ‘Administrator’. The Administrator
will be able to see more than a general user, but display of the DEPT
(Department) and REGI (Registry) administrative elements will be skipped,
only the contents of (Drawings or Libraries) of these elements will be displayed.
Select the Filter check box, then select General User or Administrator from
the adjacent list to see the effects of using this tool.
The Department named Stabilizer_Drawings contains drawings of the
Stabilizer model supplied as part of the sample project. We will use these
shortly.
There are three other Departments supplied with the product:
17. The Name of the sheet will be displayed in the Working Sheet toolbar list next
to the button (you may need to resize the toolbar to see this) and the currently
selected Layer will appear in the Layers toolbar. The sheet will be displayed in
the Drawing Display.
A large selection of Layers (selectable from the Layers toolbar list or the Draft
Explorer) exist below the Sheet (below View level), ready for when you come
to create Dimensions, Labels or 2D primitive annotation. (See later in this
tutorial.)
This Sheet shows Equipment D1201, and the display is like this:
(The highlighted element shows that a radial dimension has been selected.)
Similarly, if a Design element is clicked, the Design Explorer display will change:
(showing that a Cylinder primitive within Equipment /D1201 has been selected.)
Middle button
The middle button allows you to increase and decrease the scale of the displayed
view, as follows:
• Windowing in. Position the pointer at one corner of the imaginary rectangle
enclosing the part of the sheet that you want to fill the Drawing display. Hold
down the middle button and move the pointer to the diagonally opposite corner
of the rectangle. A 'rubber band' rectangle, enclosing the area, will be displayed.
When you release the mouse button, the chosen area will fill the display area.
• Zooming in. Position the pointer at the point you want to become the centre of
the view. Hold down the (shift) key and repeatedly click the middle button,
as required. After each click, the display zooms in by a factor of 1.5, centred on
the current pointer position.
• Zooming out. Position the pointer at the point you want to become the centre of
view. Repeatedly click the middle button, as required. After each click, the
display zooms out by a factor of 1.5, centred on the current pointer position.
• If your mouse has a wheel, then rotating the wheel away from you will zoom in,
towards you will zoom out.
Right-hand button
• Clicking the right-hand button, when the pointer is in the main display, activates
a shortcut menu. At this stage, the only option that you should use is Reset
Limits. The effect of this is to zoom out until the full extent of the Sheet is
displayed.
7 8 9
In In
4 5 6
1 2 3
Out Out
Method Applicable to Windows 2000: After you have zoomed in on the display,
the first click on the mouse middle button causes a panning symbol to appear in the
position occupied by the pointer. If you then move the mouse to draw the pointer
away from the panning symbol, the displayed area moves across the drawing in the
direction of the pointer and at a speed proportional to the distance of the pointer
from the panning symbol.
Exercise continues:
Now you can familiarise yourself with some of Draft’s viewing controls.
18. Experiment by using the mouse, as described above.
19. Switch on the Display Grid, by clicking on the Display Grid button. This is
on the toolbar at the side of the Drawing display window.
Note: Elements of a drawing can be positioned at grid points, by clicking on
the SNAP to grid button ( ). This feature will be discussed later in
the course.
20. When you are ready to continue, close any forms that you have been
experimenting with.
21. Close any Help windows that are displayed, by clicking in the control box in the
top left-hand corner of each window.
Do not close the Main Display window, because you will use it in the next parts
of the exercise.
This Chapter describes how to create a drawing sheet belonging to a new branch of
the Draft hierarchy. We discussed this hierarchy in Chapter 3 and it is illustrated in
Figure 3-1.
There is also a method of creating a Drawing Sheet from a standard template with a
single click. That is described at the end of this Chapter, but first we will describe
the ‘long’ way of creating a Drawing so as to familiarise you with part of the Draft
database hierarchy and some Draft concepts.
An administrative element can be created only at one level lower than an existing
element, which will then own it. Consequently, as we are going to create a drawing
in a new branch of the hierarchy, we must create the upper elements of that branch,
firstly a Department and then a Registry, before we create the Drawing and its Sheet.
Exercise continues:
23. You would normally change the name of the Department to something
meaningful, but in the following form examples it is left at its default. If you
want to change the name, move the pointer into the text box and click the left
mouse button. Type the name, making sure that you do not use spaces.
24. When you have finished, click OK. Note that the Cancel button closes the
form without any action being carried out.
When you click OK on the Create DEPT form, the Department Information
form is displayed.
25. The Department Information form shows the name of the DEPT and gives you
the opportunity to automatically create a Registry and/or to set up attributes of
the Department.
26. To view the range of available attributes, click on the Attributes button. The
Department Attributes form is then displayed.
The attributes set at this form are default properties of the Sheets that will
eventually be created in the branch below the Department. The attributes are
cascaded down through the Registries and Drawings, but they can be changed
at any level.
For this exercise, we will use the default attributes, and so just click on the
Dismiss button to close the form.
27. Ensure that the Create Registry checkbox on the Department
Information form is selected, as it is when the form is first displayed, then click
OK. The Create REGI form will then be displayed.
28. The Create REGI form should be displayed at the end of the previous step.
However, if the Create Registry checkbox on the Department
Information form was off, the Create REGI form does not automatically
appear. In these circumstances, it can be displayed by use of the
Create>Registry option on the bar menu.
As for the equivalent form for a Department, this form allows you to change the
default name. For this exercise, leave the default name as REGI1. Click OK.
The Registry Information form will be displayed.
29. The Registry Information form shows the name of the Registry and DEPT and
gives you the opportunity to automatically create a drawing and/or to set up
attributes of the Registry.
The Create Drawing checkbox enables you to select whether or not a
drawing is automatically created. If the checkbox is selected, then the method of
drawing creation will depend on whether you select the Explicitly or From
Template option button. The difference is explained in the next section.
The Attributes button displays the Registry Attributes form. This form is
not illustrated here, as the attributes are as shown on the Department
Attributes form. For this exercise, we will use the default attributes, so you do
not need to access the Registry Attributes form.
30. Make sure that the Create Drawing checkbox is selected, and that the From
Template option button is selected. Click OK. The Create DRWG form is
then displayed.
31. Leave the drawing Name as the default DR1, and click OK. The Drawing and
Sheet Templates form is displayed:
There are two methods of creating Drawings, Explicitly or From Template. Both
methods are available, regardless of whether you create the drawing by selecting
Create Drawing button on the Registry Information form, or by selecting
Create>Drawing at the Draft General bar menu.
From Template
If you create a drawing from a template, several other elements will be created
automatically. The Drawing will own a Sheet, which will own at least one View.
The View will own several Layers, which are discussed later in the exercise.
There may be other elements, such as Sheet Notes, which are used to store text and
primitives for the 2D Drafting.
The Drawing will also own a Library. Draft makes extensive use of libraries, most
of which are set up by the System Administrator. Users can only extract information
from libraries; not change them.
Libraries are used to store things like symbols and Drawlists (which you will use
later to define the contents of a View). Libraries are accessed by the Application
automatically and, therefore, you will not need to access them directly. You should
not try to rename or delete Libraries or their members.
The ‘quick’ method of creating a Drawing, described below, uses a built-in template.
Explicitly
If you create a drawing explicitly, you will have to use the Create options on the
main bar menu to create all of its member elements, such as Sheets and their Views.
Exercise continues:
32. The Drawing and Sheet Templates form enables you to select the source of
the template, the drawing size and the Sheet number of that drawing.
Note: At the top of the form, the Mode is set to Drawing Creation. If
the form is used for creating a Sheet, the Mode is set to Sheet
Creation, but otherwise the form is unchanged.
The Options drop-down list shows the drawing disciplines that contain the
drawing template libraries, as set up by the System Administrator. For this
exercise, we are going to use the drawing Sheet to show details of Equipment,
so select the equipment template, which is /DRA/PRJ/TMP/EQUI.
Select the A0 option (/DRA/PRJ/TMP/EQUI/A0) from the Drawings list
(this one is already selected by default).
There will be a single sheet (/DRA/PRJ/TMP/EQUI/A0/S1) displayed and
selected in the Sheets list.
Click on OK. A Sheet having all the attributes of the template will be created,
and displayed in the Drawing Window, as shown below.
We have now created the administrative elements that define the Drawing
Sheet. In the next part of the exercise, we will specify which engineering items
are to appear on the Sheet. To do this, we modify the View created by the
template.
33. Before we continue, we will demonstrate the use of the ‘quick’ way to create a
Drawing Sheet. Simply click on the Create New From Default Template
button on the toolbar of the same name:
A Drawing Sheet (looking just like the one we have just created) will appear in
the Drawing View. Note that there has been no need to name the Sheet; it is
named automatically (as /DR1/S1 if it is the first such Sheet to be created) and
the hierarchy above and below it is created automatically. (You can select
drawing templates other than the default; see the Draft online help for details.)
Note: PDMS 11.6 introduces a new method of populating drawing sheets using
the 3D View of the design model within Draft. An example is given in
Chapter 6.
This chapter continues by describing the “traditional” method of defining
and populating a View. This method is still valid, and the tutorial steps that
follow are useful in introducing the fundamental concepts of View creation
and population. You are advised to become familiar with these concepts
before reading Chapter 6.
A View determines which Design Model items are shown on the Sheet that owns the
View. Each View element defines:
• the viewing parameters (looking direction, scale, etc),
• the size, position and orientation of the View on the Sheet,
• the contents of the View (the Drawlist).
If you have created a Sheet from a template, the Sheet will normally contain at least
one View, depending on how the template has been set up by the System
Administrator. You can modify an existing View using the Modify>View options on
the main Draft General menu, or create more Views on a Sheet by using the
Create>View options. You must be at Sheet level or below before you can create a
View.
For the purpose of the exercise we will discuss two versions of a View, namely,
Limits-Defined and User-Defined.
Limits-Defined View
Limits-Defined Views are used to draw the contents of a specified volume of the
model. The limits are defined in project co-ordinates, and are represented by the size
of the View frame at the selected scale. The View frame can include matchlines with
text showing the coordinates of the View limits.
User-Defined View
User-Defined Views are used to draw individual items or groups of items in the
design model, when the volume or limits of the items are not known. The size of the
frame is independent of its contents. The scale can be automatically set to fit the
design elements into the available view frame area.
We will now modify the attributes of the View that was automatically created as part
of the template. We will define it as a User-defined View, and set up a drawlist for
it.
Exercise continues:
34. For this exercise we will continue to use the Sheet previously displayed (the one
we created ‘from scratch’, not the Sheet created using the ‘quick’ method). It
has one View, which must be selected before it can be modified.
Note: If you fail to select a View before attempting to modify one, the system
will prompt you to select an item within a View. If you have a Sheet
displayed with an empty View but whose frame is displayed, then you
can identify this to continue. Otherwise to exit the request, press the
Escape key to return the system to normal operation.
35. Check that the hierarchy displayed in the Draft Explorer is as shown below:
If the Sheet is not already displayed, select DR1/S1 and display the Sheet by
clicking on the button. (Alternatively, select Open Sheet from the shortcut
menu on the Sheet.)
Drawlist Members list with the word Remove after it. The actual Drawlist
is the combination of the 'added' and 'removed' elements in the list.
38. In the Reference List Members list, select SITE STABILIZER. This
list will change to display the members of the Site. Select the ZONE EQUIP.
The list will change to show the equipment elements in the Zone.
39. Now add three items of equipment (D1201, E1301 and C1101) to the Drawlist,
as follows:
• Select D1201 and click on Add. The Equipment name will appear in the
Drawlist Members list, with the word Add after its name.
• Reselect ZONE EQUIP and select and add E1301.
• Reselect ZONE EQUIP and select and add C1101.
40. Click Dismiss.
Notes: Whenever any settings on the User-Defined View form are changed, you
must select Update Design in the Update Design on Apply? panel at the
base of the form and click Apply (or select Graphics>Update>Design
from the main menu bar) before any change will be seen.
If you don’t want a black background to your drawing you can change it by
selecting Colour Settings>Background Colour… from the shortcut menu
within the Drawing View.
45. Dismiss the User-Defined View form.
Click OK. The Sheet Definition form will be displayed. This form will define
a Sheet that does not contain any Views. We will create a View later.
48. A Sheet has now been created that is size A0 by default. To change this select a
backing sheet /DRA/MAS/BACKS/MET/A2 from the Reference drop-
down options list. When asked whether you wish to change the Sheet size, click
Yes. Click Dismiss. The Sheet is displayed, but temporarily at a reduced
size.
Exercise continues:
49. Select DR1/S2 in the Draft Explorer and click . The new Sheet is displayed,
filling the Drawing Window.
50. Select Create>View >Limits-defined from the Main Menu. The Create VIEW
form appears.
The Limits-Defined View form is similar to the User-Defined View form. The
main differences are related to setting the limits, namely, the Limits option on
the form’s menu, and the Matchlines check box, which switches matchlines
on and off. Also, the Scale options are slightly different.
The 3D View Window in Draft allows you to assemble and manipulate Design
elements to populate drawing Sheets. This allows you to examine the content of the
drawings in 3D view, before finalising the view content as a 2D drawing.
The steps that follows are separate from the general tutorial in this guide, which
continues at Chapter 7. This will allow you to explore this new functionality while
maintaining the integrity of the previous tutorial.
Exercise begins:
1. Select an appropriate Sheet (STAB00001/S1 is used in this example).
2. Select Open Sheet from the shortcut menu on the sheet selection to display the
sheet in the 2D view, then select Display>3D View from the main menu (or
select 3D View from the shortcut menu in the 2D View).
The 3D View window appears, displaying the item you selected. For example:
The View Content list shows the elements which have been added to
the 2D and 3D Views in Draft. To remove an item from the 3D View,
select it in the list and select Remove Selected from the shortcut
menu.
• The Update controls update the 2D View with any changes that are made to the
Design database (which will be shown in the 3D View). These are described at
section 6.3.
• The Update the 2D View Content when adding from the Design Explorer
check box. When selected, any element added or removed from the 3D View
from Design Explorer is automatically amended in the 2D View Content List.
This is displayed in the 3D View by the appropriate representation colour.
If this option is not selected, any addition or removal of an element affects the
3D View only, and the 2D IdList is unchanged. In this case added items are
shown in grey.
Therefore, the colour of items displayed in the 3D View indicates their status;
grey items are in the 3D View only and not in the IdList (and therefore will not
be recognised by an Update Design), whereas coloured items are in both the 3D
View and the IdList.
Update 3D View from 2D View: This displays the contents of the 2D
View in the 3D View.
Pick 2D View to associate to the 3D View: This allows the current
3D View contents to be associated with a different 2D View. When
using this tool you are asked to identify a 2D View to associate with
the current 3D View contents. This functionality is particularly useful
whenever you require different views of similar content.
• Scale Control
• This allows you to enter a view scale directly, or to input a scale via the Scale
form (click on the ellipsis). Any changes to scale are reflected immediately on
the display.
This option allows you to scale the Frame to the drawing. The Scale form
allows you to:
o Choose whether the scale is shown as a numeric ratio (Metric), or in
Architectural or Engineering styles.
o Instruct Draft to calculate a scale so that the elements in the drawlist
will just fit within the View, using the Auto Scale button. The actual
scale will be displayed in the Scale text box.
See the Draft online help for further details of the Scale form, and section 6.1.2
for an example of its use.
• View Manipulation Buttons down the left-hand side, which can give one-click
control of a variety of view manipulation functions. These are the standard
buttons associated with drawing views. (See the Draft online help for more
details.)
• An Information Bar below the viewing window, which shows the current view
direction and settings of that window, for example:
w45n35d Parallel Model Zoom
• You may also see Rotation Sliders across the bottom and down the right-hand
side of the window. These allow you to rotate the displayed model, regardless of
the mode the window is in. If not shown, display the sliders by pressing F9.
You can control how the design model is shown by using the options on the 3D
View shortcut menu with the mouse pointer in a 'blank' area of the main display
window, or by using the 3D View menu options from the Main menu.
You can also use the Section Planes buttons to access section planes functionality –
see Chapter 11.
The Viewfinder (the magenta box) can be interactively resized, repositioned and
rotated. Resize and Rotate changes made to the Viewfinder give equivalent changes
in the 2D View. The Viewfinder is detailed in the Draft online help and an example
of its use is given at section 6.1.4.
You can manipulate the 3D View using the functionality contained in the window:
Exercise continues:
3. Use the Rotate button ( ) to rotate the view to show the details you are
interested in. For example:
The View manipulation buttons are fully described in the Draft online help.
Exercise continues:
Set the scale of the drawing:
5. Select Auto Scale to allow Draft to automatically select a scale for the view.
6. Select Nearest to instruct Draft to find the nearest standard scale to the
calculated value. The View size will be changed accordingly, and the new scale
factor will be shown in the text box.
• Rotate: The option ‘Free Rotate’ allows you to toggle the display of ‘blobs’ on
the corner of the Viewfinder frame; you can interactively rotate the 3D View
within the frame by dragging one of these blobs. You can also rotate the frame
by 90 degrees Left or Right or Up or Down relative to the model, by selecting
the corresponding menu option.
• Resize: When selected this displays resizing handles on the frame. You can then
drag any of these handles (left-hand mouse button) to resize the frame in the
direction required.
(The Centre, Rotate and Resize options are not active until the frame has been
‘unlocked’ – see below.)
• Lock: This locks the frame to prevent accidental moving of the view. You can
toggle this option on and off.
• Hide: This hides the frame from the view. When selected, you can display the
frame using the Viewfinder>Show frame option from the right-hand menu when
in the 3D View.
• Auto Update: If selected, an Update Design is performed each time the frame is
moved.
• Colour: You can select a frame colour from the options available.
• Translucent: This gives the frame a background translucency, or no
background. A translucent frame is easier to select, but can obscure objects
behind it.
You can select elements in the 3D view in the normal way. You can also make
multiple selections in the 3D View.
Exercise continues:
Select multiple elements in the 3D View by:
11. Holding down the Ctrl key and selecting individual elements with the left-hand
mouse button.
Or:
Holding down the right-hand mouse button and dragging a selection rectangle
over the elements you need to select. This activates a selection box. For
example:
Or:
This option allows you to select multiple elements within, or partially within,
the volume you define using the drag functionality. You can re-size the
selection box using the handles displayed in the View.
12. When you have selected the required volume using this drag functionality, you
can select from the following options:
o Wholly Within: This selects only those elements that are completely
contained within your defined volume.
o Wholly And Partially Within: This selects any element that is
completely contained within the defined volume, or has any part of
its structure contained within the defined volume.
o Cancel: This cancels the selection.
When changes have been made and an Update Design action is required, the title of
the 3D View window changes from 3D View to 3D View*.
Exercise continues:
13. Click on the Update 2D View from 3D View button ( ). This updates the
2D view with the current content of the View Content list (which itself reflects
the current content of the 3D View).
Note: Updating the design may take considerable time if large amounts of data are
involved. Alternatively this can be done as a Background Process – see
below, and the Draft online help for further details (also the VANTAGE
PDMS Draft User Guide Part 1.
The design can be updated according to the options on the Update list:
There are two types of Label, General Labels (GLAB) and Symbolic Labels
(SLAB). Their characteristics are as follows:
• General Labels consist of text derived from the design model. These labels are
discussed in this chapter.
• Symbolic Labels are generated from templates (which can contain 2D
primitives, including text), defined by a reference to a Symbol Template
(SYTM). These labels are not described in this Guide.
The relevant part of the Draft hierarchy is simply that the Views own Layers that in
turn own the labels.
Note that Draft automatically selects the Label layer in anticipation that you are
going to create Labels. The Label layer, along with Drawing layers for
dimensions, notes and tags are created automatically as members of a View.
The Label layer is also selected in the Layers toolbar and in the History
toolbar.
Layers toolbar
History toolbar
The Layers toolbar simply shows the Drawing Layer you are currently working
on. The History toolbar displays a ‘history’ of the current elements that you
have selected (use the left/right arrows to select recently accessed elements).
64. The Attach to drop-down list on the General Labels tab allows you to
select the element type that you wish to label. The list has two parts: the top part
displays a list of MENUS for different types of elements and the bottom part
displays a list of Common Elements.
Select Equipments from the Common Elements part of the menu. This
ensures that when you use the pointer to identify the element to be labelled it
will find an item of Equipment, rather than, for example, a Nozzle, which may
be the actual element under the pointer.
65. Click Create NEW to begin to create a new Label. The Label layer is now
selected in Draft Explorer.
66. You will be prompted (in the main window status area) to identify the Design
elements to be labelled.
Identify each item of equipment, by clicking on it in the Drawing display. As
you click on an item of equipment, a label containing the name of the
equipment will be created at the origin of the equipment.
67. When you have labelled each item of Equipment, press Esc (Escape) to return
to normal operation.
The Labels will appear in the Drawing Window at the origins of the Equipment
you have selected, although you will probably have to ‘zoom in’ (see section
3.6.1) to see them.
Label Contents
The contents of the label are set by default to be the Name of the labelled element.
The contents can be changed by selecting Text Contents from the
Attributes drop-down list on the General Labels tab of the Labels form. The
Modify Text form is then displayed.
The textbox on the form shows the content of the label. This can be normal text
directly entered and which appears in the label, or Intelligent Text for which the
information in the label is automatically taken from the Design database.
The default #NAME entry is an example of Intelligent Text. It is one of many
different attributes, which are listed in the Intelligent Text form, which is displayed
when you select Intelligent Texts on the Modify Text form. The intelligent
text can be selected and copied (using Control + C and Control + V) into the
Modify Text form.
68. When you have finished, Dismiss the Modify Text and Labels form.
To enter Modify mode, you click on the Drawing Display Window toolbar.
Draft will exit from Modify mode when you:
• click on the Modify Mode button again,
• load a new Sheet or Library,
Label
outline
The arrangement of the hotspots becomes apparent when the label is moved from its
initial position. The following illustration shows the label moved upwards and to the
right:
Arrow pointing to Attachment
attachment hotspot hotspot
Rotation
hotspot
Connection Label
hotspot outline
Arrow pointing to
connection hotspot Bend point
The position of the label can be moved by left-clicking and dragging its outline.
By left-clicking and dragging a hotspot you can modify the angle of the label or the
geometry of the leader line.
• If you press the Escape key while the item is selected, no changes to the item
will be made.
• When you move the pointer away from a modifiable item and click the left-hand
mouse button, the changes will be saved, and the display shows the new
arrangement.
• Whether or not the changes are saved, Draft will still be in Modify mode and
you can continue to pick other items for modification.
7.2.3 Positioning
Once you have selected an item or hotspot in Modify mode, the Modify Mode
shortcut menu can be displayed by clicking the right-hand mouse button. Options on
this menu (see below), apart from the default 2D Cursor hit option, allow you to
choose a position for a leader line hotspot with relation to an existing line, or lines,
of the displayed engineering drawing.
The 2D cursor hit option, causes the item or hotspot, when selected, to be moved to,
and follow, the position of the mouse pointer position. When the mouse button is
released, the hotspot remains at the latest position.
When an option is selected that specifies the position related to a line of the
engineering drawing, as you drag the hotspot over a line or lines that can satisfy the
option, the line(s) will be highlighted. The hotspot snaps to the appropriate position
and will remain there when the mouse button is released. For example, if you select
the Centre Point of option the hotspot will snap to the centre of any arc or circle it
moves over.
If no position has been found that satisfies the selected menu option, when you
release the mouse button, the item will be dropped at the pointer position.
Menu options that are not applicable to the current element are greyed out.
The menu options applicable to leader lines and their methods of use are in the
following table. Note that these options do not apply to moving text.
This Section describes how to modify the geometry of a Label. Similar information
is provided for Dimensions and 2D Geometry in later chapters
The Name label for Equipment C1101 is used in the illustrations.
Exercise continues:
You will now be able to see the Bend point at the mid point of the leader line,
and the hotspots, which consist of:
• The Rotation handle
• The Attachment point
• The Connection point.
71. Pick the bend point and drag it to put a bend in the leader line. A second bend
point will be created. You can move this point as well, if you wish.
Note: You must pick the label itself if you want to re-select it.
72. You can move the attachment points and the connection point to create gaps and
offsets. A dashed line will then appear between the arrow hotspot and the
default position of the point. As an example, the following illustration shows
the connection hotspot dragged to the right.
73. When the leader line and label are positioned as you require them, save the
arrangement by clicking on the background away from the label and leader line.
The label and leader line are then shown in the pre-selected colour (red in the
following example).
The following steps serve as an example of using one of the menu options to
position a leader line.
Note: The circles on the engineering diagram consist of many short straight lines
rather than arcs, and consequently the Centre Point of menu option cannot
be used. The most straightforward effect that can be demonstrated on this
diagram is Mid Point of.
74. Click on the label outline to select it. Then click on the leader line connection
hotspot to select it.
75. Right-click to display the Modify Mode shortcut menu and then select Mid
Point of
76. Drag the connection hotspot over the lines of the engineering diagram and
observe that the hotspot jumps to the midpoint of the currently highlighted line.
77. When your observations are completed, return the connection hotspot to its
original position, and click on the background to de-select the leader line.
For the use of other menu options, refer to the on-line help for more information.
The options to set the Leader Pen are common to several different types of pen in
Draft. Pens can be set in two ways: either Standard or User Defined. Standard
options of colour, thickness and style are set explicitly. User-defined options are
selected from examples.
Note: Changing the pen only affects the current Label. If you want to change the
pen for any new Labels you create, you will need to change the Layer
attributes. You will then need to create a new label to see the effect.
Exercise continues:
78. Click on the label to make it the Current Element and then select
Modify>Label>Definition from the main menu bar. The Labels form will be
displayed.
79. At the Attributes dropdown list, select Leader Line. The Label
Leader Attributes form will be displayed.
You can experiment with changing the Standard settings on this form, and
see the effect they have on the Leader Line, after you have clicked Apply.
80. To experiment with user-defined options, select the User Defined option
button and then click Reselect. The Select User-Defined Pen form is then
displayed.
Note: If you know which pen number you want, you can type in the number
on the Label Leader Attributes form rather than click on Reselect.
81. Use the Up and Down buttons to scroll through the list. When you see the line
style you want, click on Cursor Select, and pick the line style in the
window.
The Pen Number will be filled in automatically.
When you click on OK, the pen number will be automatically entered at the
Label Leader Attributes form. Click on Apply to observe the line style.
82. When you have finished experimenting, Dismiss the Label Leader
Attributes form.
The types of dimensions are Linear (LDIM), Angular (ADIM), Radial (RDIM) and
Pitch Circle Diameter (PDIM). Their appearances are shown in the following
illustration.
Linear Angular Radial PCD (Pitch Circle
dimension dimension dimension Diameter) dimension
j200
R100
Note: A Dimensions form (illustrated below showing its Linear and Angular
tabs) accessed by Create>Dimension>Dimension Toolbar contains
illustrations of various types and styles of dimension. Clicking on the
required style of a linear or angular dimension leads to the Linear/Angular
Dimensions form (which is discussed later in the tutorial). Also,
illustrations of linear dimensions appear on the Linear Dimensions toolbar.
When you are familiar with the styles of dimension illustrated, you should
find the toolbar method of selecting a dimension style more convenient than
use of the Create Linear Dimensions and Create Angular Dimensions
forms, as discussed later in the tutorial.
Dimensioning elements are created under Layers owned by Views, as shown in the
following diagram. Different types of dimension are created on different layers. All
these elements will be created automatically as you dimension your View.
LAYE
The elements of a simple linear dimension are shown in the following diagram.
N
Dimension
Dire c tion
Overshoot (positive) E
} (Ea st)
Dimension Line
Terminator Projection Line
Direction (90º)
Offset
Projection Line
Clearance (positive)
}
Dimension Points
The various elements (Projection line, Dimension line, etc) of the dimensions are
shown in the Members form as DPPT1, DPPT2 etc, owned by the dimension, for
example, LDIM.
Note: The values shown in the dimension text are taken directly from the 3D
Design model. If the points associated with the dimension points are moved
in DESIGN, the dimension can be updated automatically by selecting
Graphics>Update>Annotation.
Exercise continues:
We will continue by creating a Linear Dimension between the Nozzles along the
centre of Equipment D1201.
83. The current working sheet must be /DR1/S1. If necessary, select it in the Draft
Explorer. The layer must be /DR1/S1/V1/USER_Dims. If necessary,
select it in the Draft Explorer.
84. Zoom in on Equipment D1201, (using the middle mouse button).
85. Select Create>Dimension>Dimension Linear from the main menu bar. The
Create Linear Dimension form is then displayed.
The name of the View and the View Direction are shown at the top of the
form.
The Type dropdown list gives options of Chain (chained), Tail (parallel) or
Truncate (truncated parallel). (For more information on dimension types,
refer to the online help topic The Create Linear Dimension form.)
86. Set the Dimension Line Direction to North, because this is the
direction in which we want to dimension the Nozzles.
Note: All dimensions in Draft are defined with respect to 3D World
directions.
87. Leave the other settings on the Create Linear Dimension form at their defaults,
as illustrated above. Click OK. The Linear/Angular Dimensions form is then
displayed.
This form is used to create the points that define the Dimensions and form the
link with the 3D Model element.
88. The list on the left of the form sets how Dimension Points are created. Make
sure that Item is selected in the list. This will create the dimension point at the
origin (P0) of the design primitive.
89. The default is that the Create button must be used for each point, but for this
exercise, click on the symbol (to the right of the Create button) so the
adjacent checkbox displays a tick. This allows you to create several points of
the same type one after the other.
Note: The symbol must be off if you want to create Dimension Points
in different ways, or if you want to use the 3D Pos, Cursor or
Matchline positioning options.
90. Click on Create.
91. Pick the nozzles in the sequence shown the following illustration. This can be
done in the 2D View by holding down the left mouse button (the pointer shape
changes to a square) moving the pointer over the item and releasing the button.
Note that when the pointer passes over a suitable item, that element is
highlighted and its name is displayed in the Status Bar.
Alternatively, the nozzles can be picked in the 3D View. The name of the item,
p-point or p-line under the cursor will be highlighted in a tool tip as the cursor
moves around, and pressing the button will select it.
NOZZ 4
NOZZ 2
NOZZ 5
NOZZ 1
92. Press Esc to finish the process and the distances between the nozzles are then
dimensioned like this:
Exercise continues:
We will now extend the text standout and length of the projection lines of the
dimensions we have created on Equipment D1201, so that the drawing looks like
this:
95. To increase the text standout distance, select the outline of the text box and drag
it to the required position. Then click on the background.
96. This illustration is an example the modified dimensions. Continue to experiment
with modifying the dimensions, as you wish.
97. When you have positioned the dimensions as required, leave the modify mode.
Exercise continues:
98. Zoom in on Equipment C1101, (using the middle mouse button).
99. Make sure that you are still on the Dimensions layer
(DR1/S1/V1/USER_Dims), and then select Create>Dimension>Dimension
Angular from the main menu bar. The Create Angular Dimension form is
then displayed.
100. We will use the default values, so click OK on the Create Angular Dimension
form. You will be prompted to identify the item that the angular dimension is to
be attached to. Click on DISH 1 of EQUIP C1101, as shown below:
The dimension will have its origin that is the point from which the angular
dimension directions will radiate, at the origin of the element picked.
101. The Linear/Angular Dimensions form is then displayed. This is the same form
as displayed for Linear Dimensions, and it is used in the same way. Switch on
the symbol, and click on Create.
102. You will be prompted to pick the items to be dimensioned. Pick the Nozzles in
the order shown in the above illustration. (Selection is clockwise, because the
setting is Clockwise in the Create Angular Dimension form.)
103. Click on the background or press the Esc(ape) key. The dimension will be
drawn as shown below:
Exercise continues:
We will now increase the offset of the dimension on C1101, so that the projection
lines pass through the nozzles in question.
104. Click on the Drawing Display Window toolbar to enter Modify Mode.
105. Select the dimension line and drag it away from the origin of the projection
lines, until it is outside the nozzles.
106. Click on the background or press Esc. The dimension will then be drawn like
this:
Exercise continues:
108. Zoom in on Equipment C1101.
109. Select Create>Dimension>Dimension Toolbar from the main menu bar. The
Dimensions form is then displayed. Select the Radial tab.
Note: All types of dimensions can be selected at this form, but for the
purpose of the exercise we use it only for Radial Dimensions.
110. Check that On Item (not On Point) is displayed. If not, right-click on the
6symbol and select the On Item option.
111. Select the required radius style. For this exercise, use this style the Internal
Radius Dimension. This is bottom left-hand style (if required, refer to the
ToolTip).
112. You will be prompted to select the item to dimension. Click on DISH 1 of
EQUIP C1101 (the same item that you selected for angular dimensions).
114. The Radial Dimensions form is then displayed. This form is used to modify
dimensions, but this action is not included in this exercise and the form should
be closed. For further information, refer to the on-line help.
The General ADP Utility uses special drawing sheets, referred to as Backing Sheets,
which enable schedules and lists of reference drawings to be generated and placed
on the drawing sheet automatically. It also uses intelligent keyplans (in the form of
overlays), which can be used to define the limits of the models shown on the
drawings.
ADP depends on having rules set up to define how different types of drawing will be
created and annotated. There are defaults rules supplied as part of the sample project,
which will be used in this Example. Changing the defaults is a System
Administration task, and so is outside the scope of this manual.
We are now going use the ADP forms to create an annotated and dimensioned view
on a drawing sheet.
Exercise continues:
115. Enter the ADP application, by selecting Draft>Auto Drawing Production from
the main menu.
If no sheet is currently displayed, the Drawing Selection form may be
displayed. In this case select DEPT1/REGI1/DR1/S1 and click OK.
Alternatively, select this sheet using Draft Explorer.
For reference, the online help provides details of all menu options.
The Create and Modify menus are exclusively for ADP and use of their options is
discussed later, during the exercise.
Exercise continues:
116. Select Create>General ADP>Drawing from the main menu.
Note: The Drawing will be created under the current Registry, assuming that
the Current Element is a Registry or lower.
If you are at a higher level, and more than one Registry is available,
you will be prompted to move to the Registry required, by selecting it
in the Draft Explorer. In this case display the Draft Explorer and
select DEPT1/REGI1, and select Create>General ADP>Drawing
again.
117. The Create DRWG form is displayed.
118. The Backing Sheet to be used is selected at the Frame drop-down list. For this
example, select /DRA/MAS/BACKS/MET/A2.
If you wish, enter a title for the Drawing in the Title text box.
Note that the Date and Drn options are filled in automatically.
Click Apply.
119. Click Create ADP Sheet. The Create SHEE form will then be displayed.
Click OK. The backing sheet will then be shown in the Drawing display
Window and the Modify General ADP Sheet form will be displayed.
120. On the Modify General ADP Sheet form, the Frame drop-down list shows the
Backing Sheet already selected.
The Keyplan drop-down list allows you to select the keyplan, which will
define the limits of the drawing. Set it to Above Grade (i.e. above datum
level).
Click Apply. The keyplan will then be displayed in the appropriate area of the
sheet (see below).
You can zoom into keyplan area using the Keyplan button on the
Modify General ADP Sheet form.
121. To return to the full frame, click on the Frame button on the Modify
General ADP Sheet form.
122. Click the Create ADP View button. The Create VIEW form will then be
displayed.
125. Click on Update at the bottom of the form. The View Update form will be
displayed.
This form allows you to specify which elements in the View will be updated.
As this is the first time the Drawing has been generated, select all the Update
options, namely, Design Graphics, Schedules, Tagging,
Annotation, Piping, Equipment and Gridline.
Note that Automatic Savework is on by default.
126. Click on Update Now. You will see messages in the Status Area giving you
information about the creation process, which can take a few minutes.
On completion of the creation process, the drawing View will be displayed (see
below).
Click Dismiss to close the View Update and Modify General ADP View
forms.
Draft’s 2D Drafting facility is used for adding manually-drafted graphic and text
details to drawings that have been generated by Draft from the Design database. The
facility is not intended to be a used as a drafting package.
This Chapter is an introduction to 2D drafting in Draft.
There are three sets of menu options specific to 2D Drafting:
Draw Enables you to draw 2D Primitives and Local Symbols
Construct Enables you to construct lines and other primitives using existing
primitives
Edit Enables you to change the attributes of a primitive, move
primitives and nodes, insert gaps in lines, trim lines and arcs,
rotate primitives, reduce a symbol to its components and
manipulate groups.
We will only discuss the Draw and Edit functions here, for details of Construct see
the Draft online help.
The basic geometric shapes and text that can be drawn are called Primitives. The
primitives exist in the Draft hierarchy as members of NOTEs, VNOTs elements, or
Symbol Templates (SYTMs).
By default, the NOTE and VNOTE elements will be created automatically whenever
a Sheet or Layer element is created, but you can create additional ones if you wish.
Primitives that exist as members of VNOTs may have their dimensions and positions
defined in terms of 3D Design values.
Note: Whenever a VIEW is created, a number of Layers are automatically
created, one of which will be reserved for Notes. You can also create
additional Layers if you wish via the Create>Layer from the main menu
bar.
The following diagram shows the 2D Drafting part of the Draft hierarchy. It shows
the related elements and at what level in the hierarchy they may be created. All of
these elements, with the exception of extra Layers, can be created as you add extra
2D elements to your Sheet or View.
SHEE
NOTE VIEW
Sheet Note
LAYE
VNOT
View Note
Exercise continues:
130. Hold down the left-hand mouse button over the relevant icon to reveal a display
of alternative icons. Move to the required icon and then release the mouse
button to select the icon.
For all primitives except Symbols (the icon), the Point Construction
Option Form will appear. The prompt text included in this form tells you what
to do next. The text will vary according to the type of primitive being created,
as shown in these examples.
131. Use the default Option which is 2D cursor hit. This enables you to
position the selected primitive free-hand. Pick the point(s) requested, by left-
clicking the mouse with the pointer in the appropriate position(s) on the
drawing.
132. If the primitive is a graphic, it is drawn as the points are selected. Depending on
the type of graphic, it may be necessary to click on Cancel on the Point
Construction Option Form when the final point has been selected, in order to
complete the graphic.
133. If the primitive is Text, only one point is selected and the Modify Text form is
then displayed.
You can enter the required text at this form and select its format. Click on
Apply to insert the text on the drawing, and then Dismiss the form.
Exercise continues:
134. Click on the Drawing Display Window toolbar to enter Modify mode.
135. The general action is to select the primitive and then select and drag one of the
hotspots until the required result is achieved. Then click on the background.
You can practise by modifying primitives you have already created. The
hotspots available and the operations you can carry out, depend on the type of
primitive, and are described below under the names of the graphics.
136. When you have finished, click again to leave Modify mode.
The individual primitives, and how they may be modified, are now described.
Arcs
• A hotspot at the centre of the arc, to allow the whole arc to be moved.
• A hotspot at each end of the arc, to allow the corresponding end of the arc to be
repositioned. The repositioning will be such that the bulge factor remains the same.
• A hotspot mid way round the arc. This may be moved anywhere, and the bulge
factor will adjust appropriately.
• A dotted line cross and four hotspots round the centre - the arc can be made to
rotate about its centre by rotating any of these hotspots.
Circles
• A hotspot at the centre of the circle to allow the whole circle to be repositioned.
• A hotspot on the circumference, which will allow the radius of the arc to increase or
decrease as it is moved, while the centre remains fixed.
Diamonds
• A hotspot in the centre of the diamond to allow the whole diamond to be moved.
• A hotspot at each end of the axes. These hotspots can be moved along their axis,
and the axis will alter length as it moves.
• A dotted line cross and four hotspots round the centre. The diamond can be made to
rotate about its centre by rotating any of these hotspots.
Ellipses
• A hotspot in the centre of the hexagon to allow the whole hexagon to be moved.
• A hotspot at each corner. These enable the hexagon to be resized.
• A dotted line cross and four hotspots round the centre - the hexagon can be made to
rotate about its centre by rotating any of these hotspots.
Lines
• A hotspot in the middle of the line to allow moving of the whole line parallel to its
original position
• A hotspot at each end to allow the associated end of the line to be moved. This may
involve rotation or lengthening of the line. The other end of the line remains fixed.
• A hotspot in the centre of the rectangle to allow the whole rectangle to be moved
parallel to its original position.
• A hotspot in the centre of each of the edges. These will enable the rectangle to be
stretched in that direction. The opposite edge will remain fixed, and the opposite
sides remain parallel.
• A hotspot on each corner. This will enable the rectangle to be enlarged in such a
way that the opposite corner remains fixed, and the opposite sides remain parallel to
each other.
• A dotted line cross and four hotspots round the centre - the rectangle can be made to
rotate about its centre by rotating any of these hotspots.
Symbols
• A box round the text. Picking and dragging this box causes the text to move.
• A dotted line circle and four hotspots round the centre. The text can be made to
rotate about its centre by rotating any of these hotspots.
Triangles
• A hotspot in the centre of the triangle to allow the whole triangle to be moved
parallel to its original position.
• A hotspot at two of the edges of the triangle. Moving either of these enables the
triangle to be resized while the other hotspot remains fixed. (Note that the triangle
remains equilateral.)
• A dotted line cross and three hotspots round the centre. The triangle can be made to
rotate about its centre by rotating this hotspot.
Views
• If view frames are not visible, the user can select the View Frames on/off option on
the right-click popup menu from the main display.
• Hotspots on view frames cannot be snapped to construction points, but they can be
snapped to the grid.
Outlines
Outlines are created by the following icons on the Draw form:
From the 3D View you can create, manipulate and manage Section Planes. The
following buttons allow you to access planes functionality:
Show Section Planes: Activates Section Planes and displays the
Section Planes form. All section Planes are displayed as green,
transparent planes. The origins of the planes are indicated by a cross
(X). An arrow indicates the normal to the plane. The Section Planes
form allows you to create and amend planes.
Indicate Section Plane Clipping indicates the clipping side of the
section plane by displaying a series of perpendicular lines behind the
section plane.
Exercise begins:
137. Click on to activate the Section Planes form. For example:
Exercise continues:
138. Click on in the Section Planes form. This creates a new Section Plane in
the 3D View. This is effectively a stepped plane with just two points defined.
Section planes are always created across the full span view and to the full depth
of the model:
You can also create and amend planes using this form:
New Section Plane: This creates a new Section Plane in the 3D View.
This is effectively a stepped plane with just two points defined. To
create a stepped plane with more points, the Redefine Points option is
used.
Section planes are always created across the full span view and to the
full depth of the model. They can then be moved and edited according
to your requirements.
New Clipping List: Displays the Create Drawlist forms to create a new
clipping list.
Show Clipping List: This shows the clipping list for the Section
Planes. Each section plane can have a selective clipping list. The
contents of each list can be displayed in a selected colour.
139. Highlight the Section Plane you just created on the Section Planes form.
140. To amend the plane’s details, hold down the right-mouse button and select the
required option from the context menu:
After you have created a section plane in the 3D View using the button, you can
manipulate the position of the plane in the 3D View. To do this:
Exercise continues:
141. Click on the plane you're interested in.
This displays manipulation handles for you to reposition the plane in the 3D
View.
For example:
See the Draft online help for more details of the movement handles.
Exercise continues:
For stepped planes:
147. Select the plane in the 3D View.
148. Select Edit Steps to create and manipulate steps in the plane.
149. Select Insert Step After (from the shortcut menu that is now enabled) to insert
a step after the selection.
Select the step to amend the step’s position and rotation:
Exercise continues:
154. Click on to display the side of the plane that will be clipped. Perpendicular
lines to the plane show the side to be clipped:
155. Click on to show the clipping list. Select Highlight Clipping List from the
right-mouse menu to highlight clipped items in the list.
156. Select Flip from the right-mouse menu to change the side of the plane to be
clipped.
Whilst not part of Draft’s core functions, there are other general facilities available
to increase your productivity whilst using Draft.
This facility allows you to create your own menus in Draft. To access the facility,
select Utilities>General Utilities from the main menu bar. The User Utilities form
appears. Selecting Control>Define from this form’s menu bar gives the Utilities
Definitions form, which enables you to define menus to execute Draft command
syntax or to bring up a Draft form.
WORLD
LIBY DEPT
REPO DRWG
TEXT LIBY
(see overleaf)
SHEE REVI
TEXT
:
(see overleaf)
LAYE RRUL VSEC
HRUL
:
(see overleaf)