Draft it Help System

The complete Help system for Draft it is available on these pages.

How To

Activate Draft it Free Activate Draft it Plus Activate Draft it Pro Activate Draft it Architectural

Modify Items

Use Snaps And Input Options

Keyboard Snaps

Relative End Mid Perp Tan Quad X Snap Y Snap

The Origin Point Snap Direct Input X Y Input Polar Input Distance Input Scale Factor Input Arrow Key Input Force Angle IntelliSnap Wall Snap Points

Add Hyperlinks to Entities Cancel a Command Create a Symbol Create a Template Enter Calculations Insert a Door Insert a Window Insert an Opening Insert an Elevation Repeat a Command Select Items The Basics Use Shortcut Keys Use The 15 Day Trial Work with Layers/Colours/Styles Work with Documents

The Program Interface

File Menu The Ribbon

Architectural Ribbon Page

Building Group

Roofs

Accessories

Add Downpipe Add Gutter Angled Ridge Tile Box Valley Cement Gable Fillet Dry Verge System Edit Barge Boards And Gable Soffits Edit Facias And Eaves Soffits Horizontal Flashing Mono Ridge Tile Remove Roof Accessories Semi Circular Ridge Tile Stepped Flashing

Create Dormer

Create Dormer By Polyline

Create Roof

Bay Window Roof Roof From Polyline Roof From Rectangle Roof From Walls

Edit Roof

Add Multi Pitch Change Appearance Change Eaves Height Change Pitch Change Thickness Edit Overhang Make Barn Hipped Make Dutch Gable Make Gable Make Hipped

Legacy Roofs

Convert Legacy Roofs Delete Legacy Roofs

Manual Edits

Extend Face By Polyline Extend Face By Rectangle Trim Face By Polyline Trim Face By Rectangle Remove Roof Modification

Roof Openings

Roof Opening From Polyline Roof Opening From Rectangle

Bay Doors Elevation Hatch Openings Staircases Walls Wall Settings Windows

View Group

3D Viewer Elevation Level Simple Walls

Architectural Symbols Group Sections Group

Draw Ribbon Page

Annotation Group

Angular Dimension Arrow Attribute Break Dimension Line Chain Dimension Datum Chain Dimension Datum Dimension Diameter Dimension Double Arrow Find And Replace Linear Dimension Multi Point Dimension Radial Dimension Radial Length Dimension Set Datum Table Text

Draw Group

Constructions

Angular Construction Line Delete Constructions Horizontal Construction Line Incremental Offset Perpendicular Line To Line Perpendicular Line Repeated Offset Single Offset Tangent To Arc Tangent To Two Arc Vertical Construction Line

Arc Area Fill Centreline Circle Control Point Curve Fit Ellipse Filled Polyline Hatch Pattern Hatch Insertion Point Line Multiline Styles Multiline Offset Point Polygon Polyline Rectangle Rectangular Revision Cloud Revision Cloud Set Insertion Origin

Objects Group

Paste Special

Paste and Explode Paste and Keep Selected Paste as Block Paste to Current Layer and Explode Paste to Current Layer Paste to Original Co-ordinates

Insert Image Insert DWG Insert Symbol

Modify Ribbon Page

Modify Group

Blend Break Build Polyline Build Symbol Chamfer Clear Selection Copy Copy To Other Delete Divide Explode Fillet Hide Layers Isolate Layers Linear Array Make Layer Current Match Colour Match Layer Match Properties Match Style Mirror Move Polar Array Quick Trim Rectangular Array Rotate Scale Select All Select Colour Select Hyperlink Select Layer Select Style Selection Filter Stretch Tangent to 2 Arcs Trim Trim / Extend Un-Hide Layers Un-Isolate Layers

Settings Ribbon Page

Drawing Settings Group

Configure Textures Copy Settings Dimension Styles Grid And Snaps Layers Multiline Styles Page Pens Points Units

Info Group

Entity Info Measure

Show / Hide Group

3D Viewer Area Fill Command Hatching Layouts Properties Referenced Drawings Reset Layout Symbol Library

System Settings Group

Customise Toolbar Display Hot Keys Internet Settings Skins System Paths System Settings

Views & Zoom Ribbon Page

Named Views Group

Manage Views Save View Select View

Zoom Group

Pan Zoom Extents Zoom Full Page Zoom In Zoom Next Zoom Out Zoom Previous Zoom Window

Command Specific Ribbons Minimise/Expand the Ribbon

System Toolbar Quick Access Toolbar

Customise Quick Access Toolbar New Open Save Print Cut Paste Copy (Clip) Undo Redo

Command Window Drawing Tabs Layout Explorer Properties Explorer Referenced Drawings Status Bar Symbol Library Explorer

Tutorials

Architectural Tutorial

Part 1 - Drawing Setup Part 2 - The Ground Floor Plan

Drawing the External Walls Drawing the Internal Walls Inserting Doors Inserting Windows Add the Staircase Add the Furniture

Part 3 - Create the First Floor Plan

Copy the Ground Floor Details Modify the Staircase Detail Modify the First Floor Walls Adding the First Floor Doors Adding the First Floor Furnitire

Part 4 - Drawing Roofs Part 5 - Creating the Elevation

Tutorial No 1

T1 - Part 1 T1 - Part 2 T1 - Part 3 T1 - Part 4 T1 - Part 5 T1 - Part 6 T1 - Part 7 T1 - Part 8 T1 - Part 9 T1 - Part 10 T1 - Part 11

Tutorial No 2

T2 - Part 1 T2 - Part 2 T2 - Part 3 T2 - Part 4 T2 - Part 5 T2 - Part 6 T2 - Part 7 T2 - Part 8 T2 - Part 9 T2 - Part 10 T2 - Part 11

Tutorial No 3

T3 - Part 1 T3 - Part 2 T3 - Part 3 T3 - Part 4 T3 - Part 5 T3 - Part 6 T3 - Part 7

Openings

Available in: Architectural

Use this command to insert an opening into a wall. Select the 'Opening' button Openings button and the following dialog box appears.

The dialog box is spilt into 2 tab pages. Set the values as required.

Opening Tab

Opening Width - This is the width of the opening created in the wall.

Opening Height - This is the height of the opening which is used in automatic elevation creation and the 3D Viewer.

Plan - This option specifies that a plan view of the opening will be used.

Elevation - This option specifies that an elevation view of the opening will be used.

Wall Break Tab

Opening wall break settings

Select the wall break type for cavity and solid wall types when inserting doors, windows and openings. The appropriate value boxes are available for some of the options. Set the requirement and click OK. These settings remain until changed, and are stored with the individual door, window and opening.

Once all of the settings are correct in the Opening and Wall Break tab pages click OK.

The insertion procedure differs depending on the status of the Plan/Elevation option :-

Plan option

The dialog box closes and the command prompt reads:

Give Insertion point on wall:

At this point if you move the cursor over a wall dynamic dimensions are displayed to allow you to position the opening accurately, these dimensions update as you move the cursor (You can modify the increment of the dimension movement).

If you move the cursor past the centre line of the wall the dimensions flip and reference the appropriate points on that side of the wall, see below.

Opening dimension side example 1

In each of the pictures above you will see that the dimension text of one of the four dynamic dimensions is enclosed in brackets, this is the controlling dimension. It is possible to define the opening position by typing a value into the Distance Input box. If a value is typed into this box the padlock button to the right locks . This locks that dimension and the cursor can only be moved across the wall to flip the dimension. It is possible to change the controlling dimension by hitting the tab key key on the keyboard. Doing this moves the controlling dimension to the other end of the wall. Therefore it is possible to specify any of the four dynamic dimensions as the controlling dimension by moving the cursor either side of the wall and using the tab key key. If the value entered is greater than the wall length plus the opening width then the controlling dimension value is adjusted to show the maximum allowable distance. To change the value simply modify the value in the Distance Input box. To clear the value entered and allow the opening to be moved 'freely' along the wall click the padlock button again so it is displayed as follows unlock button .

You can modify the Opening justification if required using the justification option box Opening justification option in the Ribbon .

This justification is orientated when viewing the external wall face, see below.

Simply click into place once the desired position is achieved. The structural opening is created and the wall ends are capped.

The command automatically repeats to allow the opening to be placed in additional positions.

See Modifying/Moving a Opening for information on how an opening can be edited.

Elevation option

The dialog box closes and the command prompt reads:

Give Insertion Point:

The insertion procedure is the same as for insertion of any other Symbol.

The selected opening elevation is attached to the cursor for placement anywhere on the drawing using any of the snaps and input options.

NOTE: The opening elevation is non-intelligent Symbol unlike the plan view of the same which is remembers the wall it is inserted into. Therefore after inserting an elevation view of a opening the command does not repeat. This is because after clicking 'OK' in the dialog box the program uses a standard Insert Symbol function to place the opening. Because the opening elevation is non-intelligent Symbol it can only be modified with the same options as with Modifying/Moving any other Symbol. i.e. you cannot double-click on the opening elevation and return to the 'opening' dialog box.