The Viewmaker – 3CAD

The Viewmaker is a 3CAD mode where users can retrieve and manage all generated views and technical drawings for a project.
Views are generated both as screenshots and through the compilation of the viewmaker.json file.

Accessing the Viewmaker

To access the Viewmaker:

In the 3CAD Next planner, click Tools in the top bar.
Select Cad Mode, then Viewmaker.

You are now in Viewmaker mode, and the first generated view is displayed in the planner.

Note! The Viewmaker can be accessed from the 3D view only.

Viewing and managing generated views

Click the Catalog button on the left-hand side of the window to open the list of all generated views.

Views generated with Save view

At the top of the list, you will find all screenshots created using the Save View functionality - if any exist. See the Tools and settings: the 3CAD Next top bar article, Central section: Tools, for more details.

Each screenshot is automatically assigned a system‑generated name in the format Custom View #.
System‑generated names cannot be changed.
Screenshots can display a user‑friendly name through an alias.
Screenshots can be deleted using the basket icon.

Views generated from viewmaker.json

Views generated from the viewmaker.json file are listed below the screenshots.

These views:

Are generated based on catalog configuration and Viewmaker settings
Cannot be deleted from the Viewmaker interface
Use system‑defined identifiers, which are preserved for technical and printing purposes
Can display user‑friendly names through configurable aliases

Views generated from viewmaker.json may differ in:

Spatial dimensions, such as 2D or 3D views
Perspective, including front, rear, left, right, and top/plan
Level of detail, such as:
- Dimension and annotation lines
- Material information
- Representation of joints and cutouts
- Appliance images and other technical details

Most view characteristics are defined in the viewmaker.json file, while some adjustments can be made directly in Viewmaker mode (see the Editing the views with the Viewmaker toolbar article).

You can display any view by selecting it from the list.

In the planner, you can zoom in and out of views and technical drawings. For technical drawings, panning is available by holding down the mouse wheel.

Viewmaker capabilities

The Viewmaker provides a set of integrated capabilities that control how views are displayed, grouped, labeled, dimensioned, translated, and exported.
These capabilities are designed to work together and apply consistently across the user interface, printed documents, and exported outputs.

Managing view visibility in exports

You can control which views are included in exported output, such as printouts or data sent to downstream tools.

Views can be included or excluded directly in the Viewmaker interface.
Excluding a view affects only exported output; the view remains available within the project.

For details, see: Managing views in Viewmaker

Renaming views using aliases

Views displayed in the Viewmaker can show custom, user‑friendly names using aliases.

Aliases affect how views appear in the user interface and exported output.
System‑generated identifiers remain unchanged and continue to be used internally.

For details, see: Managing views in Viewmaker

Dimensioning in Top/Plan views

viewmaker.json views can include measuring lines for walls and boxes in Top/Plan views.
These measuring lines support layout validation and technical documentation by displaying distances and overall dimensions directly in the drawing.

Dimensioning may include:

Overall wall or composition length
Individual box or module dimensions
Additional reference measurements defined by the catalog configuration

This capability also applies to island compositions that generate virtual walls.

In Top/Plan views, virtual walls are dimensioned in the same way as physical walls, ensuring consistent output across wall‑based and island‑based designs. This includes:

Overall composition length
Individual module or box dimensions
Overall island footprint towards adjacent boxes

For details, see: Viewmaker: Top/Plan dimensioning for virtual walls (islands)

Elevation and Top/Plan grouping using Magic Links

The Viewmaker can group elements that belong to the same composition into a single, coherent view, even when elements are not physically connected.

This grouping:

Applies to both Elevation views and Top/Plan views
Ensures all relevant elements appear together
Improves readability for wall and island compositions

For details, see: Viewmaker item grouping for walls and islands

Object numbering (box and wall numbering)

The Viewmaker supports configurable object numbering for boxes and walls.

Numbering markers reposition dynamically in Top/Plan views to remain visible
Overlapping markers are merged to preserve readability
Box and wall numbering styles can be configured independently
For each element type (box or wall), the same style is applied consistently across all views

For details, see: Managing object numbering appearance in Viewmaker

Translated view names

View names generated by the Viewmaker can be translated.

Translations apply consistently across:
- The user interface
- Printed documents
- Exported outputs
Translated view names adapt automatically to the active language

For details, see: Localizing the Viewmaker view names

Angle snapping for linear dimensions

Viewmaker supports angle snapping for linear dimensions when no geometric snap points are available. In these cases, dimension lines automatically align to predefined angular intervals, ensuring straight, clean, and consistent projections.

If angle snapping is not configured, existing behavior remains unchanged.

For details, see Angle snapping for linear dimensions in Viewmaker.

Exiting the Viewmaker

To exit the Viewmaker:

Click Full View in the Cad Mode submenu or click the 3D button on the toolbar on the right-hand side of the screen to go back to the 3D view, or
Toggle the 2D–3D switch to enter the 2D configuration mode.

Terminology index

This section defines key terms used throughout the Viewmaker documentation.

Alias
A user‑friendly display name assigned to a view. Aliases affect how views appear in the user interface and exported output, while system‑generated identifiers remain unchanged.
Elevation view
A side view of a composition, showing elements as seen from the front or back. Elevation views are typically used to represent vertical alignment and overall appearance. They may include measuring lines and object numbering.
Exported output
Any file or data generated from Viewmaker views, such as printed documents or exported drawings. Exported output can be controlled independently from internal view availability.
Magic Links
A mechanism used by Viewmaker to group elements that belong to the same composition, even when they are not physically connected. Magic Link grouping applies to both Elevation and Top/Plan views.
Object numbering
Numeric labels assigned to boxes and walls in Viewmaker views. Object numbering improves element identification in drawings and can be styled and positioned according to configuration.
Top/Plan view
A top‑down view of the project, used primarily for layout, alignment, and horizontal dimensioning. Top/Plan views may include measuring lines and object numbering.
Translated view name
A view name that adapts automatically to the active language. Translated view names are displayed consistently across the user interface, printed documents, and exported outputs.
View
A visual representation of the project generated by the Viewmaker. Views can be screenshots or views generated from viewmaker.json and may differ in perspective, level of detail, and included information.
Virtual wall
A logical wall generated by island compositions. Virtual walls are used by the Viewmaker to apply grouping and dimensioning logic consistently with physical walls.