In the View Maker mode (see The View Maker article) users can manually add details and information to views and technical drawings, created by compiling the viewmaker.json file, by accessing a dedicated toolbar on the right-hand side of the window. Typical additions are:
- Dimension and annotation lines
- Highlights
- Basic shapes and symbols
The View Maker toolbar consists of 6 tools and they are illustrated, from top to bottom, in the following paragraphs.
Note: Tools cannot be used on screenshots made by using the Save View functionality.
Annotation arrow
This tool allows the user to manually add annotation lines in the view. Lines can be freely used both pointing at articles or running along their sides.
To add an annotation line take the following steps:
-
Click on the Annotation arrow tool button.
-
Click on the planner where you want the line to start.
-
Without holding down, drag the line to position it correctly.
-
Click again where you want the line to end.
-
Click on the yellow tag (it turns red when rolling over it) at the end of the line to open the Edit tool box.
-
Type your annotation and click Update. The annotation is now visible at the end of the line.
Click on the tag and press the Delete button in the Edit tool box that appears to delete the annotation line.
Accessories
Accessories consist of a set of shapes, like rectangle, cirle, square, etc. that can be inserted in the view.
To add a shape to the view, do the following:
-
Click on the Accessories button. The list of all available shapes is now displayed.
-
Click and hold down on the shape you want to insert while dragging it to the view and position it correctly, then release.
-
You can now change the shape's dimension by clicking and holding down on the right bottom angle of the red square that surrounds the shape when rolling over it. It is also possible to adjust the shape's position by clicking on it and holding down while dragging it to the final position.
Click on the shape and select Delete to delete it.
Dimension line
This tool allows the user to manually add dimension lines to the view.
Note: This tool is designed to be used on 2D technical drawings where it allows precise measurements. However, it is usable on all the views.
To add a dimension line take the following steps:
-
Click on the Linear quote tool button.
-
Click on the planner where you want the line to start.
Note: In 2D technical drawings only, red dots appear at the corners of the shapes when rolling over them. By clicking on the red dot, it is possible to start (and end) the dimension line at that precise point of the drawing, allowing fine-tuned measurements.
-
Drag the line to position it correctly, without holding down.
-
Click again where you want the line to end. The figures are updated in real-time.
Click on the figure and press the Delete button in the Edit tool box that appears to delete the dimension line.
Note: In technical drawings, dimension line figures are in the metric system of measurement only.
Add measurement steps
It is possible to personalize dimension lines by adding measurement steps, that divide the entire line into two or more sections. Both default dimension lines and the ones added manually can have steps added.
To add dimension steps, proceed as follows:
-
Click on the figure of the dimension line.
-
In the Edit tool box that opens, type the figure of the step in the field New Step and, optionally, the description text you want to appear in place of the figure, in the field Add Text.
Note: All the dimensions' figures need to be counted from the left origin of the line, for all the steps.
-
Press the + button on the right-hand side of the Add Text field. The step is added to the steps list below.
-
Repeat steps 2 and 3 to add other steps if relevant.
-
Click Update to save the changes.
Example
If you need to fraction a dimension line in 3 sections, where the first section from the left is 600 mm, and the second section of 900 mm, create a first section by typing the figure 600 in the field New Steps, then create a second step typing the figure 1500 (900 + 600, since the dimension is always measured from the left origin). When clicking Update the original dimension line will break into 3 sections where the first one from the left measures 600 mm, and the second one 900 mm. The initial figure now displays the remaining length of the line (total length of the line - 1500).
Add the line's annotation
It is possible to further personalize dimension lines by adding a description.
To add a line description, take the following steps:
-
Click on the figure of the dimension line.
-
In the Edit tool box that opens, type the annotation in the Add a dimension line description field.
-
Click Update to save the change. The line's description appears on the left-hand side of the line.
Highlight
Use this tool to highlight portions of the view. To do so, proceed as follows:
-
Click on the Highlight tool button.
-
Click on the planner where you want the highlighted area to start.
-
Drag the cursor while holding to draw the highlighted area.
-
Release when the highlighted area is in place.
To delete the highlighted area, click on it and press the Delete button in the pop-up window that appears.
Recreate quote
By clicking on this tool you delete all the manual changes and bring the view back to full screen.