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Draft it Help System

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

How To The Program Interface
File Menu The Ribbon
Architectural Ribbon Page Draw Ribbon Page Modify Ribbon Page Settings Ribbon Page Views & Zoom Ribbon Page Command Specific Ribbons Minimise/Expand the Ribbon
System Toolbar Quick Access Toolbar Command Window Drawing Tabs Layout Explorer Properties Explorer Referenced Drawings Status Bar Symbol Library Explorer
Tutorials
3D Viewer

Available in: Architectural

Click on the 3D preview check box to Switch the preview window on or off as required. Draft it calculates the appearance of the 3D model based on the information in the 2D plan. All of the height values (walls, openings, roofs) are stored with the individual elements on the plan. Changes to the drawing automatically update the 3D Viewer window*.

* In some instances it maybe necessary to use the Draft it Refresh button refresh button.

Using the 3D Viewer

There are 4 display modes, Solid, Textured, Wire-frame & Transparent. Self explanatory except to say that in Textured mode the 'textures' are assigned by Draft it i.e. Brick work, Roof tiles etc. A picture showing the effect of each of these modes is shown here below.

You can orientate the model using the mouse.

The model pivots around its centre point of the window. Hold done the left mouse button and move the mouse in the direct that you want to rotate the model.

Hold down the middle mouse button (wheel) and move the mouse in the direct that you want to Pan.

Scroll the middle 'wheel' button and back and forth to zoom out and in.

reset view button The Toolbar contains a 'reset view' button, this restores the 3D preview back to the original view.

save image button You can also capture an image (JPG) of the model in any orientation using the 'Save image' button.

save image button The 'show orthographic' buttonturns off the perspective mode and sets the view in orthographic mode. When this function is on the model cannot be rotated to another viewpoint as described previously. Click the button again to switch back to perspective mode.

3d preview window solid render 3d preview window textured render

3d preview window wireframe 3d preview window transparent

As well as automatically updating the 3D Viewer window also highlights the corresponding 3D feature of the selected entity on the drawing. In additional to this it is possible to select an entity on the drawing by simply clicking on an item in the 3D viewer whilst holding down the control key key.