Importing floorplans

If you have an existing floorplan saved in bitmap (.bmp), JPEG (.jpg), GIF (.gif), TIFF (.tif), PNG (.png), Targa (.tga) or Portable Document Format (.pdf), you can import it into your drawing using the Floorplan Importing Wizard, and then use WYSIWYG's Drawing Tools to "trace" it and, in so doing, create a 2D, then a 3D model of the venue in the floorplan.

You can import floorplan images in 3 view types:

• Plan: Floorplan images in Plan view can be imported into Wireframe that is set to Plan View Type.
• Front/Back: Floorplan images in Front or Back profile views can be imported into Wireframe that is set to the Front or Back View Type.
• Left/Right: Floorplan images in Left or Right profile views can be imported into Wireframe that is set to the Left or Right View Type.

Notes:

• You can print with Imported Floorplans from CAD mode Wireframe, New Plots and Layouts in PRES mode.
• The images in the profile views allow you to import wall outlines for the room that you are building in your 2D drawing.

Attention: Imported floorplans are a purely visual feature without any guarantee of accuracy and precision in the printed document. When printing a floorplan, a Warning dialog box appears asking for you to acknowledge that there are no guarantees about the content, accuracy, precision, or anything else in the printed document and that you will not hold CAST responsible for any errors or inaccuracies in the document. Select the checkbox and click OK to proceed.

Before you begin

Before you import a floorplan, you must know the precise dimensions of at least one of the elements in your imported floorplan. For example, if it contains a stage, note the width of the stage before you import the graphic into your drawing. The floorplan should also be to scale.

To import a floorplan

1. In either the Wireframe or Quad tab, in Plan view, click File > Import Floorplan.

or

in Front or Back view, click File > Import Floorplan... > Front/Back.

or

in Left or Right view, click File > Import Floorplan... > Left/Right.

Result: The Floorplan Importing Wizard window appears.

2. In the window click Browse.

Result: The File Browser window appears.

3. In the File Browser window, navigate to your floorplan file, select it, and then click Open.

Result: The file browser window closes. The location of the floorplan image will be in the Browse field.

4. Click Next.

Result: The wizard will switch to the Rotate Floorplan page. Here the floorplan image can be rotated 0°, 90°, 180° or 270°.

5. Select the angle of rotation for the floorplan, then click Next.

Result: The wizard will switch to the Define Anchor Point page. You can select from predefined anchor points or create your own.

6. Select the anchor point of the floorplan, from the Anchor drop-down list.

1. If a custom anchor point was selected, click a point in the floor plan to create the anchor point.

7. Click Next.

Result: The wizard will switch to the Define Insertion Base Point page. The anchor can be inserted at either the origin or a user selected point.

8. Define the insertion base point, then click Next.

1. If a user selected point was chosen, the wizard window will minimize. Click on a point in the WYSIWYG file where you want the insertion point to be.

Result: The wizard will switch to the Specify Floorplan Scale page. Here a dimension line is drawn between two points of the floorplan to determine its scale.

9. Ortho X and/or Ortho Y can be enabled to ensure any dimension line drawn is parallel with the respective axis.

Note:  This step can be skipped if you are modifying a previously imported floor plan, by selecting the box next to Skip this Step....

10. Click Next.

Result: The window will minimize and show the floorplan inserted into WYSIWYG.

11. In the floorplan image, choose an item in your drawing whose measurements you know, and then click on one end of the item. For example, if you know the dimensions of the stage, click on one corner of it.
12. Click on a second end of the item. For example, if you had clicked on one edge of the stage, click on an opposite edge of it.

Result: The Import Floorplan window will reappear, prompting you to enter the length of the line that you have just drawn.

13. Type the length of the line, and then click Next.

Result: WYSIWYG adjusts the size of the floorplan based on the scale that you have entered to ensure that your drawing is accurate. The floorplan appears in your drawing in plan view (the only view in which you can see it).

14. Click Finish to finish editing the floorplan. Click Back to change any of the previous settings.

Tips:

• Once you import the floorplan, you can hide it from sight by right-clicking on your drawing and selecting Hide Floorplan. To show the floorplan again, simply right-click and select Show Floorplan.
• To modify the properties of the floorplan after it has been inserted, right-click the floorplan image and select Modify Floorplan.

Note: You can delete floorplans, but once deleted, the floorplan must be re-imported in order for it to be available once again. Since this process may affect the measurements set in the above procedures, it is recommended that you only delete floorplans once your show is “finalized".