Creating Layout View Drawing Sheets
In CivilGEO software, the Layout View feature allows the user to create professional engineering drawing sheets directly within the modeling environment. Layout view drawing sheets function as print-ready digital sheets where the user can organize model views, annotations, legends, north arrows, scale bars, callouts, graphic elements, and other plan elements without exporting the model to a separate drafting application.
The user can create one or more named layout view drawing sheets within the same project, with each sheet having its own paper size, orientation, and margins. View Frames can then be placed on a sheet to display scaled, scenario-specific views of the model. This makes it possible to show different model areas, compare multiple scenarios side by side, and prepare complete engineering plan sheets for review, reporting, or presentation.
Completed layout view drawing sheets can be printed directly from the software or exported as PDF, image, or DWG files. This article explains how to create, manage, and configure layout view drawing sheets.
Displaying Model and Layout Tabs
The Show Layout Pages command of CivilGEO software allows the user to show or hide the model and layout page tabs at the bottom of the Map View window.
Follow the steps below to use the Show Layout Pages command:
- From the View ribbon menu, click the Show Layout Pages command.
- The model and layout page tabs at the bottom of the Map View window will be displayed, as shown below.
Understanding the Drawing Sheet Tabs
The model and layout page tabs allow the user to switch between the standard model workspace and each saved layout view drawing sheet. These tabs include the following elements:
- Burger Menu Icon
The three horizontal lines on the far left of the model and layout page tabs represent a burger menu icon. Clicking this icon displays a context menu containing commands for managing layout pages, including New Layout Page, Lock All Layout Pages, Unlock All Layout Pages, Move Layout Pages, Delete Layout Page, and Delete All Layout Pages.
- Model Tab
This tab displays the standard model workspace used to view, build, and edit the current project. It represents the main project view presented to the user. The Model tab cannot be deleted, renamed, or moved. Right-clicking the model tab displays a context menu containing commands for managing layout pages, including New Layout Page, Lock All Layout Pages, Unlock All Layout Pages, Move Layout Pages, and Delete All Layout Pages.
- Layout Page Tabs
Layout page tabs are displayed to the right of the Model tab. Selecting a layout page tab opens a drawing sheet in the Map View and displays the Layout Options ribbon menu for working with the selected layout. A project can contain multiple layout pages for preparing different drawing sheets, such as an overview map, a detailed cross section sheet, or a flood depth results map. Right-clicking a layout page tab displays a context menu containing commands for managing layout pages, including New Layout Page, Duplicate Layout Page, Rename Layout Page, Lock Layout Page, Lock All Layout Pages, Unlock All Layout Pages, Move Layout Pages, Delete Layout Page, and Delete All Layout Pages.
- Add [+] Button
The add button creates a new blank layout page immediately to the right of the last existing layout page tab. This is the quickest way to add a new layout page to the project.
Managing Layout Pages
The model and layout tabs provide quick access to commands for creating, organizing, locking, moving, and deleting layout pages. The commands displayed in the context menu depend on where the menu is opened, such as from the burger menu, the model tab, or a layout page tab. Some commands may be disabled if they do not apply to the current project state, such as when no layout pages are locked or when only one layout page exists.
The following context menu commands are available:
- New Layout Page
This command creates a new blank layout page and adds it immediately to the right of the current tab that the user right-clicked on. The software automatically assigns a default name to the new sheet (such as Layout2, Layout3, and so on). If the user selected the New Layout Page command from the burger menu, then the new layout page will be placed at the far right of all layout tabs. - Duplicate Layout Page
This command creates a copy of an existing layout page. The duplicate layout page is assigned the same name as the original, followed by a number in parentheses that makes the name unique. For example, if the original layout page is named Layout1, then the copied layout page is named Layout1 (2). - Rename Layout Page
This command allows the user to rename the selected layout page. Layout page names must be unique within the project. Otherwise, the software displays the following informational dialog box.
- Lock Layout Page
This command locks the selected layout page so its contents cannot be moved or edited. When a layout page is locked, a lock indicator is displayed on the layout page tab to indicate the locked state. - Lock All Layout Pages
This command locks all layout pages in the project so their contents cannot be moved or edited. - Unlock All Layout Pages
This command unlocks all locked layout pages in the project, allowing the user to resume editing. This command is disabled (i.e., grayed out) when no layout pages are currently locked. - Move Layout Pages
This command displays the Move Layout Pages dialog box, allowing the user to reorder layout pages in the project. Layout pages can also be reordered by dragging a layout page tab left or right along the tab bar. This command is disabled (i.e., grayed out) when the project contains only a single layout page. Layout page tabs cannot be moved to the left of the Model tab.
- Delete Layout Page
This command permanently removes the selected layout page from the project. The Model tab cannot be deleted. - Delete All Layout Pages
This command permanently removes all layout pages from the project. The Model tab remains available after the layout pages are deleted.
Model and Layout Tabs with Multiple Projects
When working with multiple projects, only one set of model and layout tabs is displayed at the bottom of the Map View window. The model and layout tabs shown belong to the current project only. As the user switches between projects, the tab bar updates to show the layout pages available for the selected project. The currently selected tab, whether the model tab or a layout page tab, also updates based on the selected project.
Working in Layout View
When the user clicks a layout page tab, the Map View switches from the standard model editing environment to the layout view drawing sheet. The main canvas displays the layout page as a white sheet of paper with horizontal and vertical rulers along the top and left edges.
The following changes take effect when a layout page is selected:
- Layout Options Ribbon Menu Is Displayed
The software displays two additional ribbon menus: Edit Tools and Settings under the Layout Options. The commands available on these ribbon menus allow the user to compose, configure, and export the layout page. - Rulers Are Displayed
Horizontal and vertical rulers are shown by default along the top and left edges of the drawing sheet canvas. The rulers use the paper dimension units (inches or mm) configured in the Page Setup command, and the ruler origin (0, 0) is aligned by default with the lower-left corner of the layout page. - Map Data Layers Panel Is Locked
The Map Data Layers panel is locked because the user is working on a drawing sheet intended for publishing rather than editing the model. The user cannot change layer visibility or display properties while working on the layout page. - Map Data Layers Panel Unlocks for View Frames
When the user selects or enters a View Frame on the layout page, the Map Data Layers panel becomes unlocked. The user can then change the layer visibility and adjust display properties specifically for that View Frame. When the user exits the View Frame, the Map Data Layers panel returns to its locked state. - High-Resolution View Frame Rendering
When the user exits a View Frame after making changes, the software automatically captures a high-resolution image of the View Frame area and uses it for display and printing. This allows the user to switch between layout pages and pan or zoom within the View Frame without requiring the software to continuously re-render the model data. - Model Editing Is Suspended
Standard model editing commands are not available while a layout page is selected. To return to the model editing environment, click the Model tab.
Layout Options Ribbon Menu
When the user clicks a layout page tab, the software displays two additional ribbon menus, Edit Tools and Settings, under the Layout Options. These ribbon menu commands allow the user to compose, configure, and export a layout page. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn more about the layout options ribbon menu.
Layout Drawing Sheet Workflow
The following workflow describes the recommended sequence for creating and preparing a layout drawing sheet:
- Enable the layout page tab bar.
From the View ribbon menu, click the Show Layout Pages command, and the model and layout tabs are displayed at the bottom of the Map View window. - Create a new layout page.
Click the [+] button at the end of the tab bar, or right-click any layout page tab and select New Layout Page. The software creates a new blank layout page and assigns a default name to the tab. - Configure the page setup.
From the Settings ribbon menu under Layout Options, click Page Setup to select the paper type, dimensions, size, and orientation for the layout page. This ensures the drawing sheet canvas matches the intended print or export format. - Insert a View Frame.
From the Edit Tools ribbon menu under Layout Options, click New View Frame and draw a frame on the canvas to define the viewport area. The View Frame displays the current model extent. Pan and zoom inside the View Frame to show the required portion of the model at the appropriate level of detail. - Configure the View Frame display.
With the View Frame selected, use the Map Data Layers panel to control which layers are visible within the View Frame. - Add map annotations.
Using the commands available in the Edit Tools ribbon, insert a north arrow, scale bar, and legend. Add any required text labels using the Add Text command. Use the commands in the Format and Arrange groups to style, align, and position the drawing sheet elements. - Export or print the drawing sheet.
From the Settings ribbon menu, use the commands in the Export group to export the completed layout page as a PDF, DWG, or image file. Alternatively, use the Publish Layout menu item to print the drawing sheet.