Editing Layout View Drawing Sheets

The layout view drawing sheet editor allows the user to edit and format layout pages. Using the Edit Tools and Settings ribbon menus under Layout Options, the user can add and format View Frames, annotations, and graphics, configure the canvas grid and snap settings, and export or print the completed drawing sheet. The Layout Options ribbon menus appears automatically when a layout page tab is selected.

This article describes the commands available in the Edit Tools and Settings ribbon menus under Layout Options. Refer to this article in our knowledge base to learn about creating and managing layout view drawing sheets.

Displaying the Drawing Sheet Editor

Follow the steps below to open a layout view drawing sheet for editing:

1. From the View ribbon menu, select the Show Layout Pages command.
   
2. The model and layout tabs will be displayed at the bottom of the Map View window.
   
3. Select the layout page tab and following drawing sheet editor will be displayed.
   

Edit Tools

The Edit Tools ribbon menu contains commands for editing and formatting elements on the layout page, creating and managing View Frames, arranging elements, controlling the canvas view, and adding annotations and drawing objects.

The Edit Tools ribbon menu contains the following commands:

• Undo
  This command implements the undo stack and allows the user to reverse the most recent change made to the layout page canvas.
• Redo
  This command implements the redo stack and allows the user to restore any previously undone action on the layout page canvas.
• Cut
  This command removes the selected element from the layout page canvas and places it on the clipboard for pasting elsewhere.
• Copy
  This command copies the selected element to the clipboard without removing it from the layout page canvas.
• Paste
  This command pastes a previously cut or copied element onto the layout page canvas.
• Delete
  This command permanently removes the currently selected element or elements from the layout page canvas.
• Format Painter
  This command copies the formatting properties of a selected element and applies them to another element on the layout page. To learn how to use this command, refer to this article in our knowledge base.
• View Frame Presets
  This dropdown menu lists preconfigured View Frame settings. The user can select a preset to quickly set up a View Frame at a standard scale or extent, rather than manually defining the frame size and scale.
• New View Frame
  This dropdown menu lists the available View Frame shapes that can be placed on the current layout page. After selecting a shape, the user draws the View Frame boundary on the layout page canvas. The software automatically populates the View Frame with the current model extent. Available shapes include:
• • New Elliptical View Frame: This option places an elliptical viewport.
  • New Polygon View Frame: This option places a polygon-shaped viewport.
  • New Rectangular View Frame: This option places a rectangular viewport.

Refer to the Working with View Frames section (described below) for the complete step-by-step workflow.

• Fit to Page
  This command resizes and repositions the selected View Frame to fill the printable area of the current layout page. This is a quick way to make a single View Frame fill the entire sheet.
• Scenario
  This dropdown combo box allows the user to select which model scenario is displayed within the selected View Frame. Changing the scenario updates the View Frame display to show results for the selected run.
• Description
  This entry field allows the user to enter additional information that describes the selected View Frame for identification purposes.
• Font
  This menu item displays the font controls for the selected text element, allowing the user to format the text on the layout page. The user can set the font type, size, color, bold, italic, underline, and text highlight color. In addition, the user can also clear all the text formatting with a single click, if required.
• Line Color
  This menu item defines the color of polylines and the outer boundaries of the shapes (i.e., elliptical, polygons, and rectangles). Selecting this item will display a color palette to choose the desired color.
• Fill Color
  This menu item defines the color fill for the shapes (i.e., elliptical, polygons, and rectangles). Selecting this item will display a color palette from which the user can choose the required fill color.
• Line Weight
  This menu item defines the line weight of the polylines and the outer boundaries of the shapes (i.e., elliptical, polygons, and rectangles). Selecting this item will display a line weight selection dialog box from which the user can choose the required line weight.
• Line Style
  This menu item defines the line style of drawn polylines. Available styles include solid, dashed, dotted, and other standard line patterns.
• Line Ends
  This menu item displays a submenu that allows the user to define arrowheads on drawn polylines. The following arrowhead commands are available:
• • No Arrowhead: This command removes any arrowhead from the selected polyline.
  • Arrowhead Front: This command places an arrowhead at the front (endpoint) of the polyline. The arrowhead size is automatically scaled based on the line weight.
  • Arrowhead Rear: This command places an arrowhead at the rear (start point) of the polyline. The arrowhead size is automatically scaled based on the line weight.
  • Arrowhead Both Ends: This command places arrowheads at both ends of the polyline.
  • Swap Arrowhead Ends: This command swaps the arrowhead from the front to the rear of the polyline, or vice versa. Note that this command is only enabled when a single polyline with a single arrowhead is selected.
• Group Elements
  This menu item displays a submenu that allows the user to group and ungroup selected elements so they can be moved and resized as a single unit. At least two elements must be selected on the drawing canvas to enable this menu item.
• Lock Elements
  This menu item displays a submenu that allows the user to lock and unlock selected elements to prevent them from being accidentally moved. At least one element must be selected on the drawing canvas to enable this menu item.
• Bring to Front
  This menu item displays a submenu that allows the user to change the draw order of selected elements. At least one element must be selected on the drawing canvas to enable this menu item.

The following draw order commands are available:

• • Bring to Front: This command moves the selected elements above all other elements.
  • Bring Forward: This command moves the selected element forward.
  • Send Backwards: This command moves the selected element backward.
  • Send to Back: This command moves the selected element below all other elements.
• Align Left
  This menu item displays a submenu that allows the user to change the alignment of selected elements. At least two elements must be selected on the drawing canvas to enable this menu item.

The following alignment commands are available:

• • Align Left: This command aligns the selected elements to the left.
  • Align Center: This command aligns the selected elements to the center.
  • Align Right: This command aligns the selected elements to the right.
  • Align Top: This command aligns the selected elements to the top.
  • Align Middle: This command aligns the selected elements to the middle.
  • Align Bottom: This command aligns the selected elements to the bottom.
• Zoom
  This menu item adjusts the on-screen zoom level of the layout page canvas. Note that changing the zoom level does not affect the View Frame scale or the final printed or exported output — it only changes how the drawing sheet is displayed on screen.
• Select
  This command is used for selecting and moving elements on the layout page canvas.
• Add Text
  This command allows the user to click on the drawing canvas and insert a resizing word wrap text frame. After the text frame is placed, the user can grab the corners and edges of the frame to resize it and click inside the frame to enter or edit text. Once the user adds text, it will be displayed at the top of the frame, aligned based upon the text justification selected (i.e., left, center or right). Clicking in the middle of the text frame allows the user to move the text frame to a different location.
• North Arrow
  This command allows the user to add a north arrow to the current layout page. Clicking this command displays the North Arrow dialog box, which lists the north arrow symbols supported by the software. After selecting a symbol and clicking the [OK] button, the software places the north arrow on the layout page canvas at the cursor location. The user can then drag the north arrow to reposition it as needed.
  
• Legend
  This command inserts a map legend on the layout page that is linked to the selected View Frame. The legend displays the symbology for the layers shown in the View Frame viewport. When the View Frame layer display is updated, the legend updates automatically to reflect the change.
• Scale Bar
  This command inserts a graphical scale bar onto the active View Frame. Scale bars visually indicate distance and feature size on the View Frame. Clicking this command displays the Scale Bar dialog box that provides different scale bar styles. Select the scale bar style and click the [OK] button. The software will then prompt the user to click at a location in the selected View Frame to place the scale bar. Once the user has added a scale bar to the layout, it can be modified. The user can also select and drag the scale bar to adjust its position and resize it horizontally to use different gradations.
  
• Graphic
  This command inserts an external image file or CAD block as a graphic element on the layout page. Supported image file formats include BMP, GIF, JPEG, JPG, PNG, and TIFF. Supported CAD block formats include DWG and DXF. This command is commonly used to insert company logos and title block symbol graphics. Clicking this command displays the Insert Graphic dialog box, which allows the user to select the graphic file source either from the directory or photo catalog. Select the source file and click the [OK] button to insert.
  
• Draw Polyline
  This command allows the user to draw linear and curvilinear polylines on the layout page canvas.
• Draw Shape
  This command allows the user to draw basic geometric shapes, block arrows, flowchart symbols, and containers on the layout page canvas.
• Draw Callout
  This command allows the user to draw a callout box with a pointer line for annotating specific areas of the layout page. After selecting this command, the user can click on a point on the layout page to place the callout note and draw the callout polyline bend points or arrowhead. Note that holding down the [Shift] key while drawing arrowheads creates orthogonal lines. Once finished, the user can press the [Enter] key or right-click and choose Done from the displayed context menu.

The user can drag the parts of the callout object independently to reposition the pointer line, the note block, or the anchor point. The corner and mid-point grips of the note text block allow the user to resize the block. While resizing, the text will reflow within the text block (i.e., word wrap) if there are no hard carriage returns.

Settings

The Settings ribbon menu contains commands for configuring the layout page setup, drawing canvas options, and export and printing settings.

The Settings ribbon menu contains the following commands:

• Page Setup
  This command allows the user to setup the current layout page. Clicking this command displays the Layout Page Setup dialog box, where the user can configure the paper type, page dimensions, page size, and orientation. These settings determine the appearance of the drawing sheet canvas and the page layout used for printing or exporting.
  
• Page Template
  This command allows the user to select a template to apply to the current layout page. Clicking this command displays the Insert Title Block dialog box, where the user can select a previously saved layout page template. The template applies its saved page size, orientation, margins, guides, defined View Frames, and pre-positioned annotation elements to the current layout page.
• Save Layout as Template
  This command saves the current layout page as a layout page template file. Clicking this command displays the Save Layout Page dialog box, where the user can specify a file name and directory location for the template. The saved template includes the page size, orientation, margins, guides, defined View Frames, and any annotation elements placed on the canvas. The template can be reused across projects to maintain consistent drawing sheet layouts.
  
• Show Grid
  This command shows or hides the background grid on the layout page canvas.
• Grid Color
  This command displays a color palette that allows the user to set the color of the background grid.
• Snap to Elements
  This command snaps the elements to the connection points of other elements on the layout page canvas.
• Snap to Grid
  This command snaps the elements to the background grid when they are moved or resized on the layout page canvas.
• Export PDF
  This command exports the current layout page as a PDF file. Clicking this command displays the Export Layout to PDF dialog box, where the user can specify a file name and directory location for the exported PDF file.
  
• Export DWG
  This command exports the current layout page as an AutoCAD DWG file. Clicking this command displays the Save As dialog box, where the user can specify a file name and directory location for the exported DWG file. The exported file can be opened and edited in compatible CAD applications.
  
• Export Image
  This command exports the current layout page as a raster image file. Clicking this command displays the Export Layout to Image dialog box, where the user can specify the image format, file name, and directory location for the exported image. Supported formats include PNG, JPEG, BMP, and TIFF. The exported image can be inserted into reports, presentations, and other documents.
  
• Publish Layout
  This menu item displays a submenu with options for printing either the current layout page or multiple layout pages.
  
• • Print Layout Page: This option displays the system Print dialog box, where the user can select a printer and configure settings such as page orientation, number of copies, color mode, and other printing preferences.
  • Print Multiple Layout Pages: This command displays the Print Multiple Layout Pages dialog box, where the user can select the layout pages to print and define their print order. Clicking the [OK] button displays the system Print dialog box, where the user can configure the printing preferences and print the selected layout pages.