Sketch Layout

Production > Assembly Sketch > Sketch Layout

Edit the sketch layout for assembly sketches (WBD 3D sketches).

The functionality for creating and editing layouts is similar for the various sketch types (profile sketch, profile list sketch, part sketch, assembly sketch and template sketch for shell plate templates).

Sketch layouts are stored in the sketch subfolder of the project's norms folder.

First use

When this function is used for the first time, and there is no template present in the current norms, it is necessary to load a Hull model first. The Hull model will be used as a template for this function.

Next, connection points must be added to position the various types of information.

The system expects that the template is made with the normal 2D drawing system by drawings lines, text, and so on, on a specific paper size.

The template will be used for all sketches of this type. The layout of the template can be chosen freely, and it can be modified later, even if the connection points are already positioned.

There are two ways to modify the template:

1. Modify the original template with the normal use of the 2D drawing system. In this case the template must be reloaded with the Get model function in the Sketch Layout dialog.
2. Modify the saved template model. In this case the File > Import > Hull Model File function must used to modify the template with the normal 2D drawing system. After modifications the model must be saved with the File > Export > Hull Model File function. If you use the same template name, the sketches start using the new template immediately.

Sketch Layout dialog

Select and place the desired information on the sketch layout. The available information fields depend on the sketch type.

All available items are shown under Fields. An asterisk * under Present indicates that the information field already exists on the template. Use Add field to add items to the template, and Remove field to remove them.

By default, Text properties, General settings, and Grid, are visible. You can switch these selections on and off in the Sketch Layout dialog by selecting and clearing the respective check boxes.

Add field

Select a field from the list, and click Add field. An annotation text with the name of the selected field is used to indicate the position, size, rotation, length, and other attributes of the field. The text properties are directly related to the currently selected information field. You can control the position of the text by mouse movement. Left-click to place the text.

It is not possible to add the same field twice: When a field that is already present on the template is selected, the Add field is disabled.

Remove field

Select a field from the list. or select the annotation text from the model, and click Remove field. You can always add the removed field back to the model by using the Add field function.

Get model

Click Get model in the Sketch Layout dialog box to open a new template (select a Hull model file). The positioning points that are present will be resized to the new paper size of the newly loaded Hull model file. It is not necessary to use this function if the template is still correct.

Changing the position of a field

Select a field from the list, or select the annotation text from the model, and drag it using the z or Z hot key.

After selecting the information field, its position is shown in the Hint bar. The position is relative, meaning that it is related to the dimensions of the model. By entering a value in the first and/or second entry box and pressing Enter you can move a field in the model to a specific position. The third coordinate is not applicable here.

Text properties

The text properties of the selected information field can be entered in the Text properties dialog (Properties in assembly sketch layout). You cannot do this to some special fields, and therefore their text properties may be dimmed. If the field is present in the model, the new properties will apply immediately. If the field is not present in the model, the properties will be applied once the field is placed in the model.

The final information on the sketch will be presented according to these properties, and will be saved together with the template. If the field defines a figure on the sketch, all properties may not be relevant. The Text length option in the Sketch Layout dialog can help to define the maximum area used in relation with the ratio and text height properties. The Text length property will not be saved: A length of 10 will be used each time the Sketch Layout function is started.

Grid

A horizontal and vertical grid can be used to make it easier to align fields exactly. You can set the (relative) step size. If Snap to grid is selected, new fields and existing fields that are moved will snap to the nearest grid point.