Set Up and Orient a Digitizer

Connect to an installed digitizer and orient it to your project data by picking corresponding reference points in your project and in paper plans on the digitizing pad using the digitizer puck. Then you will be ready to digitize the plans to bring additional data into your project. Orienting the digitizer ensures that data you digitize comes in at the correct location, orientation, and scale.

The program is specifically enabled to work with GTCO CalComp TabletWorks utility and the TabCon driver. TabCon is an industry-standard digitizer interface that allows Microsoft® Windows and your digitizer to communicate. It also enables the digitizer puck to operate in either of two different modes:

  • Digitizer mode - The cursor appears as a digitizer-specific cursor on the screen. Digitizer functions, such as digitize and streaming mode, are assigned to the puck's buttons.
  • Mouse mode - The cursor appears as one of the standard mouse cursors on the screen. Keyboard functions, such as double-click and right-click, are assigned to the puck's buttons. Commonly-used commands can also be assigned to buttons and accessed in this mode.

To switch between digitizer mode and mouse mode, press the toggle button, which can vary based on your digitizer's current profile.

Prerequisites:

  • License for a module. To see which modules license this command, see Licensed Features.
  • Digitizer

To set up and connect to a digitizer:

  1. If needed, download and install the required digitizer software/drivers from the manufacturer's web site.
  2. Connect the digitizer to your computer following the manufacturer's instructions.

    Note: For a GTCO CalComp digitizer, open the TabletWorks Control Panel and select these settings:
    - In the pane at the top, check the Enable, Mouse, and TabCon boxes.
    - In the Cursor Information group, check the Specify a Cursor box and select 16Btn in the list.
    - On the 16 Btn tab, select the Relative option and check Enable Mapping for the Mouse Mode.

  3. Secure the paper plans that you want to digitize to the digitizing pad.
  4. In this software, import or create the points or other objects that correspond to the paper plans.
  5. Select Digitizer Setup in Takeoff > Digitize. The Digitizer Setup command pane displays.
  6. Click Connect. The Digitizer Setup command pane refreshes and the i_ digitizer not oriented icon appears on the Status Bar, indicating that the digitizer is connected, but not oriented.

To orient (or register) a digitizer:

  1. Select an option in the Orientation type list.
    • 2 point - Select this to correlate two 2D reference points in your project with two corresponding points on your paper plans.
    • Scale - Select this to enter a scale, such as 1:250, shown on your paper plans.
    • Known distance - Select this to correlate a distance in your project with a distance between two points on your paper plans.

      Note: Regardless of how you initially orient your digitizer to a given set of paper plans, you will need to reorient it using the 2 Point method each time thereafter.

  2. For a 2 Point orientation:
    1. Using the digitizer puck, click in the From digitizer box, and pick a reference point on the paper plans for Point 1.
    2. In the Plan View, pick the corresponding reference point for Point 1.
    3. Pick a second reference point on the paper plans for Point 2.
    4. Pick the corresponding reference point for Point 2 in the Plan View.

      Tip: Your orientation will be more accurate if you select points that have a difference in X and Y coordinates of at least ½ the size of you digitizer pad.

  3. For a Scale orientation:
    1. Type the number of meters that one meter on the paper plans represent in the Scale box. For example, if the plans show 1:500, enter 500.
  4. For a Known Distance orientation:
    1. Specify a distance in your project that you want to correlate with two points on the paper plans. For instance, if your plans contain two control point benchmarks that survey data sheets confirm as being 258.00 meters apart, enter that value or pick two points equaling that distance in the Plan View.
    2. Pick the point representing one end of the known distance on the paper plans for Point 1 from digitizer.
    3. Pick the point representing the other end of the known distance on the paper plans for Point 2 from digitizer.
  5. Click Save. The scale is reported at the bottom of the pane. In addition, two CAD points are created so you can use them for the 2-point method if you need to re-orient your project.
  6. Click Close. To use the digitizer within the program, see Digitize Data.

Related topics:

Apply Digitizer Button Profiles

Create a Polyline