Create and Edit Drafting Data

The Drafting toolbar, which is accessible from the Design Data Packages pane in the 3D Viewer, enables you to create and edit simple drafting objects in your model. These features empower you and others (e.g., field staff and contractors) to do basic drafting and make design edits directly, reducing reliance on complex, external software; this ultimately improves project efficiency, reduces dependency on engineering firms, and allows real-time adjustments in response to unanticipated field events or design errors.

Create basic, geometric objects, such as points, lines, polylines, rectangles, polygons, and circles directly within an existing design.
Select and edit objects in the view to correct mistakes, adjust elevation, or shift entire designs. Revise your model using simple drag-and-drop functionality.
Precisely place objects using snaps and coordinate entry.
Publish your design changes to devices in the field.

NOTE: You can only edit VCL-based design objects at this time. Convert any SVD/SVL data into a VCL first.

NOTE: If you encounter an error message stating "Failed to extract data from package", you likely do not have edit permissions for the project. Contact your account Administrator to request import, create, and edit permissions.

NOTE: In some cases, line thickness in the 3D Viewer may appear disproportionately wider than in the source application (e.g., in Trimble Business Center). If you previously edited imported design data in the 3D Viewer and now find issues with line thickness, you will need to select Delete all Changes on the toolbar at the top of the Design Packages pane and redo your edits.

Prerequisites

WorksManager Pro license
Project data
Project editing permissions

Pick Precisely with Snap Modes

When in Drafting mode, toggle one or more icons to enter snap modes:

Snap to faces - A snap indicator appears on the nearest face, letting you pick it precisely.
Snap to lines - A snap indicator appears on the nearest line or polyline, letting you pick it precisely.
Snap to points - A snap indicator appears on the nearest point, letting you pick it precisely.
Snap to center - A snap indicator appears at the centroid of the nearest shape, letting you pick it precisely.

Create Drafting Objects

On the left side, click the 3D Viewer icon.
Click the Data Packages icon on the left side.
Expand the design category and select a design you need to edit.
Toggle the Visibility icon for the design.
Click the More icon next to the visible design and select Edit to enter the creation mode. You can only edit one design at a time.
Click an icon to create:

Points - Pick a location in the view.
Lines/polylines - Pick two or more vertex locations in the view to create the line segments between them. Double-click the last vertex to finish the polyline.
Rectangles - Pick two corners to create one side of the rectangle. Then drag out and click an opposite corner to create the other side.
Circles - Pick the center point of the circle, drag out, and release to create the diameter of the circle.
Polygons - Pick three or more vertex locations to create a closed shape.

Click Publish on the upper toolbar when you are done. Publishing changes replaces the current design with your new version and distributes it to all assigned machines.

NOTE: You can also Undo or Redo design changes or click the

Delete All Design Changes icon to revert to the original state before your edits.

Use the selection mode to check your drafting additions. When you have an object selected, the Properties pane shows the object’s attributes, including layer, color, linetype, lineweight, opacity, as well as metadata like area, perimeter orientation, center coordinates, vertex coordinates, and geometric distance and length.

NOTE: Sometimes, linework can be obscured by surfaces or terrain, so experiment with the transparency of those objects.

Edit Drafting Objects

Click-and-drag or join and split lines to edit objects.

On the left side, click the 3D Viewer icon.
Click the Data Packages icon on the left side.
Expand the design category you need to edit.
Toggle the Visibility icon for a design package.
Click the More icon next to the visible design and select Edit to enter the creation mode. You can only edit one design at a time.
Toggle the Single selection mode on the toolbar near the top of the screen.
Toggle any snap modes you need for editing.
Pick an object in the view.

Click-and-drag

To modify an object, click-and-drag:

a point
vertex of a line, polyline, polygon, or rectangle
center point or edge of a circle

Join and split

To modify a linear object, click an icon to:

Join lines - Using the Line Snap mode, pick the end or mid point of one line and then another line's end or mid point. A segment is created between the points you pick.
Split a line - Pick anywhere along a line/segment to add a vertex, thereby splitting the line/segment at that location.

Click Publish on the upper toolbar when you are done. Publishing changes replaces the current design with your new version and distributes it to all assigned machines.
Use the selection mode to check your drafting edits. When you have an object selected, the Properties pane shows the object’s attributes, including layer, color, line type, line weight, opacity, as well as metadata like area, perimeter orientation, center coordinates, vertex coordinates, and geometric distance and length.

Edit a Point

Pick any point measurement in the view.
Drag-and-drop it to update its location and coordinates.
In the Properties pane on the right, click the Style tab.
Select a new color or symbol for the marker in the view.
Click Done.

Create a Surface

You can create a surface from selected objects. The created surface appears in the Layers pane, can be sent to machines with other design data, and selected for guidance on machines.

Use either selection mode to pick objects you want to make the surface from. The number of objects selected is shown on the bar at the bottom of the view.
Click the Create Surface icon on the right side of the same bar. A confirmation message appears when the surface is created.
Once created, the new surface appears in the Layers pane. Pick it in the view or click the More icon and choose Select surface to edit its properties in the right pane.
Click Publish on the upper toolbar when you are ready. Publishing changes replaces the current design with your new version and distributes it to all assigned machines.

Dispatch Design Revisions

These capabilities collectively aim to provide a streamlined, in-app experience for basic design creation and modification, reducing the need for traditional, heavy drafting software.

Once you have made design package edits using the steps above, click Publish on the toolbar at the top of the view.
Click Yes in the confirmation dialog to push the changes to assigned machines.

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