KEY PLAN CREATION

A key plan is a miniature plan that shows references. Typical used to show where sections are cut, views are taken, apartment or room location etc.

They are typically placed on multiple sheets so an ordinary plan or section view can't be used (as they can only appear on one sheet).

There are 2 methods for creating key plans:

Legends - suitable where there is minimum differences between key plans. e.g. to show where sections are cut.

Annotation family - suitable where there are multiple differences. e.g. apartment locations.

CREATE CAD FILE

The quickest way to get a key plan of a floor or section is to export a CAD file of a view and them import and explode the CAD file.

1. Create a simplified view of what you want the key plan to be of.

2. Duplicate a suitable view (it is a temporary view so prefix it with X_).

3. Use Visibility/Graphic Overrides to hide what you don't need.

4. Export that view as a CAD file.

5. Repeat for other views.

HINT: Area Plans with Area Boundaries visible make a good basis for key plans.

LEGEND METHOD

This method creates a Legend that can be placed on multiple sheets.

1. Create a new legend:- View tab, Legend > Legend.

2. Import the CAD file:- Insert tab, Import CAD.

3. In the Import CAD dialog box

4. Set Colors: to Black and White

5. Positioning: to Auto - Center to Center

6. Untick Correct lines that are slightly off axis

1. Place the CAD file.

2. Set the legend's Scale to suit the size you want (e.g. 1:1000)

3. Explode the CAD Import:- Select it, Explode > Full Explode.

4. Select all the lines, change their Linestyle to a standard linestyle (e.g. +black_01)

5. Edit the lies as required, add text, filled regions etc.

When complete drag and drop onto the sheets you need it on.

To create similar but slightly different key plans duplicate an existing Legend and edit the duplicate.

ANNOTATION FAMILY METHOD

This method is a little more complex to set up but is more flexible.

1. Create a new Generic Annotation family:- New > Family, use 'Metric Generic Annotation.rft' template.

2. Import the CAD file:- Insert tab, Import CAD.

3. In the Import CAD dialog box (refer to image above)

4. Set Colors: to Black and White

5. Positioning: to Auto - Center to Center

6. Untick Correct lines that are slightly off axis

7. Place the CAD Import centered on the reference planes (where they intersect is the insertion point).

8. (You may need to zoom out to see the CAD Import, it could be very large).

9. Select the CAD Import,

10. in Properties window Edit Type,

11. click on Scale and type in a scale factor to reduce it to the size you want. e.g. 0.001.

12. (the CAD Import may disappear - Zoom Extents, find the CAD Import and move it back to the reference planes).

1. Explode the CAD Import:- Select it, Explode > Full Explode.

2. Select all the lines, change their Linestyle to a standard linestyle (e.g. Generic Annotations).

3. Purge:- Manage tab, Purge.

4. Save the family file. Save it to the Project's Library folder under Annotation > Symbols with a name that describes what it is.

You now have the basics and can edit lines, add filled regions, text etc.

PLACING AN ANNOTATION FAMILY

There are a few ways to place an annotation family key plan onto sheets.

• If in the family file use Load into Project button.

• If in the project file use Annotation tab > Symbol.

• or find the family in the Project Browser then drag and drop it onto a sheet view.

• If in the project with Windows Explorer open drag and drop the annotation family file into a project window.

Once loaded in the project you can also Copyclip and Paste to other views. Use the Paste to Selected Views to place it on multiple sheets in the same place.

VISIBILITY PARAMETERS

To make the key plan flexible create visibility parameters for things that you might want to turn off.

For example you may want to show locations of apartments that have been drawn as Filled Regions.

1. Select the filled region you want to add a visibility parameter to.

1. In Properties window

2. 1. select Edit Type,

3. 2. Click on the button to the right of the Visible parameter,

4. 3. in the dialog box select Add parameter...

1. In the Parameter Properties dialog box

2. 1. type a Name for the parameter (don't use mathematical symbols + - * / =),

3. 2. put in Visibility group,

4. 3. make it Instance.

1. Click OK to finish.

2. Repeat for other Filled Regions, Lines, Text etc.

When a family has been placed on a sheet visibility can be controlled by selecting the family, and ticking or unticking parameters in the Properties window.