Creating frames for execution

Coordinate Frame Creation

CivilCAD software allows for adding a coordinate frame to the drawing by activating it from the menu: General → Coordinates Frame. After any changes in the data within this window, click Apply so the software redraws the frame according to the new settings. The options in this window are:

• End Corner: The coordinate value representing the top corner of the frame.

• Base First: The coordinate value representing the first corner of the frame's base.

• Base Second: The coordinate value representing the second corner of the frame's base.

• Steps: The distances between the coordinate markers along the frame.

• Scale: The size value of the frame.

• Select: Clicking this button and then marking a line representing the desired frame (Polyline) will set the frame according to the selection.

• Pick: Choosing the frame's corners by clicking this button and then in the drawing: clicking the first corner, second corner, and top corner.

1. This button sets the frame boundaries to the entire drawing limits (Extends). The software will automatically change the coordinate values representing the frame.

2. This button deletes the coordinate values representing the frame corners.

Sheet Division

CivilCAD software allows dividing the drawing into multiple different sheets according to the definition of each sheet individually by activating General → Frames Maker from the main menu. We will explain the options in this window and how to create sheet divisions:

Explanation of Actions in the Frames Maker Window

1. Mark Project's Border as the Frame Window: This button sets the entire project's drawing boundaries as the current frame boundary.

2. New Border: This button adds a new sheet to the list of sheets located at the top of the window. The name highlighted in this window represents the current sheet.

3. Erase Border: This button deletes a sheet from the list of sheets.

4. Show Border Contour: This button displays the boundaries of the current sheet.

5. Options: This button allows setting the following options:

   • Steps: The distances between the coordinate markers along the frame.

   • Scale: The size value of the frame.

   • Arrow Block: The location of the block file representing the north arrow.

   • Table Block: The location of the block file representing the company's logo.

   • Table Position: The location of the legend beside the map.

   • Single/Multiple Layout: Export all maps in multiple sheets or a single sheet.

   • Divide by Paper Size: Predefine the sheet size for marking and export.

6. Tool for determining the frame size on the drawing according to selection in the Options window.

• Pick: Setting a frame by marking three corners directly on the drawing.

• Select: Setting the frame by selecting a Polyline in the drawing that defines the frame.

• Find: Locating a frame marked in the list of frames on the drawing.

Sequence of Actions

We will explain using an example the sequence of actions for creating sheets:

1. Set the frame boundaries by one of the following methods:

   • Using Select: Draw in ACAD a frame according to the desired size, location, and angle using a closed Polyline to define the frame boundaries. Click Select, choose the frame you created in the drawing, and press ENTER.

   • Using Pick: Click this button, then go to the drawing and mark the left base corner, right base corner, and then the upper right corner.

   • Clicking button 1 will set the entire drawing boundary as the frame boundary.

   • Another option is to manually input the coordinate values of the corners in the fields: End Corner, Base First, Base Second.

2. After setting the first frame, if you wish to define additional frames, click button 2 to add another frame to the list and repeat the actions from the start up to this step as many times as needed.

3. Once all frames are defined, click Apply to generate the sheets.

Recommended Workflow

The most common and recommended method for generating sheets is as follows:

1. Define the sheet size: Click the Options button (5) and select under Divide by Paper Size the required sheet size, then close the Options window.

2. Click Locate Frame on Drawing (6) and place the frame on the drawing. Note: The click location on the drawing will be the lower left corner of the frame. The frame size placed on the drawing will be according to the definition in step 1.

3. Click Select and choose the frame you placed in step 2, then press Enter.

4. If you wish to create another frame, repeat steps 2 and 3. Note: Each frame needs to be in a new sheet. Therefore, before each Select, first create a new sheet (button 2) and place the frame in it.

5. Now click Apply to generate the sheets.