Drawing Management FAQs

How to use the SoftPlan AutoCAD® SoftPlan Round-trip feature?

What is the difference between a “Child Window” and a “Tab”?

The difference between the tabs and child window are that the tabs allow you to have multiple Drawings/3Ds/Elevations/Sections/Reports open in the main SoftPlan window. When you first open an option form the navigation bar the default it so open them up in the tab format in the main window.

A child window is a separate window that is a secondary to the main SoftPlan window but can be moved to a secondary screen if using 2 or more monitors. This Child Window can have any number tabs just like the Main window. You also have the option to open as many child windows as you would like but as with the tabs the more you have open the more system recourses you will be using up. To open a child window you can either right click on the option in the navigation bar and choose to open in a new window (child window) or you can right click on a tab and choose to move it to a new window (child window).

How can I combine more than one drawing on one sheet and set the drawings at different scales?

See Plan Sets.

I have accidentally saved my work in the Recovery Folder. How can I move this to another Folder?

Open the drawing located in the recovery folder, then select File > Save As. SoftPlan will open the Windows Explorer which will allow you to navigate to another folder elsewhere with SoftPlan to save your drawing.

Can a drawing created in AutoCAD be imported into SoftPlan?

Yes. You may import the AutoCAD drawing as a DWG or DXF file. From the blank drawing screen within SoftPlan, select File > Import > DWG/DXF. Navigate and double click on the file you wish to open. It will prompt the entities being imported/ not imported and then appear on the screen. Perform a Zoom Extent if you do not see the file initially.

I am attempting to customize my toolbar and can’t replace or remove some icons? What should I do?

There are certain icons that cannot be removed from the toolbar. They include the Lock/Unlock, Save, and Snap On/Off icons. Removal or replacement of any other icon will be permitted.

I can’t seem to locate my saved Material List Reports or 3D image files. Why?

You need to specify the type of file to open when you use the Open menu.

1. Select Open from the File menu.
2. Click the drop-down menu for Files of type.
3. Select the appropriate file format for reports or images: SoftList Report (*.spr), or the image file you are looking for. A list of files saved in that format in the current folder will appear.
4. Select a file from the list and Open.

Is there a way to change the cursor crosshairs color?

Yes. Select File > System/Drawing Options > Assign Color > and change the Cursor selection.

If I make changes or additions to a saved elevation will they display in 3D?

No. Once an elevation has been saved it is a separate line drawing and is no longer connected to the original floor plan(s). Anything added to the saved elevation will not display on the original drawing or a 3D of those plans. 

What is the difference between Drawing Options and System Options?

System Options are a data base of customizable settings such as Wall Definitions which are used to create the Drawing Options when you create a drawing. Any changes or updates done to the System Options will only be implemented on future drawings. Any settings which are intended to be used on future drawings should be modified here. Drawings Options are created at the time of starting a drawing, and any changes made to the Drawing Options affect only the current drawing.

Can I import drawings from a newer version of SoftPlan to an older version?

No. You can only bring SoftPlan drawings forward into newer versions.

My DXF/DWG of a site plan is not at 1:1. How do I get it at 1:1?

Items in SoftPlan are drawn at 1:1 so it is important to maintain the same scale with imported objects. The Adjust Size command can be used to enter a scale factor or known distance to bring the objects to the scale of 1:1. It is helpful if you have a dimension for reference on the site plan, or know the original scale. If you have an original dimension available, select Edit > Adjust Size. The program will prompt to ‘Block select Item(s) to Adjust size’. Draw an expanding box around the objects. In the menu, enable the option for ‘Distance’. Then type in the value of the known dimension. At this point the program will prompt you to draw the ‘Adjust Size Distance Line’. Turn on Snap (F11) in order to make an accurate trace and pick the end points of the object. This will resize the objects on screen

When I DXF out drawings to export them into AutoCAD, are they layered?

Yes. On Export, SoftPlan will assign layers to each item. The layer assignment has already been setup and can be modified from File > System Options > DXF Options.

How do I pull a drawing out of the Recovery file?

With the recovery drawing open on screen, select File > Save As, and navigate to the desired folder. In the File Name, input the appropriate name.

How do I combine several drawings together for printing?

See Plan Sets.

How should I import drawing files from previous versions of SoftPlan?

All old SoftPlan drawings from Version 8 and up have the ability to be brought forward into SoftPlan Version 11/12/13. To bring drawings from versions 8 and 9 into the current Version, use the older SoftPlan Backup procedure or Tag and Send the drawings to diskette. For instructions, consult your manuals. Once you have the drawings on disk, use the current Version’s File > Import > SoftPlan Drawing(s) command. Since version 10 is also a Windows-based program, this version’s drawings have the ability to be opened in the current Version without using the Import command. It is recommended to copy these drawings into a new folder using the Windows Explorer so that they can be used specifically for the current version. Simply go to File > Open and select the drawing from the new folder.

The DXF/ DWG that I imported is at the wrong scale. How do I correct this?

Although SoftPlan draws at a 1:1 scale, the program that the file was exported from may have used a different scale. One alternative is to change the scale in the originating program prior to exporting the file. Otherwise, it will need to be resized to bring the drawing to 1:1 after being imported into SoftPlan. The Adjust Size command can be used to enter a scale factor or known distance to bring the objects to the scale of 1:1. It is helpful if you have a dimension for reference on the drawing, or know the original scale. If you have an original dimension available, select Edit > Adjust Size. The program will prompt to ‘Block select Item(s) to Adjust size’. Draw an expanding box around the objects. In the menu, enable the option for ‘Distance’. Then type in the value of the known dimension. At this point the program will prompt you to draw the ‘Adjust Size Distance Line’. Turn on Snap (F11) in order to make an accurate trace and pick the end points of the object. Alternatively you can follow the same steps but instead enter the scale factor. This will resize the objects on screen to 1:1. 

When importing a .DWG or .DXF file from another program, a message appears stating that the drawing is outside of the SoftPlan world and the import fails. Can this be corrected?

The drawing most likely needs to be drawn closer to the 0,0 point in the originating software. Ensuring all items have been moved closer to 0,0 will usually allow the .DWG or .DXF to successfully import within the SoftPlan world.

Where do I save System Drawings?

Use the System Drawings folder in the SoftPlan folder to store these drawings. After you create a System Drawing, select Save As from the File menu. Use the item Save in to choose the System Drawings folder and click Save.

An exported multi-drawing (.DWG or .DXF) appears as separate drawings when opened in AutoCAD; what can be done to make it appear as it does on SoftPlan?

Select the "layout" tab to view the drawing in "paper space.” This will mimic the appearance of "muti drawing" in SoftPlan. 

When upgrading from an earlier Windows version of SoftPlan, how do I transfer my existing drawings?

Use the Windows commands for "copy" and "paste" to copy the existing "Projects" folder from the older SoftPlan folder to the newer SoftPlan folder.