CAD Types

The CAD Type options can be used as part of the services layering system. It allows the user to break down the components which make up an Item and place them onto individual layers. As an example: annotation components such as duct sizes, numbers etc. can be placed on their own layers allowing them to be switched on and off independently of each other. Alternatively all the annotation can be placed on one layer for easy manipulation. The most common practice is to combine the CAD Type with the service type and separate the Items first into their library or service then into the CAD Types.

Editing CAD Types

  1. Click the Service Database Icon .
  2. Select the CAD Types.

    The layer descriptions cannot be altered, these are fixed values.

Each one of the titles given below can be altered before starting a new drawing (these can still be altered throughout the drawing but will only take affect when a new drawing is started or the old layer of the same description has been removed).

Layer Tag Used to define a portion of the layer name.
Global Activating the Global option for any of the CAD-Types will force that particular type to Ignore all service layering setups. Instead ALL entries for that CAD-Type will be placed on a layer whose name is taken from that CAD-Types Layer Tag entry. Note: It is not recommended that either the 2D Graphics or 3D Graphics CAD Types are set to Global.
Line Type Defines the Line Type to be used for that layer
Layer Color Defines the Color for the layers
Line Weight Defines the Line Weight to be used for that layer

The table below shows an explanation of each description. Each Item is processed individually as it is drawn so not all of the options below will apply to every Item.

Description Layer Tag Explanation
3D Graphics 3D Defines the layer that the main part of the Item is drawn on.
2D Graphics 2D Defines the layer that graphical symbol component of an Item will be drawn on e.g. attenuators, fire dampers, air handling units and diffusers)
Hidden Detail HD Defines the layer that the Hidden detail component of an Item will be drawn on
Center-Lines CL Defines the layer that the center lines of circular Items will be drawn on.
Insulation Ins Defines the layer that the Items Insulation annotation is drawn on.
Number Text Numbers Defines the layer that the Item Numbers annotation is drawn on.
Size Text Dim Defines the layer that the Dimension annotation is drawn on.
Level Text Invert Defines the layer that the Levels annotation is drawn on.
Alias Text Alias Defines the layer that the Alias annotation is drawn on
Offset Text Text Defines the layer that the Offset annotation is drawn on
Dimension Text Dim Defines the layer that the Dimension annotation is drawn on
Other Object Text Custom Defines the layer that the Other Object annotation is drawn on
Internal Insulation Ins Defines the layer that the Internal Insulation is drawn on
Symbol Sym Defines the layer that the Symbol is drawn on
Design Line Design Defines the layer that the Design Line is drawn on
Double Wall Ins Defines the layer that the Double Wall is drawn on
Note: The final layer name can be made up from multiple Layer Tags found throughout the Services Database. The above settings will only define the complete layer name if CAD-Types are used exclusively in the layering system.

To Create Global Layer Names:

This example explains how Global Layer names are created. On the CAD Type tab there is a column headed 'Global'. Any number of the CAD Types can be designated Global Layer Names by ticking the box in this column.

In this example Hidden Detail, Number Text and Size text have all been ticked. This means that just the CAD Type Layer Tag becomes the layer name for these particular CAD Types. So, for example with the Global box ticked for Number Text, it would no longer have the Layer Name Extract.Round.ItemNo; instead it would be ItemNo.

Using the above example the other Layer Names would be created as: Hidden Detail - HD Size Text - Ann

Extract from Layer database. Three new layers have been added to the bottom of the list: