VOLUME II

System Options

Print Configurations

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Drawing Setup

Fun amentals

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

WELCOME TO THE

DraftSight
Fun amentals Series
Volume II

In this eBook youll learn what you need to get the most out of DraftSight and
increase your productivity. Designed in 3 easy-to-identify sections, the material
in this book is a compilation of content created during a webinar ton the topic,
presented by DraftSight Product Management.
Enjoy, and feel free to share this with your colleagues and friends!
Thanks for using DraftSight.
The DraftSight Team

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

INTRODUCTION

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Drawing Setup

Drawing Setup

Add Lines Styles............................................................................... Page 4

Line Scale.......................................................................................... Page 5
Drawing Boundary........................................................................... Page 6
Points Display................................................................................... Page 7
Drawing Units Base Angle.......................................................... Page 8
Drawing Units Type...................................................................... Page 9
Relative Dimensions........................................................................ Page 10
Display Attributes............................................................................ Page 11

System Options

System Options

Rectangular Grid..............................................................................Page 13
Snap and Polar Snap.......................................................................Page 14
Isometric Grid...................................................................................Page 15
Esnap and Override Esnap.............................................................Page 16
Etrack ................................................................................................Page 17
Polar Guides ....................................................................................Page 18
Entity Cue .........................................................................................Page 19
Gravity Box .......................................................................................Page 20

Print Configurations

DraftSight.com

Print Configurations

Creating and Applying Print Configurations................................Page 22

Renaming Sheet Tabs......................................................................Page 23
Automatically Assigning Print Configurations............................Page 24
Assign Multiple Configurations.....................................................Page 25
Batch Printing...................................................................................Page 26
Deleting and Creating ViewPorts..................................................Page 27
Scaling your ViewPort.....................................................................Page 28
Export to PDF....................................................................................Page 29

DRAWING SETUP

DRAWING SETUP
In this session we will cover some of the essential functions necessary
when setting up your drawing environment. Save these settings in your
drawing template to eliminate the need to perform these tasks each
time you create a new file.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

DRAWING SETUP

Add Lines Styles

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

The default drawing templates supplied in DraftSight have only the Continuous LineStyle loaded. It
is essential to learn how to add the other LineStyles that are supplied with DraftSight.

Print Configurations

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DRAWING SETUP
Line Scale

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Use the LineScale command to set a global scale factor for LineStyles. It affects all drawing
entities to which you assigned a LineStyle pattern. The dash lengths specified in the LineStyle
definition files (in drawing units) are multiplied by the factor specified with the LineScale command.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

DRAWING SETUP
Drawing Boundary

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

DraftSight.com

Print Configurations

Use the DrawingBounds command to define the extent of the grid display and restrict the
graphics area. DrawingBounds can be helpful for printing and plotting. If you set your graphics
area so that it scales directly to the standard drawing sheet, you need only specify printing by
drawing boundaries to produce a plot of your full drawing, regardless of the current display in
the drawing window.

DRAWING SETUP
Points Display

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

The Point command draws a point, typically used as a reference in drawings. Points can serve
as nodes to which you can snap entities. Later, when the points are no longer necessary, you
delete them. An advantage to using points during construction, is that you can use EntitySnaps to
snap points. You can also use ETracking or the snap option From instead of inserting point entities
into the drawing. Points can be displayed in different styles and sizes. You can use points as
symbols in drawings, but only one point style can be active in a drawing.

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Volume II

Introduction

DRAWING SETUP

DraftSight Fundamentals

Drawing Units Base Angle

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

The UnitSystem command lets you:

Set the base angle that specifies a direction for 0. For example, surveyors normally set 0 as up
on the page. This setting ensures the correct display of angle and distance for drawing lines; the
display on the status bar updates according to the angle zero direction and the orientation.
Select Clockwise to increase angles in a clockwise direction.

Print Configurations

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DRAWING SETUP
Drawing Units Type

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

The UnitSystem command lets you set:

Type of linear units.

Precision from 0 to 8 decimal places.

Examples of linear units: Architectural, Decimal, Engineering, Fractional and Scientific.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

DRAWING SETUP
Relative Dimensions

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

By enabling relative dimensions, you specify that dimensions you create are associated to the
measured entities.

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Print Configurations

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DRAWING SETUP
Display Block Attributes

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Use this function to control the display of your Block Attributes. The options are:
Normal: Uses the setting defined in the BlockAttribute.
On: Shows BlockAttributes regardless of the setting defined in the BlockAttribute and
regardless if they are hidden.
Off: Hides BlockAttributes

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

SYSTEM OPTIONS

Drawing Setup

SYSTEM OPTIONS
Use these system options to assist in the creation of your geometry.
Master these tips and you will be more productive with your use of
DraftSight. These tips are among the most commonly used features in
DraftSight. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro, you will use
these options on a daily basis.

System Options
12

Print Configurations

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SYSTEM OPTIONS
Rectangular Grid

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Select Enable Grid to enable or disable the display of a pattern of evenly spaced dots that serve
as a visual distance reference.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

SYSTEM OPTIONS
Isometric Grid

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Use Isometric grid to orient the snap and grid to a 60 degree angle. Also, with this option active,
the IsoCircle option is available in the Ellipse command.

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Print Configurations

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SYSTEM OPTIONS
Snap and Polar Snap

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Select Enable Snap to enable or disable snaps.

Standard (snaps to grid): Causes the pointer to snap to points at specified horizontal and
vertical distances.
Radial (RSnap): Causes the pointer to snap to points along a radial vector. Polar guides must
be on for this functionality to work.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

SYSTEM OPTIONS
Esnap and Override Esnap

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

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16

Print Configurations

Use EntitySnaps (ESnaps) to detect and snap to points on drawing entities, for example, end
points, intersections, and center points. Snapping to a point provides an exact position for drawing
and editing commands. You specify ESnap modes to set snap options. For example, you might
want to snap to intersections between entities. You can apply ESnap modes permanently or for a
single operation.

SYSTEM OPTIONS
Etrack

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

EntityTracking displays orthogonal (horizontal and vertical) tracking guides when the pointer moves
over EntitySnap points. (EntitySnap guides must be enabled).

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

SYSTEM OPTIONS
Polar Guides

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Use polar guides to draw at exact angles and fixed intervals, starting from 3 oclock (or East) and at
additional angle increments. A path line displays if the SelectionBox crosses a geometric point and
the pointer moves close to one of the polar guide angles.

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Print Configurations

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SYSTEM OPTIONS
Entity Cue

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Displays ESnap markers when the pointer encounters ESnap points. The highlighting shows
the ESnap mode you can apply. You can also set the cue color. ESnap cue size sets the display
size of ESnap markers.

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Volume II

Introduction

SYSTEM OPTIONS

DraftSight Fundamentals

Gravity Box

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

With the Gravity Box option you can:

Enable ESnap gravity: Pulls the pointer to an EntitySnap point when the pointer moves near
the point.

GravityBox size.

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Print Configurations

Display GravityBox: Displays a box inside the crosshairs when you snap to an entity. When
snap points come within this box, they become candidates for ESnaps.

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
By using Print Configurations with DraftSight, printing your documents
can be as simple as clicking the Print icon. Understanding Print
Configurations is key to productive and quality work.

21

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Creating and Applying Print Configurations

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

DraftSight.com

22

Print Configurations

You can define print configurations to apply them as printing defaults for the Model and for
Sheets. A print configuration contains the settings for the printer, paper size, print scale and
range, orientation, margin offsets, and other options such as the PrintStyle. When using the
Print command, you can select a print configuration. You can also associate print configurations
to Sheet tab names. Any drawings that use the same Sheet tab name have the same print
configurations automatically associated.

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Renaming Sheet Tabs

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

When setting up sheets to be used with print configurations, it is a good practice to rename your
drawing sheets. This will prevent accidentally overriding settings from other drawings.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Automatically Assigning Print Configurations

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Using identical sheet tab names on multiple drawings will automatically set your print
configurations for your drawing.

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Print Configurations

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PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Assign Multiple Configurations

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Once you have set your configurations, it is possible to assign them to any or all of the sheets in
your file at the same time.

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Batch Printing

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Once you have assigned your configurations to all of your drawing sheets, use batch printing to
print all of the sheets in your file simultaneously.

26

Print Configurations

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PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Deleting and Creating ViewPorts

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

By default, DraftSight places a rectangular ViewPort on each drawing sheet. Often this ViewPort
is not sufficient and its necessary to delete and create a new ViewPort for your drawing sheet.

27

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DraftSight Fundamentals

Volume II

Introduction

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Scaling Your Viewpoint

Drawing Setup
System Options

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Once your drawing sheet is set up and your ViewPort is created, it is necessary to ensure that the
scale of the ViewPort is accurate according to the sheet. Use the ViewPort scale for this operation.

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Print Configurations

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PRINT CONFIGURATIONS
Export to PDF

Reminder: This video segment was taken from a past webinar.

Creating professional PDF documents in DraftSight is simple. Use the ExportPDF command to
produce a multiple page PDF document of all your drawings of like sizes.

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Volume II

Introduction

PRINT CONFIGURATIONS

DraftSight Fundamentals

Drawing Setup

VOLUME I OF THE DRAFTSIGHT

FUNDAMENTAL SERIES
If you liked this eBook and found it useful and have not yet seen
Volume I of the DraftSight Fundamental Series, feel free to click below
to download Volume I now.

Download Now

Getting Started
with DraftSight

System Options

 heck out the DraftSight Getting Started Guide.

C
A free resource designed to get you up and
running with DraftSight in no time.

Download PDF of guide

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30

Print Configurations

Outside the U.S.: +1-978-371-5011

Fax: +1-978-371-7303
Email: info@solidworks.com
Web: http://www.solidworks.com/education

Fun amentals

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