Convert Surface Element

Module(s): Draft

You can use the Convert Surface Element tool to convert surface elements (hatching, patterns, fills, bitmap areas or area styles) to surface elements of the same or different type. You can also use the tool simply to modify the properties of a surface element.

To convert surface elements

1. Click Convert Surface Element (How).
   

   Activate Convert Surface Element in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Modify Draft

   • Toolbar: Basic Tools Draft flyout
   • Palette: Tools Modify area in the following module(s):

   Draft

2. On the Context toolbar, specify which kind of surface element is to be converted into which kind of element.
   • You define which surface element(s) are converted using the five icons on the left. Elements whose icons are not pressed are excluded from the conversion.
   • You define into which surface elements the elements are converted using the five icons on the right.
3. If you want, you can now modify the parameters.
   Use one of the following options provided on the Context toolbar.
   

   • Click Properties to set the parameters in a dialog box.
   • Click Match to copy the settings form an existing element.
4. Select the elements you want to convert.
   

   • To select a single element, click it.
   • To select elements in a region, use the left mouse button to open a selection rectangle around the elements you want to select
   • To include all the elements in the current document, click All in the Input options or press CTRL+A. Please note that this option is not available for all tools.

   For more information on the options available for selecting elements in Allplan, see Selecting elements, overview.

   When selecting elements, you can use the Filter Assistant to apply a filter based on element types and/or properties. For more information, see Filter Assistant.

Tip: To modify a surface element, select the surface element to be modified as the source (on the left) and as the target (on the right). Then click Properties, make your changes and select the element to which you want to apply these changes.