Layout window

Module(s): Layout

You can use the Layout Window tool to place sections of documents in the layout. A layout window may display portions from several documents at the same time. Elements that are remote from one another in the building model can thus be displayed beside each other in the layout.

Tip: To exclude the border around the layout window from printouts: clear the Layout window border option in the Print Layouts tool on the Printer tab by clicking the Set button to the right of Elements to print in the Selection area. This has been the default setting since version 2012.

To create a layout window

1. Click Layout Window (How).
   

   Activate Layout Window in one of the following ways

   • Menu bar: Create Layout

   • Toolbar: Basic Tools Layout flyout
   • Palette: Tools Create area in the following module(s):

   Layout

2. Specify how the window is to be created:
   • Click ... place drawing files as layout elements to create a layout window based on drawing files and filesets.
   • Click ... place NDW as layout elements to create a layout window based on NDW files.
   • Click ... of layout elements already placed to convert elements already in the layout into a layout window.
   • Click ... without layout elements to create an empty layout window that can be filled with elements later.
     You can use Modify Layout Window to add documents later.
3. Place the drawing file, fileset or NDW file as described in Layout Element or NDW Layout Element and press ESC when you have finished placing elements or select layout elements that have already been placed.
4. Enter the layout window as you would a polyline. Make sure that the polyline you enter is closed as layout windows cannot have "holes".
   The border is created with the settings that are current on the Format toolbar.

   Note: Check that Area detection is not selected in the input options. Otherwise, the border or boundary of the layout element placed defines the size of the layout window.

5. Press ESC to finish.
   

Notes:

• When you create layout elements as layout windows, the documents have the same scale and angle when they are placed in the layout. In addition, they are congruent.
• When you convert layout elements to layout windows, the documents must have the same scale and angle. Allplan automatically places the documents so that they are congruent.
• Details that may appear in filesets or documents are also displayed in layout windows.
• Additional elements drawn in the layout (such as lines and text) are ignored.
• You can manipulate the entire layout window using the Copy, Move and Rotate tools. Deleting the layout window also deletes the layout element.
• You can modify the corners and edges of a layout window using the Stretch Entities and Fold Line tools.
• When you change the scale of a layout window, all elements of the layout window are displayed so that they are proportional to the center of the MinMax box representing the layout window polygon at the new scale.
  Consequently, the layout elements are no longer displayed in their original position in the layout when you explode the layout window later.