Getting Started Guide - Softworks - Keysoft Solutions...AutoCAD will report the distance between the two selected points. Use this value to determine the drawing units, m, mm, ft,

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Getting Started Guide - Softworks

This exercise is designed as an introduction to the basic commands necessary to Use KeySCAPE. Once you are familiar with the basic concepts, you may wish to progress to the advanced features KeySCAPE, that will help improve your productivity.

All commands described are assumed to be accessed from the ribbon at the top of the screen. See below. The use and familiarisation with the ribbon is highly recommended for improved productivity and future proofing but they can also be accessed via the Command Line or dropdown menus, if you are more familiar using these traditional AutoCAD methods.

Screen Layout

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Starting a Planting Plan

Drawing Setup

When you start a drawing for the first time, KeySCAPE will assume several default settings relating to planting graphics, specification (plant label) text, schedules and planting information. These can be set at the start of the process or changed at a later stage. This guide uses the “out of the box” display settings but these can be modified extensively to match your practice style and this is not covered within this guide.

Drawing units

KeySCAPE default drawing units are assumed to be Metres. You can change this default to your preferred units either for individual drawings, as below, or permanently, which is not covered within this guide.

When you open a drawing for the first time, KeySCAPE has no reliable means of determining the units being used in the AutoCAD drawing. The following process advises how to determine and set the drawing units.

To determine and set the drawing units

• From the Main Menu, pick Open

• Navigate to and open an existing drawing

• If not already active, select the Model tab in the bottom left of your screen

• From the Home ribbon, Utilities tab, select Measure

• Zoom and pan to an object, feature or area of the screen where you can determine a dimension, such as a building, road, path, parking bay, etc.

• You will be prompted: Specify first point: (Pick the first point on the object)

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• You will be prompted: Specify second point (Pick the point on the object or point on another object) AutoCAD will report the distance between the two selected points. Use this value to determine the drawing units, m, mm, ft, etc. You must set KeySCAPE to the appropriate drawing units, as follows:

To assign the text height and drawing units

• From the Core ribbon, Main panel, select Drawing Setup

• The Drawing Setup dialog box appears

On the General tab, under Drawing Units, set the appropriate units determined from the Measure command above, m, mm, ft, etc.

• Pick [Apply],

KeySCAPE is now set up allow you to work in the drawing but will adjust this to the major units of m or ft for calculating plant numbers, based on density options of m2 or ft2, metre or feet centres or linear metres or linear feet.

Should you wish to physically rescale your current drawing to an alternate drawing unit, under Drawing Re-Scale, pick the units you wish to scale to and pick [Re-Scale].

• Make any further adjustments you require and pick [Apply], then [OK].

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The Drawing Setup options can be updated at any stage during the drawings life but the changes WILL affect the display of information currently in the drawing.

Creating a Planting Area

You can create planting areas from boundaries or pre-drawn AutoCAD polylines. This guide takes you through the process of creating beds from boundaries. On complex drawings or where the beds have already been drawn in AutoCAD, you can use the [Select Area>>] option or draw the beds from within the dialog, using [Draw Area>>]. In both cases, you will be prompted whether you wish to delete the selected or drawn polyline or not.

Sub-dividing the planting areas to create planting beds

• From the Softworks ribbon, Draw panel, select Polyline.

This will start the normal AutoCAD polyline command but will place the resultant entity on the layer 4_POLYLINES. Alternatively, you can use the standard AutoCAD polyline command to draw the entity on the current layer.

• Subdivide the beds, in a sketch form, using overlapping polylines, as below:

The polylines will be inserted on the layer 4_POLYLINES if you use the Softworks > Draw > Polyline Command

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To convert the sketch beds into planting areas

You can create Planting Areas using Quick Add, where you define the planting graphic boundary only or Add, where you can additionally specify the plant. We will use the Quick Add method.

Quick Add Method

• From the Softworks ribbon, Planting Area panel, select Quick add

• The Planting Area dialog appears.

• Pick [From Boundary>>].

• You are returned to the drawing

• Zoom to the area you wish to create into a planting area

• At the command line you are prompted:

Select a point inside the boundary: (or S to define a boundary Set)

• Pick inside the boundary and press [Enter] to return to the dialog

• If the Area in the dialog is zero, no boundary could be found so repeat

• Pick [From Boundary>>].


Select a point inside the boundary: (or S to define a boundary Set)

• Enter S and press [Enter].


Select objects:

• Pick the objects that form the boundary then press [Enter]


Select a point inside the boundary:

• Pick the internal point of a proposed planting bed (Point A).

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A boundary polyline will be created based on the extents of the boundary, although you will not see this until you preview the outcome of your selection.

• Pick [Pattern]. The Pattern Options dialog appears.

• Next to Pattern pick the ellipsis to open the Pattern Options dialog

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• Double-click the desired pattern icon, e.g. SOFT EDGE 09

• Experiment with the X, Y and Offset values to modify the graphic, based on the following parameters:

• You can also change the graphic colour, its alignment (left or right of base line) or flip the pattern to define an array of variations to the pattern.

• To view any changes or settings pick [Finished] and then pick [Preview] in the Planting Area dialog.

• Press Enter to return to the Pattern Options dialog and make further modifications.

For consistency throughout the remainder of this exercise, you may wish to apply the following values and settings to the planting area

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• Once you are satisfied with your settings, pick the option [Set as Defaults] on the main Planting Area dialog.

• This will apply the current settings as the default pattern for any new planting areas you create in the drawing.

• Once complete, pick [OK]

Adding Additional Planting Areas

You can create additional planting areas using the default graphic applied above in one of two ways: Adding New Planting Areas, as described in the previous section, or using the Clone Planting Area command.

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Clone Planting Areas

Clone has the advantage over the previous approach because it not only inherits the properties of a selected planting area and its graphic settings but allows you the option to also clone (copy) its specification, if this has been assigned. This allows you to quickly create new planting areas, with specifications, from existing closed polylines, including polygons, circles, or boundaries.

• From the Softworks ribbon, Planting Area panel, select Clone.


Select Planting Area to clone from: (pick an existing planting area and [Enter])

• The following dialogue appears:

Pick Yes to clone the planting area graphic and specification, if defined

Pick No to clone the planting area graphic only

• As the Specification has not been defined so far, picking either Yes or No will make no difference.

• Zoom to the area you wish to create into a planting area


Select polyline or circle to clone to: (or B for Boundary capture)

• Type B at the command prompt and press return

• The command line prompt changes to:

Select a point inside the boundary: (or O for Object capture, S to define Boundary Set)

• Enter S and press [Enter].


Select objects:

• Pick the objects that form the boundary then press [Enter]


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Select a point inside the boundary:

• Pick the internal point of a proposed planting bed and press [Enter]

• A new planting area will be created with the same properties as the original object

• The command continues to prompt again

Select a point inside the boundary: (or O for Object capture)

• Continue picking inside the boundaries to create the remaining planting areas

NOTE: If you have drawn the planting areas using closed polylines, or created boundaries using the AutoCAD Boundary command, use the O option to clone planting area settings to the polyline in the drawing and continue the command. If the planting area you are cloning has a specification, you will be prompted to assign the location for the specification text.

You do not need to re-enter the option B for boundary as, once selected, this becomes the default option for the next planting areas that are cloned within the command. You can switch between the Boundary Capture and Object Capture modes within the command by simply entering B or O respectively.

• Pick inside another boundary to create (clone) the next planting area and cancel the prompt Select Info Location by pressing either [Enter].

• Repeat to clone the same properties.

• Press [Enter] to complete the command.

• Once complete, turn OFF or FREEZE layer 4_POLYLINES (or other layer used) to turn off the display of the original planting bed boundary lines, or delete them if no longer required.

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Modifying the Planting Bed Graphic

• Double click a planting area graphic

• Modify the graphics, as you would when creating a new planting area

• If you wish these settings to be the default graphic style for new planting areas, pick [Set to Defaults]

• Pick [OK] to accept the changes.

• You will be prompted at the command line to Select Info Location:

• Press [Enter] to cancel the command, as you do not wish to insert the specification information at this stage

Creating a Hedge

You can create Hedges using Quick Add, where you define the hedge graphic only or Add, where you can additionally specify the hedge. We will use the Quick Add method

• From the Softworks ribbon, Hedge panel, select Quick Add

• The Hedge dialog appears

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• Under Geometry, pick [Draw Length>>]

• You are returned to the drawing

• Draw a continuous line to represent the centre line of the proposed hedge, as below:

Alternatively, you can use the standard AutoCAD polyline command to draw the entity before using the Add Hedge command and use [Select Length>>].

• When complete, press [Enter]. You will be prompted whether you wish to delete or retain the line just drawn

Pick [Yes], as the line was created as a construction line only.

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• You are returned to the Hedge dialog.

• Under Display Options, pick [Pattern]. The Pattern Options dialog appears.

• As with planting areas, use the dialog box to create the desired appearance of the hedge and use [Preview], on the main Hedge dialog, to view the result of your selections.

For consistency throughout the remainder of this exercise, you may wish to apply the following values and settings:

• When you have the settings you require, pick [Finished].

• You are returned to the Hedge dialog.

• If you wish to retain these settings for the creation of future hedges, under Display Options pick [Set As Defaults].

• Pick [OK] to accept the settings.

To create further hedges, repeat the above process or use the Hedge>Clone feature to copy the properties of an existing hedge to pre-drawn polylines.

Using Clone Hedge

Once you have a reference hedge in the drawing you can use the Clone option. This advantage of this approach is that it not only inherits the properties of an existing hedge and its graphic settings but will also clone its specification, if assigned. This allows you to quickly create new hedges with specifications from existing polyline based objects, including open polylines, polygons, or boundaries.

• From the Softworks ribbon, Hedge panel, Select Clone


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Select Hedge to clone from: (pick an existing hedge and press [Enter])


Select polyline to clone to: (pick a pre-drawn polyline and press [Enter])

• If the hedge you are cloning has a specification, you will be prompted to assign the location for the specification text

Select Info Location: (Press [Enter] to skip specification insertion)

• A new hedge will be created with the same properties as the original object

• Repeat to clone the same properties to other polyline objects in the drawing, as required.

• Press [Enter] to complete the command.

Modifying the Hedge Graphic

• Double click a hedge

• Modify the graphics, as you would when creating a new hedge

• If you wish these settings to be the default graphic style for additional hedges, pick [Set to Defaults]

• Pick [OK] to accept the changes

• You will be prompted at the command line to Select Info Location:

• Press [Enter] to cancel the command, as you do not wish to insert the specification information at this stage

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Inserting Individual Tree Symbols

To position a group of trees at the rear of the seating area

• From the Softworks ribbon, Draw panel, Symbols dropdown, Select Tree

• The Trees symbol selector dialog appears

• Select the Plan tab.

• Double click the desired symbol.

• You are returned to the drawing and prompted, as follows:

Insertion Point: (Pick a location in the drawing as below)

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o Spread: (Enter 3, i.e. 3m spread) o Height: (Enter 3, a non-zero height must be entered) o Rotation: (Enter 0, i.e. as displayed in the dialog)

A tree with a 3m spread will appear in the drawing with its centre point at the selected location

To copy the inserted tree to other locations in the drawing

• Press the [Esc] key on the keyboard to ensure that you are not in a command or no other objects are selected.

• Select the tree symbol just inserted. A blue grip will appear at its insertion (centre) point.

• Pick the blue grip so that it turns red, i.e. becomes active.

• Right click and a menu will appear.

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• From the menu, select Copy Selection.

• Pick new locations for each additional tree required, as shown. After each pick, a copy of the original tree will appear at the new location.

• To complete the command, either press [Enter] on your keyboard or right mouse click again and pick Enter or Cancel from the menu

Attaching a Specimen Specification

You can attach a specification to a symbol or AutoCAD entity (block or circle) already in the drawing by converting it to a Specimen.

• From the Softworks ribbon, Specimen panel, select Add.

• The Specimen dialog appears.

• Under Select Symbol, pick [Select Symbol(s)].

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• You will now be returned to the drawing.

• You are prompted: Select the Object(s) that you want to convert:

• Individually pick the tree symbols at the rear of the seating area moving sequentially through the symbols in the order you would wish the drawing link line to display, i.e. the order you pick the symbols will determine the path of the link line joining the symbols when it is drawn.

NOTE: You are only permitted to select a symbol, AutoCAD block or circle when selecting objects to be assigned a specimen specification. All other object types will be filtered out.

• When complete, press [Enter] to return to the Specimen dialog. The number of symbols selected will be counted

• Now looking at the bottom, Specification section, of the Specimen dialog

• Pick [Specification]

• The Specification Select dialog box appears

• Pick the Trees tab. The tree specification page appears

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• To define the tree, progress through the dialog box from top left, across to the right and down, as you would when reading a book. Follow the sequence set out below:

• Pick the edit box next to Species.

• The drop-down list of plants appears.

• Select the desired tree from the list.

• Pick the edit box next to Height. Select the desired height, as required, from the list.

• Further specify the specimen using other items, as appropriate, e.g. pot size or girth

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You can add further specification requirements entering text in the Specification edit box or select from predefined specification items that can be added to the specification by selecting from the specification window at the centre of the dialog box, as follows:

• Pick a group in the left-hand window. Specification information relating to the selected topic will display in the right window.

• Double-pick the item required from the right-hand window. The selected information will be added to the Specification field below. Continue this process to build up your specification by selecting from other topic groups.

• If you wish to add your own, unique information to the specification, pick in the edit window adjacent to Specification and enter your own details but DO NOT use commas!

• Pick [OK]

• You are returned to the Specimen dialog, where you can see the selected specification displayed

• Pick [OK]

• You are returned to the drawing and are prompted for Specification Location

The live preview will show the specification before insertion, allowing you to best position the text.

• Pick a point on the screen where you wish the specification text to appear.

• You are prompted to Select Fixed Leader Point

• Pick points to define the start of the leader line, typically somewhere along, or at the end of the link line connecting the trees

• You will be prompted to Select Floating Leader Point

• Working back to the specification, pick additional leader points to define the leader. Use ORTHO if horizontal or vertical line segments are required

• When complete press [Enter]. The specification and leader will be inserted.

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Modifying Specimens

Modifying the Specification of a Specimen

• Double-click the link line between the symbols

• Alternatively, from the Softworks ribbon, Specimen panel, select Modify and when prompted to Select Objects, pick any one of the trees you wish to modify, or their associated link lines, and press [Enter]

• The Specimen dialog appears.

• Make any modifications to the specification, as required.

• Pick [OK] to apply the changes.

Changing the Height of the Specification Text

• From the Softworks ribbon, Specification panel, middle dropdown, select > Set Text height.

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• The Specification Style dialog appears

• In the bottom section, on the Default Cell Properties tab

• Enter the height you require in the Text Height field

The height is based on current drawing units

• Pick [OK]. The specification text size will update in the drawing

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Modifying Planting Areas

Assigning a Single Species Specification to a Planting Area

• Double-click the graphic of a planting area created using Quick Add

• The Modify Planting Area dialog appears.

• At this point you can modify the planting area graphics or include subtracted areas and gradient calculation, if required. Under Layout, pick the dropdown next to Density and from the list select the density type you require.

• In the adjacent window, enter the density (or number) you require. The total number of plants will update, as appropriate.

• Pick [Specification].

• The Specification Select dialog box appears.

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• Pick the appropriate tab for your specification, e.g. Shrubs. The Shrubs specification page appears.

• Specify the plant as described in the previous section: “Assigning a Specification to a Specimen already in the Drawing”

• Pick [OK] to close the Modify Planting Area dialog.

• You will be prompted at the command line to Select Info Location

• Pick a point on the screen where you wish the specification text to appear.

• You are prompted to Select Fixed LeaderPoint

• Pick a point to define the start of the leader line, typically the centre of the bed.

• You will be prompted to Select Floating LeaderPoint

• Working back to the specification, pick additional leader points to define the leader line. Use ORTHO if horizontal or vertical line segments are required.

Modifying the Specification of a Planting Area

• Double-click the planting area graphic or specification

• The Modify Planting Area dialog appears.

• Make any modifications to the specification, as required.


Modifying Hedges

Assigning a Single Species Specification to a Hedge

• Double-click the graphic of a hedge created using Quick Add

• The Modify Hedge dialog appears.

• At this point you can modify the hedge graphics, if required.

• In the adjacent window, enter the density (or number) you require. The total number of plants will update as appropriate


• The Specification Select dialog box appears

• Pick the appropriate tab for your specification, e.g. Shrubs

• The Shrubs specification page appears

• Specify the plant as described in the earlier section: “Assigning a Specification to a Specimen already in the Drawing”

• Pick [OK] to close the Modify Hedge dialog

• You will be prompted to Select Info Location

• Pick a point on the screen where you wish the specification text to appear


• Pick a point to define the start of the leader line, typically next to the hedge.

• You will be prompted to Select Floating LeaderPoint

• Working back to the specification, pick additional leader points to define the leader line. Use ORTHO if horizontal or vertical line segments are required.

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Modifying the Specification of a Hedge


• The Modify Hedge dialog appears

• Make any modifications to the specification, as required

• Pick [OK] to apply the changes

Mix Planting

Assigning a Mix Specification to a Planting Area

• Double-click the graphic of an existing planting area

• Under Specification, pick [Set Single Species/Mix ->]. A drop-down list appears with the following specification layout options

Select Full Coverage – Mix

• A warning message appears. This informs that any current specification will be removed. Press [Yes] to accept

• The lower section of the dialog now transforms to preview a mix specification, rather than the default single species specification

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You can switch between specification layouts at any time but doing so WILL delete the previous specification. If this is not required, pick [Cancel] and try again.

• Under Layout, pick the dropdown next to Type and from the list select Density.

• In the adjacent window, enter the density required, e.g. 3 (for 3/m²)

• The total number of plants required will update

• Pick [Specification]. The Select Mix dialog appears

• Three Mix Groups exist by default

Custom Mixes Blank for you to create your own mixes

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General KeySCAPE Mixes

useful mixes for use as templates for creating additional mixes

NVC Woodland Mixes

mixes based on the National Vegetation Classification (UK) woodland types

NOTE: You can create and modify Mix Groups and Mix files but this is not included within this guide

• Under Groups select the group General KeySCAPE Mixes. The list of mix files associated with this group will appear under Mixes (right-hand window).

• Pick the Mix Ground Cover 1.

• A preview of the mix will appear in the lower section of the dialog.

• Pick [OK] to accept the mix file and return to the Modify Panting Area dialog.

• In the Header window, enter the text Ground Cover Planting.

• Pick [OK] to close the Modify Planting Area dialog

• You will be prompted at the command line to Select Info Location



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• Pick a point to define the start of the leader line, typically the centre of the bed and, working back to the specification, pick additional leader points to define the leader line.

Modifying the Mix Specification of a Planting Area


• The Modify Planting Area dialog appears



Assigning a Mix Specification to a Hedge

• Double-click the graphic of an existing hedge


• Under Specification, pick [Set Single Species/Mix ->]

• A drop-down list appears with the following specification layout options

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• Select Full Coverage – Mix

• A warning message appears. This informs that any current specification will be removed. Press [Yes] to accept

• The lower section of the dialog now transforms to preview a mix specification, rather than the default single species specification

You can switch between specification layouts at any time but doing so WILL delete the previous specification. If this is not required, pick [Cancel] and try again.

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• Under Layout, from the dropdown list next to Type pick the option Double Staggered.

• In the adjacent number field, enter the density 0.25 (for 250mm centres) and Offset of 0.3 (for 300mm spacing between rows)

• The total number of plants required will update


• The Select Mix dialog appears

• Under Groups select the group General KeySCAPE Mixes. The list of mix files associated with this group will appear under Mixes (right-hand window).

• Pick the Mix Hedge 1.

• A preview of the mix will appear in the lower section of the dialog.

• Pick [OK] to accept the mix file and return to the Modify Panting Area dialog.

• In the Header window, enter the text Native Hedge Planting.

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• Pick [OK] to close the Modify Planting Area dialog

• You will be prompted to Select Info Location



• Pick a point to define the start of the leader line, typically the centre of the bed and, working back to the specification, pick additional leader points to define the leader line.

Modifying the Mix Specification of a Hedge

• Double-click the hedge graphic or specification


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• Pick [OK] to apply the changes

Plant Schedules

You can insert a plant schedule into the drawing at any time. When you add or modify specimens, hedges or planting areas, any changes will force a recalculation of plant numbers and this will be automatically reflected in the schedule.

Inserting a Full Schedule

• From the Softworks ribbon, Schedule panel, pick Insert Schedule

• The Add Schedule dialog appears

• Make sure that Full Schedule is selected

• In the edit box adjacent to Header, enter the header text you wish to appear above the schedule, e.g. Plant Schedule and enter the footer text you wish to appear below the schedule

• Pick [OK]. You will be returned to the drawing and prompted to pick a Schedule Location

• Pick the point where you wish the schedule to appear, based on the top left-hand corner of the schedule frame. The schedule will be displayed in the drawing

Documents

Getting Started Guide - Softworks - Keysoft Solutions...AutoCAD will report the distance between the two selected points. Use this value to determine the drawing units, m, mm, ft,