Desktop Sketching > Define Areas
     
 

Define Areas

 
     

As you complete each area in your sketch, DaVinci automatically prompts you to define the completed area. Once you've defined it, you can edit the area's properties at any time. To define an area in your sketch...

  1. In a sketch, first draw a complete area.
  2. When prompted about the type of area you've drawn select an appropriate Area Type from the list on the left. To assist you in defining the area quickly DaVinci automatically guesses the appropriate area type and displays that suggestion as the first item in the Area Type list. If DaVinci guesses correctly, just select the top area in the list. If the appropriate Area Type is not available, you can create your own area type.
  3. The Area Type you select also changes the floor level and calculation type for the area, but you're free to change those values if they differ from one file to the next. As necessary, select the floor level and calculation type of the area from the Level and Calculation Details lists respectively.

  4. If necessary, you can also control the color scheme, area label, and units of measure for the area. Just click Edit Area Properties to do so. Then, apply your changes and click OK. Options include:
    • Area Name - The label DaVinci places on the area
    • Show Area Name - Whether to show or hide the area's label
    • Show Perimeter - Whether to include the total perimeter of the area below the area's label
    • Show Calculation Area - Whether to include the total calculated area of the region below its label
    • Area Multiplier - If you want the area's square footage to be multiplied in the total calculation, increase or decrease the multiplier using the up and down arrows.
    • Unit of Measure - The desire unit of measure for the calculated area of the region
    • Foreground Color/Opacity - Controls the inner fill color of the area and its clearness. Click the Foreground Color box to select a color and use the opacity slider to increase or decrease the clearness of the fill color.
    • Background Color/Opacity/Pattern - When you specify a background color, you have the additional option to apply a pattern to the background. Select a background color, pattern, and opacity (clearness) of the background to apply the change to your area.
    • Gradient - Applies a gradual color transition to the foreground color of your area. Select a foreground color and gradient style from the provided controls to preview the transition in the box above the Gradient drop-down.

  5. When finished, click OK to apply the selected changes to your sketch area.

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