Draw to

Trace Mode's Draw to feature allows you to extend an individual line from where your beginning point is anchored to any other corner point or pop point on the sketch canvas. To use the Draw to feature:

1. Let's say you have a basement area similar to the image below, minus the bay window and the bedroom on the left. Since you've already completed the basic shape of the basement with your first floor area, use the existing area to trace your basement.

   

2. Tap the Trace icon (  ) on the upper left to activate Trace mode. If you're using a smartphone or a similar device with a smaller screen, press the Mode key on your sketch keyboard to switch to Trace Mode. When you do, the original area becomes slightly "grayed out", the words Trace Mode appear in red on the upper left, and purple corner points (  ) appear in each corner of the original area.

   

3. Next, make sure that Place Cursor mode is selected, and place your cursor where you'd like to begin. In our example, we're starting from the corner on the upper left.

   

   By default, TOTAL for Mobile is set to stay in Place Cursor mode after placing the cursor on the sketch canvas. Click here for information on changing these settings to automatically switch to Draw mode after placing the cursor to eliminate a few extra taps.

4. Now you're ready to begin tracing. Ensure that Draw Area line mode is selected, if TOTAL for Mobile doesn't switch to it automatically. Then, trace the basement area. When using the Draw to feature, there are two ways to draw area lines:

   Corner Points and Pop Points

   If the area you're drawing has common, "squared" points, the quickest way to trace the area is to simply tap a purple corner point (  )  or a red pop point (  )  to extend an area line from your starting point to that location.

   Sketch Keyboard

   If the area you're drawing deviates from the original area, or if you need a little more precision with your area lines, you can also use the sketch keyboard to enter the length of a line, and then press an arrow key or swipe the sketch canvas to indicate the direction of the line. Use this in conjunction with tapping corner points and pop points to quickly trace an area.

5. Continue to Draw area lines corresponding to the new area's dimensions to finish tracing.

   

6. When you close the area (this happens automatically when the area line you're drawing meets the existing area line, effectively "closing" the area), notice that TOTAL for Mobile attempts to detect the type of area you just sketched. If it detected the wrong area type, simply select a different area type from the list.
7. After you select the area type, you're returned to the sketch where the new area is situated on top of the original area.

   

   The new area is autonomous from the original area and you can move the new area independently from the rest of the sketch. Tap and drag the new area to a new location on the sketch canvas.