Basics

General:
ESC - when an action is completed, use ESC twice to get back to normal mode (usually have to hit ESC twice). Particularly when doing things like modifying a (eg) wall after you've created one.

Properties bar (left)
When nothing is selected, this shows the view properties, when a element/component etc is selected, it shows only properties for the thing selected.

Navigating:
Press scroll bar down to move (hand).
Zoom fit = zooom extends = Z F keys
Zoom region = Z R then select the region you want to zoom into

Reference planes (R P):
Like grid lines (but not), lines to reference to/align to, particularly important when using 3D.
Will not be part of the model, will not print

Placing components
SPACEBAR - Can either tick 'rotate after placement' or use the spacebar before you click to place; you can also pick up reference points this way by hovering over a reference point and using the space bar to align the component with this (eg. align a desk with a wall etc)

Temporary dimenstions (blue)
Can be changed on the fly if you type in dimensions without finishing the selection
My default is metric, mm. Can type in anything else eg. 4m will convert to 4000 or even feet, will automatically convert and display in mm.

Views:
Project browser shows all the views - Floor plans, 3d (work), Sections, Elevations
NB. Floor plans are set up already, as are 3d and Elevations but you have to define the sections before these appear

Coarse = design concept view, Medium = design drawings, Fine = much more detail, for construction drawings

Also,
View - Graphics - Thin lines (easier to work with).

Draw
'Chain' is always on by default (ie. continuous lines)

Selecting
TAB - Hover with mouse, TAB, click - this will select all continuous elements of the same time (nb. but not T-junctions).
TAB - When selecting elements with things in front or hard to select, hover the mouse then use the tab key until the bit you want is selected.
FILTER - select all then use the FILTER function to only select eg. doors, windows

Sections - first make sure you're in a floor plan view so you know where you'll be taking the section
1. View tab
2. Section, click
3. Click on the down arrow to first select eg the building section, then the wall section, then the detail (this is a 'call out').

• Click to end the selection of the cut, then re select the section function to change and make a new kind of section each time.
• To make a detail section:
• choose where abouts in an existing section you want to show this detail
• select that section (eg. wall section)
• click the 'callout' button instead of the section button on the toolbar.

The elevation markers and the section markers in a floor plan view are like hyperlinks in that when you doubleclick these, they show the corresonding view (eg. section, elevation etc).

Levels:
Creating a new level - go to an elevation view, the use the Datum - Level function. Start from the level below then just create a new one above. Will appear in the Project Browser as a new level (rename it something sensible though).
Copying levels - However, if you have lots of levels to create which are identical to those below, you can select them and copy (clipboard), paste (Aligned to Picked Level). However, doing it that way does not automatically show these levels in the project browser - to do this:

• View - Plan Views - Floor plans to see the views just copied
• Select those levels and they will appear in the Project Browser now - probably will need to rename the levels something sensible

Copying:
eg. elements like doors etc

1. For duplicating in the same wall/view (MODIFY TOOL SET):
• Select the door you want to copy (just click on it so it appears blue)
• Choose the copy function from the modify tool set.
• Click to establish a base point on the same wall then move along that wall until you are where you want to position the new door, click again and it's been duplicated.
2. For something you want to duplicate exactly on another level/multiple levels (CLIPBOARD, PASTE ALIGNED):
• Select the (eg) door then use the copy function on clipboard.
• Click paste but use the Paste Aligned to Selected Levels option which brings up a window showing the levels in your model.
• Choose the level(s) you want that door to be duplicated in - it will then paste in exactly the same position but on that level(s) selected.