Refresh DWG Layout

User Role required:

Bucket Administrator

When RedEye receives a CAD file, we run it through a set of tools to analyse the native file in order to generate a preview PNG image to present in the artefact page. The process of assessing and analysing native files is based on the parameters set up in the native files by the Drafter. RedEye simply renders an image of the drawing based on the supplied parameters. The preview we generate will be of the ACTIVE tab at the time the CAD is exported, be it Model or Paper space.

Refresh DWG Layout tool can be used to switch the artefact preview to another space if required.

However, when working with CAD files, they don't always come in following the standard requested. They might appear fine in "edit" mode in CAD software but not so much when plotted/outputted to pdf, that's where things are overlooked. As a result, we have this tool called Refresh DWG Layout to allow for some flexibility if redrafting is not an option.

In the artefact page, under Tools > CAD, you should see a button called "Refresh DWG Layout"

Clicking on it will prompt RedEye to re-run the process of CAD file analysis. Similar to the post-upload process. Once run successfully, you'll be presented with the below window.

FORCE MONO: When Yes is selected, RedEye will regenerate the artefact preview in black and white regardless of the plot styles and colours set up

ZOOM TO EXTENTS: When Yes is selected, RedEye default renders the "last edited layout" that's "zoomed to extents" meaning the preview will be generated with EVERYTHING that exists in the given layout. Selecting No doesn't have an impact on the preview

MARGIN: Previews are rendered default with 4 as the margin. The bigger the number, the more margin is added between the edge of the preview to the edge of the drawing. See example below

PAPER SIZE: Previews are rendered based on the Plot Settings of the CAD file set up by drafters as Auto Detected. You can use this function to force the preview to render to a different paper size that's different to how it's drafted (often an unsupported paper size is set by the Drafter, causing our preview to look out of shape). This function can also be used when the drawing is "messy" with other elements outside of the title block. Setting it to a specific paper size will ensure the preview zooms into the title block

Model and Layout1...: Displayed images are the drawing content in per CAD layout. The default selected layout is always the "last edited layout" in the CAD file. Normally there's the model space and the paper space. You might see more if the CAD drawing is a multipage drawing. Select the image you want the preview to be and click Submit

Margin size example:

Margin: 4

Margin: 100