Vector PDF

OverviewThe Vector PDF functions outlined in this document allow faster creation of more accurate Earthwork estimates.

What is a vector?Images are typically made of a bunch of dots with different colors or shades of grey. Vectors in a PDF files are lines and curves. Estimators can create annotation out of vectors by selecting them instead of tracing them.

Is my file a vector PDF?Only PDF files have vectors. Not all PDF files have any vectors. Some PDF files have both vectors and images that are not vectors. If the Vector mode button is disabled for an image, that image does not have any vectors on it.

Importing VectorsIf available, vectors are imported automatically when you add a PDF file to your Earthwork job.

Speedbar Buttons

1. Vector: The Vector mode button changes the function of the following Speedbar Buttons and The All Tasks Menu Item Join and Multiple Join.

2. Select: When you left click on a vector it will become selected and previously selected vectors will be deselected. Right clicking when vector(s) are selected is the same as clicking the Finished button, see below. Right clicking when no vectors are selected selects the closest vector and presses the Finished button.

3. Multi-Select (Or Select with the shift key down): Multi-Select allows selecting multiple vectors by clicking on each vector. The vector can be deselected by clicking it a second time Right clicking when vector(s) are selected is the same as clicking the Finished button, see below. Right clicking when no vectors are selected selects the closest vector and presses the Finished button to create an annotation in one step.

4. Finished (Hot Key F): Create an annotation out of the currently selected Vector(s). If multiple vectors are selected they will be joined together to create a single annotation. Special behavior exists for the Area Window, see below. If on the takeoff windows, increment the elevation by the value in the interval edit on the main window. Finished can also be called in vector mode by right clicking.

5. Continue (Hot Key C): Takeoff window only. If multiple vectors are selected they will be joined together to create a single annotation. Create an annotation out of the currently selected Vector(s). Do not increment the elevation by the increment.

6. Single El: Takeoff window only. Create a new annotation out of the vector you click on. Increment the elevation by the increment if on the Takeoff Window. To create a new annotation without incrementing the elevation, hold down the shift key when you click.

7. Multi El (Set Elevations): Takeoff window only. This function allows you to click on two locations to create a line across multiple vectors and create multiple annotation with different elevations from each of the crossed vectors.

a. Start Elevation: The elevation of the fist vector crossed by the line. This defaults to the value in the elevation edit on the main form.

b. Interval: Add the interval to the elevation of the previous vector and assign to the current annotation. This defaults to the value in the interval edit on the main form.

c. Note: if you Right Click the second point when creating the line that crosses the vectors the Set Elevation form will not appear. Annotations will be created using the default values for Start Elevation and Interval.

All Tasks Menu Items1. Join (Hotkey J): Joins multiple vector segments into a single vector.

2. Multiple Join: Joins vector segments together to create multiple vectors. If more than one vector is selected Multiple Join will only join the selected vectors. If one or no vectors are selected Multiple Join will join vectors from all of the selected layers. Note: Multiple join will sometimes join segments incorrectly. Things that are obvious to humans are sometimes very hard for computers. If Multiple Join does not work well on a particular PDF layer you may want to create the annotations for that layer using Align to Image.

a. Join Distance: The maximum distance between vector segments where they can be joined together into one vector.

b. Note: Use The Len/EA Window to measure the maximum distance between line segments.

Non-vector functions available in Vector Mode1. Point, Trace, Snap: You can create an annotation using Point, Trace, or Snap and a vector. Start

the annotation with Point, Trace, or Snap, then select a single vector, or multiple vectors. You can finish the annotation at this point, or you can switch back to Point, Trace, or Snap mode to continue the annotation.

2. Properties: After creating an annotation you can access the properties for that annotation without turning off vector mode. Just click the Prop button or use the hotkey.

3. Len/EA window Prop: This allows you to change the type of length for the currently selected annotations.

4. Len/EA window Line: This allows you to change the type of length for future Length annotations.

Preferences1. Tools – Preferences – Digital Tab: Disable Vector Import. If checked, treat Vector PDF files like

they don’t have any vectors.

Vector Layers Control

1. Navigationa. Click: If the layer is not selected it becomes selected and gets focus. If the layer is

selected it becomes deselected and loses focus. If you want to deselect a layer, and retain focus use the space bar key.

b. Arrow Keys: If one of the layers has focus you can move up and down the layers using the arrow keys

c. Space bar: Toggle selection of the active layer.2. All Button: Turn on all Vector PDF layers3. None: Turn off all Vector PDF layers4. Current: Turn off all Vector PDF layers except for the layer of the currently selected vector 5. Edit: Edit the Vector Layer with the “Edit Vector PDF Layer” form.6. Minimize / Restore: The circled control allows minimizing and restoring the Vector Layers

Control.

Edit Vector PDF Layer Form

1. Name: Change the name of the layer to identify the content. Geek note: The default layer names are based on the color of the vectors broken down into red green and blue intensities. Black is R0G0B0. White is R255G255B255.

2. Color: The current color of all the vectors on the current layer3. Change Button: Show a color picker to choose a new color for the vectors on the current layer.

Copy / Paste1. Copy: CTRL – C2. Paste: CTRL – V3. You cannot copy vectors to annotations, but you cannot copy annotations to vectors. 4. Copy / Paste to the Area window allows you to create multiple areas out of multiple selected

unclosed vectors.

Image Layer1. From the bottom toolbar press the Layers Button

2. From the Select Layers to View form you can enable or disable the image of the PDF. If you add or switch to an image that does not have vectors the image layer will be enabled automatically.

Vector Windows1. Takeoff

a. Single El. and Multi El. Are only available in the Takeoff Windowb. When an annotation is created on the Takeoff window the line properties form does not

show. 2. Area

a. When an annotation is created on the Area window the area properties form will appear.

b. If you select multiple closed vectors multiple areas will be created with the same properties.

c. See Copy /Paste3. Trench

a. When an annotation is created on the Area window the trench properties form will appear.

4. Len/EAa. When an annotation is created on the Len / EA window the line properties form does

not show.

b. Unlike other windows Lengths will remain selected as more lengths are added. c. When the line style is changed with the Line speedbar buttons all lengths will become

deselected. The next annotations you create will have the line style you selected.d. When the line style is changed with the Prop. Speedbar buttons the line style you

selected is applied to all currently selected lengths and all lengths are deselected.

Suggested Workflow1. Create a new job using “Plans in an Image File (the same workflow as a non-vector Image jobs)

a. Select The PDF (from the “Extract Sheets” Tab, Click the Ellipsis … button)b. Click the “Extract Sheets” Buttonc. Choose the paged. Click OKe. Set the scale and close the scale dialog

2. Survey the imagea. Consider turning off the “Image” layer using the “Layers” buttonb. Find the layers from which to create annotations

i. Rename themii. Change their color as needed

3. Prep the vectors for Importa. Use Takeoff – Multiple Join to join vector segments into more usable vectorsb. Use Takeoff – Join to join individual vectors that were missed by Multiple Join

4. Create Annotationsa. On the Takeoff window

i. start with Multi Elii. use Single El where Multi El is not quicker

iii. Or if you prefer use Select, and Finish/Continueb. On other windows use

i. Select and Finishii. Right Click

iii. Copy / Paste (Mostly for the area window)5. Finish the job with non-vector functionality

a. For some annotations Align to Image, Trace, or Point mode will be a better choice.b. Vector mode does not support Spot Elevations and count items

6. Add a new Image using “Add New Digital Plan using Matchlines (the same workflow as a non-vector PDF job)

7. Repeat steps 2 - 5

GlossaryClosed Vector: The start point and end point of the vector are the same.