Shorcuts in Dibac

Most frequently used keys in Dibac cad

Relative to the origin (0,0)

Relative to the cursor

Pointer

The cursor consists of two perpendicular lines (crosshair) and a pick-box at their intersection.

The size of the pointer lines can be changed as follow: [Tools] – [Preferences] – [General].

The first option is to change the [Crosshair] in pixels.

The penultimate option is to change the size of the pick-box [Approximation size in pixels], according to how precise you want it to be in acquiring items underneath it.

If you want to select and object, you must place the pick-box on that object. If there are several objects within the pick-box, it will select the first according to the order of priority established in the Object Snap.

You can see a preview of the selection by activating this option in [Tools] – [Preferences] – [General] – [Selection Preview]. This way the object to be selected with the pick-box will be highlighted beforehand.

Mouse

H/V Ortho mode (F8)

Located on the Icon Bar (properties bar), this indicates the perpendicularity angle.

Zoom. Changing the scale

Zoom options are under the [VIEW] menu.

Scrolling on the screen. Pan tool.

This feature is activated by holding down the scroll wheel of the mouse. You can also activate the Pan tool by choosing the function on the quick access toolbar.

The arrow keys also move the drawing on the screen in the opposite direction of the arrow.

Undo. Go back step by step.

By pressing the CTRL+ Z keys at any time, clicking on the “Undo” function from the toolbar, or clicking on the “Undo” option under the flyout menu on the tab “Edition”, you return to the previous state of the drawing. Consequently, you can go backwards as many times as you wish, up to the start of the drawing, as long as you have not activated the “Purge” function in the flyout menu of the “File” tab.

Redo

If, after undoing, you hold donw the CTRL+ Y keys, click on the “Redo” function from the quick access toolbar, or click on the “Redo” option from the flyout menu of the tab “Edition”, you return to the state of the drawing before the Undo function was activated.

Redraw

Regenerate (CTRL + S)

This is an option under the [VIEW] menu.

It regenerates the entire drawing from within the current viewport by recomputing the locations and visibility for all objects and reindexing the drawing database for optimum display.

Virtual functions menu

This allows you to access functions without going through the menu, thus considerably shortening the time spent drawing.

If no function is selected (which happens after the ESC key is pressed) and you DOUBLE CLICK on any object in the drawing, you will automatically activate the corresponding function of that object, with all of its characteristics. So, if you click on a wall, you will continue to draw walls with the same thickness, color and line type of the selected object.

This can be done by just DOUBLE CLICKING on an object that has already been drawn. For example, if you want to make a straight line, double click on another previously drawn line. If you want to draw with a certain wall type, double click on a similar one

If you DOUBLE CLICK on text for the first time, you will be able to access to a dialog window where the text can be modified.

If you want to copy it, just click [OK].

If you want to modify, activate [Modify] option.

If you want to enter a new text with the same attributes, once the [Modify] option is deactivated, you can write whatever new text you want and it will be the same font, size, etc.

DOUBLE CLICK on a door to enter the “Doors” function. A type of door will appear, and you will be able to check and, in this case, change the width of the sash, whether it has a window, the number of sashes and the total length. Doors and windows will remain assigned “Centered inside” by default.

If you click on a pillar, as well as entering the same function, you will obtain its dimensions.

This allows you to see that the entire drawing acts as a Virtual Menu of functions, involving both frozen and current layers.

The WALL function includes wall attributes and partitions as well.

This command draws 2 straight parallel lines of a certain thickness, in which you can insert the joinery (doors, windows and wardrobes) very easily.

Thickness

The name and thickness of these walls can be changed. To do this go to [Tools] > [Preferences] > [Walls].

Drawing partitions

To draw a partition without a length measurement (rough sketch), click once on any point of the workspace. Now move the mouse cursor in the direction of the wall. You will see a flexible line indicated in the direction of the wall. To finalize this, click again.

Now, you are going to draw a partition 5 meters long and 25 cm thick:

• Check that the Wall thickness tab shows [Thickness 25].
• Click anywhere on the top left-hand side of the screen.
• Move the mouse to the right, and before clicking, type 5 (Enter). A double straight line, 5 meters long, will appear.

 To start at another point, right click to exit the function.

 Right click again to return to the function and draw another wall.

Ortho mode

On the other hand, if you have the H/V (ortho mode) checkbox unchecked, the partitions will be drawn according to the direction indicated with the mouse.

You can toggle the ortho mode by pressing F8

Joining methods

There are two joining methods with respect to the walls: “T” and “L”.

• To make a type “T” intersection with another straight or curved partition, finish at the closest line of the two that constitute the wall

• If you want to make an “L” intersection, click on the line furthest away from the two lines drawing the wall. In this way, you can create a corner

With this tool you can create walls and partitions made up of arcs. Most of the rules for drawing straight walls apply here.

To intersect another straight or curved partition, you will finish at the line closest to this partition if you want to make a “T” intersection, and if you click on the furthest line you will make an “L” intersection.

This tool allows you to create a parallel wall or partition at a certain distance from another one. To use this tool, you must follow these steps:

If you want to make another parallel wall at a different distance from the present one, you do not need to exit the function. Just type the new value and press ENTER.

To draw a centered partition with an axis, the distance will include the half of the partition thickness, with the position of the partition displayed on one side of the axis and the direction of the thickness on the other.

This function divides the distance between two points of a wall into equal parts by creating perpendicular partitions

 Enter the function by clicking on the icon.

 Type the number of divisions

 Set the length of the perpendicular partitions

 Specify the first point of the wall and then the second point.  The perpendicular partitions will be created by dividing the indicated distance between those two points, and to the left of the specified order

If you want to divide the wall with lines instead of partitions, hold the CTRL key while specifying the points.

This icon represents JOINERY and it refers to Doors, Windows, Wardrobes and any Joinery designed by the user

 Number of slabs

You can select among 1 Slab [Single Door], 2 Slabs [Double Door] and Door opening

 Position on the wall thickness

Indicates the position of the door frame with respect to the wall thickness.

 Location on the wall

There are 4 options as regards where the door will be placed:

• [FREE]. The “Free” option allows you to place the door on any part of the wall or partition, the hinge being the reference insertion point on the wall.  The door symbol is highlighted in the position before being placed. If you want to change the opening direction before placing it, left click on an empty space.

• [CENTERED OUTSIDE]. With the “Centered outside” option, the door will be drawn centered with respect to the opposite line that constitutes the partition, which is different from the one you click on to indicate the location of the door.

• [FIXED DISTANCE]. When you select this option, a box appears to the right of the door where you can type a distance (in meters) from the closest intersection or corner. This option allows you to place the door hinge at a certain distance away from the corner closest to the door.

• [CENTERED INSIDE]. With the “Centered inside” option active, the door will be drawn centered with respect to the partition line that you click on to place the door

 Door measurements and opening angles

• [WIDTH/ANGLE of the Main Slab]. Two boxes appear on the right. The first is for the slab The second is for the opening angle of the slab.

• [WIDTH/ANGLE Second slab]. This is activated when a double door is selected.

• [FRAME THICKNESS]. This option refers to the frame dimension perpendicular to the wall.

• [FRAME WIDTH]. This option refers to the frame dimension in the longitudinal direction of the wall.

After setting the door parameters and pressing [OK], you can insert the door in the walls/partitions of the drawing. You can change the opening direction doing a left-click in an empty space of the drawing.

This tool is under [JOINERY]

Select this icon and then click on the [WINDOWS] tab.

This function allows you to insert windows with or without flashing boards and large windows in a straight or curved partition

There are 4 headings under the Window menu:

1. Window type

• [Window sill]: Creates a type of window WITHOUT a flashing board.

• [Flashing board]: Creates a type of window WITH a flashing board.

• [Large window]: Creates a large window for terrace doors.

2. Position on the wall thickness

Indicates the position of the window frame with respect to the wall width/thickness.

3. Location on the wall

• [FREE]. The “Free” option allows us to place a window on any part of the partition. The window is displayed before being placed. When it is being displayed, if you want to change the insertion point origin before placing it, click on an empty space.

• [FIXED DISTANCE]. When you select this option, a box appears to the right of the window, where you can type a distance (in meters). This option allows you to place one side of the window at a specific distance from the corner closest to it. Then the window is drawn.

• [CENTERED INSIDE]. With the “Centered Inside” option, the window will be drawn centered with respect to the partition line that you marked to indicate the opening direction of the window.

• [CENTERED OUTSIDE]. With the “Centered outside” option, the window will be drawn centered with respect to the other line that makes up the partition, which is different from the one you marked to indicate the opening direction of the window.

• [MAXIMUM LENGTH]. The “Maximum length” option will draw the largest window that can fit on the wall.

4. Windows measurements and their opening angles

This function allows you to insert wardrobes onto straight walls.

This allows you to modify doors and windows, as long as they have the same total length including the frame.

It also allows you to modify wardrobes, but only if they have two doors, as the only possible modification is to change the type of door (sliding or hinged).

You are going to change these two 2-meter windows with 2 sashes and without a sill nosing into 2-metre windows with 3 sashes and a sill nosing.

With this function, you can place rectangular or circular pillars of any dimension in the drawing. You can also edit the settings of the pillars (basepoint, dimensions and location) in the dialogue window that opens after clicking on the tool.

In the pillars menu you will be able to create new pillars or modify existing ones.

You have 4 sections in the pillars menu:

 Type

In this section you can choose the type of pillar to be either circular or rectangular. If you choose a rectangular pillar you will have to specify its dimensions (length and width). If you choose a circular pillar you will have to specify its diameter.

 Place away from walls

If you enable this function the pillar will be placed at a certain distance from two walls (this function does not work with lines). Once the box its checked you can specify the distances from the respective walls and after the settings are confirmed you would need to click on one of the external sides of the walls to place the pillar.

If you do not activate the [Place away from walls] option, you may approximate and place the pillars freely on any item in the drawing, like straight lines, wall corners, guides, etc.

 Basepoints

The basepoints are the corners, center and midpoints of the pillar. These points snap with other objects such as lines and walls to facilitate the insertion.

After the settings are confirmed, the basepoint will specify the insertion point of the pillar. The pillar can be rotated using:

•  (SHIFT+ Left click) rotates 90 degrees with each click

•  (CONTROL + Left click): rotates 45 degrees with each click.

 Options

• Wrapping. If this option is checked, the program will create a wrapping around the pillar when it is placed in the walls. You can specify the thickness of the wrapping.

• Autorrotation. If this option is enabled, the pillar will rotate during the insertion when it snaps to a wall. The position of the rotation will depend on the selected basepoint and the direction of the side of the wall.

• Modify. This option will modify an existing pillar to add the wrapping if it didn’t have it. This option does not work to modify the dimensions of an existing pillar. In this case you would need to delete it and insert a new pillar.

This is an example of the location of pillars on the floor-plan drawing:

Proceed like this with the rest of the corner pillars.

Although you can insert the pillars with their wrapping, it is not a good idea to do this until you are sure that the pillars are definitively arranged in place

This function defines the junction between two walls when they cross each other.

With the function active, click on one of the walls to mend all the intersections with other walls or partitions. This command works for straight walls and curved walls

Consequently, it is not recommended to fix a “T” junction with the intersection tool. If so the program will create an overlap of small walls. Furthermore, the junction of the walls may create errors that will cause problems when calculating areas or creating hatches.

This tool draws the whole elevation view of a staircase that can enclose up to three flights of stairs per floor level.

You will find this tool in the Construction toolbar, or you can select the option [Staircase] in the flyout menu of the tab [Construction].

First, you must indicate the floor-to-floor height. Then, you can type the number of steps that comprise the staircase. The riser height and tread/run length will all be calculated automatically using the formula:

2 x riser height + tread length = 0.64

Depending on the value you set as [Floor-to-floor height], [Number of steps], [Tread length] and [Riser height]), the values in the other entries will be affected according to the following criteria:

When you change one of the previous settings, you can always update the changes in the other entries by clicking on any of them or by clicking on the [Update] button.

If the staircase has more than one flight (up to three) per level you must indicate this in the corresponding option [Number of flights].

If there are two flights, you will see the following items activated.

If you specify three flights:

Commands: “LINE”, “LI”

This function allows you to draw simple straight lines.

You can start by clicking on any point and finish the line in the same way. If you do not escape the function, you can keep on drawing consecutive lines.

• If the ortho mode is enabled, the lines are drawn perpendicular to each other.

• With the ortho mode disabled, the lines can be drawn freely.

To start at a different point, right click twice, this way you exit and restart the function again. 

To draw a straight line with a defined length, click on-screen to determine de starting point, afterwards indicate a direction, type the distance and press Enter.

Commands: [POLYLINE], ‘PL’

With this function, you can draw a single object that is composed of line and arc segments.

Commands: ‘CP’

This function allows you to draw a sequence of tangential arcs indicating points.

After creating the last point, right click 4 times to start a new curve.

Commands: “CIRCLE”, “CR”

This function allows you to draw circles.

We can use 4 methods to draw circles: RADIUS, DIAMETER, 3 POINTS AND TANGENT TO 3 STRAIGHT LINES

• [Radius]. Type R + [Enter]. This is the default method. You will be able to draw a circle by specifying its center and typing the value of the radius + Enter, or by specifying the endpoint of the radius.

• [Diameter]. Type 2P + [Enter]. This method draws a circle based on two endpoints of the diameter. Just click on the first point and then on the opposite point of the diameter and the circle will be drawn automatically.

• [3 Points]. Press 3P + [Enter]. This method created a circle tangent to three points. For this just click on three points of the drawing

• [Tangent to straight lines]. Type 3T + [Enter]. With this method, you draw a circle that is tangent to three straight lines. Just select these three lines.

Commands: “ARC”, “AC”

With this function you will be able to draw arcs defined by three points or defined by their central radius and initial and final angles.

• [Three points]. Specify the three points on the arc´s circumference.

• [Angle]. In this case, the center of the circle should be selected first, then the value of the radius can be entered numerically or by clicking on screen. Next, the initial angle should be specified and subsequently, the final angle. Both included angles can be indicated either numerically in degrees or by moving the pointing device and clicking.

To change from one modality to another, use P + right click to change to three points and R + right click to change to the angles method.

Commands: “ELLIPSE”, “EL”

With this function you will be able to draw ellipses. With this function you will be able to create an ellipse or an elliptical arc.

 First, specify the center of the ellipse by clicking on screen

 Next, the cursor should be moved to indicate the direction and length of the major axis. You can determine the length of this axis by specifying the endpoint or by typing its length

 Finally, move the cursor up or down to set the length of the major axis or type the length of this axis to create the ellipse.

To draw another ellipse, double-right click to restart the function

Commands: “POINT”, “PT”

This function creates a point object. You can place points on the drawing represented by a symbol.

These points are differentiated from guides, as their shape can be modified and they belong to the drawing not to the grid pattern. Consequently, they will be visible when printed.

You can customize how these points are displayed. Select the option [Point style] in the flyout menu of the tab [Format].

When you select this option, a point style dialog box opens. The following options are displayed:

Style: specifies the image used to display point objects. Size: Sets the point display size.

Commands: “RECTANGLE”, “RC”

With this function, you can draw rectangles using two opposing vertices.

The rectangles drawn using this tool will have a horizontal base and will not have defined dimension values for the length and width of the rectangle.

Commands: “POLYGON”, “PO”

This function allows you to create an equilateral closed polyline. These closed polylines behave as an object. They can thus be selected and/or deleted by clicking on one of their sides.

When you launch this command, a dialogue box opens. There you can define:

• [Number of sides]. Specifies the number of sides in the polygon

• [Autorotation]. If this option is activated, you will be able to determine the rotation angle of the polygon on-screen when it detects a line, wall or arc with a specific direction.

• [Side] or [Radius]. You will be able to choose between setting the dimension of the circumscribed radius or one of the sides of the polygon.

• [Dimension 1]. This value specifies the length of the side or the circumscribed radius of the polygon.

• [Dimension 2]. This option is only editable when the polygon has 4 sides

Commands: “BS”

With this function you can draw the bisecting line of any angle.

To do this click on both lines of the angle and the bisector line will be displayed automatically.

With the [Lengthen-Shorten] function, the bisector line can be extended towards the obtuse angle.

You can use this function to insert a block or drawing into the current drawing. When you activate the insert block tool, a dialog window pops up. In the opening dialog window, you will be able to browse any block from the library of Dibac or from any other path

• [Insertion point]: Specifies a location for the block on the drawing. You can define this location on-screen or by typing the coordinates.

• [Scales]: All X and Y dimensions of the block or drawing are multiplied by the X and Y scale factors.

• [Rotation]: You can determine the angle of rotation for the block.

• [Autorotation]: This option is used to align the block automatically with the walls or partitions of the drawing.

• [Distance]: Likewise, you can define how far away the block will be placed from the selected wall in the drawing. This distance is always considered in a direction perpendicular to its rotation.

• [Explode]: If this option is selected, when you insert the block it will automatically be broken into its component objects (lines and arcs).

By clicking on the button Ok, you will confirm the settings and the block will appear on-screen to be placed in the drawing.

Shortcuts to rotate a block:

•  Increase of 90º

•  Increase of 45º

• AUTO ORIENTATION. Place the block on the line and press 

This command creates a block definition from selected objects.

You need to create a deletion area to hide the objects within the perimeter of the fridge. To create the deletion area, provide a SOLID HATCH (by default 71) to the surface of the fridge.

With the HATCH function active, use the point-by-point option to select the perimeter for the hidden area.

 Convert the drawing into a block.

Once we have the drawing of the fridge, we are going to convert it into a block.

Select the function: [Create Block]

The block definition dialogue box appears. Do as follows:

3. Click on [Select]. This option will return to the drawing. Select the geometry of the fridge with a selection box and confirm with a right click. You will return to the block dialogue box.

4. Check that the [Erase Area] matches with the geometry.

5. Click [Accept].

The block (object) defined this way is now available to use in any drawing.

This function allows to make a unique block of an existing block.

It is used when you want to edit a block but you want all the existing copies of the block to retain the previous definition and attributes.

By making the instance unique, you are creating a new component based on your original.

The function CREATE / EDIT BLOCK allows any block inserted into the current drawing to be modified.

Once the modification is completed, click on CREATE / EDIT BLOCK.

A dialogue box pops up. Do as follows:

Click on the [OK] button to save the changes.

Click on the [CANCEL] button to exit this window without saving the changes.

The following message will be displayed: “The drawing has not been saved”. Click [Accept].

To modify a distorted block in X or Y, it’s necessary to explode it first and make it unique using the [CREATE BLOCK] tool.

A scaled block in proportion X=Y (scale uniformly), can be modified directly.

Command: “DI”

Use this function to evenly space blocks or reference guide points in rows and columns inside a delimited area.

Once the object has been selected and it has been decided whether to distribute it in one row or in rows and columns, the spacing criteria should be set.

You can choose several methods:

1. Specifying the total number of items and the distance between them. By following this method, you will ignore the total length.

2. Specifying the distance between items. The items will be spaced in the direction within the indicated line

3. Specifying the total length and the number of items. The distance between items will be calculated automatically.

After specifying the distribution values, press [Ok] and click on the viewport to specify the starting point of the distribution.

Afterwards, move the cursor to define the direction of the rows (for example, horizontal) and click again.

Move again the cursor, also from the origin, to specify the second direction for the columns (for example, vertical) and click once again.

The defined distribution will display on screen.

With this function, you will be able to fill either an enclosed area or a perimeter made up of points with a hatch pattern, solid fill or gradient fill.

• [Type] 

There are several types of hatch in the drop-down list: [Predefined], [Single scratch], [Double scratch], [Image], etc.

Depending on the type selected, the parameter fields defined below change.

• [Pattern] 

• [Angle] 

Specifies the angle of the hatch pattern

• [Scale] 

Increases or decreases the pattern size.

• [Spacing] 

When the pattern selected is a single or double scratch, a window appears in which you can define the spacing of the hatch lines in meters.

• [Draw outline] 

Draws a contour line along the perimeter of the area of the hatch.

• [Enclosed area] 

• [Point by point] 

The Point by Point option draws a pattern or solid fill inside a perimeter made up of consecutively introduced points. This way you indicate the boundaries of the hatch. Once the boundary is completed click again on the first point and then right click to finalize.

It is a good idea to have the [Endpoint] option activated in the object snap settings to specify precise locations on objects in the drawing without manually pinpointing them.

To edit the properties of an existing hatch, left-click twice.

To leave a hole within the hatch of an enclosed area, select all the perimeter boundary points and then the boundary points of the hole in the opposite direction that is starting with the closest boundary point of the hole to the last boundary point selected in the perimeter. Once the hole has been defined, return to the last boundary point selected in the outer perimeter to complete the command.

• [Exclude] 

Another option available is the Exclude option, with which you can remove any area from a hatch by using the “Point-to-Point” or “Closed area” systems. This option opens a permanent space in the hatch. On most occasions, it would be preferable to use a Block with a “deletion area,” which only hides the hatching below.

This function allows you to create texts and insert them into the current drawing

When you select this function, the text formatting dialog box opens.

The first tab shows the name of the current text style (STANDARD by default). Clicking on the drop-down list box on the tab displays all of the previously defined text styles.

Defining a new style

Select the font type and the style of font (Bold, Italics and Underlined) for this new text style.

The text style dialog window also allows to change the font size and create some basic text effects.

When completely defined the new text style, press the [OK] button and you will return to the text formatting dialog box.

You can save this and every created text style in the current project by saving the template of the drawing. To do this, save the file and then you can assign a new template in Tools > Preferences > General > Template for new drawings. Locate the saved template to assign it.

Next time you open Dibac CAD the created text and dimension styles of the template will be enabled and ready to use.

Settings

In the text formatting dialog box are other task tabs and options, as follows.

• [Height]. Refers to the height of the text.

• [Width]. Refers to the width of the text.

• [Horizontal alignment]. This setting determines how the text is displayed horizontally on the page. The types of text alignment include left aligned, right aligned and centered. 

• [Vertical alignment]. Aligns the text vertically, from the bottom, the center or the top.

• [Line spacing]. Changes the separation between lines of text. If you place text on top of another text, the latter will be positioned below the former, at a distance equal to the chosen line separation.

In the horizontal text box, you can type the text you want to insert in the current drawing.

When activating this option, it is possible to write text lines directly on-screen. You should have selected a text style beforehand.

First, by clicking, specify the insertion point for the first text character.  

 A cursor will appear to type a text line. While writing you can correct the typed characters by clicking on any part of the written text or moving the cursor using the keyword arrows.

When you are done, right click or press the [Intro] key.

Once the first line of the text is completed, you can continue typing a new text line in any position. To exit the function, right click or press [Esc] before inserting a new text line.

The “Direct Multiline” option is similar to the previous Single-line DIRECT TEXT option. Except that instead of finishing the text when pressing [Enter], you will go on to the following line to keep writing.

When selecting the “Multiline” option, a window with a text box opens. In this text box you can type a text with several lines. These lines will be placed in the drawing inside a bounding box which defines the width of the multiline text object.

The dimensions of the bounding box will be defined on-screen with two clicks specifying opposite corners.

The written text will follow the height, font type and size, lines spacing and alignment which have been defined in the text formatting dialog box.

In the File menu, click “Open” to load the content of any text file.

The option “Clean” of this menu will delete all the written text in the window.

Select the “Curved text” option from the text formatting dialog box to create a text that aligns, or bends, along a previously drawn curve.

Once the text is typed, select the “Curved text” checkbox, press the OK button and select a curve in the drawing.
This function does not work with the Spline command, only with the Arc command.

If the checkbox of this option is activated, the text will automatically be oriented towards the direction of the detected lines.

If the checkbox of this option is activated, a solid fill will be created in the drawing under the text to make it more legible. For example, if the text is placed over a hatch, the deletion area option should be activated so that the hatch does not interfere with the text object.

If you insert the text object with the option [Deletion area] activated and you want to see the objects below the text, select the text object and click on the command [Send to back] in the Utilities menu of the context toolbar.

These solid fill “Hidden areas” can be activated or deactivated using the [Activate/Deactivate] command in the [Utilities] menu of the context toolbar.

This is a command in the [Utilities] menu.

This command automatically creates a solid fill “Hidden area” in all the visible text objects on the current layers to hide any object below the text.

This command is in the [Utilities] menu.

This function opens holes in any hatch that has a text object or a selected block with a “deletion area”.

If the objects were selected before using the command, the holes will be opened in the selected blocks and text objects that interfere with any hatch. Otherwise, the selection cursor will appear so that the blocks can be selected in the drawing.

As the hatch is permanently broken, this option is useful in exporting the drawing to other programs which do not have the Dibac solid fill function for masking objects.

The advantage of masking objects with a solid fill and not breaking the hatch is that the text objects or blocks can be deleted or moved freely, while maintaining the solid fill area.

You can insert text objects with a numerical value that increases every time you place a new text object. To do this follow these steps:

 In the text formatting dialog box, enter two consecutive percentage symbols (%%) after the text. These symbols will be replaced by the increasing number.

For example, type “Plot Number %%”.

Then, activate the [sequentially number] checkbox option from the text formatting dialog box and enter the starting number in the [Number] text box and the increment in the [Increment] text box.

In case of an erroneous placement, press Ctrl + Z to delete it and the sequence will automatically subtract one increment.  

The [Information Box] option in the text formatting dialog box allows you to associate texts to the selected information box when you are placing texts in a layout.

Once these texts are associated, they can be moved or rescaled altogether if you modify the position of the information box under [Page Setup/Print].

Use this option to create and place a text object with the coordinates of a specific point.

There are two ways of implementing this function::

1. Typing the coordinates in the text box with the following format:

2. Leaving and empty text window

With both methods, if you have accepted the option “Coordinate Z”, the text with the coordinates will include the latter.

To write special characters not included on the keyboard, hold the ALT key and type the corresponding number code. When you release the ALT key, the symbol will appear in the text space.

Most-used characters and their codes.

Click [Accept]. Next, the rectangle containing the text should be movable. The circle at its origin will act as the cursor, with all its characteristics regarding rotation, scale changes, etc.

 To place the text, just click

 To enter different text, right click.

This function allows you to search any text located in any part of the drawing.

To search for a text: [EDIT] / [SEARCH TEXT].

A window appears in which you can enter the text that you want to find.

Once the text is found, it remains centered on the screen.

If there are several equal text boxes, but in different locations, press the “S” key to jump to the next one.

This can be very useful. For example, when looking for the name of a plotting sheet, or just a type of enclosure, etc.

To copy the text into a Word document or to clipboard:

 Select the texts to be copied.

 In edition menu, select the option: COPY TO CLIPBOARD

The text remains in the memory to be pasted into any other text-processing program or into Dibac.

The procedure is as follows:

 Draw the polygon on the photo, with a different color than the background.

 Fill this polygon with a solid color hatch (the same color as the polygon).

 Select the image and, in the [Utilities] menu, select [Send to back].

 On the print screen, change the polygon color to white paper (which is the color of the paper).

With this function, you can delete any item. To do this, left click on the item and confirm with a right click.

You can also create a box that will delete everything inside or in contact with the box.

After selecting the erase function, click once and drag the cursor from left to right clicking on the opposite vertex. This way you can delete all the items completely inside the box after doing a right click.

If you drag the cursor from right to left, all items inside or in contact with the box will be deleted. In the case of texts, blocks or polygons, the origin of the item will be deleted.

When the function is not being used, it can be activated pressing the DELETE key.

With this function, you can also erase any previously selected item.

To do this, first select the items to be deleted, individually or using a selection box with the cursor.

Then press the [DEL] key or click on the [Erase] icon.

To mend the rest of the walls and partitions of the drawing when deleting others, they must be erased one by one.

When deleting joinery items (doors, windows, wardrobe and user’s joinery), depending on the way of deleting, you will obtain different results:

• Delete items one by one, the function will rebuild the partition where the joinery item was located, unless the [ALT] key is pressed.

• Delete by selecting an area or more that one item at a time. All selected items  will be deleted and none of them will be rebuilt.

Commands: ‘PA’

This function allows you to draw a parallel line to a specific distance away from the following objects: [Line] · [Arc] · [Spline] · [Polyline]

 Enter the parallel distance or separation between the items in meters, and then press Enter.

 Next, select the item you want to offset (straight line, arc, spline or polyline).

 Then indicate the direction in which you want to offset. This way, you can consecutively draw parallel lines without exiting the function.

Commands: ‘E1’

With this function, you can lengthen or shorten a simple straight line, an arc, a straight partition or a curved partition to the desired length.

To extend a wall or line, click near the endpoint. The cursor will be attached to the endpoint and an elastic line. By moving the cursor and clicking again, the whole entity will be lengthened or shortened up to the indicated position.

For walls, if you hold the Shift key and click on a side of the partition, only the selected line will be affected, while the other line remains the same without being lengthened or shortened.

If you want to undo the union of two walls (for example, the connection of a railing), first left click and then right click. The union closes automatically.

In lengthening or shortening curved walls, it is recommended not to indicate large arcs for lengthening, as you may get undesired results. It is better to choose shorter arcs to be lengthened and do the lengthening in two steps.

For two simple lines or arcs, there is another function [FILLET], which connects the two ends by extending the lines at the same time to their meeting point.

Commands: ‘PV’

This function allows you to detach the endpoint of one partition or a straight line and move it to another position, this is done while the other endpoint remains in its initial position.

Commands: ‘ES’

This function allows you to lengthen, shorten, stretch and move the geometry of a selected region.

 After the function is activated, select the area you want to stretch using the selection box.

 Then click for the initial point, move the mouse to stretch the geometry and click once again (or type a distance) to confirm the modification.

Moving the area

Moving the area can be done between any two points, or those pertaining to a straight line so that movement will be in the direction of this line.

If the orthogonality locking is enabled with H/V angle, this angle will represent the direction of the movement.

When creating a movement that affects certain size lines, they will be recalculated, with the new values of these lines appearing subsequently.

When moving walls, they should be free of joins with other partitions that you do not want to move. If not, you will get undesired results and will have to [Undo] the action.

Command: ‘MOVE’, ‘M’

This function allows you to move objects in the drawing from an origin point to a final point.

The final point can be given with a distance entered with numerical keys (Enter).

 Once the function is selected, the first thing to do is to select everything you want to move by clicking on the items. Next, confirm the selection with a right click.

 Finally, click on the initial and final points. You can also click on the initial point, indicate a direction, and type the distance (Enter).

This function allows you to move objects in the drawing from an origin point to a final point.

The final point can be given with a distance entered with numerical keys (Enter).

Once the function is selected, the first thing to do is to select everything you want to move by clicking on the items. Next, confirm the selection with a right click.

Finally, click on the initial and final points. You can also click on the initial point, indicate a direction, and type the distance (Enter).

If orthogonality locking is enabled, the movement will be locked to this direction.

Copy while moving

You can make a copy of the selected objects using the move tool. To do this you need to hold the CTRL key while you indicate the initial point of the movement. After that click you can release the CTRL key and move the copy as usual.

Right after completing the first copy you can repeat this action to make multiple copies by typing asterisk + number (*n) and confirm with Enter or a right click, the first copy will be repeated n times with the same distance and in the same direction.

You can also divide two copies into equal parts. But this time, you use the original and the first copy. To do this, after making the first copy and, without exiting the function, enter division slash + number (/ n) and confirm with Enter or a right click.

If you enter the wrong number of copies, just re-enter the correct number.

Commands: ‘GIRA’ , ‘GI’

This function allows you to rotate selected items in the drawing at a certain angle.

 After activating the function, select anything to be moved by clicking.

 Confirm the selection with a right click.

 Finally, select the center of rotation, followed by the by the angle, directly using the cursor or by typing in the degrees (Enter).

Copy rotating

To [COPY ROTATING], just press the Ctrl key upon marking the center of rotation.

If you enter the wrong number of copies, just re-enter the correct number.

Command: ‘COPY’

This function allows you to copy any selected geometry right away from an origin point to a final point, as many times you want. It works the same as the copy function of the move tool but without the CTRL command.

 Once the function is activated, select everything you want to copy by clicking on it.

 Then confirm what you select with a right click.

Finally, click on the initial and then on the final point, or you can also click on a start point, indicate a direction and type the distance (Enter).

As you move the cursor, you will see the drawing to be copied moving as well.

Multiple copy

If, after marking the first copy, you enter asterisk + number (*n) and confirm with Enter or a right click, the first copy will be repeated n times with the same distance and in the same direction.

For example, if you want to repeat the image four times, make the first copy and type *4 immediately after that, and then confirm by pressing Enter or right clicking.

You can also make copies by dividing the instances into equal parts. To do this, make the first copy and, without exiting the function, enter the division slash + number (/ n) and confirm with Enter or a right click.

If you enter the wrong number of copies, just re-enter * and the correct number.

CTRL + C (Copy in Windows)

Command: ‘COPIARPP’.

When a selection has been carried out beforehand, pressing CTRL + C (Copy in Windows) will move the selected items to the system memory. They can then be used with the CTRL + V (Paste in Windows) function, maintaining the items selected in their place and obtaining a copy of them.

Command: “Symetry”

This function allows you to obtain the symmetry of the selected items in the drawing in relation to a specific axis.

 Once the function is activated click to select the items (or make a selection box) and right click to confirm the selection.

 Once the selection is confirmed, click on an initial and final point of the axis. For example, vertical or horizontal. The distance between the selected geometry and the indicated axis will also apply to the symmetry.

We are going to make a symmetrical floorplan to the right of the existing one at 4 meters apart from the original. Check that ORTHOGONALITY H/V is activated (F8).

First, draw an offset line 2 meters away from the vertical east facade, which will serve as a guideline to mark your symmetry axis. Use the [Offset] function to do this 

With the offset tool active, type 2 and press Enter. Click on the outer line of the east facade and then click to its right. A parallel line should appear 2 meters away. Right click or press ESC to exit the function

If you now want to repeat the horizontal symmetry of the two floorplans, it is necessary to select the recently created floorplans first because symmetry will only be made with what is previously selected.

Command: ‘ESCALA’

This function allows you to change the scale of specific items selected in the drawing indicating the scale center and a scale factor.

With the scale center as a fixed point, you can increase or decrease the scale of the items using the cursor or by typing the scale factor number that you want.

You can also scale a drawing or an image by giving an exact measurement between two points. If, upon giving the scale center, you hold the CTRL key down, the program will ask you to specify two points of the object and then the distance by which you want to separate these two points. Dibac will automatically calculate the scale factor needed so that it matches with the desired measurement.

Command: “SPLIT”

This function allows you to divide a straight or curved wall, a straight line or an arc.

Once the function is activated, click on the wall you want to separate. Then, using the mouse again, specify the two points that will divide the partition.

Note that it is not necessary for these points to be on the wall itself, as they can be supported by items outside of the wall.

In this last case, the partition will be divided exactly at the “intersection” points of these items.

Walls can also be split using the [Doors] function by selecting the [Doorway] option.

Command: “JOIN”

This function is the opposite of the Split function, as it allows you to complete an open cavity in a partition, a simple straight line or an arc.

Once this function is activated, just click consecutively on the two parts you want to join.

Command: “TRIM”

With this function we select some entities of the drawing that will cut other entities.

Command: “Crop”

This is a different method to crop an image. This function is found in the [MODIFY] menu or toolbar. It allows you to crop an image using another entity (Rectangle, Circle, Ellipse, Polyline or Arc).

Unlike an untrimmed image that can only be selected by clicking on its perimeter, the cropped image will have its entire surface active, although for the approximations it will take the point of its perimeter closest to the cursor position.

To undo the cropping, use the same function. Any image you select to be cropped will again have its original dimensions. Do not forget to click on the center of the image rather than on its edge

Command: 

With this function you can define a “polygon” with three or four sides by indicating its vertices. This “polygon” will be the deletion area. All elements within this area will be cropped up to the polygon edges, except for joineries, pillars and blocks, which can only be deleted if they are completely within the area of the “polygon”.

With the function activated, the polygon deletion area is defined by clicking four times on the four vertices that you want. In the case of a triangular area, you will only have to click three times and confirm with a right click.

Command

This function allows you to extend several lines in the drawing to one or more lines.

There are two possibilities:

1. Simultaneously extend several lines until they intersect with another one

2. Randomly extend several lines up to one or more destination lines.

Command

This function allows you to join two converging lines at their intersection point. Activate the function and click on the two lines to join them.

This function can also crop the parts of the lines that are already intersecting. For this, click on the sections of the lines that should remain visible after cropping.

Command

This function resolves the meeting point of two straight lines using a tangential arc with a defined radius.

To do this:

 Activate the function, enter the radius and press Enter.

 Then indicate the first line and the second one consecutively.

This function allows you to raise the plane of contour lines from 2D to 3D.

To do this:

 Click on the edit drop-down menu at the top and select the [CURVES to 3D] option.

  With the cursor in the shape of a small square, select all the curves that will be affected and right click to confirm 

Once the option is active, just select the lines and confirm with a right click (or Enter).

All selected and connected lines or/and arcs will be converted into one polyline.

Command: “ALI”

Use this function to move and rotate a selection of items to align it to another reference

Command:

With this function, any grouped item, such as blocks, joineries, partitions, etc., will lose its condition as a grouped item and will be broken down into its raw geometry (lines, arcs, etc.).

Apply current properties

The current properties will be applied to whichever items you select. To finish, right click

Capture entity properties

When you select an item, all its properties (color, line type, size, etc.) will be stored to be applied to what is drawn later.

This allows you to measure the distance between two points.

Once the function is activated, just click on the two points. The distance measured appears on the command line.

This function measures the length of a line, arc or circle.

Just select the function and click on whichever item you want. The length measured appears on the command line.

When you select this function, a dialogue box opens, in which you can indicate how you want to obtain the surface area:

Point by point

This is a manual method of obtaining the surface area. Just mark the perimeter, point by point, and then right click.

Add

Adds up all previously selected surface areas one by one, or with a selection window

Keep entities

This box refers to the previous [ADD] If this option is enabled, the surface areas that have been added up are conserved in addition to the text showing the total area value. If this is disabled, the surface areas added together disappear and only the result of the sum appears instead.

Autorotation

If this option is activated, the number obtained for the surface area is rotated to be parallel to the item on which you are placed.

Deletion area

When you place a surface area measurement with this option activated, it creates a masking area under the text so that it appears more sharply. For example, if the text is placed on a striped area, this box should be activated so that the text does not appear crossed by the stripes

Verification color

This allows you to change the checking color of the surface area you want to measure.

When you press the [File] tab, the adjoining dialog box opens.

The following options appear in this box:

This function is used when you want to start a new drawing.

If you have a drawing open on the screen, it is minimized and the second new drawing is opened.

This function allows you to bring to the screen a saved drawing in a storage unit.

You can also choose one of the last six drawings opened.

With this you can close the current drawing.

This is used to close all open drawings.

With this function, you save the current drawing in the same directory and the same file name. Be careful with this function, as you can accidentally save a modified drawing over another valid one.

This function is used to save the current drawing as a new file, after selecting a storage unit, directory and file name. By default, the drawing is saved in DWG format 2010 version.

However, drawings can also be saved using almost all existing formats.

Use this function to open any of the backup copies saved by the program as: CSD-02-04-2015 18-06-34, where “02-04-2015 18-06-34” corresponds to day, month, year and time of creation. In this example: April 2, 2015 at 18:06:34.

This function is in the vertical menu. The icon and the process are the same for inserting blocks and files.

When you select this function, a window pops up, in which you can select a specific drawing from among the list of files of the preset library.

To do this:

 Click on: [File].

 Select the file you want to insert.

 Click [Open]. A preview of the file should appear in the window.

 After clicking [Ok], the file can be inserted into the drawing.

This file is inserted as if it were a block, therefore you can explode it later.

This function is located in the vertical menu. The icon and process are the same as the one used to insert blocks and files.

An external reference is a file that does not belong to the drawing that, nonetheless, is displayed within the drawing.

Although an external file cannot be modified within the drawing, its great advantage is that once it is modified outside of the drawing, it is changed in all the drawings in which it appears using the Regenerate function (Ctrl+S)

 Press Ref. Ext. [External Reference]

 Select the file you want to insert as an external reference.

 Click [OPEN]. A preview of the file should appear in the window.

 After clicking [Ok], you can insert the file into the drawing as an external reference.

This file is placed as if it were a block. Once it is inserted, it cannot be modified or exploded from within the drawing.

If you want to modify an external reference, open it separately. The changes you make in that file will be reflected immediately in the drawings in which the external reference appears.

When you enter this function, a window appears in which you can select the objects of the drawing you want to delete.

This function implements a series of internal instructions to purge unusable items in the drawing, as well as deleting empty spaces. It gives you the chance to delete empty layers, thus reducing the size of the debugged drawing.

This function will purge the blocks (objects) from the drawing that do not appear on the screen due to having been erased from it at some point, but only when their layers are active. If there is a locked or frozen layer, their blocks will not be deleted.

It is recommended to purge the drawing before saving it to disc.

This option returns to the operating system without asking if you want to save the drawing on the screen.

This drawing will remain on the screen when you enter the program again.

Any electricity outage will not affect the drawing, as it is permanently stored on the hard drive, unless the outage causes this hard drive to crash.

Dibac automatically makes backup copies every 15 minutes, saving them to a directory called SEGFILES, located in the main program directory, which makes it very difficult to lose files.

The saving interval can be modified in the menu: [Tools} – [Preferences] – [General] – [Backup Copy Interval].

To print a drawing at a certain scale, it is convenient to see it on screen beforehand as it is in the paper format that we are going to use in the plotter or the printer.

Click on the [Print/Page Setup] option in the [File] menu.

Margins

By changing the margins, the position of the drawing on the paper is modified. These margins are defined in millimeters. The margins will be visible on the screen by activating the corresponding box

Printing area

[Extension]. With this option enabled, the entire drawing is displayed, but with a certain scale and position

[Screen]. This is similar to the previous option, but it will keep the scale and position established in the drawing.

[Window]. This option allows us to view and print just one area of the drawing. To define this area, click on the word [Window]. To activate the option, just click on the circle next to the word [Window].

Position and scale

[Position]. This allows different automatic positions on the paper. Just click on the arrow and select the one that you want.

[Adjust]. This checkbox adjusts the drawing to occupy the entire sheet (respecting the margins), giving us an approximate scale. Equivalent to Extension Zoom.

[Scale]. To enter a specific scale, the [Adjust] option must be deactivated. To select a scale, just enter its number. Keep in mind that the scale can be written in the format n /. 

For example, you could type 1 / 1000, and also 2 / 1000, 3 / 1000, … n / 1000.

By pressing on the arrow, you have the most commonly used scales to choose from.

Pens

This part of the printer menu allows us to define the print colors as well as line thickness in the printer (pen number).

The word pen refers to the old pen plotters, which had thicknesses of 01, 02, 03, etc. defined by tenths of a millimeter.

In modern printers, these thicknesses can be defined by hundredths of a millimeter, so a thickness of 01 would presently be 0.10 mm. (10 hundredths of a meter).

On the first line of this part of the menu, to the right of the word “Pens”, you can see 1.PIM. This means the set-up file that you are using at this moment is 1.PIM. The PIM extension means [Printing Screen].

On the next line, there are three icons plus the [Color] and [Thickness] boxes.

Icons

 [Open] the print setup file.

 [Save] the print setup file.

 [Print Preview] only selected colors. Select the colors you want and then click on the icon.

Color box