Drawing Diagrams - SmartSketch - Help

SmartSketch Help

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English
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SmartSketch
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SmartSketch Version
8.1(2014R1)

You can create diagrams quickly and easily with the software. To do this, you can use the following tools:

  • Templates

  • Symbols

  • Connectors

  • Annotations

You can learn how to draw a diagram with a tutorial in the Learning Center. Click the Help menu and then click Learning Center.

Templates

When you first open the software, you can select a template based on the industry solution that you need. The best templates to select for drawing diagrams are in the Process template folder. For example, you can select the Process Flow (Intergraph).igr template.

When you open the Process Flow (Intergraph).igr template, the Schematic toolbar automatically displays the buttons that you would need most often to create a diagram. These commands include Connector, Grid Display, Grid Snap, Text Box, and others.

To use the Process Flow (Intergraph).igr template, you must install the Process Solutions option.

You can still draw lines, circles, and so forth with buttons on the Draw toolbar. To display the Draw toolbar, you can click Toolbars on the View menu.

Connectors

Connector on the Schematic toolbar allows you to place connectors anywhere that you need them. You can connect lines, circles, symbols, or points in free space.

There are special connector styles that you can use in the diagram. Some examples in the Process Flow template include Primary Line, Secondary Line, and Electric Signal. On the Connector ribbon, you can click the style that you want in the Style box.

On the Connector ribbon, you can also select the line start and line end terminators that you want. The following connectors display some of the different types of terminators that you can apply.

Symbols

The template automatically displays the symbols that you need for a diagram in the Symbol Explorer. For example, the Process Flow template offers you many kinds of symbols to include pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, and others.

To place these symbols, you can drag them from the Symbol Explorer into the document.

You can manipulate symbols with special handles that appear when you select the symbol. Some symbols have several different kinds of handles:

Black boxes on the outside corners of the range box lines represent scale handles (A). You can drag a scale handle to resize the entire symbol.

Yellow boxes in the middle of the range box lines represent standard parametric handles (B). You can drag a parametric handle to resize part of the symbol.

A green plus sign represents a mirror handle (C). You can drag a mirror handle to create a copy of the symbol directly horizontal or vertical to the original symbol.

A large green circle represents a rotate handle (D). You can drag this handle to rotate the entire symbol. Specific increments are displayed by the pointer while you rotate the symbol.

A series of small green circles represents drag points (E). You can use these points to attach the symbol at a precise point to another symbol or element.

A small green lock represents a lock handle (F). You can click the lock handle to unlock the symbol. Unlocking allows you to move a symbol away from the element to which the symbol was associated.

A lock handle appears only if you drag the symbol to an element with one of the drag points on the symbol.

Text and Labels

You can also drag labels from the Symbol Explorer. For example, the Process Flow template offers a collection of SmartLabels in the \PFD folder.

Some SmartLabels display a question mark in the Symbol Explorer. You can also double-click on some SmartLabels and edit the text.

SmartLabels can assume the attributes of the element or symbol to which you drag the SmartLabel. You can edit the attributes of the SmartLabel in the Attribute Viewer.

If you want to quickly add text that is associated to an element, you can double-click any element in the diagram. A text label appears in the center or below the element. When you type in text and press Enter, the text label orients itself with the element. When you move the element,the text label moves with it.

To add text that is not associated with an element, you can click Text Box on the Schematic toolbar.

Grids

You can use a grid view and grid snap to place the items in your diagram at precise intervals. You can view the grid by clicking Grid Display on the View menu. When you select Grid Snap on the View menu, elements always align with the grid lines or nearest intersection of the grid lines.

Reports

The software delivers some reports that you can update automatically when you add symbols to a document. The reports work with symbols that have specific attributes assigned to them. You must have Microsoft® Excel™ 97 or later installed on your computer. The software includes several example reports.

See Also

Drawing Basic Elements
Placing Symbols
Creating Symbols