Set infill to OFF by default in Scaled Drawings

LayOut Feature Requests
1

Scaled Drawings in LayOut can potentially work as a substitute for AutoCAD.

However, in Scaled Drawings, the fill is set to ON by default. This is extremely confusing for an AutoCAD user, as they are expecting to see LINES only- Having to switch off this setting makes Scaled Drawings look a bit like an afterthought.

Being a SketchUp trainer I sell to new users. Small things like this can make a huge difference when trying to win confidence. As it is, I am hesitant to show a customer the Scaled Drawing feature.

It’s a really small thing, but can you please make this change?

2

I have used AutoCad very little for many years, but when I did I often used “fills” (solid or patterned hatches etc.). AutoCad was my main tool for about 25 years.

2 Likes
3

I have several line and fill types (and text and dimension and leaders) just off the printable area in my template. I eye drop before I start drawing - does this not apply to scaled drawings? Or does it not remember the last line / fill type your used when you save a template?

4

This is totally dependent on what you setup / drew last. It follows the logic of all other shapes you draw in LayOut - and you can control it with a template:

5

Yes, I know you can control it in various ways. I’m just looking at it from the point of view of a new user- Someone who is seeing Scaled Drawings for the first time. My point isn’t aimed at seasoned LayOut users.

6

IMHO if you change how shapes work just for Scaled Drawings you break the logic of the software.

Setup a template for your users / students where they can sample text / shapes / dimensions and teach them how to use it.

7

Yes I had thought of that but I would have imagined that the whole point of 2D drawings is that they’re drawings- not shapes. I’m not talking about changing the entirety of LayOut to suit this one thing- Just the 2D drawings part. And it’s just for a default setting in that function- It’s not like shapes don’t still work in 2D drawings anyway.

I don’t think it will break the software, or have I missed something?

8

From my experience teaching if it defaults to no fill only for scaled drawings it will break the expected UX overall. Nothing will be broken - but someone who progresses from SKP to LO will have certain expectations.

When you draw in LO you have the flexibility to have shapes be filled or not, lines dashed or not, arrows on the ends or not, etc. - I will get calls of ‘where did my fill go’ … and the logic won’t hold up.

Maybe it’s not a bit deal. Maybe there could a be toggle in preferences for advanced users. I don’t know… we already suffer from UI and UX inconsistencies I would hate to introduce one knowingly.

9

Yes I don’t want to introduce a complication. It could be a simple pop-up that says “click on x button to turn on infill.” I still think when someone clicks on drawings they expect to see lines without infills. Otherwise it should say “Scaled Shapes”.

Anyway, that’s my awkward opinion for what it’s worth. :melting_face: :laughing:

1 Like
10

It seems to me they should just set up the shipped templates so fill is off at least for Scaled Drawings. It is, after all a template setting.

When I teach LayOut I show my students how to create their own template from scratch. I find this helps them get familiar with a number of the utility panels as well as working with layers and other features. I have them set up text, labels, and dimensions as well as properties for shapes and Scaled Drawings. Then we set up paper size, page borders, and a basic title block leveraging Auto Text.

2 Likes
11

I agree Dave- Templates are the perfectly good way to do it. All I would ask is that LayOut prompts the user towards them- even if it’s just a pop-up or some other means.