The 2D View

The 2D view window is used for drawing a floor plan.
To open the 2D view, choose the View > Toggle 2D/3D View menu command or click the 2D View button in the toolbar (item 10 in the “The Toolbar” section below).

In the 2D view, you can add objects from the library and draw walls, floor and ceiling.

1. The toolbar (see The Toolbar section below).
   
   
2. The Information bar shows detailed information about the selected object, such as its dimensions, elevation and orientation.
   The bar disappears when you hide the rulers.
   
   
3. Quick access to measurement units section in the Project Setup.
   
   
4. Rulers. To toggle the rulers on/off, use the View > Hide/Show Rulers menu (Cmd-R).
   When you move an object with the mouse in the 2D View, the rulers can display rulerlines. Rulerlines are thin lines, which show the coordinates of left, right, top and bottom object edges on the rulers. Rulerlines move along with the object. To control rulerlines, use the View > Rulerlines menu.


5. The 2D view area.


6. The handle of a splitter bar that separates the Library panel and 2D View. Move it to make the Library panel bigger or smaller.


7. Storey pop-up menu.
   
   The upper section displays a list of storeys in the project. The lower section lets you adding and removing floors. You can choose also the current floor to be the ground floor.


8. Zoom control.
   
   
9. Splitter bar between the 2D and 3D views.

The Toolbar

1. The Selection tool for choosing and moving objects.

2. The Straight Wall tool for drawing walls.

3. Tools for working with slabs.

3.1. The Floor tool. Draws a floor object different than automatic ones.
Related topic: Ceilings and Floors

3.2. The Ceiling tool. Draws a ceiling object different than automatic ones.
Related topic: Ceilings and Floors

3.3. The Floor+Ceiling tool. Draws a floor and a ceiling objects together. The result is as if you draw a floor using tool 3.1, and then draw a ceiling right over the floor using tool 3.2.

3.4. The Ceiling Opening tool. Creates an opening in a slab of the current storey.
Related topic: Staircases

4. Tools for adding auxiliary objects.

4.1. The Measurement tool. Defines distances between the specified points.
Related topic: Measurement Tool

4.2. Text Annotation. Adds text boxes for typing or pasting text.
Related topic: Text Annotation

5. The Camera tools.

5.1. The Camera tool. Adds individual cameras.
Related topic: Using Cameras

5.2. The Movie Track tool. Adds movie cameras. A chain of these cameras creates a movie track.
Related topic: Creation of Movies

6. Zoom.

6.1. Zoom In.

6.2. Zoom Out.

7. The Pan tool ("scrolling hand") for scrolling the 2D view with the mouse.

An activated tool is highlighted.
The Straight Wall, Floor, Ceiling, Floor+Ceiling, Ceiling Opening, Text Annotation and Camera tools have two active modes.
On a single click, the tool activates in the standard mode. After adding/modifying a corresponding object, the tool gets deactivated and the Selection tool gets active.
On a double-click, the tool activates in the permanent mode. After adding/modifying a corresponding object, the tool stays active and you can continue working with it. This is useful, if you need to add, for instance, several cameras.

8. Browse the Google 3D Warehouse on-line collection.

9. Open Inspector.

10. Display the 2D view.

11. Display the 2D and 3D views together.

12. Display the 3D view.