Snaptrude's canvas is scale-based. You set a drawing scale for your plan, and text, annotations and labels render cleanly at that scale. Use this article to choose a drawing scale, add text and reference-line annotations to a plan, and understand how labels wrap.

Before you start

Text, annotations and the drawing scale apply to plan views. Switch to a 2D plan view before you begin, for example by selecting Plan 1 under Stories in the left panel.
Labels and annotations render at the drawing scale, so it helps to set the scale before you annotate.

Set the drawing scale

The View scale control is in the bottom bar, at the bottom-left of the canvas (it shows the current scale, for example 1:100). It includes imperial architectural scales in the familiar format, for example 1/8" = 1'.

Open the plan view you want to work on.
Click View scale in the bottom bar.
Choose a scale from the list, for example 1/8" = 1' for an imperial plan.
Check the canvas. Labels, text and annotations display at the selected scale.

Note: Present Mode has its own scale setting for each plan view placed on a sheet. When you drag a plan view onto a sheet, choose its scale from the view's scale dropdown, which lists imperial and metric architectural and site scales. See Creating Sheets in Present Mode.

Add text to a plan

Use the Text tool in the top toolbar for room notes, callouts, general notes and other free text that isn't tied to a space's name.

Open a 2D plan view.
Select Text in the top toolbar.
Place the text on the plan where you want it.
Type your text.

Annotate with reference lines

Reference lines are useful for setting-out lines and markup that should stay on the drawing. Besides single lines, the Reference line tool has a polyline option for lines with several segments.

Select the Reference line tool.
Choose the polyline option if you need a line with several segments.
Click to place each point.
Finish the line. To change its line style, select it and open the Properties tab in the right panel.

Note: Reference lines also appear in Present Mode, where you can style them with the Reference Lines category in View Settings. When you copy a reference line, the copy is always a unique object, never an instance.

How labels wrap

When a space label is too wide to fit inside its space, it wraps onto more than one line instead of running past the space's boundary. This helps keep tight plans, such as small rooms, corridors and toilet cores, readable without shortening the names.

If a label still looks crowded:

Try a larger drawing scale (for example 1/4" = 1' instead of 1/8" = 1'), so each space takes up more room on the drawing.
Shorten the space name.
On a sheet in Present Mode, move or edit the label there. Label edits on a sheet are kept when you update the view.

Tips

Set the scale for each plan before you annotate it.
Font, font style, font size and text visibility for plan views on sheets are controlled in Present Mode. See View Settings and Font Styles in Present Mode.
Dimension lines drawn on the canvas also appear in Present Mode plan views.

Creating Sheets in Present Mode
View Settings and Font Styles in Present Mode
Saving and Managing Views
Section Views
Export Sheets
Keyboard Shortcuts

Text, Annotations and Drawing Scale