TechDraw TemplateHowTo

How to Make a TechDraw Template

This HowTo assumes you are familiar with FreeCAD, Inkscape and Svg.

We're going to make a simple template for US Letter size paper in landscape orientation.

• open a new document in Inkscape
• in Document Properties
  • select a page size (US Letter) & orientation (landscape)
  • set default units and page size units to mm (279.4 x 215.9)

• use the XML Editor to add freecad namespace clause to the <svg> item
  • xmlns:freecad="http://www.freecadweb.org/wiki/index.php?title=Svg_Namespace "

• draw outlines, zone numbers, centerlines, etc
• draw the boxes and lines for the title block.
• add and position your static text
• add and position your editable text

• use the XML Editor to add "freecad:editable" tag to each editable <text> item
  • assign a meaningful field name to each editable text

• use XML editor to adjust viewbox to match your page size in mm

• your template will now appear much too big.

• We need to shrink it.
  • Edit>Select All in All Layers (or box select. make sure you select everything)
  • adjust the W: and H: spinboxes to match your artwork's size in mm
    • page-size less any applicable margins
  • use "Align and Distribute" or X/Y spinboxes to position artwork on page if required.
  • your template should now look right.

• ensure that all your editable texts are "ungrouped" (shift-ctl-g)
• select everything on your page (box select or Edit>SelectAll) and Edit>Copy
• Layer>Delete Current Layer
• Edit>Paste in Place

• Your template should now look right and shouldn't have any unwanted transforms
• Save your template
• try it in FreeCAD.

Notes

- Don't use Layers until you've mastered template creation without them. Layers (and Groups) can automatically insert unwanted transforms into your SVG.

Back to Templates.