How to work effectively with a rotated floor plan

Description

You’ve received a non-orthogonal DWG, PDF, or any other kind of trace reference—what’s the best approach to start modeling?

Solution

You can solve this in two ways. Use Set Orientation to rotate your working view temporarily, or use the Trace & Reference Palette to rotate your trace reference directly.

A. Use Set Orientation

If your building or elements are not aligned with the default X-Y axes, use Set Orientation to align the workspace with them. This makes drafting, editing, and placing elements more intuitive.

1. Click on the Set Orientation button on the Quick Options Bar.
   

   There are two ways to set the orientation:

   • Click the Set Orientation icon (left side of the button) to define the orientation graphically.
   • Click the drop-down arrow (right side of the button) to select from preset orientations or choose the option to define the orientation graphically.

2. If defining the orientation graphically, click a reference line or specify two points on the Floor Plan.

   • The first click defines the rotation pivot point.
   • The second click defines the rotation angle.

3. Once the angle is defined, the Floor Plan rotates to match the specified orientation.

   Note: To return to the default orientation, open the Orientation drop-down in the Quick Options Bar and seletct the default (0°) orientation.

Tips for using Set Orientation
- If you frequently need a specific rotated view, save it as a View in the Navigator. This ensures quick access without reapplying the rotation each time.
- Remember, this is a temporary visual aid. It doesn’t alter the orientation of elements or the project.
- For complex layouts, use custom Grid Systems alongside Set Orientation to make working on non-orthogonal projects easier.

B. Rotate the trace reference from the Trace & Reference Palette

If you want to keep the Floor Plan in a perpendicular orientation, you can place your dwg or reference on a worksheet and rotate the reference itself. The Trace & Reference Palette includes dedicated commands to move, rotate, and reset the reference from your working view.

1. Open the Trace & Reference Palette from Window > Palettes > Trace & Reference.
2. If needed, choose the required reference from the button at the top of the palette.
3. Click the Rotate icon in the palette to activate reference rotation.
4. Click in the window and rotate the trace reference to match the angle you need for comparison or modeling.
5. If needed, use the Move icon to reposition the reference after rotating it.
6. If the result is no longer needed, click Reset to return the reference to its original default position.