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SectionPlane

Shape2DView

BIM

Description

The BIM DrawingView tool creates a container object which is a specialized type of Arch BuildingPart meant to hold 2D projection objects.

When used in its typical workflow with an Arch SectionPlane, this tool automates the entire 2D extraction process. It automatically creates both the background projection lines (via BIM Shape2DView) and the solid section cuts (via BIM Shape2DCut), flattens them onto the XY-plane, and groups them inside a single "Drawing" folder.

This grouped Drawing container can then be easily exported as a single 2D DXF or SVG file, or inserted as a single view onto a TechDraw page.

Usage

Automatic workflow

1. Select a single Arch SectionPlane in the Tree View or the 3D View.
2. There are several ways to invoke the tool:
   • Press the 2D Drawing button.
   • Select the Annotation → Create 2D Views → 2D Drawing option from the menu.
   • Use the keyboard shortcut: V then D.
3. A new "Drawing" object is created in the Tree View. Underneath it, you will find two new 2D objects: "Viewed lines" and "Cut lines" (representing the projection and the cut fills, respectively).

Manual workflow

1. Ensure nothing is selected.
2. Invoke the tool using any of the methods described above.
3. A new, empty "Drawing" container is created in the Tree View.
4. You can manually drag and drop existing 2D shapes, Draft objects, or Shape2DViews into this container to group them for export or drawing sheets.

Notes

• The recommended workflow: this tool is the most efficient way to generate architectural drawings. By selecting a Section Plane and running this command, FreeCAD automatically performs the manual steps of creating both a Section View (for background lines) and a Section Cut (for solid fills).
• Vertical sections and elevations: when a vertical Section Plane is projected, the building's horizontal axis is mapped to the global X-axis, and the building's vertical axis (height) is mapped to the global Y-axis. It effectively projects vertical elevations on the XY-plane automatically.
• A virtual drafting table: this command forces DataInPlace to false for all its children. This creates a "virtual drafting table" at the global origin (Z=0) where all project drawings are collected flat, regardless of their 3D orientation. This ensures that TechDraw can handle them as standard 2D vector groups and that DXF exports are perfectly flat.

Properties

The BIM DrawingView is essentially an Arch BuildingPart with its DataIfcType set to Annotation and its DataObjectType set to DRAWING.

To keep the property panel clean for 2D drafting, several 3D-specific properties inherited from the BuildingPart (such as DataHeight, DataArea, and DataLevelOffset) are hidden from the user interface.

SectionPlane

Shape2DView

BIM