Appx A: Creating a Planset

In PVCAD (built on AutoCAD), moving a design from model space to paper space is part of the process of preparing your project for printing, documentation, or permit submission. Here’s how it’s typically done:

Moving a Design from Model Space to Paper Space in PVCAD

After completing your layout and electrical design in model space, use paper space (layout tabs) to create scaled, printable sheets using title blocks and viewports. Paper space allows you to organize and present different parts of your design cleanly and professionally.

Steps:

1. Open a Layout Tab
   At the bottom of the AutoCAD interface, click a layout tab (e.g., “Layout1”). This opens a paper space sheet.

2. Insert a Title Block Template
   If you haven’t already, insert a PVCAD template with a title block (e.g., 24×36 or 11×17). You can find templates by clicking LOAD SAMPLE PROJECT on the Project tab or by uploading your own or our sample from our website here.

3. Create a Viewport

   • Use the MV (Make Viewport) command or use PVCAD tools to draw a rectangular viewport inside the title block.

   • This creates a window to view into your model space design.

4. Scale the Viewport

   • Click on the viewport border and choose a standard scale (e.g., 1:40 or 1:100) from the properties or status bar.

   • Lock the viewport scale once you’ve centered the desired portion of your model space.

5. Adjust Layers and Details

   • Use layer controls and visibility settings to tailor what appears in the viewport (e.g., hide construction lines or show electrical layers only).

   • You can insert multiple viewports for different views: plan view, 3D layout, single-line diagram, etc.

6. Add Annotations in Paper Space

   • Use dimensions, labels, and notes directly in paper space for clarity, since they’ll stay fixed at print scale.

7. Plot or Export

   • Use the PLOT command to print or create a PDF of your drawing sheet with the layout properly scaled and annotated.

This workflow allows you to preserve your full-scale working design in model space while creating clean, presentable sheets in paper space for stakeholders or permitting authorities. Let me know if you’d like an example setup with specific dimensions or templates.