Planner FAQ

  1. Planner is not working with Windows VISTA or not allowing me in Symbol Libraries. How do I fix?
  2. I'm running Symantec or Norton Anti-Virus and Planner will not run, how do I fix?
  3. How Do I Import A Plot Plan That Is In PDF Format?
  4. How can I open a drawing where I’m getting a message which reads “Unexpected File Format Error”?
  5. How Do I Print My Drawing on a Large Format Printer?
  6. How do I bring in a scanned image and re-scale it?
  7. How do I draw a diagonal or curved foundation wall?
  8. How do I fill an area?
  9. How do I select all the entities on a layer?
  10. How do I make a line or polyline bolder?
  11. How do I delete an arrow?
  12. How can I show existing landscape and not have it display in the legend?
  13. How do I draw multiple lines using the keyboard?
  14. How do I create a drawing template?
  15. I don't have a plotter or a large printer?
  16. How do I change the color of a symbol?

  1. Planner is not working with Windows VISTA or not allowing me in Symbol Libraries. How do I fix?

    In order for your PRO Landscape program to run properly, you will need to make the following adjustment within your Windows Vista operating system.
    1) Go to START button and select CONTROL PANEL
    2) Within Control Panel select CLASSIC VIEW from left pane of window.
    3) On right pane, select USER ACCOUNTS
    4) Select “Turn user account control on or off”
    5) Uncheck the box next to “Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer”
    6) Select OK and reboot your system.

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  2. I'm running Symantec or Norton Anti-Virus and Planner will not run, how do I fix?

    In order for your PRO Landscape program to run properly, you will need to make the following adjustment within your Symantec 2007, Norton Anti-virus 2007, or Norton Internet Security 2007 applications.
    1) Open your Symantec/Norton application by double clicking on the program icon located in the system tray next to your system clock in the lower right corner of your screen.
    2) Select the Internet Security tab or Norton Anti-Virus tab and then click on the Settings tab.
    3) In the Setting tab, click on Auto-Protect and select the Configure button.
    4) Under Advanced Options select Scan Exclusions.
    5) In the lower portion of the screen, under “Which disks, folders, or files to exclude from Auto-Protect scanning” select NEW
    6) Click on the open folder icon and browse to the folder located at C:/Program Files/Drafix and select this folder and OK.  The Include Subfolder checkbox should be checked and select OK.

    This change will only prevent the anti-virus auto-protect feature from interfering with PRO Landscape during its normal operation.  Your anti-virus program will be scanning Drafix folders during full disk scanning processes.

    NORTON 360 USERS:
     Users with Norton 360 will need to temporarily disable Norton 360 while running PRO Landscape Planner.  Norton 360 does not allow configuration of the Auto-Protect feature as the do in their other products.

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  3. How Do I Import A Plot Plan That Is In PDF Format?

    To import a plot plan that has been saved in PDF format follow these steps:

    • Open PDF plot plan in Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    • Select the Snapshot tool from the toolbar.
    • Drag a rectangle around the portion of the plot plan which you would like to capture.
    • When you release the rectangle, you should receive a message that the selected area has been copied to clipboard.
    • Open Planner and select Start Drawing Immediately.
    • Select EDIT > PASTE OBJECT, left click on the grid where you would like to place the plot plan and it should now appear.
    • Enlarge the plot plan proportionally by dragging corners diagonally.
    • You will need to scale the plot plan to the proper scale.
    • This process will work on Planner Version 11 and higher.

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  4. How can I open a drawing where I’m getting a message which reads “Unexpected File Format Error”?

    This error is due to a corrupt Planner project file.  In some cases, the corrupt file may be recovered by following these steps.
    1) Start Planner
    2) Select Start Drawing Immediately from startup screen
    3) Once your blank grid appears, go to FILE > MERGE and select your corrupt file. 
    4) Click OK when it asks you to select new origin.  It may show you “Unexpected File Format Error” but may let you retrieve the drawing.
    5) Once your drawing is recovered, save the project as a different filename.

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  5. How Do I Print My Drawing on a Large Format Printer?

    The best method is to use the Drafix PDF Writer.  Following these steps to create a PDF file:
    1) In Planner, with your drawing open, go to File > Print.
    2) Select the PDF Writer from the Printer dropdown menu and click Preview.
    3) Click on Page Setup and select your document size from the dropdown menu or enter your size under Custom Size.
    4) Click on the Printer Page tab and select the Page Size from dropdown menu and click OK.
    5) Click Print and you will return the Print dialog box.
    6) Click on Properties button, click on Advanced button and select your Paper Size, click OK and OK again.
    7) On the Print dialog box, click OK and the program will ask you to assign a filename to the PDF file. Note where you save the file.
    8) To confirm process, go to START >> MY COMPUTER and navigate to the pdf file you just saved.  Double click on file and it should open up in Adobe Acrobat Reader.  Within Acrobat go to FILE >> DOCUMENT PROPERTIES and verify page size.  If the document size is correct, you should now be able to print to your large format printer.

    Common Architectural Paper Sizes

       ARCH A = 8.5"X11"
       ARCH B = 11” X 17”
       ARCH C = 17” X 22”
       ARCH D = 22"X 34”
       ARCH E = 34” X 44”

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  6. How do I bring in a scanned image and re-scale it?

    • Start Planner.
    • Select Start Drawing Immediately.
    • Click on Draw > Picture.
    • In the Edit bar click on the Browse icon.

    • Pull down the 'Files Of Type' menu and select the file type you are using (.bmp or .jpg).
    • Pull down the 'Look In' menu and find the location of your image file, select it and click Open.

    • Click in the lower left on the drawing page and a rubber-banding square will appear.
    • Hold down SHIFT key and bring your cursor up and to the right until the square fills as much of the page as possible then click.
    • Right click one time to select the bitmap.
    • Click Edit > Transform > Scale.
    • Look for "1.00" in the Edit bar, RIGHT click and select Change X and Y Scale.

    • Look for something on the image that you know the distance. For example: A property line that is 150' long.
    • Click on one end of the property line and a rubber-banding line will follow your cursor.
    • Click on the other end of the property line and the rubber-banding will disappear.
    • Hit the = key on the keyboard, the Distance Input dialog will appear. Type in the distance 150, do not include the foot sign, just the numbers then click OK.
    • To apply the scale click in the lower left of the drawing page then hit ESC a couple times to end the command.

    If the image is off the page then go to Tools > Drawing Options, click the Scale tab and then AutoScale - OK. This will re-scale the drawing to fit the page.

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  7. How do I draw a diagonal or curved foundation wall?

    You will notice that the Draw >> Wall limits you to drawing horizontal and vertical walls. To draw diagonal walls, try the following:
    1. Draw > Wall
    2. Click a point on the page to start the wall, a line will follow your cursor.
    3. On your keyboard hold down on the "U" key to Unlock and you will be able to draw the wall in any direction.
    An alternative method is to use the Edit Vertices feature to angle walls or adjust walls after they have been drawn.
    1. Once the wall is drawn, click on the wall to select it.
    2. Right click on the selected wall and select Edit Vertices from popup menu.
    3. Click on one of the green vertice connector squares, when selected it will turn red.
    4. Drag the red square to the desired position and the wall should now be at an angle.
    5. To add more vertice connector points, click on middle of selected line a stretch it outward, a new connector point should appear.
    6. To add a smooth curve in between two vertice connector points, hold down on the CTRL key and click on middle of a selected line, stretch it outward, and the line will curve with a smooth arch.

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  8. How do I fill an area?

    There are a couple ways to fill an area. One is used with a closed polygon and the other is with Content Explorer.

    Polygon

    1. On the Draw menu select 2D CAD > Polygon > Rectangle.
    2. Draw a rectangle on the page.
    3. RIGHT click on the rectangle and select Annotation Fill.
    4. Select a Solid or Hatch pattern, OK.

    From the Content Explorer

    1. On the Draw menu select 2D CAD > Circle > Center and Side.
    2. Draw a circle on the page.
    3. From the Content Explorer select either the Solid Color or Texture tab.
    4. Click and drag one of the colors or textures into the circle.
    5. The circle is now filled.

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  9. How do I select all the entities on a layer?

    This is a very helpful tool when you need to select everything on a particular layer. For example, you imported a scanned image and you're having trouble trying to select it. Each time you try to select it other entities select also.

    1. From the Edit menu > Select > Modify Selection.
    2. In the Selection Modifier dialog press Qualifier > Layer, select the desired layer then OK.
    3. Click the Add button and everything on that layer will select.

    Note: This is a great tool to select the entire legend.

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  10. How do I make a line or polyline bolder?

    Polyline

    1. Select the polyline.

    2. In the Edit bar type the width you prefer and hit ENTER.

      NOTE: If you do not hit enter after you type in your width the new width will not be applied to the polyline.

    Line

    1. Select the line.
    2. RIGHT click on the line, select Modify Properties.
    3. In Width, change to the desired width, OK.

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  11. How do I delete an arrow?

    You need to select the basepoint of the arrow. The basepoint is located at the tip of the arrow.

    1. Click and draw a square around the tip of the arrow and it will select.
    2. Hit Delete on your keyboard.

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  12. How can I show existing landscape and not have it display in the legend?

    Explode all the symbols that represent existing landscape.

    1. Click on the symbol that represents the existing landscape, this will select it.
    2. Click the Explode button in the Edit bar.
    3. Now it will not be tracked in the legend.

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  13. How do I draw multiple lines using the keyboard?

    1. Click on Draw > 2D CAD > Line > Multiple.
    2. Click on the drawing page and a rubber band will follow your cursor.
    3. Type "R" for the Relative Input mode and you will see the Enter 2D Coordinate dialog box.
    4. To draw a 20' line to the right enter 20' in the X, hit tab and enter 0 in the Y and hit ENTER.

      NOTE: You will see the line has been drawn on the page.

    5. To draw a 50' line going straight up enter 0 in the X, hit tab and enter 50' in the Y and hit ENTER.
    6. To draw a 20' line going to the left enter -20' in the X, hit tab and enter 0 in the Y and hit ENTER.
    7. To draw a 50' line going straight down enter -50' in the X, hit tab and enter 0 in the Y and hit ENTER.
    8. To end drawing click Close and then right click to finish.

      The Relative command can be used with walls, polylines, property lines, etc.

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  14. How do I create a drawing template?

    A template is used to have preset defaults. For example, your drawings are always on an 11x17 page at a scale of ј"=1".

    There are many other defaults you can set as well - font, font size, units of measurement, origin, etc.

    You can set up a template to have this set up when you click File > New.

    How to create the file to be used for a template:

    1. File > New, choose Start Drawing Immediately.
    2. Make all your changes:
      • Scale
      • Page size/orientation
      • Font size and style
      • Call out size and style
      • Anything else you would like to set up.
    3. File > Save As, name the file.
      • * Name it something pertaining to the file, for example: 36x24 eighth inch scale.
      • * Click Save.
    4. File > Close.

    How to save your file as a template:

    1. File > New, click on the Template tab.
    2. Click Organize Templates then Add.
    3. Click on the Browse button and find your file (36x24 eighth inch scale for example).
    4. Select the file then click Open.
    5. Name the template, you can name it the same name as the file (36x24 eighth inch scale), click OK.
    6. Click Close.
    7. If you want to use this file as the default template when you select File > New then select the template check Use selection as new default, press OK.

    Keep in mind you can create more than one template. You may want to create more based on the size of the page or the scale. If you want to use a different template then the default then all you have to do is File > New, select the Template tab and then select the preferred template - OK.

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  15. I don't have a plotter or a large printer?

    You have two good options. One is to use Kinko's, the other is to use a company that has larger plotters for printing .

    Note: If you are running version 12.2 or higher you should be using the Drafix PDFWriter to create a PDF file for large scale printing.

    Option One: Using the Kinko's Prep Tool

    1. Open the file you want to print in Planner.
    2. Click File > Print.
    3. Select the Kinko's Prep Tool then Properties.
    4. Click Advanced then select your page size, OK - OK.
    5. Click Preview then the Page Setup button.
    6. In the Size tab place the dot in Printer Page.
    7. Click the Printer Page tab.

      In Page Size select your preferred page size. Do the same for Paper Orientation, OK.

    8. If your drawing is smaller than the page click Close.
    9. Tools > Drawing Options, select the Scale tab then click the AutoScale button, OK.
    10. File > Print Preview to make sure your print is correct.

    If it's okay then click the Print button then OK. The Kinko's File Prep Tool displays with your drawing.

    You have the choice of Send To Kinko's Online where you can pay for the print and tell it what store you'd like to pick it up. OR you can save it to your hard drive or a floppy drive and either email or give it to Kinko's in person.

    Option Two: Printing to a plotter

    Call the plotter company you plan to use and ask what type of plotter your drawing will be plotted.

    We'll use the Hewlett Packard DesignJet 755CM for an example.

    Install the plotter driver into Windows:

    • Click on Start > Settings > Printers. OR Start > Printers and Faxes.
    • Double click on Add Printer.
    • When it asks what port you would like to print to select FILE: (Print To File).
    • Select the appropriate printer/plotter and finish installing the driver.
    • Once the driver is installed RIGHT click on the driver and select Properties.
    • Look through the driver to find the page/sheet sizes and select your preferred page size and click OK.
    1. Open the file you want to print in Planner.
    2. File > Print.
    3. Select the plotter then Properties.
    4. Click Advanced then select your page size, OK - OK.
    5. Click Preview then the Page Setup button.
    6. In the Size tab place the dot in Printer Page.
    7. Click the Printer Page tab.

      In Page Size select your preferred page size. Do the same for Paper Orientation, OK.

    8. If your drawing is smaller than the page click Close.
    9. Tools > Drawing Options, select the Scale tab then click the AutoScale button, OK.
    10. File > Print Preview to make sure your print is correct.
    11. If it's okay then click the Print button then OK.
    12. Name your plotter file and select the location for your file.

    Your file is now ready to be sent to the plotter company.

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  16. How do I change the color of a symbol?

      In Version 13:
    • Simply go to symbol in Content Librarian, right-click on the symbol and select Recolor Symbol.


      In Version 12:
    • Place the desired symbol in the drawing and RIGHT click to select it.
    • Click the Explode button in the Edit bar.



    • RIGHT click on the symbol and select Modify Properties.

    • Change the pen color, click OK.
    • Keep the entity selected and go to Draw > New Symbol.
    • Select the Symbol Type then the Symbol Name then click OK.
    • In the Object Editor dialog box you have the option to add the botanical name and other plant information, press OK.

    The symbol is now saved with the new pen color.

    Note: You can save the entity as any symbol type or name as desired.

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