Creating legends - D-Tools Forum

06-30-2008, 12:15 AM

How do i create a legend without adding products to the project
Thanks

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 06-30-2008, 02:50 AM

There are legends in the DT Annotations stencil, but it's likely they do not include all the shapes you are using, and/or many shapes you are not using.

So to create a custom legend, there are quite a few steps that must be repeated on each shape.

Its best to create a D-Tools project specifically for creating the legends.

1. Open the stencil containing the shapes you are using for editing
2. Open the shape using the right-click command edit master shape
3. Copy the shape and paste it into a visio drawing used to compile all your shapes into a legend

From here, how you choose to organize, present and name each symbol (shape) for the drawings is up to you.

We created the Enhanced Stencil Suite for SI5 to give users more uable shapes for plan views and each stencil contains a JPG legend ready to drag and drop onto the plan view page.

You can read more about it here: http://d-tools.us/showthread.php?t=2155

07-01-2008, 09:31 PM

thanks for the help

Visio Guy · 07-11-2008, 10:08 AM

Visio has a built-in Legend feature, which is probably a bit different than what you are after, but it might be of interest to you.

I've described how to make shapes "legend compliant" in this article: Legend Shapes

Again, this isn't really for CAD/Title-block type legends, but somebody out there in SI Land might find it interesting.

SenoS · 09-18-2008, 08:34 PM

Here is a recent post from the D-Tools Blog that may be helpful: http://www.d-toolsblog.com/?p=424

eddieasher · 10-14-2008, 05:59 AM

I designed the wire legend described above, and it works. I do have a small problem and do not know if I can do anything about it. The legend I designed was on a 24”x36” template, if I us the 11”x17” template and add the wire legend, the legend is to big. If I resize the legend it does not resize correctly. Anything I can do about this?

Thanks

Eddie

**Kevin Mikelonis** · 10-14-2008, 08:17 AM

Hi Eddie-

Place your legend on a 24 x 36 sheet in Visio and do a 'save as' and change the file type to a .JPG.

Drop the JPG onto your Visio page, and drag it into a stencil that is open for editing.

The legend will become a shape you can drag onto any Visio Pgae in D-Tools and resize.

We used this exact method to create legends for all our plan view icons by category in our Enhanced Stencil Suite.

Its a full moon tonight - so bright out I cannot sleep - funny place to end up!

Best-

Visio Guy · 10-14-2008, 12:23 PM

Hi Guys,

I have a similar technique to Kevin's, but it will preserve the "vector-ness" of your legend.

1. Select everything on your 11x17 page (Ctrl+A for a quick Select All shortcut)
2. Copy (Ctrl+C)
3. In your other drawing, do a Edit > Paste Special, and choose "Windows metafile" or "Enhanced metafile"

You'll get your legend, as a vector-based object, but with no smarts that prevent it from being resized as a "dumb" piece of clipart.

eddieasher · 10-14-2008, 01:18 PM

Kevin and Chris

Thanks for the info, both solutions worked, do not know with one to use yet.

Thanks again.

Eddie

fryeguy · 10-14-2008, 04:56 PM

Yes. The Metafile version sounds like the way to go.

I have a question though. Why does anyone actually use different size templates?
Are you actually trying to scale an 11x17 sheet? Is it because a 24x36 scaled to fit 11x17 isn't quite the right shape? I try to create all sheets at 24x36 and then adjust scale and/or print size.