Layers

Layers Menu:

Add New Layer:
Use this menu to create a new layer. You will be presented with a form allowing you to name the new layer. The new layer will become the drawings current layer.

Checking the "Set Layer's Offset to Last Layer's Offset" checkbox will cause the new layer to have the same offset as the last layer in the layer list.

Add New Advanced Layer:

Section Layer
This option is a quick way to create a 1 to 5 mile square section. If you pick a size larger than 1 mile, you'll be given the option to include tick marks at the mile marks. You can also choose which quadrant to create the section in. This allows you to choose if the section is drawn north/south and east/west of the drawing's origin. Creating a Section Layer requires that the drawing's origin be set to something other than Auto-Center. The recommended origin setting is Center of Screen.

Return to Call
Creating a Return to Call layer will create a new layer that starts at the endpoint of the layer and call that is chosen. It will automatically create a series of invisible calls, from the drawing's origin, to the chosen call's endpoint. This makes it easy to return to a common point when multiple tracts start at the same reference point. Creating a Return to Call layer requires that the drawing's origin be set to something other than Auto-Center. The recommended origin setting is Center of Screen. This method is the recommended way to return to a call, however, in some cases the "Return to Call" call option may also be viable.

Rotated Layer
This option will create a new layer by rotating or flipping the selected layer. This will create a new set of calls for the new layer. The recommended origin setting is Center of Screen.

Compass Rule Layer
This option will create a new layer by applying the Compass Rule to the selected layer. The default colors for this layer will be set to the selected color. The recommended origin setting is Center of Screen.

Reverse Direction Layer
This option will create a new layer by reverse the direction of the calls. For example, if a plot runs clockwise, the new plot layer will run counter-clockwise.

Grid Layer
This option will create a new layer. This layer will contain a grid of the specified width and the specified spacing.

Check the Retain Leading Invisible Calls checkbox to have the new layer copy any leading invisible calls from the original layer.

Center Line Offset

Enter the left and right offsets.

Delete Current Layer:
This menu will prompt you to delete the current layer.

Rename Current Layer:
This menu will bring up a form that will let you rename the current layer. Enter a new name and press the Rename button.

Duplicate Current Layer:
This menu will duplicate the current layer. The new layer will be placed in the center of the drawing window. The new layer will become the current layer.

Attributes

The Layer Attributes form allows you to assign up to 10 attributes to a layer. These attributes can be searched as well as exported in .SHP and .KML files. Some attribute types, such as Owner, allow you to enter in a value. Other attribute types, such as Area, are calculated automatically.

To edit the master list of attribute types that will be used for all layers, press the Edit button.

The Layer Attributes Configuration form allows you to set the type for each attribute. If you pick the Custom type, then you will be able to enter a name to use for this type. This name will be displayed on the Layer Attributes form.

Clicking the View as Grid button will bring up the Layer Attribute Grid window.

Set Current Layer Origin X,Y Coordinates:
Choosing this option will bring up the following form. It can be used to set the X,Y coordinates for the layer's origin. This has no visual effect on the drawing, but will be used when showing/saving the point coordinates, exporting the current layer as a DXF file and when viewing the endpoint x,y. This setting also has no effect on the Offset or Origin functions.

Enter the X and Y coordinates and press the Set button.

You can also view origin X,Y for all layers at once by selecting View All Layers from the Options menu. Doing so will bring up the following form:

The X, Y values can be edited on this form by clicking in any X, Y cell and entering a new value.

A set of x,y coordinates can be applied to all layers by choosing the option from the popup menu triangle.

Set Current Layer POB Lat/Long Coordinates:
Choosing this option will bring up the following form. It can be used to set the latitude and longitude coordinates for the POB. This has no visual effect on the drawing, but will be used by the various other Lat/Long functions as a starting point offset.

Enter the latitude and longitude coordinates and press the Set button.

Clicking the menu popup triangle provides additional options for setting the POB's lat/long.

You can also view origin Lat/Long for all layers at once by selecting View All Layers from the Options menu. Doing so will bring up the following form:

Offset Current Layer:
*  Each layer can be moved around by using the mouse.
*  Holding down the shift key while dragging a layer allows you to drag all of the unlocked layers at once. 
*  Holding down the shift and control keys will bring up scrollbars that can be used to move all layers, including locked layers, at the same time. This allows you to move all of the layers even if there is no layer visible to grab. This can be useful for "scrolling" around the drawing while the scale setting is zoomed in.

The Offset window can be used to nudge a layer 1 pixel at a time or it can set a layers offset to the same offset as another layer. It can also return a layer to its point of origin. The origin setting can be set in the Drawing Options.

Set All Layers to Origin:
This menu option will return all of the unlocked layers offsets back to zero.

Align Layers by Endpoints:
This form will allow you to align layers via their endpoints. Note: This option is not available for drawing's with their origin set to Auto-Center.

Select a base layer. This layer will not move. When you select a layer, it's endpoints will be numbered on the main drawing. Select a base endpoint. This is the endpoint that the 'move layer' will move to. Select a move layer. This is the layer that will move to the selected base endpoint. Select the move endpoint that you want to line up with the base endpoint. Press the Align Layers button.

Align Layers by Lat/Long:
This form will allow you to align layers via their POB Lat/Long values. Note: This option is not available for drawing's with their origin set to Auto-Center.

This form will create a new, invisible starting call for each selected layer from the Origin's POB to each layer's Lat/Long POB.

Origin Lat/Long:
This is the Lat/Long to use for the drawing's origin. You can pick this value from a layer's POB Lat/Long by clicking on the popup menu triangle.

Align Layers:
This popup menu lets you choose which layers to align. The checkbox lets you skip or include locked layers.

X,Y Offset:
This option allows you to clear each layer's existing x,y offset, keep the existing x, y offset or set the offset to a specific layer's x,y offset.

Convert Current Layer Offset to Call:
The option will convert the current layer's offset into an invisible metes and bounds call.

Current Layer Closure Tools:

Convert Auto Completion to Call
This command is similar to the Auto Complete layer option. But instead of just drawing the closing line, this option will create a new call that will close the plot and append it to the call list.

Analyze Layer Closing Error

Compass Rule...

Adjust Closing Error

This form allows you to minimize a closure error by adjust the length of a line until the closure gap is at its smallest.

Select the line that you want to adjust. Select an interval. The interval is how large or small of increments the software will use to close the gap. Then press the Adjust Line button.

Bearing-Bearing Intersection

This form allows you to enter in bearings for the last two lines. Enter in the two bearings without entering a distance.

Distance-Distance Intersection

This form allows you to enter in two distances for the last two lines. Press the Find Intersections button to see the two possible choices. Select the choice that you were looking for.

Split Current Layer

Split Tool:
You can use this feature to turn a single layer into two plots.
First, choose the call where you want to start the split.

Next, move the slider to the desired point in the line where you would like the split to occur. A red bull's-eye will appear on the main drawing to show you where the line will be split. You can also use the popup menu arrow to set the line lengths to the desired values. Press the Next button to choose the ending marker for the split.

Now choose the call for the other end of the split.

Move the slider to choose the second split point. Or, if you select the Find Nearest Half checkbox, the program will find the point on the 2nd line where the two new plots are closest to having the same area. You can also use the popup menu arrow to enter in precise values.

You can view the new plots area either in square feet or in acres.

Press the Split button to create your two new plots. The two new layers will be added to your drawing if you have the Pro version, or two new windows will be created if you have the Basic version.

If you press the 3rd Point button instead of pressing the Split button, the software will create a 3rd point at the center point of the new cut line. You can then create 2 lines for the cut line instead of just one line.

Use the large arrows to move the 3rd point in 1 foot increments and the small arrows to move the point in 1 inch increments. The 3rd point will not be allowed to move outside of the plot's boundary.

Set Non-Current Layers Invisible will uncheck each layer's visibility checkbox accept for the current layer. This will cause all of the layers, other than the current layer to become invisible.

Set All Layers Visible will check each layer's visibility checkbox. This will cause all of the layers to become visible.

Manage Layer Visibility. Choosing this menu will bring up the Layer Visibility form where you can set all of the layers visibility in one place.

Check or clear each checkbox to set that layer's visibility.

Press the Check All button to make all layers visible.

Press the Clear All button to make all layers invisible.

Lock Non-Current Layers. Choosing this option will mark all of the layers, other than the current layer, as locked.

Unlock All Layers. Choosing this option will mark all of the layers, including the current layer, as unlocked.

Hide Non-Current Layers. When this menu option is checked, selecting a layer from the layer popup menu will cause all of the other layers to be hidden. This makes it so that only one layer is visible at a time. The other layer's visibility setting is not effected.

Hide Non-Current Layer Endpoints. When this menu option is checked, only the current layer's endpoint data is shown. This checkbox does not affect the other layer's endpoint settings.

Highlight Current Layer:
This option will cause the current layer to be drawn with a yellow highlight around it.

You can also temporarily enable layer highlighting by holding down the 'H' key.

Selecting the Current Layer:
To select a layer, choose it from the layer selection menu on the main window.

When you select a new layer, it will become the current layer. All of the layer's calls will be shown in the call list and all of the layer's options will be set in the layer options area.

You can also select a current layer by right-clicking on the layer itself or the layers floating call list (if visible) in the drawing and choosing the Make Current Layer option.

Edit Menu Layer Options:

Layer Order:
You can change the order of the layers in the layer popup menu by right-clicking on the layer popup menu and choosing Change Layer Order. Changing the order will change the order in which the layers are rendered on the screen. The first layer in the list will be drawn first and the last layer in the list will be drawn last.

To change a layer's order, select the layer in the list and press either the Up button or the Down button.

Press the Save and Close button to commit any changes and to close the form.