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Drawing Content

Populating Drawings with Content: Drawing Templates & Data Tables info.

Introduction

This article covers how to add content to your Live Plans sheets. If you've already set up your Layout (view templates, sheet templates, and viewports), this is the next step: deciding what information appears inside those sheets and how it's presented.

In Live Plans, content falls into two main categories. Drawing Templates are reusable elements you design once and place across your sheets, such as title blocks, room tags, and annotations. Data Tables generate schedules that pull information directly from your model and update automatically as the model changes.

Creating Reusable 2D Elements with Drawing Templates

Drawing Templates are your library of reusable 2D elements. They are perfect for creating consistent title blocks, standard details, keynotes, symbols, logos, and any other graphical content you want to use repeatedly across your drawing sets. Drawing Templates save you from redrawing common elements and ensure visual consistency.

Creating a Drawing Template

  1. Navigate to Drawing Templates: In the Project Browser, go to the Live Plans tab. Then, in the "Content" section, click on "Drawing Templates."

  2. Create a New Drawing Template: Click the "+" button (Add Drawing Template). Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Standard Title Block - 24x36," "Keynote Symbol," "Wall Section Detail").

  3. Draft Your Content: You are now in a 2D drafting space. Use the Drafting Toolbar to create your content:

    • Lines, Arcs, Circles: Draw lines, arcs, circles, and other 2D geometry to create the graphical elements of your template.

    • Text: Use the text tools to add static text labels, notes, or headings that will be part of the Drawing Template.

    • Hatch Patterns & Fills: Add hatch patterns or solid fills to create graphical representations or highlight areas within your Drawing Template.

  4. Add Parameters (for Dynamic Content): To make your Drawing Templates dynamic (e.g., for title blocks with sheet numbers that update automatically), use Parameters:

    • Add Parameter Definition: In the Drawing Template Inspector, click "Add Parameter." Define the parameter name (e.g., "Sheet Number," "Project Name") and data type (e.g., "Text," "Number").

    • Insert Parameter Text: Use the text tool to place text within your Drawing Template. When creating the text, instead of typing static text, insert a Parameter Placeholder. This placeholder will link to the parameter you defined. (The exact method for inserting placeholders might involve a right-click menu or a specific command – refer to Higharc documentation for the precise steps).

  5. Save Your Drawing Template: Once you've created your content and added parameters, save your Drawing Template. It's now ready to be used in your Sheet Templates.

Using Drawing Template Instances

  1. Open a Sheet Template: Open the Sheet Template where you want to use your Drawing Template (e.g., your "24x36 Floor Plan Sheet").

  2. Add a Drawing Template Instance: Use the "Add Drawing Template Instance" command (found in the Inspector when a Sheet Template is selected, or in the command bar).

  3. Choose Your Drawing Template: Select the Drawing Template you created from the dropdown list (e.g., "Standard Title Block - 24x36").

  4. Place the Instance: Click on your Sheet Template to place an instance of the Drawing Template. You can typically snap to sheet corners or specific points for precise placement.

  5. Modify Parameter Values (for Dynamic Instances): If your Drawing Template has parameters (like "Sheet Number"), select the Drawing Template Instance on your Sheet Template. In the Inspector, you will see the parameters listed. Enter the specific values for this instance (e.g., "Sheet Number: A-101," "Project Name: Maplewood Residence"). These values will only apply to this instance of the Drawing Template on this sheet.

Model-Hosted Annotation Drawings

In addition to placing Drawing Templates on sheets, you can attach annotation drawings directly to elements in your model so they appear automatically in any view that includes that element. This is useful for annotations that belong to a specific part of the model rather than a specific sheet, such as typical wall notes, level datums, or standard callouts tied to a room type. Annotation Drawings are a dedicated subtype of Drawing Template, designed specifically for model placement.

Authoring an Annotation Drawing

  1. Navigate to the Drawing Catalog: In the Project Browser, go to Catalogs → Drawings → Annotation Drawings.

  2. Create a new Annotation Drawing: Click the "+" button and give it a descriptive name.

  3. Set the view scale: In the inspector, assign a view scale that matches how this annotation will appear when placed in a viewport. This ensures linework and text render at the correct size.

  4. Draft your content: Use the drafting toolbar to add linework, text, and other elements. Assign labels to individual elements to control which parts are visible in different drawing types (see Using Labels below).

  5. Save: Your annotation drawing is now available to place in the model.

Placing an Annotation Drawing in the Model

  1. Select a room or level in the model.

  2. In the inspector, find the Annotation Drawings section and click "+" to add an instance.

  3. Choose your annotation drawing from the dropdown. It will appear in any viewport that includes that room or level.

  4. Switch templates at any time using the dropdown on the instance — no need to delete and recreate.

Using Labels to Adapt Annotations Across Drawing Types

Individual elements within an annotation drawing can carry different labels, allowing a single template to show different content depending on the drawing type. A general notes block, for example, can show the full set of construction notes on a permit set, a condensed version on a sales drawing, and nothing at all on a conceptual plan, without maintaining separate templates for each.

To assign a label to an element, select it in the annotation drawing canvas and use the Labels field in the inspector. Labels are defined in your project's Label Catalog and correspond to the drawing types where that element should be visible.

⚠️ Migration Note: Annotation Catalogs Have Moved

If you previously used Annotation Catalogs (found under Settings), that section no longer exists. All existing annotations have been automatically migrated to Catalogs → Drawings → Annotation Drawings, where they are now managed as a dedicated drawing template subtype.

Creating Customizable Room Tags

Room Tags in Live Plans are fully customizable, to control exactly how room information appears on your live plan sheets.

Applying Room Tags Drawing-wide with View Templates

Assign any room tag type to a view template using a simple dropdown. Five new default templates cover the most common room label configurations, including Room Name, Ceiling Height, Floor Material, Room Dimensions, and Room Area. If you’d like to use the Built-in tags, choose None, which will allow you to apply tags on a room by room basis.

Making Simple Overrides

While view templates make it easy to apply a Room Tag style to everything at once, you can also apply Room Tag Templates directly to a Room. This enables you to make exceptions on a room-by-room basis; for example, Room Tags could display dimensions for some rooms but not all.

Authoring Reusable Room Tag Templates

Design reusable room tag templates directly in the Catalog under Tags in the Drawing tab. Compose your layout using any combination of annotation and system parameters, and style the text to match your documentation standards. All system templates can be duplicated and customized, giving you a convenient starting point.

Using System Parameters

Room Tag templates can display a comprehensive set of room data parameters: room name, ceiling height, floor material, room dimensions, room area, room type, and a tag details field. Dimension values intelligently select between bounding box and maximal rectangle calculations for accuracy, and can be overridden per room in the Room Inspector.

Adding Section Callouts

Section Callouts mark where a section cut is taken on a Plan or Elevation view and link directly to the Section View they reference. Once placed, a callout automatically reports the sheet number and viewport number of wherever that section appears in your current plan set, so the reference stays correct as your plan set changes — no manual cross-referencing required.

Placing a Section Callout

  1. Create a Section View and position it within the model canvas

  2. Add a Callout Label to the Section View (i.e. “Add to Floor Plan”) to choose which drawings you want to display the Callout symbol on. Its sheet and viewport number populate automatically once the referenced section is added to a viewport in the plan set.

  3. If a callout is missing: a callout only displays once its referenced section has been placed in a viewport somewhere in your plan set. If you don't see one you expect, confirm that both the section and the plan have been added to a sheet.

Controlling Callout Visibility

  • Use the Section Callouts category in your Plan View Templates to control overall visibility for that view type.

  • Disable an individual callout on a per-section basis for cases where a section is in the plan set but shouldn't be referenced by using Callout Labels and View Template Overrides.

Generating Dynamic Schedules with Data Tables

Data Tables are your automated schedule generators. They extract data directly from your Higharc building model to create dynamic schedules for windows, doors, finishes, areas, materials, and more. Data Tables eliminate manual schedule creation and ensure that your schedules are always up-to-date with the latest model information.

Creating Data Sequences

  1. Navigate to Data Sequences: In the Live Plans tab, under the "Content" section, click on "Data Sequences."

  2. Create a New Data Sequence: Click the "+" button (Add Data Sequence). Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Window Schedule," "Door Schedule," "Room Finish Schedule").

  3. Choose a Data Category: In the Data Sequence Inspector, select the "Category" of data you want to extract (e.g., "Windows," "Doors," "Rooms," "Walls," "Materials").

  4. Customize Columns: The Data Sequence will automatically suggest columns based on the chosen category. You can:

    • Add Columns: Click "Add Column" to include more properties from the selected category (e.g., for Windows, you might add "Width," "Height," "Material," "Quantity").

    • Remove Columns: Delete columns you don't need in your schedule.

    • Reorder Columns: Drag and drop columns to arrange them in the desired order for your schedule.

    • Customize Column Headers: Edit the column "Header" text to give your schedule columns clear and user-friendly headings.

  5. Apply Filters (Optional): Use filters to refine the data included in your schedule. For example, in a "Door Schedule," you could filter to only include "Exterior Doors" or doors of a specific type.

  6. Save Your Data Sequence: Save your Data Sequence. It's now ready to be placed as a Data Table on your sheets.

Using Data Tables on Sheets

  1. Open a Sheet Template: Open the Sheet Template where you want to place your schedule.

  2. Add a Data Table: Use the "Add Data Table" command (similar to adding Drawing Template Instances).

  3. Choose Your Data Sequence: Select the Data Sequence you created from the dropdown list (e.g., "Window Schedule").

  4. Place the Data Table: Click on your Sheet Template to place the Data Table. It will automatically populate with data extracted from your model based on the Data Sequence definition.

  5. Adjust Table Layout: You can typically adjust the size and position of the Data Table on your sheet. Some platforms might offer options to control column widths or table formatting.

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