Draft Module

The draft Module is a work-in-progress and quite experimental module made to add basic 2d drawing functionality to FreeCAD. It is written entirely in python, and is also intended to showcase how far you can extend FreeCAD entirely in python, without even touching the source code. This module is currently developed outside of the main FreeCAD development structure.

Currently it is not really usable for production work, but already contains a couple of working basic functions. Feel free to test, and give us a feedback on the discussion page.

I also maintain a workplan of the whole thing here.

Installation
The draft Module is currently not part of the FreeCAD package, so you'll need to download it from here: http://yorik.orgfree.com/scripts/Draft.zip The zipfile here above contains just a "draft" directory. To install the module, simply place that directory into the "Mod" directory of FreeCAD.

Please note that the draft module requires two specific python modules to be installed and working on your system, PyQt4 and Pyvy. Instructions for installing or compiling these modules can be found on the extra python modules page.

General use
Once installed, the draft workbench will be availible in your workbenches list. When you activate it, two toolbars will appear; a classical toolbar containing the standard draft commands listed below and a special toolbar that has no command on it, but that is used by the different functions to display their controls. On that toolbar, you can also change general things like current line color and width.

One thing is important to know, the draft workbench doesn't put you automatically in orthographic projection (why would it?). So before drawing, make sure you are in orthographic projection and in the appropriate view...

Autodesk DXF
File Menu > Open

This function opens a DXF file (any version from 12 to 2007) in a new drawing. The color and linetype of objects is currently not used. DXF object types currently read by this script + implementation in FreeCAD:


 * line: read and converted to FreeCAD Polygon
 * lwpolyline: read and converted to FreeCAD Polygon w/ arcs straigthened
 * text: read but no implementation in FreeCAD
 * mtext: read but no implementation in FreeCAD
 * circle: read and converted to FreeCAD Circle
 * arc: read and converted to FreeCAD Circle
 * layer: read and layers containing objects are conveted to FreeCAD Group
 * block_record: read but no implementation in FreeCAD

SVG
File Menu > Open

A function to import SVG files as workable 2D objects, in opposition to the built-in drawing module which imports svg files as sheet drawings. SVG objects that get imported at the moment:


 * PATH objects with M, C, L or A commands: converted to FreeCAD polygon
 * RECT objects: converted to FreeCAD polygon

2-point Line
draft Toolbar > Line Context menu > draft > Line draft Menu > Line

This function asks the user for 2 points and draws a line betwen them. The newly created line will have the current color and width. The points can be picked with the mouse in the 3d view or by entering corrdinates with the keyboard. Following functionality is availible:
 * Picking a point on an empty area of the 3d view will return a point situated at your mouse location on the current workplane.
 * Picking a point on an object will return a point situated on the object, at your mouse location. An open "o" symbol appears to notify you.
 * Pressing CTRL will snap your point to availible snap locations. A filled "o" or square symbol appears.
 * Pressing SHIFT will constrain your new point in relation to the last one, horizontally or vertically, depending on the location of your mouse at the moment you press SHIFT. To change between horizontal and vertical, simply release SHIFT and press it again with your mouse in another location.
 * Enter numbers to insert manually a coordinate.
 * Pressing ENTER will switch you from X to Y, from Y to Z and pressing ENTER while you are editing Z will create a new point.
 * Pressing SPACE will switch between relative and absolute coordinates. In relative coordinates, the location you enter is relative to the last point.
 * Pressing Z or pressing the "Undo" button will undo the last point.
 * Pressing ESCAPE will cancel the operation.

Multiple-point Line
draft Toolbar > Polyline Context menu > draft > Polyline draft Menu > Polyline

This function behaves exactly the same way as the previous one, except that it doesn't stop after 2 points. Besids that, a number of extra features are availible:
 * Double-clicking the last point, instead of simply clicking, will finish the line, leaving it open.
 * Pressing F or context menu > draft > Finish or pressing the "Finish" button will also finish the line, leaving it open.
 * CTRL-Clicking (snapping) on the first point will finish and close the line
 * Pressing C or context menu > draft > Close or pressing the "Close" button will also finish and close the line.

Circle
draft Toolbar > Circle Context menu > draft > Circle draft Menu > Circle

This function draws a circle by asking for two points, the center and the radius. Both values can also be entered manually. The created circle will take the current line width and color. Availible features:
 * Pressing CTRL will snap you to availible snap locations. A filled symbol appears to notify you.
 * Pressing ESCAPE cancels the function.

Arc
draft Toolbar > Arc Context menu > draft > Arc draft Menu > Arc

This function draws an arc by picking four points: the center, the radius, the start angle and the end angle. All these values can also be entered manually. The created arc will take the current line width and color. Availible features:
 * Pressing CTRL will snap you to availible snap locations. A filled symbol appears to notify you.
 * Pressing SHIFT will constrain you vertically or horizontally in relation to the center.
 * Pressing ALT when choosing the end angle will switch you to counter-clockwise direction.
 * Pressing ESCAPE cancels the function.
 * Pressing ESCAPE cancels the function

Move
draft Toolbar > Move Context menu > draft > Move draft Menu > Move

This function moves the selected objects from one point to another.
 * Pressing CTRL will snap you to availible snap locations. A filled symbol appears to notify you.
 * Pressing SHIFT will constrain you vertically or horizontally in relation to the center.
 * Pressing ESCAPE will cancel the move.
 * SPACE will switch you between relative and absolute coordinates.
 * C switches the copy mode on/off. With Copy on, objects will be copied instead of moved.

Apply Style
Context menu > draft > Apply Style

This function applies current line width and color to selected objects. If groups are selected, all objects inside them will take the style too. This function is only availible when something is selected. It is also availible from the tree context menu.

Snapping
In all functions that support snapping, following snap locations are currently availible:
 * Endpoint of lines
 * Midpoint of lines
 * Center of circles and arcs
 * Quadrant points of circles and arcs
 * Endpoints of arcs

In functions that support both snapping and constraining, the combination of both behaviours (SHIFT+CTRL) can extend much the snapping possibilities.