TechDraw Roadmap: Difference between revisions

From FreeCAD Documentation
No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 11: Line 11:


===Current Activity=== <!--T:2-->
===Current Activity=== <!--T:2-->
* Dimensions - +/- tolerances, improved formatting, 3 point Angle, better compliance with standards.
* Colour/texture management for Faces.


<!--T:3-->
<!--T:3-->
* "slanted" dimlines for Dimensions on Axo Views.
* bug fixes.
* bug fixes.


Line 19: Line 20:


<!--T:27-->
<!--T:27-->
* "slanted" dimlines for Dimensions on Axo Views.
* improved Dxf export compatibility with version R12.
* Dxf export supports R14 standard.
* Projection Direction based on 3D view directons

===HLR vs Face Occlusion=== <!--T:20-->
TechDraw PartViews use the OCC Hidden Line Removal algorithms to project the Shape. HLR is computation intensive, and some (many? most?) views do not require hidden lines to be displayed. A new method of generating views is required. This may getting the image directly from the 3D display.

===GD&T, ControlFrames, Symbols=== <!--T:21-->
This area of TD is weak and needs to be upgraded.


===Draft/Arch coexistence=== <!--T:29-->
===Draft/Arch coexistence=== <!--T:29-->
Line 47: Line 56:
There is a need for Dimensions that do not rely on specific vertex/edges, but on extrema of the figure - for example, overall width/height.
There is a need for Dimensions that do not rely on specific vertex/edges, but on extrema of the figure - for example, overall width/height.


===Support for Newer Dxf Version=== <!--T:41-->

<!--T:42-->
The current Page to Dxf export function uses an older version of the Dxf spec (R12).
An option to support a newer version is required.


===Bug Fixes/Feature Requests=== <!--T:16-->
===Bug Fixes/Feature Requests=== <!--T:16-->
Line 59: Line 63:
* the inability of Qt to export fills/hatches to SVG continues to be a problem, particularly for users of Draft and Arch workbenches.
* the inability of Qt to export fills/hatches to SVG continues to be a problem, particularly for users of Draft and Arch workbenches.
* "broken view" - the ability to depict very large objects on the page.
* "broken view" - the ability to depict very large objects on the page.
* "slanted" extension lines - https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?t=22014
* helix projections - https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9513&start=10
* helix projections - https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9513&start=10
* colour management

* thread notation
* "view groups"


<!--T:33-->
<!--T:33-->

Revision as of 14:33, 29 September 2018


The TechDraw workbench is new and hasn't had the years of development that have benefited some other workbenches. Still, TechDraw can now "produce basic technical drawings based on the 3D model".

Here is a rough roadmap of areas to be addressed in the future (in no particular order).

Current Activity

  • Dimensions - +/- tolerances, improved formatting, 3 point Angle, better compliance with standards.
  • Colour/texture management for Faces.
  • bug fixes.

Recent Changes

  • "slanted" dimlines for Dimensions on Axo Views.
  • Dxf export supports R14 standard.
  • Projection Direction based on 3D view directons

HLR vs Face Occlusion

TechDraw PartViews use the OCC Hidden Line Removal algorithms to project the Shape. HLR is computation intensive, and some (many? most?) views do not require hidden lines to be displayed. A new method of generating views is required. This may getting the image directly from the 3D display.

GD&T, ControlFrames, Symbols

This area of TD is weak and needs to be upgraded.

Draft/Arch coexistence

There are inconsistencies between the way the Draft/Arch and TechDraw modules represent shapes. This limits the suitability of TechDraw for Draft/Arch users. One notable short-coming is that TechDraw is unable to apply Dimensions to the Svg images it receives from Draft/Arch.

Templates

Making a template with editable text fields requires significant expertise with Svg and an Svg editor like Inkscape. Making the template creation process simpler will be a priority in the v0.18 development cycle.

Drawing Tools

This includes the ability to add leaders, callouts and detail highlights to Views. It is a prerequisite to many enhancements, particularly in the drawing annotation area, such as feature control frames and reference highlights for detail views.

2D Geometry

A number of 2D geometry functions were recently added to the Part module. This needs to be reviewed with an eye towards replacing custom 2D geometry code in TechDraw with standard code from Part.

Internal View Consistency

It is not currently possible to create a Detail from a Section, or a Section from a Detail due to internal differences. Changes here would allow any View type to be a BaseView.

"non-Vertex" Dimensions

There is a need for Dimensions that do not rely on specific vertex/edges, but on extrema of the figure - for example, overall width/height.


Bug Fixes/Feature Requests

See the bug tracker for up to date information.

  • the inability of Qt to export fills/hatches to SVG continues to be a problem, particularly for users of Draft and Arch workbenches.
  • "broken view" - the ability to depict very large objects on the page.
  • helix projections - https://forum.freecadweb.org/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9513&start=10
  • colour management
  • thread notation
  • "view groups"

Return to TechDraw Module main page.