Inserting Symbols in 2D

Use the 2D Symbol Insertion tool to place a symbol in the drawing when it is in 2D Top/Plan view. If not in Top/Plan view, selecting this tool automatically switches the view to Top/Plan and the projection to 2D Plan. During insertion, a preview of the symbol is shown to aid in placement. Symbols can also be inserted by dragging them from the Resource Browser.

Each symbol has its own insertion point, a location on the symbol shown by crosshairs in the Edit Symbol window, that controls how the symbol is placed into the drawing. The insertion point is specified during the symbol’s creation. See Creating New Symbols for more information.

 

Mode	Description
Standard Insertion	Inserts the symbol based on its specified insertion point, or aligned according to one of the symbol alignment modes
Offset Insertion	Inserts the symbol in a wall according to an offset reference point
Symbol Pick Up	Designates a symbol from the drawing as the active symbol
Wall Insertion	Toggles between inserting a symbol into a wall with wall breaks, and inserting a symbol near or on a wall without breaking it
Symbol Alignment Modes	These alignment modes apply to Standard Insertion mode, and temporarily override the insertion point. These modes change the alignment of the insertion point along the X axis of the bounding box surrounding the symbol. Alternatively, keep the original point as the insertion point.
Align Symbol Left	Moves the insertion point to the left edge of the symbol’s bounding box, along the original X axis
Align Symbol Center	Moves the insertion point to the center of the symbol’s bounding box, along the original X axis
Align Symbol Right	Moves the insertion point to the right edge of the symbol’s bounding box, along the original X axis
Align Actual Insertion Point	Uses the symbol’s originally specified insertion point

Standard Symbol Insertion Mode

 

To insert a symbol in 2D:

1.	In Top/Plan view, select the desired symbol from the Resource Browser.

2.	Select Make Active from the Resources menu. The 2D Symbol Insertion tool, on the Basic palette, becomes active, and the drawing switches to Top/Plan view and 2D Plan projection.

When in Top/Plan view, double-click the symbol in the Resource Browser to make the symbol active and select the 2D Symbol Insertion tool.

3.	Click Standard Insertion in the Tool bar. To insert into a wall with breaks, toggle Wall Insertion mode on.

4.	Click the desired alignment mode (see Inserting Symbols in 2D).

5.	Click to set the location of the symbol.

6.	Click a second time, without moving the mouse, to position the symbol exactly as inserted. Alternatively, move the cursor slightly away from the insertion point to rotate or flip the symbol about its insertion point.

For symbols placed inside walls, moving the mouse flips the symbol about one of two axes: up and down, or left and right.

In click-drag mode, click and hold the mouse to insert the symbol and still be able to rotate it. A quick click eliminates the ability to rotate or flip the symbol and locks the orientation of the symbol as it is placed.

7.	Click to set the symbol.

To place another copy of the symbol in the drawing, move the cursor to another location and click. The selected symbol and 2D Symbol Insertion tool remain active until another tool is selected.

Offset Symbol Insertion Mode

An offset distance, from the insertion point to a reference point, can be set for symbol insertion.

 

To insert a symbol into a wall in 2D with offset insertion:

1.	In Top/Plan view, select the desired symbol from the Resource Browser.

2.	Select Make Active from the Resources menu. The 2D Symbol Insertion tool, on the Basic palette, becomes active.

When in Top/Plan view, double-clicking the symbol in the Resource Browser makes the symbol active and selects the 2D Symbol Insertion tool.

3.	Click the Offset Insertion mode button.

4.	Click the desired alignment mode.

5.	Click to set the reference point.

The reference point is the point at which measurement begins for calculating the offset distance to place the symbol. The reference point does not have to be within the wall.

The symbol preview displays when the cursor is over a wall.

6.	Click to set the offset location of the symbol.

7.	Orient the symbol in the wall.

Clicking a second time, without moving the mouse, positions the symbol exactly as inserted. Alternatively, move the cursor slightly away from the insertion point, and then flip the symbol about its axis to the correct orientation.

In click-drag mode, click and hold the mouse to insert the symbol and still be able to flip it. A quick click eliminates the ability to flip the symbol and locks the orientation of the symbol as it is placed.

8.	Click to set the symbol.

The Enter Offset dialog box opens.

This dialog box lists the calculated distance for the offset using the reference point specified.

9.	If the offset distance is correct, click OK. To change the offset distance, enter the new value in the Offset field.

The symbol is inserted.

Symbol Pick Up Mode

In Top/Plan view, the Symbol Pick Up mode “picks up” any 2D or hybrid symbol already inserted into the drawing and makes it the active symbol. This avoids having to locate and select the symbol in the Resource Browser.

 

To pick up and place a symbol:

1.	Click the 2D Symbol Insertion tool from the Basic palette.

The view automatically switches to Top/Plan.

2.	Click the Symbol Pick Up mode button.

3.	Click a symbol in the drawing.

The symbol becomes the active symbol. Note that the symbol clicked on is not highlighted (selection handles do not display).

Either the Standard Insertion mode or Offset Insertion mode is automatically enabled, depending on the last mode used. Select a different insertion mode, if desired.

4.	Insert the symbol according to the instructions for that mode (see Standard Symbol Insertion Mode or Offset Symbol Insertion Mode).

To switch to Symbol Pick Up mode quickly, press and hold the Option (Macintosh) or Alt (Windows) key while the 2D Symbol Insertion tool is active, and then click on the desired 2D or hybrid symbol. The selected symbol is now ready to be inserted into the drawing.

Wall Insertion Mode

The Wall Insertion mode allows a symbol to be inserted into a wall. With this mode turned off, a symbol can be placed near or on top of a wall without being inserted directly into it.

A symbol inserted into a wall is automatically made parallel to the wall’s center line, by rotating it to match the wall’s angle. To remove a symbol from a wall, click and drag it out of the wall. VectorWorks automatically seals the cut in the wall

For more information on inserting and moving symbols into, out of, and within walls, see Moving Symbols in Walls.