Getting Started

PTCloud Digitizer is a desktop application for point cloud visualization, survey digitizing and CAD drafting, with tools for terrain modelling and automatic feature detection.

System Requirements

• Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit (32-bit Windows is not supported)
• Graphics card and driver with OpenGL 4.5 support
• Microsoft Visual C++ 2015–2022 Redistributable (x64) — installed automatically by the installer if missing
• 8 GB RAM minimum, 16 GB or more recommended for large point clouds
• SSD storage recommended
• Internet connection for license activation (the program can then run offline for a limited grace period)

Installation

1. Run PTCloudDigitizer_Setup_2.0.0.exe
2. Choose the installer language (Hungarian or English) and follow the wizard
3. The program is installed for the current user into %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\PTCloudDigitizer; administrator rights are not needed. If the Visual C++ runtime has to be installed, Windows asks for confirmation once
4. Optionally create a desktop icon. The program is added to the Start menu

Uninstall from Windows Settings > Apps or from the Start menu entry.

First Steps

1. Start the program and activate your license (see License Activation)
2. Create a project: File > New Project and select a folder
3. Import a point cloud: File > Import > Point Cloud (LAS/LAZ)...
4. The view zooms to the point cloud automatically. Later you can use the Zoom Extents button to fit everything in view

License Activation

The license is bound to your computer and is checked online at startup.

Activating

1. When no valid license is found, the License Activation window appears at startup
2. Enter your license key. It is formatted automatically as XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX
3. Click Activate (or press Enter). Exit closes the program

Server messages are shown in the window (errors in red, “Connecting to server...” in yellow).

Offline Use

After activation the program can be used without an internet connection for a grace period set by your license (typically a few days). Connect to the internet regularly to renew it.

License Information & Deactivation

Help > License Info... shows the masked license key, tier, expiry date and online/offline status with the remaining offline days. Deactivate License... releases the license from this computer (for example before moving to a new machine); the program closes afterwards.

Interface Overview

The interface consists of a menu bar, a tabbed ribbon, the viewport and dockable panels.

Menu Bar

Ribbon Tabs

A large icon on the right end of the ribbon shows the active command (grey cursor icon when no command is active). Ribbon buttons have tooltips.

Panels

Panels are shown or hidden from the View menu and can be docked or floated. Panel visibility and the docking layout are saved automatically (in layout.json next to the program) and restored at the next start.

Status Bar

Shows the status message, FPS, the number of loaded points, GPU memory, and indicators for measurement (F2), snap, grid and the quick popups (F4–F7). Clicking the snap indicator opens a snap popup. The cursor coordinates are displayed in the viewport itself.

Project Management

A project stores the point cloud references, CAD entities, layers, floors, sections, grids, TIN surfaces and volume calculations.

Creating and Opening

• File > New Project — select a folder; the project file is created in it and named after the folder
• File > Open Project... — open an existing .ptproj file
• File > Recent Projects — reopen a recently used project (Clear Recent Projects empties the list)
• File > Close Project

Saving

• File > Save or Ctrl+S
• File > Save As...
• When closing a project or the program with unsaved changes, you are asked to Save, Discard or Cancel

Project Folder

• <FolderName>.ptproj — main project file (JSON)
• <FolderName>.entities.json — CAD entities
• <FolderName>.codes.json — point code library
• sectionparams.json — vertical section definitions
• pointclouds/ — point clouds created by the program (e.g. ground classification results)
• tiles/, exports/ — working folders

Point Clouds

Supported Formats

Importing

1. File > Import > Point Cloud (LAS/LAZ)... (the file dialog accepts all formats above)
2. Select the file. Progress is shown in the Command Line
3. The view zooms to the new cloud automatically

To load only part of a large cloud, use File > Import > Point Cloud with Decimation...:

The maximum number of points loaded is limited by Max Points (millions) in File > Preferences > Software (default 100 million, 0 = no limit).

Point Cloud Menu (Project Browser)

Right-click a point cloud in the Project Browser:

• Hide / Show
• Color Override — display the whole cloud in one color (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Cyan, Magenta)
• Display Mode:
  • RGB — original colors
  • Intensity — with selectable color schemes
  • Classification — only if the cloud contains class data; individual classes can be shown or hidden (Show All / Hide All)
  • Height (elevation) — color by Z. The Low cut / High cut sliders squeeze the color ramp onto a height band (useful for wires or low vegetation); Reset to full range restores it
• Set Display Shift... / Reset Display Shift (see Real-World Coordinates)
• Save Decimated — for clouds imported with decimation: save the reduced cloud in LAS, PLY, XYZ or PTS format
• Export Grid Points / Delete Grid Points — for clouds that have grid points (see Grid Points)
• Remove from project

Real-World Coordinates

Survey coordinates are large numbers (e.g. 640123.456, 245678.890). To keep rendering precise, the program shifts the data near the origin internally and shows real-world values everywhere.

• The first loaded point cloud sets the world reference offset; later clouds use the same offset, so clouds in the same coordinate system line up automatically
• The offset is shown in the Project Browser under Point Clouds (“World Offset: ...”)
• The viewport cursor shows real-world coordinates in color, with the local coordinates below in grey
• The Properties panel and the Measurement panel show real-world values first, local values in grey
• All exports (DXF, points, trees, poles, grid points, LandXML) write real-world coordinates

Display Shift

To temporarily move a cloud on screen without changing its data: right-click it in the Project Browser > Set Display Shift... and enter X/Y offsets. Shifted clouds are listed in red with a [SHIFTED] tag. Reset Display Shift removes the offset.

Viewports & Navigation

View Types

Switch the viewport content with the buttons on the Viewport and 3D Views ribbon tab:

The camera presets are also in View > Camera Views and in the F5 quick popup.

Mouse Navigation

Zoom Extents

Fits all data in view. Available as the Zoom Extents ribbon button, the button in the top-right corner of the viewport, View > Camera Views > Zoom Extents, and F5 then 5.

Section Views

Horizontal Section

Shows a horizontal slice of the point cloud from above. Set the elevation of the cut and its thickness (total slab thickness, half above and half below the elevation) in the Section Plane panel (Panels > Horizontal Section).

Vertical Sections

Vertical sections are named section lines with a thickness and an offset.

1. Open the Vertical Section panel (Panels > Vertical Section) and click New Section
2. Click the start and the end point of the section line in the viewport
3. Accept or change the suggested name (e.g. “Section A-A”)

• Default thickness is 0.5 m, default step 0.1 m (changeable in the panel)
• In the Vertical Section view, ↑/→ move the section forward and ↓/← backward by one step
• Right-click a section in the panel: Set as Active, Rename, Delete
• Section lines can be edited with grips in the top-down view: blue grips at the ends, green grip in the middle (moves the whole line)

X-Ray View

A top-down density image of the cloud. Its settings are in the X-Ray View panel (Panels > X-Ray Panel).

3D Preview Window

An independent floating 3D window (3D Preview ribbon button, View > 3D Preview Window or F5 then 8):

• Middle button pan, right button orbit, scroll zoom
• Preset views: Top, Front, Right, 3D
• Optional horizontal slice with Bottom Z / Top Z sliders

Orthophoto Import

1. File > Import > Orthophoto...
2. Select a PNG, JPEG, TIFF or BMP image
3. The accompanying world file (.pgw, .jgw, .tfw, .wld, etc.) is detected automatically. If none is found, you can locate it manually; otherwise the image is placed at the origin at 1 pixel = 1 unit
4. The image is placed at the minimum Z of the point cloud

In the Project Browser, expand the orthophoto to adjust Opacity, Brightness, Contrast, Saturation and Z. Right-click offers Hide/Show and Remove from project.

Orthophotos are shown in the 3D, horizontal section and X-Ray views, below the point cloud. When an orthophoto is visible, CAD entities are drawn with a dark outline for better readability.

Drawing Tools

Drawing tools are on the Draw ribbon tab, in the F6 quick popup, and can be started by typing their command in the Command Line. Drawing works in the orthographic 3D views, horizontal sections, vertical sections and X-Ray view (not in 3D perspective).

Available Tools

Building tools (Door, Window, Opening, Room, Roof, Roof Profile, 3D Wall) are described in Building Elements.

Circle Modes

While the Circle tool is active, type a mode in the Command Line and press Enter:

• cr / center — center + radius (default)
• 3p / 3point — circle through 3 clicked points
• ttr — tangent to two entities with a given radius
• tp — tangent mode

Circles drawn in a vertical section lie on the section plane; they appear in all views and are exported to DXF as real circles.

Arc Modes

• cse / center — center, start, end (default). The mouse movement decides the direction (clockwise / counter-clockwise), arcs over 180° are possible
• 3p — arc through 3 points
• ttr, tp — tangent modes

Active Tool Panel

While a drawing tool is active, its settings are shown in the Active Tool panel:

• Layer — layer for new entities. Changing the tool does not change the layer
• Floor — floor assignment (Unassigned or a defined floor)
• Elevation — Z of new entities: Floor / Ceiling / Custom when a floor is selected, direct input otherwise. The current Z (or the Q-picked height) is shown
• Q Rad — search radius of the Q height pick
• For the Point tool: point number, code and description

Height Pick with Q

Hold Q while drawing to take the Z value from the point cloud around the cursor:

• Works with Point, Line, Polyline, Circle, Arc, Polygon, Dimension, Altitude and the measurement tools, in all drawing views except the Vertical Section view
• The average height is sampled once when Q is pressed and used for clicks while Q is held. Release and press Q again to sample at a new position
• A red circle shows the search radius and the picked height is displayed next to the cursor
• The radius is set in the Active Tool panel or in Preferences (default 0.5 m)

Orthogonal Drawing

Hold Shift while drawing to lock the next segment horizontally or vertically.

Finishing and Repeating

• Esc or a right-click cancels the current command
• When no command is active and there is nothing under the cursor, a right-click restarts the last used command

Survey Points

Placing Points

1. Start the Point tool (Draw tab, F6 then 1, or the point command)
2. Set the number, code and description in the Active Tool panel
3. Click in the viewport. The point number increases automatically after each point

• If the number already exists, the field turns red; click the ! icon to jump to the next free number
• New codes are added to the project's code library automatically

Importing a Code List

File > Import > Point Codes... reads a CSV or TXT file with one code,description per line (description optional, lines starting with # are comments):

# Comment line
TREE,Tree location
FENCE,Fence point
BLDG,Building corner
POST

Importing Survey Points

File > Import > Survey Points (CSV/TXT)... opens the Import Survey Points dialog:

• Column Format: PNEZC, PENZC, PNEZ, PENZ, NEZ, ENZ or XYZ (P = point number, N = north, E = east, Z = elevation, C = code)
• Separator: Auto-detect, comma, semicolon, tab or space
• Skip Header Lines and Target Layer
• A preview shows the first 10 lines of the file (skipped lines in grey)

Point Display

In File > Preferences > Points: point symbol (cross, X, circle, square, triangle), symbol size, which labels to show (number, height, code, description), text size and label colors. Labels are shown in all view types.

Selecting Points by Attributes

Pointcloud Tools > Select Points opens the Point Selection Filter: filter by Code and Description (case-insensitive partial match), Layer, number range (Number From / To, 0 = no limit) and grid source cloud. The number of matching points is shown; use Select Matching, Deselect Matching or Delete Selected Points.

Entities in Vertical Sections

• Points, circles and polygons drawn in a vertical section store the section position. Points and polygons only appear when the same section position is displayed
• Section polygons are only visible in their section and in the section DXF export
• Circles, lines and polylines drawn in a section are real 3D entities on the section plane and appear in all views

Editing Elevations

Select an entity and open the Elevation part of the Properties panel: enter a Z value or use Set to Floor Elevation... / Set to Ceiling Elevation.... With several entities selected, the bulk operations allow setting the elevation of all of them at once.

Building Elements

The Building ribbon tab contains tools for digitizing buildings from floor plan sections.

Door, Window, Opening

Doors, windows and openings are placed between two parallel wall lines:

1. Click the baseline (a line or polyline: one face of the wall)
2. Click the frame line (the other face of the wall)
3. Click point A on the baseline (for doors: the hinge side)
4. Click point B on the baseline — the element is created

The tool stays active for the next element; Esc exits. Commands: door, window, opening; also in the F6 popup (4, 5, 6). Height labels and line overhang are set in Preferences > D/W/O. The right-click menu of a selected door, window or opening offers Set Height from Section and Unlock Height.

Room

Click the boundary points of the room and press Enter. The room number, name, area and perimeter are displayed; the next room number and the label settings are in Preferences > Room. To move a room label, right-click it, then click the new position.

Roof

Click the boundary points of the roof and press Enter. In the Properties panel choose the type (Flat, Gable, Hip, Shed), slope and overhang; the 3D roof surface is generated automatically.

Roof Profile

1. In a Vertical Section view, start Roof Profile (command rp or roofprofile)
2. Click the profile points and press Enter
3. Select the profile, right-click and choose Set Extrusion (pick 2 points) or Set Extrusion (enter depth)... to extrude it perpendicular to the section. Clear Extrusion removes it

3D Wall

1. Start 3DWall (command 3dwall or wall). At least one floor must exist
2. Choose the floor with the buttons in the Active Tool panel (the last used floor is preselected)
3. Click inside a region enclosed by wall lines. The boundary, including interior holes, is detected and previewed
4. Press Enter to accept the preview; click inside the next region to continue; Esc exits

The wall is extruded between the floor and ceiling elevation of the selected floor.

Command Line

The Command Line panel shows prompts and messages, and accepts typed commands. Click into the input field, type the command and press Enter.

Commands

Commands are not case-sensitive. Inside commands the Command Line also takes values: circle/arc modes, the polygon side count, the rotation angle and the rectangle size.

Suggestions

While typing, matching commands are suggested above the input (up to 6). Use ↑/↓ to choose, Tab to complete and Esc to close the list.

Editing Tools

Selecting

• Click an entity to select it; Ctrl+click adds or removes entities
• Edit > Select All / Deselect All; in the Project Browser, entity groups have Select All / Deselect All
• Esc clears the selection when no command is active

Grip Editing

When exactly one point, line or polyline is selected, grips appear: blue grips at end points and vertices, green grips at segment midpoints (move the whole segment). Drag a grip to change the geometry. Grips are not available in the Vertical Section view.

Modify Commands

On the Modify tab, in the F7 quick popup (1–7) and as Command Line commands. They work in plan views and in vertical sections, but not in 3D perspective.

Continuous Editing

With Continuous enabled (checkbox in the Active Tool panel, or Preferences > Software; on by default), Trim, Extend, Parallel, Copy, Copy Style, Break 1pt and Break 2pt stay active after each operation:

• Trim / Extend: the cutting/boundary line stays selected, just keep clicking target lines
• Parallel: the distance is kept, select the next entity
• Copy: click more destination points
• Break: select the next line

End the command with Esc or a right-click.

Copy, Move, Rotate, Align, Delete

Select the entities first. Then use the viewport right-click menu, the Tools menu, the Command Line, or (with the mouse over the viewport) the keys below:

The right-click menu also has Change Layer and Deselect.

Undo / Redo

• Ctrl+Z or Edit > Undo
• Ctrl+Y / Ctrl+Shift+Z or Edit > Redo

Edge Trace

Semi-automatic tracing of continuous edges (building edges, terrain breaks, structural elements) across vertical section positions.

1. Open a Vertical Section view and click Edge Trace on the Draw tab
2. Click a start seed point on the edge
3. Move the section with the arrow keys and click the next seed further along the edge
4. The traced edge is previewed; add more seeds to extend it
5. Press Enter to save it as a polyline (layer “Polylines”); Esc cancels

Parameters (Active Tool panel)

Annotation Tools

Annotations are placed on the current layer.

Hatch

1. Start Hatch (Draw tab or hatch)
2. Click inside a closed region bounded by lines, polylines, arcs or circles. The smallest enclosing region and its holes are found automatically

After creation, select the hatch to change in the Properties panel: pattern (Solid, Lines, Cross, Dots), scale, angle, color and opacity. The area (with holes subtracted) is calculated.

Text

1. Start Text (or text) and click the insertion point
2. In the Create Text dialog enter the text and set height, rotation, horizontal and vertical alignment, color and style

Text Settings opens the Text Styles editor (font size, width factor, oblique angle, bold).

Dimension

1. Start Dimension (or dim)
2. Click the first and the second point, then click to set the offset of the dimension line

Dimension Settings opens the Dimension Styles editor: text height, arrow size and type (Arrow, Tick, Dot, Oblique), decimal places, extension line offset/overshoot, units and color. A single dimension can have an override text in the Properties panel.

Altitude

1. Start Altitude (or alt)
2. Click a point with Point Cloud snap enabled, or hold Q while clicking — a height source is required

Altitude Settings opens the Altitude Styles editor: text height, decimal places, sign prefix, unit display, and a reference elevation for relative heights.

Layers

Each layer has a name, color, visibility and lock state. The active layer is marked “(ACTIVE)”.

Layers Panel

• Toolbar: + new layer, - delete (only empty layers), R rename, move up/down, AZ sort, show/hide all, lock/unlock all
• Per layer: visibility, lock and color; double-click to rename; drag to reorder
• Right-click a layer: Move Up, Move Down, Select All Entities, Rename, Delete

Default Layers

New projects contain: 0, Points, Lines, Polylines, Walls, Doors, Windows, Openings, Roofs, Rooms, Stairs, Furniture. Some tools create their own layers when needed, e.g. Grid Points, Contour_Major, Contour_Minor, Trees, Poles, Wires.

Floors & Levels

Floors organize entities by building level. Open the Floor Manager with Panels > Floors Panel, View > Floor Manager or F8.

• Each floor has a name, floor elevation, ceiling elevation and color. Split levels with several floor/ceiling elevations are supported
• Add Floor, Duplicate, Show All
• Right-click a floor: Set as Active, Show Only This, Edit Properties, Duplicate, Move Up, Move Down, Delete (only floors without entities)
• In the Edit Floor dialog, elevations can be picked from the point cloud
• Ctrl+PgUp / Ctrl+PgDn switch the active floor
• In the Project Browser: Set Active, Hide/Show, Show Only This Floor, Show All Floors, Move Selected Entities Here; single entities can be moved with Move to Floor

New entities get the floor and elevation (Floor / Ceiling / Custom) selected in the Active Tool panel.

Snapping

• F3 switches snapping on/off
• F4 opens the snap quick popup: 1–7 toggle the modes, 0 toggles snapping on/off
• Detailed settings incl. Snap Radius: Snap Settings panel, Tools > Snap Settings, or Preferences > Snap

Measurement

Press F2 to open the Measurement panel and choose a mode:

Results show real-world coordinates (local values in grey). Q height pick and snapping work while measuring.

Ground Classification

Separates ground points from the point cloud with the Cloth Simulation Filter (CSF).

1. Pointcloud Tools > Ground Classify
2. Choose the Point Cloud and set the parameters
3. Click Run Classification. A progress bar is shown; the run can be cancelled

Result: a new point cloud <name>_ground (shown in brown) saved as pointclouds\<name>_ground.las in the project folder. The original cloud is not changed. If no ground points are found, try a larger threshold, a smaller resolution or more iterations.

Grid Points, TIN & Contours

Create Grid Points

Pointcloud Tools > Create Grid Points samples the point cloud on a regular grid (tip: use the ground cloud from Ground Classification):

• Spacing X / Spacing Y (m, default 1.00) and Search Radius (m, default 1.50) — Z is the average height within the radius
• The estimated number of points is shown (warning above 500 000, maximum 5 million)
• Result: points with code “GRID” on the “Grid Points” layer. Grid positions without data are skipped

Grids are listed in the Project Browser under Grids; right-click: Hide/Show, Lock/Unlock, Export Grid Points..., Delete Grid Points. Export Grid Points (ribbon) writes a CSV with Number,East,North,Elevation,Code.

Create TIN Surface

1. Pointcloud Tools > Create TIN Surface
2. Enter the Surface Name and choose the sources: Grid points, Selected points, Selected lines/polylines as breaklines
3. Click Create (at least 3 points are needed). A constrained Delaunay triangulation is built

In the Project Browser under TIN Surfaces each surface shows its triangle count, area and Z range, with a Fill Opacity slider. Right-click: Toggle Wireframe, Toggle Filled, Toggle Color by Elevation, Generate Contours..., Regenerate Contours, Delete Contours, Export as LandXML..., Delete Surface.

Editing a Surface

Pointcloud Tools > Enable Surface Edit (choose the surface if there are several). Click triangles to select them, Ctrl+click to add, or drag a rectangle; Delete removes the selected triangles. Existing contours are then marked as out of date (“contours stale”) and can be regenerated.

Contours

Generate Contours... on a surface: set the Major interval (default 1.00 m) and Minor interval (default 0.20 m). Contours are created as 3D polylines on the “Contour_Major” (red) and “Contour_Minor” layers and replace earlier contours of the surface.

LandXML Export

Export as LandXML... writes the surface as LandXML 1.2 (points and faces) with real-world coordinates.

Volume Calculation

Calculates cut and fill volumes between two TIN surfaces (e.g. original terrain and design or a later survey).

Creating a Calculation

1. Open the Volume Calculations panel: Pointcloud Tools > Volume Calculation or Tools > Volume Calculation
2. Click + New Calculation (at least two TIN surfaces are needed)
3. Set the Name, Base Surface, Comparative Surface and Grid Cell Size (default 0.50 m)
4. Click Create & Calculate

Results: Cut, Fill and Net volume (m³), cut, fill and total area (m²). Cut means the base surface is above the comparative surface. Display settings: cut and fill color, opacity, color map, grid.

Boundary

Right-click a calculation > Set Boundary Polyline... and click a closed polyline to limit the calculation to that area. Clear Boundary removes it; Recalculate updates the result.

PDF Report

1. Right-click a calculation > Generate PDF Report...
2. Choose a template (or “(Default Layout)”) and click Generate PDF.... The PDF opens automatically

Report Templates (Tools > Volume Calculation > Report Templates..., or Edit Templates...): page size (A4, A3, Letter, Legal), orientation, margins, multiple pages, and elements — static text, dynamic text (project, calculation, surfaces, date, volumes, areas, cell size, boundary), result table, top-down view and section view — positioned in millimetres.

Tree Detection

Finds tree trunks in the point cloud and determines their position, trunk diameter and height.

Automatic Detection

1. Pointcloud Tools > Detect Trees, choose the point cloud
2. Check the parameters and click Detect (runs in the background, can be cancelled)
3. Review the candidates in the Detected Trees - Review window

Reset to defaults restores the default values.

Reviewing

Each candidate is listed with diameter, height and quality and has an accept checkbox. Hovering a row highlights the tree in the viewport; clicking it makes it blink. Use Accept All, Reject All, then Add N Accepted Trees; Discard All or closing the window drops the candidates.

Fitting Single Trees

Fit Tree (click) switches on fit mode with its settings window (same main parameters plus Click search radius, 0.40 m). Click near a trunk in a plan, section or 3D view to fit and add that tree. Leave the mode with Exit Fit Mode, Esc or the ribbon button.

Result and Export

Trees are added to the “Trees” layer and listed in the Project Browser. The Properties panel shows base position, trunk diameter, measuring height, tree height, crown radius and fit quality. Export Trees writes a TXT/CSV file with the columns number,eovy,eovx,z,diameter,height (eovy = easting, eovx = northing, diameter in metres).

Pole Detection

Finds utility poles (also tilted poles and A-poles) and determines their axis, length, diameter and base point.

Automatic Detection

Pointcloud Tools > Detect Poles:

The candidates are reviewed in the Detected Poles - Review window the same way as trees. Each row shows type (Wood / Concrete, A for A-poles), length, diameter, tilt and quality.

Fitting Single Poles

Fit Pole (click): click near a pole to fit it (Click search radius 0.80 m). A-pole pairing is not done in this mode. Leave the mode with Exit Fit Mode or the ribbon button.

Result and Export

Poles are added to the “Poles” layer. The type (wood or concrete) is estimated from the taper and can be changed in the Properties panel, which also shows length, base and top diameter, axis, tilt and A-pole partner. Export Poles writes the same column format as the tree export (diameter = base diameter, height = pole length).

Wire Tracing

Traces overhead power lines as 3D polylines by following the wire through the point cloud. The first visible point cloud is used.

Automatic Mode

Pointcloud Tools > Trace Wire (auto), then click on a wire. The whole span is traced in both directions and saved immediately.

Semi-Automatic Mode

1. Trace Wire (semi), click the start point on the wire
2. Click ahead along the wire to give the direction
3. The next point is proposed (green). Confirm it with a click, Enter or Confirm next
4. Backspace / Undo removes the last point
5. Finish saves the wire

Leave either mode with Exit Wire Mode or the ribbon button.

Parameters

Result: an open 3D polyline on the “Wires” layer (undoable). Tip: the Height (elevation) display mode with Low/High cut makes wires easy to see.

Export Options

Exports are in File > Export and on the Export ribbon tab. All exports use real-world coordinates.

DXF Export

File > Export > DXF... or the DXF button. The dialog shows the entity and layer counts and the Sill label prefix option. Entities hidden individually are not exported. Colors are converted to the nearest AutoCAD Color Index.

Trees and poles are exported with Export Trees / Export Poles (see above), not to DXF.

Section DXF Export

File > Export > Section DXF... (available when a vertical section is active) exports the section as a flat 2D drawing: DXF X = distance along the section, DXF Y = elevation.

Point Export (CSV/TXT)

File > Export > Points (CSV/TXT)... or the Points button exports the digitized survey points (not the point cloud), sorted by number.

• File type: CSV (comma) or TXT (tab); Include header row; Coordinate decimals (0–8)
• Fields: Point Number, Easting (X), Northing (Y), Elevation (Z), Code, Description, Layer
• Columns: add with Add Field, remove with the X button, reorder with the ^/v buttons or by dragging, click a label to rename it, Reset Default restores the standard order
• Merge fields: Add Merge Field combines several fields with a separator (e.g. Code + Description with “-” → “ROOF-Ridge edge”)
• Export schemes: save, load and delete named column setups

IFC Export (BIM)

File > Export > IFC... or the IFC button. Choose IFC 2x3 or IFC 4. Exported: walls and 3D walls (IfcWall), doors (IfcDoor), windows (IfcWindow), openings (IfcOpeningElement), roofs (IfcRoof) and rooms (IfcSpace), organized by building storey (floors).

Section Image Export

File > Export > Section Image... or the Section Image button exports a viewport (3D top view, horizontal section or X-Ray) as an image:

• Source viewport, PNG or JPEG (quality 1–100, default 95)
• Resolution: custom (100–8192 px) or presets HD (1920×1080), 4K (3840×2160), Square (2000×2000)
• Optional world file (.pgw / .jgw) for GIS and CAD software

Other Exports

• Trees / Poles — TXT/CSV (see Tree Detection, Pole Detection)
• Grid Points — CSV (see Grid Points)
• TIN surface — LandXML 1.2
• Volume report — PDF
• Decimated point cloud — LAS, PLY, XYZ, PTS (Project Browser > Save Decimated)

DXF Import

Imports existing drawings (floor plans, survey data) as reference geometry. A project must be open.

1. File > Import > DXF File... and select the file
2. A summary of the imported entities and layers is written to the Command Line

• Imported entity types: POINT, LINE, POLYLINE, LWPOLYLINE, ARC, CIRCLE
• Layers are kept with the file name as prefix (e.g. “floorplan_Walls”); ACI colors are converted to RGB
• If a point cloud is loaded, the DXF is aligned to it automatically. If you import the DXF first, right-click it in the Project Browser > Apply Point Cloud Shift afterwards
• Project Browser right-click: Hide All / Show All, Apply Point Cloud Shift, Remove from project

Preferences

File > Preferences...; confirm with Save & Close.

Help

• F1 or Help > Help Topics opens the built-in help window with short topics (getting started, navigation, quick popups, drawing, editing, snapping, layers, sections, X-Ray, 3D preview, import, export)
• Ribbon buttons show tooltips
• This manual is the complete reference

Keyboard & Mouse Reference

The keys listed here work in the current version. Drawing tools have no single-key shortcuts; start them from the ribbon, the F6 popup or the Command Line.

General

Function Keys

F2–F8 require an open project.

With a Selection (mouse over the viewport)

While Drawing

Mouse