Draft Workbench

Introduction
The Draft Workbench allows you to draw simple 2D objects, and offers several tools to modify them afterwards. It also provides tools to define a working plane, a grid, and a snapping system to precisely control the position of your geometry.

The created 2D objects can be used for general drafting in a way similar to Inkscape or Autocad. These 2D shapes can also be used as the base components of 3D objects created with other workbenches, for example, the Part and Arch Workbenches. Conversion of Draft objects to Sketches is also possible, which means that the shapes can also be used with the PartDesign Workbench for the creation of solid bodies.

FreeCAD is primarily a 3D modelling application, and thus its 2D tools aren't as advanced as in other drawing programs. If your primary goal is the production of complex 2D drawings and DXF files, and you don't need 3D modelling, you may wish to consider a dedicated software program for technical drafting such as LibreCAD, QCad, TurboCad, and others.



Drawing objects
These are tools for creating objects.


 * [[Image:Draft_Line.svg|32px]] Line: draws a line segment between two points.
 * [[Image:Draft_Wire.svg|32px]] Polyline: draws a line made of multiple line segments (polyline).
 * [[Image:Draft_Fillet.svg|32px]] Fillet: draws a fillet (rounded corner) or a chamfer (straight line) between two simple Lines.
 * [[Image:Draft_Circle.svg|32px]] Circle: draws a circle from center and radius.
 * [[Image:Draft_Arc.svg|32px]] Arc: draws an arc segment from center, radius, start angle and end angle.
 * [[Image:Draft_Arc_3Points.svg|32px]] Arc 3Points: draws a circular arc segment from three points that are located in the circumference.
 * [[Image:Draft_Ellipse.svg|32px]] Ellipse: draws an ellipse from two corner points.
 * [[Image:Draft_Polygon.svg|32px]] Polygon: draws a regular polygon from center, radius, and number of sides.
 * [[Image:Draft_Rectangle.svg|32px]] Rectangle: draws a rectangle from two corner points.
 * [[Image:Draft_Text.svg|32px]] Text: draws a multi-line text annotation.
 * [[Image:Draft_Dimension.svg|32px]] Dimension: draws a dimension annotation.
 * [[Image:Draft_BSpline.svg|32px]] BSpline: draws a B-Spline from a series of points.
 * [[Image:Draft_Point.svg|32px]] Point: inserts a point object.
 * [[Image:Draft_ShapeString.svg|32px]] ShapeString: inserts a compound shape representing a text string at a given point.
 * [[Image:Draft_Facebinder.svg|32px]] Facebinder: creates a new object from selected faces on existing objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_CubicBezCurve.svg|32px]] Cubic Bezier Curve: draws a Bezier curve of third degree by dragging two points.
 * [[Image:Draft_BezCurve.svg|32px]] Bezier Curve: draws a Bezier curve from a series of points.
 * [[Image:Draft_Label.svg|32px]] Label: places a label with an arrow pointing to a selected element.

Modifying objects
These are tools for modifying existing objects. They work on selected objects, but if no object is selected, you will be invited to select one.

Many operation tools (move, rotate, array, etc.) also work on solid objects (Part, PartDesign, Arch, etc.).


 * [[Image:Draft_Move.svg|32px]] Move: moves objects from one location to another.
 * [[Image:Draft_Rotate.svg|32px]] Rotate: rotates objects from a start angle to an end angle.
 * [[Image:Draft_Offset.svg|32px]] Offset: offsets segments of an object a certain distance.
 * [[Image:Draft_Trimex.svg|32px]] Trim/Extend (Trimex): trims or extends an object.
 * [[Image:Draft_Join.svg|32px]] Join: joins lines together into a single wire.
 * [[Image:Draft_Split.svg|32px]] Split: splits a wire into two at a point.
 * [[Image:Draft_Upgrade.svg|32px]] Upgrade: upgrades objects into a higher-level object.
 * [[Image:Draft_Downgrade.svg|32px]] Downgrade: downgrades objects into lower-level objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_Scale.svg|32px]] Scale: scales selected objects around a base point.
 * [[Image:Draft_Edit.svg|32px]] Edit: edits a selected object.
 * [[Image:Draft_SubelementHighlight.svg|32px]] Subelement highlight: enters an edit mode that allows editing different objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_WireToBSpline.svg|32px]] Wire to BSpline: converts a wire to a B-Spline and vice-versa.
 * [[Image:Draft_AddPoint.svg|32px]] Add point: adds a point to a wire or B-Spline.
 * [[Image:Draft_DelPoint.svg|32px]] Delete point: deletes a point from a wire or B-Spline.
 * [[Image:Draft_Shape2DView.svg|32px]] Shape 2D View: creates a 2D object which is a flattened 2D view of a 3D object.
 * [[Image:Draft_Draft2Sketch.svg|32px]] Draft to Sketch: converts a Draft object to a Sketcher Workbench Sketch and vice-versa.
 * [[Image:Draft_Array.svg|32px]] Array: creates a polar or rectangular array from selected objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_LinkArray.svg|32px]] LinkArray: creates an array of App::Link elements.
 * Draft_PolarArray.svg Polar Array: creates an array in a polar pattern, that is, sweeping an angle.
 * Draft_CircularArray.svg Circular Array: creates an array in a circular pattern, that is, starting from a center and moving outwards radially.
 * [[Image:Draft_PathArray.svg|32px]] Path Array: creates an array of objects by placing the copies along a path.
 * [[Image:Draft_PathLinkArray.svg|32px]] Path LinkArray: creates an array of App::Link elements by placing the copies along a path.
 * [[Image:Draft_PointArray.svg|32px]] Point Array: creates an array of objects by placing the copies at certain points.
 * [[Image:Draft_Clone.svg|32px]] Clone: clones the selected objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_PutOnSheet.svg|32px]] Drawing: writes selected objects to a Drawing Workbench page.
 * [[Image:Draft_Mirror.svg|32px]] Mirror: mirrors the selected objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_Stretch.svg|32px]] Stretch: stretches the selected objects.

Utility tools
Additional tools available from the menu, or via the right-click context menu, depending on the selected object.


 * [[Image:Draft_SelectPlane.svg|32px]] Set working plane: sets a working plane from a standard view or a selected face.
 * [[Image:Draft_FinishLine.svg|32px]] Finish line: ends the drawing of the current Draft Wire or Draft BSpline, without closing it.
 * [[Image:Draft_CloseLine.svg|32px]] Close line: ends the drawing of the current Draft Wire or Draft BSpline, and closes it.
 * [[Image:Draft_UndoLine.svg|32px]] Undo line: undoes the last segment of a Draft Wire.
 * [[Image:Draft_ToggleConstructionMode.svg|32px]] Toggle construction mode: toggles the Draft construction mode on or off.
 * [[Image:Draft_ToggleContinueMode.svg|32px]] Toggle continue mode: toggles the Draft continue mode on or off.
 * [[Image:Draft_ApplyStyle.svg|32px]] Apply style: applies the current style and color to selected objects.
 * [[Image:Draft_ToggleDisplayMode.svg|32px]] Toggle display mode: switches the display mode of selected objects between "Flat Lines" and "Wireframe".
 * [[Image:Draft_AddToGroup.svg|32px]] Add to group: quickly adds selected objects to an existing Std Group or Draft VisGroup.
 * [[Image:Draft_SelectGroup.svg|32px]] Select group contents: selects the contents of a selected Std Group or Draft VisGroup.
 * [[Image:Draft_ToggleSnap.svg|32px]] Toggle snap: toggles object snapping on or off.
 * [[Image:Draft_ToggleGrid.svg|32px]] Toggle grid: toggles the visibility of the grid on or off.
 * [[Image:Draft_ShowSnapBar.svg|32px]] Show snap bar: shows or hides the Draft Snap toolbar.
 * [[Image:Draft_Heal.svg|32px]] Heal: heals problematic Draft objects found in very old files.
 * [[Image:Draft_FlipDimension.svg|32px]] Flip Dimension: flips the orientation of the text of a Draft Dimension.
 * [[Image:Draft_VisGroup.svg|32px]] VisGroup: creates a VisGroup in the current document.
 * [[Image:Draft_Layer.svg|32px]] Layer: creates a Layer in the current document, to which objects can be added to control object visibility and color. It replaces VisGroup.
 * [[Image:Draft_Slope.svg|32px]] Slope: changes the elevation slope of the currently selected Draft Line or Draft Wire.
 * [[Image:Draft_AutoGroup.svg|32px]] AutoGroup: automatically place new objects in a given Std Group or Draft VisGroup.
 * [[Image:Draft_SetWorkingPlaneProxy.svg|32px]] Set Working Plane Proxy: create a proxy object to store the current Working Plane position.
 * [[Image:Draft_AddConstruction.svg|32px]] Add to Construction group: add selected objects to the Construction group.

Preferences

 * [[Image:Preferences-draft.svg|32px]] Preferences: general preferences for the working plane and the drawing tools.
 * [[Image:Preferences-import-export.svg|32px]] Import-Export Preferences: preferences available for importing from and exporting to different file formats.

File formats
These are functions for opening, importing or exporting other file formats. Opening will open a new document with the contents of the file, while importing will append the contents of the file to the current document. Export will save the selected objects to a file. If nothing is selected, all objects will be exported. Be aware that the purpose of the Draft Module is to work with 2D objects, so those import routines focus only on 2D objects, and although DXF and OCA formats also support object definitions in 3D space (objects are not necessarily flat), they will not import volumetric objects such as meshes, 3D surfaces, etc., but rather lines, circles, texts or flat shapes. Currently supported file formats are: The Draft module provides FreeCAD with importers and exporters for the following file formats:


 * Autodesk .DXF: imports and exports Drawing Exchange Format files created with 2D CAD applications. See also FreeCAD and DXF Import.
 * Autodesk .DWG: imports and exports DWG files via the DXF importer, when the ODA Converter utility is installed. See also FreeCAD and DWG Import.
 * SVG: imports and exports Scalable Vector Graphics files created with vector drawing applications.
 * Open Cad format .OCA: imports and exports OCA/GCAD files, a potentially new open CAD file format.
 * Airfoil Data Format .DAT: imports DAT files describing Airfoil profiles.

Install importers

 * FreeCAD and DWG Import: Imports and exports DWG files
 * FreeCAD and DXF Import: Imports and exports DXF files

Additional features

 * Coordinates: enter coordinates instead of clicking on the 3D view to define a new point.
 * Constraining: limit the pointer to horizontal or vertical movements relative to a previous point.
 * Snapping: place new points on special places on existing objects or on the grid.
 * Copy Mode: All modification tools can either modify the selected objects or create a modified copy of them. Pressing and holding while the object is being modified, e.g. moved or rotated, creates a copy when the key is released.
 * Construction Mode: Allows you to create geometries separate from the rest by simply switching them on and off.
 * Working plane: allows you to select a surface on which to build your shapes.

Unit tests
Test Workbench.

To run the unit tests of the workbench execute the following from the operating system terminal.

Scripting
The Draft tools can be used in macros and from the Python console by using the Draft API.

The workbench includes a module to create samples of all objects in a new document.

Use this to test that all objects are produced correctly.

Inspecting the code of this module is useful to understand how to use the programming interface.

Where is the toplevel directory where the software was installed; for example, in Linux it may be.

Tutorials

 * Draft tutorial
 * Draft tutorial Outdated
 * Draft ShapeString tutorial